Past Moments
Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting shifting patterns on the forest floor. Arun, a boy of ten with eyes brimming with wonder, tugged excitedly at his parents' hands. "Mom, Dad, look at this tree! It's massive! Can we eat lunch here?"
His mother smiled, her voice a gentle melody. "Of course, Arun. Let's spread out the blanket and enjoy this beautiful spot."
Arun's father, a man built like an oak tree, with hands roughened by years of labor, helped his wife unpack their picnic basket. The air buzzed with the drone of cicadas and the cheerful chirping of birds. They ate, savoring the simple meal, the warmth of the sun seeping into their skin, their laughter echoing through the tranquil woods.
Afterward, Arun, his small heart overflowing with love, declared, "Mom and Dad, I love you!"
Their faces, moments before filled with adoration, contorted with a horror that chilled him to the bone. Their voices, thick with disbelief and a terror that echoed through the trees, cried out, "Then why, son? Why did you do this to us?" Their clothes, once bright with the colors of a summer day, were now stained a sickening crimson.
Present
Arun jolted awake, a scream caught in his throat. The cold, damp walls of his cell pressed in on him, the remnants of the nightmare clinging like a suffocating shroud. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his heart hammering against his ribs.
"Hey, kid, what's wrong? You having a bad dream?" a gruff voice rumbled from the bunk below.
Arun, his breath coming in ragged gasps, managed a shaky, "Yeah... just a dream."
The other inmate, a mountain of a man with a shaved head and a thick, bristling mustache, heaved himself up. "So, what are you in for?"
Shame washed over Arun, hot and suffocating. "I... I killed my parents."
The inmate's eyebrows shot up, his mustache twitching in surprise. "Why'd you do that?"
Arun's voice was barely a whisper, choked with guilt and confusion. "I don't know. I... I didn't mean to..."
"You're getting shipped to Jagraban tomorrow, right?" the inmate asked, his voice low.
Arun nodded, a knot of dread tightening in his stomach. "Yeah."
The inmate whistled low. "Man, that's a rough place. Guys get shanked in the showers there. You gotta watch your back every second."
Arun, his curiosity piqued, asked, "What are you in for?"
"Grand theft auto," the inmate replied with a shrug. "Piece of cake compared to your mess. I'll be out in five days."
Suddenly, the jailor's harsh voice echoed through the cell block. "Lights out! You two, get some sleep. You've got a long ride tomorrow."
Jagraban Prison
The prison yard was a swirling vortex of noise and violence. Shouts, curses, and the clang of metal on metal filled the air, punctuated by the rhythmic thud of hammers against stone. Arun, still reeling from his nightmare and the inmate's warning, felt a shiver crawl down his spine. He clutched the small wooden cross his mother had given him, seeking a comfort he couldn't find.
"Boss, new fish," a voice sneered from behind him. "Should we recruit him? Or maybe he'll join Karim's crew."
"Let's find out, Jacky," the Boss replied, his voice a low growl.
They sauntered towards Arun, who was listlessly swinging a hammer, his mind a maelstrom of fear and confusion.
"Well, well, lookie here. Fresh meat," the Boss drawled, a cruel smirk twisting his lips.
"Yeah, so?" Arun retorted, trying to project a bravado he didn't feel.
"You got a problem with how you're talking to your elders, kid?" Jacky snarled, stepping closer.
"Back off, Jacky," the Boss snapped. He turned back to Arun, his voice dripping with mockery. "So, you're the mama's boy who offed his own parents? Ha!"
Arun's control fractured. "I didn't kill them!" he roared, the sound echoing through the yard, silencing the cacophony for a fleeting moment. "I didn't!"
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the crowd. Karim, a towering man with a jagged scar bisecting his face, strode towards Jacky. With lightning speed, he punched Jacky in the face, sending him sprawling to the ground. Before Jacky could recover, Karim slammed his boot into the man's gut.
"What did I tell you about messing with my crew?" Karim growled, his voice low and dangerous.
"You think you can get away with that?" the Boss yelled, his face contorted with fury.
Karim lunged at the Boss, his fingers reaching for his throat. The Boss, caught off guard, barely managed to deflect the attack. The air crackled with tension as the two men faced off, their eyes locked in a silent, deadly battle of wills.