Sebastian saunters closer, and his eyes silently observe the scars on the pale flesh. His entire body has red, linear streaks that resemble whip marks layered and cross one another.
He had some on his upper arms and chest while crossing his arms.
Sebastian could see that the youngster had been horribly harmed by someone. Someone who harbored intense hatred for this young man.
Looking at the scarred flesh, he could see that someone with a great deal of hatred or hatred had intended to do the boy's harm.
Sebastian carefully extends his hand to place it on Atlas's cheeks. His face was carefully masked so as not to reveal his real emotions on display. A deep ugly feeling slowly crawled into his chest like unbridled fury. His mind was consumed on who had done this. Was it Atlas's father?
Atlas's face flinches as the hand reaches toward him. His racing heart settled down immediately after realizing Sebastian had no intention of hurting him. He felt a cold hand stroking his cheeks lightly. He sighed in relief since it was soothing and relaxing.
His dark eyes look curiously at Sebastian. Some part of him wonders if he would show some kind of disgust or contempt on his face. Atlas's eyes observe for any genuine emotions behind his gaze.
It was challenging to read. His face was carefully masked blank, making him look hardened and his eyes were piercing. "Was it your father?"
Atlas swallowed hard as his mind was ensnared in gut-wrenching memories, but Sebastian's icy fingers on his cheeks kept him anchored to the present.
He whispered in a raspy voice and he had no idea why he confessed to his atrocity. It must have been a moment of insanity. "Y–yea. It was him and I killed him."
Sebastian's lips curled to a cold smile and said softly, but the tone was held with a veiled menace. "Good."
Atlas was taken back by what he heard, he also felt somewhat comforted.
Even though I should feel terrified of what I did, my heart was filled with sick satisfaction of joy when I thrust my father in the heart with my mother's knife, producing a crunching noise. Warm blood splattered across my face as I watched my father's eyes widen agape and terror before it went awfully empty.
Sebastian cocked his head to study Atlas's expression, which had grown thoughtful. His mind wasn't here but trapped somewhere else.
His eyes briefly flashed purple double pupils before turning to a regular black. Sebastian lightly taps his cheek a couple of times to get his attention. Atlas's eyes returned focused and gazed at him curiously. "What?"
Sebastian asks curiously, "What were you just thinking about now?"
Atlas lets out an annoyed scowl, "None of your business."
Sebastian could tell from his voice that he wasn't truly irritated. Sebastian lets out an amused chuckle. How coincidental. He would tell Atlas numerous times that it was none of his concern as he wished to keep Atlas out of it. Hearing it from him directed at himself feels a bit ironic.
He tugged Atlas's cheek with a smirk. "Sit down. I want to apply the medicine on your chest."
Atlas gradually lowered himself on the dry soil, which was hard beneath his legs. Sebastian bent his knees while maintaining a safe distance away from the boy. His fingers were coated with medicine as he applied it to Atlas's chest.
Atlas let out a pained grunt before his muscles coiled up. His hands gripped his knees firmly.
His pale chest bore deep claw marks where dried blood and medicine were melded together.
Sebastian narrowed his eyes.
I'm surprised this boy hasn't passed out from the pain and exhaustion. I was aware he was hurt, but not to this extent. I was focused on trying to leave the area. I hadn't heard him make a single complaint in the past half hour. This boy's resilience is remarkable, where others would have given up.
Sebastian watched him silently exhale slowly. Atlas watches him with a blank gaze. "What?"
Sebastian wipes the last residual of the medicine against his pants. He raised to his feet as he replied nonchalantly. "I'm going to take a bath. Stay here and keep warm."
Sebastian listens to him shuffling over to the firewood. Sebastian walked near the pond which took nearly five minutes. He pulled the hem of his shirt off before he undid his belt, and slipped out of the pants. He folded his clothes neatly and stacked them in a pile on the ground.
He walks into the pond where cold water rises to his hips. He splashed the water over his hands. Blood gradually spread in the water. He slowly rubs his skin and lets clear water flow over his head.
He listened for any noise throughout the woods. It was quiet and dark. He covered his mouth with a weary yawn before he made a sudden decision.
His head gradually sinks below the surface. Water seeped into his ears, creating a full sensation. Behind his closed eyelids, he couldn't perceive anything. It was complete darkness. His chest felt a heaviness as he held his breath. He concentrated on the sounds near to him. He could hear a movement through the waters.
Both of his hands reached out to grab the nearest object, but the slippery thing slipped from his grasp at the last second.
He waited eagerly for the next one. The chase stirred his instinctive side. He anticipated any subtle movement. His ears zeroed on the approaching sound to his left side. He lingered for a while until his hands went out to seize the slippery thing that's wiggling in his hands.
He emerged from the water with an exhilarating gasp before he blinked a few times to clear the burning water from his eyes. He observes the slippery fish wiggling in his hand like a captured prey. He lets out a smug smile across his lips. "Sorry, little guy. Looks like you'll be dinner."
He inhales deeply before releasing a couple of hard coughs. His chest ached from the strain of not getting enough air. His nose exhales forcefully in the night air.
The fish was about the size of his hand. Sebastian had to hold onto the twitching fish as it tried to escape his firm grasp. It had a compressed, saucer-shaped body. It is mostly green olive with an orange to yellowish body and bluish-purple tint of glimmer on its cheeks. It has black earlops on its side and its slightly forked tail fin has rounded lobes.
Sebastian watches it get more frantic as it beats its tail against his palm with greater intensity. He narrowed his gaze, "Don't think about it. You're not getting away."
At the last moment, he snapped the fish's neck until it made a popping sound. He watched it lay in his palm until its body became motionless. Its eyes become lifeless and vacant.
His solitary figure glides through the water with effortless grace.