Ezekiel had a lot of anger inside of him as he looked at his little brother, Nathan, playing with the butterfly Ezekiel had conjured with his magic.
However, the tears had stopped a few minutes prior. Ezekiel didn't know when was the right time to talk to Nathan again. He kept imagining violent scenarios in his head.
He wanted to leave this filthy place and go back to their parents to kill them mercilessly for what they had done to his brother. Ezekiel felt that it would be easier than watching Nathan cry this way.
' For a long time I only thought that I was the only one suffering from their toxic behavior, but I never imagined what would they do to him after throwing me away, they knew I had supremacy which means they made Nathan's life more like hell while growing up '
He couldn't pretend that everything was okay, and he wanted to talk to Nathan after all these years of waiting to meet him again.
' Nathan, please, please don't cry again, I just think that I could never tolerate that '
Despite his strength, Ezekiel couldn't ignore the impact of his brother's past death that was still fresh and vivid in his mind.
He had been tortured for years with nightmares of that incident and now that he was standing in front of his brother in one room, he just couldn't find the right words that could break this ice .
' I can't take it anymore'.
Ezekiel cleared his throat and started speaking slowly and calmly. He called Nathan's name, and Nathan looked at him instantly.
Ezekiel could see Nathan flinch and the butterfly fled away. Nathan thought he made a mistake and stopped playing.
Ezekiel noticed all the changes in Nathan's posture and expressions, he was trying hard not to sit next to him and tell him the truth.
"Nathan, I know that we just met and that you may be scared of me. I know you're scared of me, little one, but I promise I won't hurt you," Ezekiel said.
Nathan didn't say anything but he didn't cry either. Ezekiel thought that was a good sign.
Therefore, Ezekiel found some courage left in him to speak to him and explain a few things to his brother.
"In fact, I saved you," Ezekiel added. "I have special powers now, and I guarantee that no one will ever hurt us again, ever ."
Nathan looked at Ezekiel curiously and asked, "What kind of powers?" It was the first time he looked directly into Ezekiel's eyes and responded.
Ezekiel smiled. "I can do a lot of things, I can create things, I can bring things to life and use them like a butterfly."
Nathan's eyes widened in surprise. Ezekiel didn't understand why Nathan was so surprised, it was common here to have powers.
"And I want to use my powers to protect you, to make sure no one ever hurts you again," Ezekiel said. At that moment, Ezekiel made sure the butterfly returned to Nathan's hands.
"Why are you doing this? I don't even know you. Mom... Dad," Nathan said, mentioning their parents. Ezekiel felt like he was stabbed in the chest.
"Because, I know what it's like to be scared and alone. I couldn't leave you there with them, not when I have the power to help you ," Ezekiel, taking a deep breath.
Nathan 's lip quivered, and he looked at Ezekiel with tears in his eyes. "Why protect me?"
"Because, you are my little brother, Nathan. You are my family," Ezekiel said, also with tears in his eyes.
"What do you mean by this?" Nathan asked, scared.
"I am your brother. I was taken away from our parents when I was two years old," Ezekiel explained.
"My brother? My real brother?" Ezekiel asked, eyes wide with shock.
"It's a long story, Nathan . I will tell you everything, but first I need you to trust me. Trust that I will never let anyone hurt you, including me," Ezekiel said.
Ezekiel watched Nathan's reaction, expecting disbelief or anger, but to his surprise, Nathan just looked at him skeptically.
"How do I know you're telling the truth?" Nathan asked, his voice small and uncertain.
Ezekiel could understand why Nathan was hesitant to believe him. After all, he has been living with their toxic parents for years, so it makes sense that he would be wary of someone claiming to be his long-lost sibling.
"I know this is a lot to take in, I know it's hard to believe, but I promise you, I'm your brother," Ezekiel said, his voice filled with emotion. Nathan just shook his head.
"How could that be? I've never met you before. And why would our parents keep you a secret from me?"
Ezekiel took a deep breath. "I was taken from our parents when I was just a baby. I know this is a lot to process, but I'm here now and I promise to answer any questions you have. Our parents didn't speak of me in front of you and kept me a secret from you. But I'm your brother, Nathan."
It was not enough, Ezekiel knew that he had no proof that he was his brother, he knew that what he said was just making his brother very skeptical and more scared .
Nathan then said, "I want to go back." Ezekiel could tell that Nathan still didn't believe him and it was a complicated situation for him. Nathan's apparent willingness to go back to his toxic parents despite the abuse he endured just fueled Ezekiel anger towards them.
"You can't go back to them, it's not safe anymore," Ezekiel warned.
"Why?" Nathan asked.
"Take this," Ezekiel said, removing his shirt and tossing it gently towards nathan. Nathan didn't even make an effort to catch it but said,
"Mom...Dad...I want to go back."
"Make sure to wear this shirt until your clothes dry, and it is so cold here , therefore just sleep under the covers , okay !"