Chereads / The Hollow Veil / Chapter 22 - Family ties.

Chapter 22 - Family ties.

"Just like my father," they always said. No matter what I do, his name is there—looming over me, like I'm not my own person. The man who supposedly saved me, who gave me this life, is the same one who cursed it with all the pain I endure. He didn't save me from anything. He saved me from his own mistakes, mistakes that are now mine to carry.

"AHHHH!" Humans. Girls. Boys. You're all the same. I try so hard to distance myself from being like you, but the more I fight it, the more I'm dragged in—again and again, in the sweetest, most painful way possible. And that's love. Stupid, senseless love. It's made me everything I am today.

But no, Michael. Don't go there again. This one has to work. It has to.

With that, my eyes flew open, light cutting through my eyelids like a blade. I sat up immediately, but I froze when I felt her—soft, warm, familiar. Her scent was the first thing I recognized, followed by her face. Elizabeth. My Elizabeth. She lay curled on my lap, her face worn but smiling. Slowly, she lifted her head, meeting my gaze.

"Please don't do that again," she said softly, her voice tinged with relief. "You can't die on me… at least not yet."

We both laughed weakly. But when I turned, I saw Yinka, propped up on a clinic bed, and beside him was Precious.

Gently shifting Elizabeth, I climbed down from the bed and walked toward Precious. I knelt by her ear, my voice a low whisper.

"You've found a better version of me—someone deceivable, someone you can control. But it's funny, even knowing that, I couldn't let you die. Even though I wanted to. Have a nice life, Nmesoma. And stop pretending to be 'Precious.' That was just a name I gave you, back when you actually were—Precious to me, and me alone."

She gasped, but I didn't wait for a response.

I turned to Yinka next. Stretching my hand out, I offered a shake. To my surprise, he took it.

"You're a good boy," I said, smirking, "but you played the wrong games with the wrong girl. Play with whoever you want, just not her. Got it?"

He nodded, though I saw the shock on his face when I added, "Oh, and Zeus—you can't hide forever in this boy."

Yinka's mouth opened, stunned. How did I know? But before he could question it, I was already walking back to Elizabeth, taking her hand.

"Michael," she asked softly, "what happened to your father? Where is he?"

I didn't look at her as I replied, my voice hollow. "He isn't here, Elizabeth."

And that was it. She didn't push further—she was too smart for that. She could see I wasn't ready, that my head was too clouded.

As we walked through the halls of Emox, the other students glanced our way, but no one dared to hold their gaze. They were scared. I didn't care.

I had only one destination: Mr. Bola's office.

When I arrived, the door creaked open, and there he stood—seven feet tall, smiling like he was proud.

"So you've finally come, Michael, my boy," he said.

"What do you want, Bola?" I snarled. "And why is everyone here hiding their names? You're no different, you bastard grandfather."

His smile widened as his face shifted into an older, more sinister version of itself. "Oh, you figured it out. Even after all this time, all these layers of disguise. Impressive."

"Elizabeth," I said coldly, "please excuse us."

But he stepped forward, his tone light and mocking. "No, no. Let her stay. After all, she is our beloved, isn't she?"

His words tore through me like claws. No. No, no, no. He couldn't take her too. Not her. My legs shook, my breath quickened. I felt my claws itch, the transformation threatening to surface. I had to stop it. I couldn't let her see me like this.

"Please," I begged, my voice cracking. "Don't do this. Don't take her from me. I'm begging you."

He laughed, his tone dark and amused. "Who said I'm taking her away? No, no, Michael. You'll destroy her yourself. Just like you destroyed the others." He leaned closer, his voice dropping. "You'll always be like me, my grandson. My son."

Turning to Elizabeth, he smiled kindly, like he wasn't the monster I knew him to be. "You seem to love him, my dear. Be strong. Loving one of us is hard, but if you truly care for him, never leave him. That's the one thing he can't survive."

Before I could react, his tone shifted again, back to that formal, calculated teacher voice.

"Michael and Elizabeth, you've been assigned to Class A. Congratulations."

It was like nothing had happened. He acted like the entire encounter hadn't just shattered me from the inside out.

Elizabeth's hand was warm in mine, but I barely felt it as I stumbled out of his office. The moment we were alone, I embraced her, holding her like she was the only thing keeping me tethered to the earth.

"I hate life," I whispered into her hair, "but I need it—to be with you. I love death, but I fight it to keep you. Elizabeth, my love, I'll fight them all. Just bear it with me."

With that, I pulled away and walked down the hallway, determined to bury this pain with power.

"I'll become stronger," I muttered to myself. "The strongest Emoxian. I have to."

Elizabeth's Thoughts:

As Michael disappeared into the distance, she watched him with quiet determination.

"I have to be stronger," she thought. "To support him, to keep him from being crushed by the weight he carries. To remind him that he's human—that blood flows through his veins, even when he forgets.

And maybe, when I'm sure, I'll know if he's truly the one."

Michael's Inner Monologue:

"Self-manipulation," I scoffed to myself as I walked. "I'm in love, huh? I know she's the one.

As far as I'm concerned, we're already in a relationship. She just doesn't know it yet.

It's all just manipulation."

And I laughed.