The whole world was hell to me, and as if monsters roaming the world, killing without mercy weren't enough, I had my own monster at home, my father. Burt, as his name is, even though he fathered me, he was never really my real father, not like I knew what it was like to have a real father. A drunkard, a cheater, a bandit, or just an ordinary son of a bitch, why does he keep me around? I don't know that, but I know it's not out of love or duty. Why haven't I escaped from him long ago? I do not know either. Maybe because this is my life, this is how it has to be and that's the end of it. But I can't take the beatings I go through almost every day whenever he feels like it, starving me, making fun of me and calling me a useless bastard. It took me years to finally gain the courage to change something in my life. I wonder what HE would do in my place? Would he give up, be passive like I have been, or finally take action? Maybe I'll ask HIM about it someday.
My life is hell, but tonight may be the exit gate, the path that will lead me out of it. For months, I've been trying to keep a close but discreet eye on Burt, his habits, where he goes, when he comes home, where he hides his money, which he wastes on whores and drinks himself to death. I know he's not rich, but I also know that vodka and fucking cost money, and he does these things almost every day. After discreet checking, I noticed that when he came back from doing business in the city at night, he always went to the forest behind the warehouses near our house. The next morning, he does the same thing as if he were bringing something and taking it away. I'm not stupid to not realize that by the way he looks around to make sure no one sees where he's going, he's keen to keep this place a secret. Tonight, I will wait for him in the forest; see where exactly his secret hiding place is, and get rid of him discreetly. I will throw his body into the river of drowners to be devoured. Then I will plunder his hiding place and leave Vizima. No one goes to these woods except Burt, so I don't have to worry about anyone noticing me, but to make sure everything works out, I'll make doubly sure there's no one else around. This is my chance to save myself, if something goes wrong, I'm done.
(Three hours later, around eleven at night, in the forest behind the warehouses behind the fishing village)
It's full moon, dark, but not so dark that you can't see anything. It's a good night to get rid of this bastard once and for all!
By the moonlight I can see him walking towards me, he's staggering, he's drunk. Okay… he'll be easier to deal with. With each step he takes, he becomes more and more nervous, my heart is beating like a hammer and I have the impression that he will hear it from afar. I take a deep breath and repeat to myself "Calm down Haren, calm down!"
I press my body as hard as I can against the tree, and I find myself holding my breath. I watch his every move closely as he passes me a few meters away, trying to catch even the slightest movement on his face to see if I'm already busted or not.
He stops and looks around, rocking back and forth, then walks to a rotten tree trunk, counts five steps North, turns, five steps West, and then kneels. His secret hiding place! This is a chance for me! Now or never! I jump up with all my strength and run towards him, I want to knock him down on his back and then snap his neck, quickly and without mercy.
I miscalculated! I don't know where I got the stupidest idea in the World that I would be stronger than him. I was scrawny and hungry, and he was only drunk. The surprise effect can do a lot, but I've already lost my chance. Now fight or die, him or me.
We struggled for almost ten minutes, I guess… I don't know, it all happened so fast. I finally manage to knock him down, he lies there, repeating one thought in my head, begging him "Don't get up, please don't get up!" I breathe in and out quickly to relieve the unimaginable tiredness I feel now.
After a few minutes I finally decide to check on him, I poke him and nothing. I think I made it; I think I'm finally free!
''Hello, Haren.''
I hear someone's voice and I freeze in panic and fear.
Someone caught me! I calculate quickly. I can't give up now, not after what I just went through, I have to survive!
I gather all the strength I have managed to regenerate in the last few moments, giving it my all, I throw myself at the mysterious stranger, I must kill him or I will hang!
I do not know what happened! I was running and now I'm lying on the ground with no strength, I don't even know when this person knocked me down, I have no chance against him, I lost, that's it, I give up!
I don't know if he will hand me over to the guards or kill me on the spot, but I need to know who it is, and I inhale greedily and try to see the stranger's face through the darkness of the night. Finally, the moonlight reveals the face of my executioner. It's Him! Tyr! I am surprised. The son of Dewin the blacksmith, a boy whom everyone loves and whom many of our peers in Podgrodzie admire, even I am one of them! Everyone says that he will be an outstanding blacksmith. Others say that he has even greater talent in sword fighting, after all, Captain Ryzz himself took him as his apprentice.
It was not the most important thing that glorified him in our area, but his kindness and pure heart. Dying by his hand wouldn't be so bad… I space out, closing my eyes, giving up.
''I'm sorry Haren.'' I hear him say to me with regret in his voice.
"He must be talking about him knocking me down.'', I thought, but it's not his fault, after all, I threw myself at him.
As I was about to tell him about it, I noticed tears streaming down his face.
''W- ...what? What's actually going on? I don't understand!''
''I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from him, you suffered so much! Sorry, Haren!'' he knelt down next to me and I placed his hand on my shoulder.
My eyes went black for a second, I was in shock, I never expected something like this!
H- ...he felt sorry for me?! Does he feel sorry for me?! despite everything I did? Anyway, who am I? Dirty, a thief and a useless bastard, He looks at me full of sadness and... compassion?
At that moment I felt something special… joy? Is this what it's like to feel joy? I don't think I've ever felt anything like this in my entire life.
In this I knew that wherever He went, I would follow him and destroy everything that came in his way.
''Haren? Haren!''
His louder tone brought me out of my thoughts.
''Haren, we can't stay here, if we don't take any action, you may be sentenced to death for murdering your own father!''
''Nn- ...no. No. don't worry. Fuck it, I'll take care of it myself!''
''If you're thinking about drowning him, I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that, he shakes his head.
''AGH... but why? B- …but there will be n… no trace of him... no trace!'' I ask, not understanding. My father was a lousy son of a bitch who didn't deserve any better.
''That's not the point, his body and blood will attract more drowners to our area. Many innocent people may die because of this. I don't want any more suffering. This is our home Haren, I want to protect it.''
''Ahhhh... yes, there are more people living in the area, even my house is here.'' What a fool I am, I didn't think about that... I looked at Tyr and realized that the more I got to know him, the truer the rumors became. He truly is a person with a good heart.
''Come back home Haren, I'll take care of everything.''
''ww...what? N... no! A- a… al- …alone?''
''Haren! he raises his voice and look at me sternly, I will take care of it!'' he announced.
''My master is the captain of the guard, I know how to talk to him, I have already thought of a plan!''
''For your own safety, stay away from this. Could you do that for me? Can I trust you?!''
''Y…yes, y…you can, I- ...I promise.
''Alright! I knew you wouldn't let me down!''
He stands up and reaches out to pull me to my feet.
''Take everything your father hid in his secret hiding place, it's yours now, then go home immediately.''
I widen my eyes in surprise.
''Did… did you know?!''
He didn't answer, just smiled slightly.
I quickly looked towards the secret compartment, as if I was afraid that everything would be taken away, but immediately a wave of shame overcame me, because there is no way he couldn't...
I look at him and he still has that soft smirk on his face.
He puts his hand in his pocket and pulls out a small piece of parchment and a quill and begins to write swiftly.
''Haren, I'm going to start my own business soon and I'll need talented and loyal people, would you be willing to serve me? of course you will be rewarded accordingly.'' he says.
''Gosh...'' I'm trying to say that I'm very happy to serve him, but my damn stutter won't let me. However, he nods and smiles to show that he understands and speaks.
''When the whole thing with your father dies down, that is in a few days, I bet; go to the Temple Quarter of Vizima. Near the "The Hairy Bear" inn is a brothel called "The Soothing Touch of the Muse" managed by a woman called Loona, give it to her.
He puts the parchment he had written on a moment ago into my hand.
''She will know what to do, she will help you, trust me!''