The infamous day Yanis always spoke of was on the morning of August 31, 2012. As per usual, the family was seated around the table, sharing yet another gloomy breakfast. The mother was on the verge of burnout, her hair greasy and unkempt, and the son had become emotionless, living solely to obey his father. The only man in the house with a smile on his face was Jack. He took pride in watching his son grow, aiming for him to become the most powerful man on Earth.
"I'm so proud of you, Yanis. In a few years, you'll be the most powerful man on this planet!"
"Yes, father," replied Yanis in the most neutral tone imaginable.
As they continued their silent breakfast, the hum of helicopter blades overhead shattered the quiet. Doubt clouded Jack's expression, but before he could react, the door exploded open. It was the GIGN - the French elite tactical unit.
Seizing her only chance, the distraught mother grabbed Yanis, aiming to run as far away as possible. Sadly, she was not as quick as Jack, who violently grabbed her by the hair, using her as a human shield.
"Don't move!" commanded one of the GIGN officers, aiming at Jack.
Watching from the side, Yanis stood still, awaiting instructions from his father, showcasing just how manipulated he had become.
"I bet it was this woman who called you!"
"Let her go, now," the officer demanded again.
"Marie, you're nothing but a whore! How did I ever take you as my wife?"
"First warning!"
The GIGN readied themselves. It was do or die to save this family.
"Go ahead! She's just a woman, nothing but an object to me!"
Hearing Jack's harsh words, tears of profound despair streamed down her face. It was heartbreaking for her to see Yanis, her child, so still and controlled.
"Look at her cry!"
"Just don't hurt my son..." she sobbed.
"I'll do what I want! So shut your damn mouth!"
"Second warning!"
"Enough with your warnings! They're as pointless as this woman!"
"Final warning!"
"Yanis, grab a gun!"
Deliberately, Yanis moved to a drawer, retrieving a Glock 17. He disabled the safety with a thumb movement, positioning himself center stage, waiting once more for a command from his father.
"That's it! Now, dear GIGN officers, lower your weapons."
With Yanis aiming at them and following only his father's commands, the agents felt helpless. A heartbroken Marie looked at Yanis, tears streaming.
"Yanis! Don't listen to him!" she pleaded.
Jack hit her hard across the face.
"Shut up, you whore!" he yelled, tightening his grip on her throat.
"Yanis... remember the zoo trip?"
Yanis turned to look at his terrified mother.
"You remember?" she whimpered.
Sadly, without his father's instruction, Yanis couldn't reply.
"A giraffe approached you... and when you looked into its eyes... It licked your forehead... and you were happy about making a new friend."
"Shut her up!"
For the first time in what seemed like ages, Yanis nodded in agreement with his mother.
"I know deep down, you're still there. You're not a puppet..."
"Yanis, shoot her now!"
Yanis prepared to pull the trigger on his mother, his Glock 17 pointed at her. The agents watched, powerless to stop the impending tragedy. Tears poured down her face as she saw her life flashing before her eyes.
"Yanis... When you come back to your senses... Know that I've always lo-"
Her words were cut off as Yanis shot her in the head. Having killed his mother without a second thought, Jack praised his son for his obedience.
"Good jo-"
With Jack's guard down, a GIGN agent shot him between the eyes. The echoing sound of the dropped gun reverberated in Yanis' head as he stared at his deceased parents on the floor.
After that, I was transferred to a psychiatric center for treatment... Then I was taught everything I needed to know, because my father had never taken me to school. And so I entered school for the very first time in my life.
After many long years, Yanis finally embarked on his fifth-grade year. Smiling and with a newfound personality, he made his entrance into the bustling classroom. He stood in front of the blackboard, clutching his backpack, calm and reserved. A compassionate and slightly shy smile appeared on his lips.
"Could you introduce yourself?" asked the teacher.
"My name is Yanis Lagrand... I am 11 years old... And I am happy to with among you!"
"It's 'I am happy to be among you,' not 'to with.'"
"I'm sorry…"
"It's alright, Yanis. Don't beat yourself up over it."
The teacher stood up and walked over to the young boy, placing her hands on his shoulders and rubbing them gently as if to reassure him.
"Children, this is your new classmate. Please be kind and gentle with him. Life hasn't been easy for him."
"Hello, Yanis!" the class greeted in unison.
As Yanis walked towards his assigned desk, he spotted a girl whose beauty and smile made his cheeks turn pink. She had long brown hair that touched her shoulders and her warm smile was complemented by piercing emerald eyes that would captivate any child's heart.
"Alright, take out your notebooks, children," instructed the teacher, signaling the start of the lesson.
All the kids reached into their backpacks for their notebooks, all except Yanis, who seemed a bit overwhelmed. However, the girl next to him showed him her notebook with a little wiggle.
"This is a notebook."
"Thanks…"
He pulled out his own notebook and began to follow the lesson like the others.
"My name is Léa Gaudier. Want to be friends?"
"Um... sure!"
And that's how I made my first friend.
Later that evening, Yanis walked the streets on his way to his adoptive parents' home. Along the way, he encountered two thugs, arms folded and dressed in tracksuits.
"Hey, kid, come here!" one of them called out.
Innocent and naive, Yanis approached them, arms trembling and head lowered.
"What do you want?" he replied in a similar tone.
"We'll get straight to the point, kid! We need money. So, be a good boy and give us everything you've got."
"Or we'll hurt you real bad!"
"But I don't had any money on me."
The two teenagers laughed at Yanis's improper phrasing.
"I swear, this kid doesn't know how to speak!"
"Seriously ahah! But anyway…"
Suddenly, Yanis found himself face to face with one of the muggers. The latter, losing patience, grabbed Yanis violently by the collar, staring him down.
"Hand over the mone—"
Before he could finish, Yanis instinctively executed the moves his father had taught him. He attacked the two muggers with astonishing agility and speed, such that it seemed like the air itself was splitting. When he snapped back to reality, Yanis realized his feat as he heard an awestruck child behind him. The young boy, absolutely ecstatic, shook Yanis in excitement.
"Wow, that was so cool! How did you do that?"
"I... don't know. It's like I just did it automatically."
"What's your name?"
"Yanis Lagrand. What's yours?"
"Ryan Dumier. I'm in fourth grade."
"I'm in fifth."
"Wanna be friends?"
[Back at the Lost Ones's residence, present day]
The atmosphere at the table was thick with a sense of compassion and melancholy. The unveiling of Yanis's past had awakened in them an early maturity about the sad reality of human cruelty. Who were they to lament their own fates when someone had suffered more?
"So, now you know the basics," Yanis sighed.
"I'm sorry, Yanis," whispered Alora. "I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. I thought you were a hitman or something..."
"No, the only person I ever killed was my own mother. And I regret it deeply."
The room grew heavier as Yanis shared his tragic tale. It was Alora who finally broke the paralyzing silence that had settled for minutes.
"It's been an emotional evening, huh?" she remarked with a chuckle. "But now we know each other a little better, don't we?"
"That's true," mumbled Jacob, pushing food around on his plate.
"And you, Gwendoline?" Yanis queried, his voice soft. "What brought you here?"
"Hey!" Alora cut in, a note of reproach in her tone. "That's a bit personal, isn't it?"
"It's okay," Gwendoline said, her voice calm. "I'm ready to share."
"Are you sure?"
She paused for a moment, setting her fork aside and taking a deep breath. "I was adopted. I don't really know my birth parents. My adoptive parents told me I was a very difficult and cruel child."
"Cruel?" Alora interrupted, puzzled.
"Yes, I had no empathy for others. That's why I was given up. But in my new family, things changed. Especially with my new siblings."
"I see," Yanis murmured.
"But that peace didn't last," Gwendoline continued. "When I was 12, my parents' business went under. The debts piled up until they just couldn't bear it anymore. They... they took their own lives. My siblings and I were left with the burden, and eventually, we went our separate ways. My older sister and I lived together for a while, but I fell into depression and bullying. And here I am."
Jacob looked down, unable to meet her eyes. "I'm sorry, Gwendoline."
"Everyone has scars," Yanis said quietly. "Hopefully, we can help each other heal and move forward."
"Beautifully put, Yanis," Alora remarked.
Jacob shifted awkwardly. "And you, Alora? What's your story?"
Alora hesitated, her gaze dropping. "Well..."
"You don't want to share?" Jacob pressed.
Alora avoided their stares. "We're not here to judge, right? That's what you said," reminded Rogue.
"I... I'm just an ordinary girl," she began. "I like shopping, hanging out with friends, the usual stuff. But I remember all my dreams, every single one. I've always had an overactive subconscious."
"That's why your realm is all about dreams!" exclaimed Jacob, realization dawning.
"Yes," she replied, her voice soft.
Standing up, she cleared her dishes and headed for the kitchen. "I'm going to bed. Sleep's important, you know. Goodnight, everyone."
She made her way up the stairs, leaving the others staring after her, confusion evident on their faces.
"She's hiding something," Jacob remarked as he finished his meal.
"She definitely has a past," Rogue added.
Yanis sighed. "Behind that kind exterior, there might be a lot of pain..."
"How do you figure?" Gwendoline asked.
"Trust me, I've seen people like that. It doesn't end well."
The melancholic conversation faded as the teens finished their meal in a weighty silence.