It wasn't enough for them to bully me. One day, Kai and Ella decided I didn't deserve to exist.
I was twelve. The three of us had been sent to explore the royal gardens under the guise of "bonding." The gardens were vast, full of twisting paths, towering trees, and hidden ponds. It was beautiful—until it became a trap.
Kai and Ella led me toward the old bridge that crossed the Serpent's Pond. I hesitated. Everyone knew the stories about that place. Beneath the murky water were serpents—vicious, magical creatures that would drag you under if given the chance.
"Don't be scared, little brother," Kai said, smirking. "It's just water."
Ella chimed in, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "You want to be king, don't you? A king shouldn't fear a harmless pond."
Before I could respond, Kai shoved me onto the bridge. The wood was old, rotting in places. It creaked ominously as I stumbled forward, struggling to keep my balance.
"Go to the middle," Ella said, her arms crossed as she leaned against a tree. "Or are you too much of a coward?"
I didn't want to show fear, not to them. So, I walked. Step by shaky step, I reached the center of the bridge. That's when I heard it—the snap of ropes being cut.
I turned just in time to see Kai, holding a dagger, grinning as he slashed the final rope holding the bridge together.
"Goodbye, Billy," he said.
The bridge collapsed beneath me.
I hit the water hard, the cold stealing the breath from my lungs. I thrashed, trying to stay afloat, but the current was too strong. I saw shapes moving beneath the surface—serpents, their glowing eyes fixed on me.
"Help!" I screamed, but Kai and Ella just stood there, watching. Ella looked almost bored, while Kai laughed.
I thought I was going to die. Then, out of nowhere, a roar echoed through the garden. Not mine—something deeper, fiercer. The serpents froze, their glowing eyes dimming, before they scattered into the depths.
I don't know how I made it to the shore. My body was trembling, my lungs burning, and my mind racing. When I looked back, Kai and Ella were gone.
They had left me to die.
That night, as I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, one thought burned in my mind: I wasn't safe. Not from them. If I was going to survive, I needed to become stronger. Strong enough to face them. Strong enough to protect myself.For they wanted to get rid of me.
---
I still remember that day vividly. I was fourteen, desperate, and out of breath as I ran through the winding halls of the castle, trying to escape Kai and Ella. They had cornered me again, but this time I refused to let them get their hands on me. I ducked into an unfamiliar corridor, my heart pounding like a war drum.
The hallway was dark, dust clinging to every surface as if it had been forgotten by time. At the end of it, I stumbled upon a door I had never noticed before. Its frame was made of ancient wood, with carvings of serpents and stars, and the handle was cold metal shaped like a lion's head.
Instinctively, I pushed it open, and what I saw took my breath away.
It was a museum—a hidden chamber filled with relics from the kingdom's forgotten past. The air was thick with magic, an unexplainable hum that seemed to vibrate through my bones. Shelves stretched to the ceiling, holding objects that seemed alive in their stillness.
I saw a crown made of emeralds that sparkled even in the dim light, a sword encased in glass with runes glowing faintly along its blade, and a silver staff crackling with blue lightning, as if it held a storm within.
And then there was the orb, The Dark Orb.
It sat on a pedestal in the center of the room, black as the void, with faint tendrils of red swirling inside it. I felt drawn to it, yet something deep within me warned me to stay away. The air around it was cold, heavy, and suffocating. I didn't understand it then, but I knew this orb was dangerous.
As I turned, my eyes landed on something even stranger—a massive mirror.
The frame was golden, etched with intricate designs of suns and moons, and one of its sides touched the floor, leaning against the wall like a silent guardian. I approached it slowly, my reflection staring back at me: a scrawny, terrified fourteen-year-old boy.
Then the mirror began to glow.
The reflection shimmered, and suddenly, it wasn't me staring back anymore. It was an older version of myself—taller, stronger, dressed in regal armor with a crown resting on my head. A king.
I stumbled backward, my heart racing. The reflection smiled, calm and assured, and then it spoke.
"Where do you want to go, Billy?"
I froze, unable to answer. Before I could comprehend what was happening, the glow faded, and the mirror returned to normal.
That's when I saw her behind me.
"Mother," I whispered, turning to face her.
She stood there, radiant as always, her presence both comforting and surreal. She looked at me with a soft smile, her eyes filled with warmth.
"You shouldn't be here, son," she said gently, her voice soothing my frayed nerves. "Come, let me show you a few more things, and then we'll go."
She led me deeper into the room, pointing out artifacts and explaining their significance. Her voice was calm, but there was an urgency in her tone, as if she knew time was short.
I followed her silently, absorbing her words and the strange, unshakable sense that this moment was important—that this place, these items, and even that mirror would play a role in my future.
---
I kept running, always running—from her, from them, from everything. But how long could I keep it up? I wasn't Sonic the Hedgehog or the DC Flash. I was just a scared, powerless boy with nowhere to go.
I wanted to tell Dad, but he was always drowning in kingly duties. Mother? She was busy too, but at least I tried. She promised to help, said she'd fix it, but nothing ever changed. Still, I always felt like she knew—like she saw through my silence, though she never said it outright.
But one day, I had enough.
I was fifteen. It was Christmas night. The royal family gathered at the dinner table, a rare occasion where we were all seated together. Mother sat beside me, across from Step-Mom Elara, who was flanked by her precious twins, Kai and Ella. Dad was at the head of the table near Mom.
At first, it was fine. The air was festive, food plentiful, laughter forced but present. Then it happened.
"Billy, pass me the stew," Elara said with that cold, clipped tone that always made my skin crawl.
I reached for the bowl, but my hands trembled. The heat seared my fingers, and before I could catch myself, the plate slipped. It landed square on her lap, spilling hot stew everywhere.
"You godforsaken creature!" she screeched, leaping to her feet. "Can't you do anything right? You'll pay for this!"
Kai wasted no time. He stood, his hand connecting with my cheek before I even realized what was happening. The slap stung, and I stumbled backward. Ella burst into laughter, jeering at me like I was some kind of circus act.
Mother's eyes burned with fury, but she stayed silent. Dad? He didn't even look up from his plate.
That was it for me.
I ran. I didn't care where—I just needed to get away. I heard Mom's voice calling after me, her footsteps echoing down the halls. "Billy, come back! Don't go there!"
But I didn't stop. I found myself back at the hidden door to the secret museum. I pushed it open and ran straight for the massive magic mirror.
As I approached, my reflection disappeared. In its place was a glowing white screen.
"Take me out of this place," I whispered, my voice trembling.
"Jump through," my own voice echoed back from the glowing surface.
Without thinking, I leapt.
I landed with a superhero pose—knees bent, one fist on the ground—in front of a startled woman. She looked about forty, dressed like a doctor, clutching her handbag like it was a lifeline.
"Oh my gosh! Where did you just pop from?" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of fear and confusion.
I looked around. The air was different, the sounds unfamiliar. Buildings towered above me, and the street buzzed with life.
"What's this place?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Welcome to New York," she said, blinking at me like I was an alien. "4th Street, to be exact."
Her name was Jane Doe. She didn't pry or demand answers, which was good, because I didn't have any to give. I think she took me in because she was as lonely as I was. She gave me a home, a new life, and for the first time, I felt… safe.
She enrolled me in high school, where I met Leo and Sophie. Leo was sixteen, strong and fearless—a natural protector. Sophie was fifteen like me, with a smile so radiant it could make you forget all your worries. The three of us became inseparable.
Jane was more than a guardian; she became my family. But life has a way of taking away the people you love.
Cancer stole her from me four years later. I was at her side when she passed, her hand weakly clutching mine.
"Since I met you, Billy, I've lived a happy life," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Those four years were the best. And I'm happy you're my heir. Be strong, wherever you are… whatever you are."
It's been a year since she left, but I'm not alone. Leo's strength keeps the bullies at bay, and Sophie's smile lights up even my darkest days. I don't have to be strong—not when I have them.
Someday, I'll tell them the truth—about who I am, where I came from. But for now, this is enough.
And that's my story.
The End.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"And that's it," Leo said closing Billy's comic book.
"What a story!" Dr, Gavin said with a sigh.
" So ,dad, do you believe it now?" Sophie asked.
"You know what Sophie, I think you should submit that fantasy comic story to Marvel studios or Disney. " Dr Gavin said.
"Or even Webnovel daddy " Leo said chuckling.
"Yeah.I'm pretty sure it would make them a fortune in the cinemas.Now, if you don't mind, I need to sleep. You can sit year all night and talk about magic portals, flying vessels, royal knights.... good night kids" He finished and disappeared into his room.
Leo turned to Sophie but she wasn't there.
"Sophie...."
"Good night Leo"
"Oh, great "