Chereads / The Centerfold Crow / Chapter 1 - A Look towards the Past

The Centerfold Crow

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Synopsis

Chapter 1 - A Look towards the Past

"The Highest: Cogito, Ergo Sum;

The Demon of Laplace's Parade"

"The Prime: Dubito, Ergo Sum;

The Shattered Eye became greyed"

"The Limitess: Somnio, Ergo Sum;

The Dream of Hermes is played"

A cacaphony of whispers rang in my head, They repeated repeated their statements endlessly like a prayer. Their whispers were akin to the growl of an animal. It was as though each voice could same several things at the same time. It's words were mixing into each, like a chaotic symphony.

Goddamnit, Shut the Fuck up!!!

What is this damned noise?

As I started to wake up, the voices calmed down. After what seemed like an eternity, A human voice rang out.

"Henson, I am very sorry but it might not be possible to save Henry. I am telling this to you, not as Henry's doctor, but as your friend."

What the hell!?

Why did that beastly voice change to a normal one?

Where am I?

No... Who am I?

Who is this Henry they are talking about?

Suddenly, I felt a warmth on my right hand. I heard a sad and trembling voice that sounded like that of middle aged man.

The crying voice was stuttering at first but the man was trying to hold back his emotions. It was obvious that he was crying. After some time, the man's voice gradually became clearer and more stable.

"I don't know how to say this but I know that you will not stay with me for long so I have to tell this and say it to you once more. I love you son, more than anyone else in the world. There is no one more important than you to me, not even my family. Please open your eyes, Please, I beg of you" The man, no... my father started to cry towards the end.

His voice was so emotional and desperate that even I wanted to open my eyes. But the moment I started to move my body, I felt nothing, no feeling at all in almost my whole body.

It was as though I had been asleep for weeks, my muscles too tired to move an inch. Only the index and middle finger of my right hand and head were capable of movement.

It was as though I was completely paralyzed from the neck down except for the two fingers on my right hand. With much difficulty, I snapped open my eyes and got out of trance I was in.

The man who stood beside me was sitting on a luxurious chair. He was not young but one wouldn't call him middle-aged. He had a light brown skintone with dark black hair on his scalp. He did not have facial hair and was clean shaven.

He had dark blue eyes like a polluted sea, which were currently bloodshot. His hair was combed but looked slightly rushed. He wore a black tuxedo with no buttons and no tie. The man was not ripped but he did have some muscle defination.

His face looked haggard and tired like he had no reason to live anymore. But the moment I opened my eyes, His face came to life with relief and such happiness that he looked like a kid.

He then hugged me on my bed. I couldn't even move my body. I then realised that I was actually paralyzed form the neck down and it was not just a dream.

I looked around to take in my surrounding area. It was mixture of grey and white. The lack of bright lights caused the room to take on a slightly muted look.

We were in an extremely high end VIP room at a hospital. There were large windows on the wheatish colored walls with dark green curtains blocking the sunlight.

There were several oil paintings and a black old clock that rested on the wall. It was 7:56 currently. I could not tell if it was A.M or P.M.

Though looking at the darkness that emanated from the unknown outside the windows, I was pretty sure that this was the afternoon.

Okay let's calm down and organise my thoughts first. Curently, there are only three people present in this large room; Me, a man I presume is my father and a middle aged man who I think is a doctor.

As I was calming down, the springs in my mind began to move. I then took a deep breath and the blurry memories in my mind started to become clear.

'I was Henry Henson, adopted son of the Trillionaire Entrepreneur, Victor Henson. Dad adopted me from St. Cory Orphanage which was located in Drawgon when he was a 23 year old multi millionaire.'

Dad actually later told me that he came to the orphanage to donate money and gifts as well as organise welfare events as a publicity stunt.

He wanted to create an image in the minds of the people that he was a charitable man but I knew that he was not even close to a good person.

And so, memories of the most important events of my life started to awaken in my mind...

++++++++[ Third Person P.O.V]++++++++

...

~9 Years Ago~

--------------------Henry's P.O.V--------------------

-In the Main Hall of St. Cory Orphanage-

-11:43 A.M-

"Children, Today an important guest is coming. I don't want any one to make noise, walk here and there, cause a nuisance or anything of that sort. If I see you doing anything that would displease our guest, You will go in to the 'playhouse' as punishment."

"Is everything clear?" Lady Yvonne said in a strict noise and cold voice.

Lady Yvonne was the Director of St. Cory orphanage. She was a 30 something woman that wore a white shirt and black blants with a light green overcoat.

She used a walking stick that she always kept with her because her ankle joint was broken by someone.

She had multiple jewelled decorations on her coat that looked like stars and butterflies shaped sapphires.

"Yes Ma'am, We understand" All the children of the orphanage said in a slightly scared tone.

The children were organised in seven rows that stood side by side. The children were dressed in clothes that, while not torn, looked like the bare minimum to presentable.

"Louder!, I can't hear you." Lady Yvonne frowned and yelled, becoming slightly angry at the children. The stress from such a big figure of their city arriving at their orphanage contributed to this anger in no small part.

"Yes Ma'am, We understand!" The children yelled loudly nervously with all the strength they could muster but there was deep-seated fear in their words and eyes.

These orphans were very scared and nervous because director was in a stressed mood. Lady Yvonne commanded respect because who almost every child here was scared of her, even the older children.

Actually, the older children were even more scared of her than the new orphans because they have witnessed her cruelty more often.

All children were scared of her and she punished every child equally, all of them.

All except Henry.

Henry was an 11-year old child who was born almost completely paralyzed from the neck down. I could only move my middle and index finger properly.

He had dense raven black hair decorating his head. They were combed nicely and were not longer than a finger. He had cloudy dark green eyes. His skin was very pale and smooth. His face would have been seen as cute if not for the cold expressionless face he had.

He wore much better clothes than the rest of the children, which was a set of garbs that included black boots, a white shirt, black trousers and a dark green waistcoat with a floral pattern.

While this was happening, something different was happening nearby...

----------------------------------------------------------

-In Room no. 6 of St. Cory Orphanage-

"When do you think this person, that the director has been talking about, going to arrive?" Morris said in a excited and anticipatory tone.

"I don't know, why do you want to know though? You aren't winning jack squat anyways." Henry Said with a expressionless face as he was immersed in a book that was levitating in front of him, flipping pages by itself. His index finger was pointing towards the book.

"Henry, Why do you even read books? You can't even write with your hands. You always read needlessly complex books about biology, chemistry, and physics for no reason" Morris questioned Henry about his obsession with science.

Henry looked at Morris with a gaze that should have been one of anger as Morris had insulted Henry but instead, it was a calm and serene look.

"Because I like learning unlike you. If my hands worked, you well enough that I would be the one getting that scholarship." Henry said with a sigh filled with slight disappointment.

"Yeah yeah, I know you are smart. Anyways how's your control of that psychokinesis going? I still can't believe that you have superpowers even after witnessing them for the past three years" Morris said with a jealous but bright tone.

"Its still pretty hard to perform delicate actions but I am getting better. Destruction and Force exertion are so easy, as though this power was made purely for destruction. I wonder, does anyone else have something similar?" Henry said in a curious voice.

"I don't really think anyone else has the powers that you have. Anyways, the scholarship exam is starting and I have got to go, bye" Morris said with a hurried voice.

"Bye, Goodluck for the exam even though you are clinging to the false hope that you will get good marks."

Morris goes to the main hall, leaving Henry alone. Henry sighs deeply and continues to read the book he was levitating.

---------------- Victor Henson P.O.V --------------

-Satiella Street-

-11:34 A.M-

In a Rolls Royce Boat Tail 6 Km away from St. Cory Orphanage, Two men were chatting.

The sky ladden with white clouds and cool breeze flowed gently throughout the entirety of Dragon. It was as though someone painted in the sky with blue and white.

"Markus, When are we going to reach the orphanage?" Victor said in a bored voice from the backseat of the carm

Victor looked pretty handsome and was a well dressed man, wearing a black business suit.

The person sitting in the driver's seat was Markus, Victor's secretary and current Chauffeur. Markus was dressed in an all white uniform with a white cabbie cap.

"Just 10 more minutes, Sir" Markus said with an annoyed face but polite tone.

After 10 minutes, Victor reached the orphanage and the director came out to welcome him.

"Welcome Sir, Please come with me to my office, we have prepared refreshments for you" Lady Yvonne said politely and almost reverently.

"Of Course, But there is still half an hour left before my speech. I wanted to have a round of the orphanage before giving my speech" Victor said with a smile but eyes containing coldness.

'Hmph... This woman thinks I was born yesterday. She really thinks I will fall in a seduction plan. Its better if I just take a walk, it's good for my health' Victor thought mockingly in his mind but showed no indication of his actual feelings on his face.

"Of Course, Sir Victor, Let me show you around our beautiful orphanage." Yvonne said with a polite voice but was annoyed on the inside.

"I actually wanted to go alone" Victor said with a slight smile and a gentle voice.

"As you wish, Sir" Lady Yvonne said this, turned around and walked away.

After walking for some distance, If one looked at Lady Yvonne's Face, they would see an expression of clear anger and annoyance.

'Well then, Let the adventure begin' Victor thought and moved towards the orphanage.

Although He never showed it, Victor was a curious person and loved thrill. He could convince his mind so that any slight adventure he had would give him thrill.

+++++++[ First Person P.O.V]++++++++

I walked towards the the orphanage, taking in the sight. It looked like a holy church surrounded by lush gardens. There were no children in the hallways and I walked unimpeded.

The ground was made of white marble time and the white walls of the orphanage shined with a holy light. There were large doors to my left and right.

If one looked inside them, they would see a large white room filled with countless beds with only a table beside each bed. The tables had usually a few books, around 2 to 3 placed on them as well as a jug of water and an empty glass.

However as I reached room no. 6, I saw a boy sitting on a wheel chair, a book levitating infront of him.

I just stood there, my mouth slightly open in awe and I was filled with such surprise that no words escaped my mouth. However I unknownly took a step towards him which informed the boy of my presence.

The book dropped from the air and our eyes met for the first time. The boy looked like he had seen a ghost, his face so full of surprise that it looked almost comical.

At that moment, Only one thought came and remained in our minds. We thought at the same time, the same thing.

'No Fucking Way...'