The dark memory shifted, bringing Seraphina, the female protagonist, and the main character to a small, dimly lit room. The air was thick and suffocating, filled with a tension that made it difficult to breathe. In the corner, a woman lay crumpled on the floor, her delicate features contorted in pain. Sophia, Kai's mother, struggled to catch her breath as Derek loomed over her, his eyes wild with rage. He gripped her by the neck, pressing down with brutal force as she gasped, her voice breaking as she fought to breathe.
"No... please, stop," Sophia managed to choke out, her eyes wide with desperation.
In the doorway stood a young boy, no more than ten years old, trembling with fear and helplessness as he watched the brutal scene unfold. His small fists clenched tightly, and his heart pounded in his chest. This was Kai—young, innocent, and forced to witness the unimaginable. But as he watched his mother suffer, something inside him snapped.
"Leave her alone!" Kai's voice was a mixture of terror and fury as he shouted at his father. "Don't hurt my mom, you... you monster!"
Derek sneered, ignoring the boy's cries, his grip tightening as Sophia's struggles weakened. She was on the verge of losing consciousness, her breaths shallow and labored.
"Mom, no! Don't let him hurt you! I'll protect you, no matter what it takes!" Kai's eyes filled with tears, but his resolve hardened. With a scream, he charged toward his father, his small body trembling with rage and desperation.
Derek released Sophia, shoving her aside as if she were nothing more than a discarded piece of paper. She fell to the floor with a heavy thud, her body limp, her head hitting the ground with a sickening crack. Blood began to seep from a deep gash on her forehead, staining her pale skin as she lay motionless.
Kai's heart shattered at the sight, and something inside him broke. Without thinking, he grabbed the nearest knives—four of them, sharp and gleaming—and hurled them at his father with all the strength his small frame could muster.
The first knife struck Derek's hand, causing him to drop the bottle he held. The second knife buried itself in his neck, blood spurting from the wound. The third knife found its mark in his chest, and Derek stumbled, his eyes widening with shock as he looked down at the blood pooling around him.
Kai stepped forward, his face cold and resolute, his small figure silhouetted against the dark, blood-streaked room. "I will protect the weak," he said, his voice filled with a quiet fury. "And I will bring balance to this world. Starting with you."
With those words, Kai drove the final knife into Derek's head, ending his father's life with a calm, determined expression. Derek's body fell, lifeless, to the floor, the cruelty and rage that had consumed him now silenced forever.
Kai stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, his gaze fixed on his father's still form. Then he turned to his mother, hope flickering in his eyes as he knelt beside her.
"Mom… I did it. I protected you. Now we can live the life we always wanted." His voice wavered as he spoke, his words a mixture of relief and desperation.
Sophia's eyes fluttered open, weak and unfocused. She struggled to raise a trembling hand, placing it gently on Kai's cheek. "My dear Kai…" she whispered, her voice barely audible, each word a struggle. "Promise me… promise me you'll protect… those who cannot protect themselves."
Kai's eyes filled with tears, and he nodded fervently. "I will, Mom. I promise. But please, don't go. Let me call for an ambulance. You'll be okay… you have to be okay."
But there was no response. Her hand remained on his cheek, unmoving, as the life slowly slipped from her body. Kai's heart raced as he shook her gently, his voice growing frantic. "Mom? Please, wake up. Don't leave me. I need you. Mom… please…"
Still, there was no response. The room fell silent, save for the sound of Kai's desperate cries as he clung to his mother's lifeless body. Her gentle hand rested on his cheek, forever frozen in that final, loving gesture.
"MOM!" Kai screamed, his voice breaking as he held her close, unwilling to accept the cold reality that had stolen her from him. "Mom… we were supposed to be happy… we were supposed to be free…"
Seraphina's heart shattered as she watched the scene unfold, tears streaming down her face. The female protagonist and the main character stood frozen in shock, unable to look away from the heartbreaking sight before them. They could feel the depth of Kai's pain, his anguish searing through their own hearts as they witnessed the tragedy that had defined his life.
The memory began to shift, darkening once more, as the trio found themselves in a different setting.
---
Part 2: Kai's Dark Path
The memory transformed into the shadows of an alley, where a slightly older Kai stood, his face hardened, his gaze cold. Around him were members of a gang, each one with a look of respect—and fear—for the boy who had proven himself time and again. Kai's life had taken a dark turn, but he had channeled his pain and anger into a mission to protect those who couldn't protect themselves, just as he had promised his mother.
Seraphina recognized him immediately, her heart aching as she saw the emptiness in his eyes. He looked older than his years, a boy forced to grow up too soon, his childhood stolen by the brutality of his past.
Kai's voice was steady as he spoke to the gang members around him. "We're not just here to fight. We're here to make a difference. To protect those who need it. No one should have to suffer like I did."
The female protagonist and main character exchanged glances, a sense of admiration mixed with sorrow filling their hearts. They could see that, despite the darkness surrounding him, Kai had remained true to his promise, using his pain as fuel to protect others.
But the darkness wasn't finished with him yet.
---
Part 3: The Betrayal
The final memory unfolded on a quiet street, illuminated only by the flickering streetlights. Kai walked alone, a sense of unease prickling at the back of his mind. His phone buzzed, and he answered, hearing his mother's voice echo softly on the other end.
"Kai, I'm proud of you… I always will be…" Her voice was distant, and Kai clutched the phone, his heart aching at the familiar warmth.
"I love you, Mom. I'll make you proud," he whispered, but before he could say more, the sound of an engine roared from behind.
Kai turned, his eyes widening as a truck sped toward him. The memory froze, capturing the moment of impact—the betrayal that had been planned by enemies who feared his growing power, the attack that would ultimately end his life in this world and send him into another.
Seraphina gasped, reaching out instinctively, though she knew she could do nothing to stop what was about to happen. The female protagonist and the main character stood in silent horror, witnessing the tragic fate that had befallen the boy they had come to know and care for.
The memory faded, and Kai's voice echoed in the darkness, a faint whisper filled with both determination and sorrow. "Mom… I'll keep my promise. I'll protect them. I'll protect them all."
Seraphina's heart clenched as the memory dissolved, leaving them in silence, the weight of Kai's pain pressing down on them like a heavy fog. She realized now, more than ever, the depth of his strength, the sacrifices he had made, and the burden he carried.
And as the darkness enveloped them once more, Seraphina, the female protagonist, and the main character stood resolute, determined to bring Kai back from the abyss and ensure that he would never have to face his demons alone again.