Jasper's anguished screams pierced the stale air, echoing off the crumbling walls of our dilapidated makeshift home. The chilling resonance of his pain seemed to seep into the very foundations of our refuge, making the timeworn wood and crumbling plaster bear witness to his suffering. Each act of brutality inflicted upon him was meticulously calculated to serve as a lesson in the most grotesque form of cruelty. Long, sharp needles were mercilessly driven into his eyes and nostrils, the sickening sound of tearing flesh filling the room. His head was brutally shaved, leaving patches of raw, bleeding skin exposed. Then, with horrifying precision, his scalp was slowly and agonizingly peeled back, layer by layer, revealing the white of his skull beneath. As if this wasn't enough, they proceeded to carve out chunks of flesh from his arms and legs, leaving behind gaping, bleeding wounds. Despite the unfathomable pain and the physical trauma, Jasper's will to survive and endure seemed unbreakable. Each time his anguished cries threatened to subside, they would cruelly force him to ingest a mysterious, foul-tasting liquid. This vile concoction acted as a macabre elixir, reviving him from the brink of unconsciousness to face even more unspeakable torment.
They made me watch it all. Ned and Ted would take turns making sure I was watching and even taped my eyes open so I couldn't pretend that this was a very bad nightmare.
Then came the next day, Eventually, the sadistic duo tired of their cruel game. Ted delivered a final, brutal blow to Jasper's foot. Then, with a high-five of sick satisfaction they walked away to whatever hole they crawled up from. They untied me of course and with a ferocious anger clouding my thoughts and my eyes turned red.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you little man, you got an ailing grandfather to take care of" said Ned while laughing.
Realizing the urgency of the situation, I knew I had to act quickly to help my ailing grandfather.I untangled myself from the restraints and sprinted across the room, dodging the discarded implements of torture scattered on the floor. I reached my grandfather's side, my hands trembling as I tried to help him up from the blood-spattered floor, my heart pounding loudly in my chest from the harrowing experience and the fear for my grandfather's life.
Then there was a knock on the door… shortly after the door was kicked in.
"We had another wonderful Idea" exclaimed Ted "What if we horribly disfigured a child infront of their father figure while they couldn't do anything, how cruel would that be?"
"We are somewhat of scientists ourselves" said Ned added, brandishing a sharp knife as he approached me
"Where should we do it this time? The legs? The stomach? The arms?" questioned Ned
"How about we gouge out both of his eyes, how cruel would that be" suggested Ted
"Perfect" exclaimed Ned as he shoved the knife into my right eye socket. Then with a maniacal grin he twisted the knife and pulled it out, he brought my right eye for me to look at my left eye being brought out as well.
"Well we'll be seeing you" said Ned as he walked away laughing.
"You'll only be able to hear us though" added Ted as he gave me the strange liquid to drink before he left and shut the door.
"Mike" yelled Jasper. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Grandpa. Where are you?" I replied, my voice shaking
"Mike I don't think I will make it, there are somethings I have to tell you about your parents" whispered Jasper
"I have no parent except you grandfather, don't speak of them, more over we need to get you some help" I answered.
"Listen Mike, these could very well be my final words" exclaimed Jasper
"Mike your parents were good people from the time I knew them to the time they dropped a little baby on my front door step, Mike they joined the competition to try and make a better life for you" stated Jasper
"Then where are they now? It's been more than a decade. They're probably dead." I said my voice breaking .
"The same thing that happeneds to all who enter the competition, they succumbed" said Jasper darkly.
"They tried their best and got very powerful but they knew they could only halt the corruption for a short period of time not eradicate it" said Jasper coughed weakly
"They brought you to me when they felt the corruption nearing completion and feared what they would become they then ran away to some far corner of the world to ensure they would nevet encounter us again" said Jasper struggling to speak.
The revelation hit me like a tidal wave. All the anger and resentment I'd harbored toward my parents for abandoning me and Jasper came crashing down. Tears streamed down my face as I realized the truth.
As Mike began sobbing and the tears began to turn in to large rivers flowing from his eyes, he regretted each time he hated his parents, each time he spat on them, each time cursed them, every single time.
While Mike was releasing what was soon becoming an ocean of tears Jasper touched his face softly. "Don't cry your parents don't blame you, they blame themselves for being so weak but before they left they gave me something to give to you next year on your 19th birthday." said Jasper.
"Sadly I won't be able to give it to you then as I don't have much time let so I will have to give it to you a little early" said Jasper as his voice was getting softer and his hand was slowly letting go of Mike's.
"Don't say that grandpa" cried Mike. "Your still young and have your whole life ahead of you".
"Heh" Jasper chuckled weakly it tinged with sadness. "I have lived a full life my only regret is not seeing you become the amazing man I know you will become."
Gasping for breath, he continued."The thing they left you is ontop of the closet, they said it will help you live an amazing life". said as his voice became even weaker and his pulse began slowing down.
"Mike remember that although the world is rampant with evil and wrongdoing it is better to do something good and die early than live a long life as someone evil." said Jasper as he began reaching for Mike's face.
"Also Mike know that there are also good people in the world even if they are in the extreme minority" said Jasper as he cupped Mike's face.
"Mike, I love you and wish the best for you. Become a person you and I can both be proud of," Jasper said, his voice filled with love and warmth.
Then suddenly his hand fell from Mike's face. Mike rushed to check his pulse and find it gone. He refused to let his grandpa die. "NOOOO GRANDPA" I screamed, frantically attempting CPR, but it was futile.
"GRANDPA" Mike cried "I WILL AVENGE YOU. AAAAAHHHHHHH." I yelled, consumed by grief and madness.
As time passed, I remained on the floor, holding Jasper's lifeless body. The torrent of tears and blood had dwindled to a trickle.
I awoke to the sensation of morning light on my face, but all I saw was darkness. My eyes were reduced to a dull gray, scarred and sightless.
"The gift" Mike remembered. He slowly got up and used his memory of the small hut to feel around and find the cabinet. His hands reach the top and found a small metal box.
"What is this" I wondered as he brought it down. "Can I eat it?."
Mike decided to carefully open it. Suddenly a bright blinding white light erupted from the box and then transformed into a small white flame.
Mike began to feel around the box and his finger gently touched the white flame, then it vanished. "I thought I felt something but there is nothing in here, how will a metal box help me live a good life, how will it help me avenge grandpa." I lamented, tears welling in my sightless eyes.
Exhausted and overwhelmed with grief, I decided to rest. I slowly moved around the room, searching for Jasper's bed. Finally, I found it and lay down, the scent of my grandfather surrounding me.
"I don't know what I was expecting but I should rest so I can plan my vengeance against those who harmed us." Mike said bitterly.
"It smells like Grandpa," I whispered, realizing that I would never see him again, never hear his stories about justice and good people, never receive his advice. This realization hit Mike deep again. Water then appeared in his eyes as he began to acknowledge these things and cry, he then cried himself to sleep. But just before he fell asleep he thought he heard something, a soft mechanical voice echoed in the darkness.
"Finally"