Anonymous strings

Chapter 4

While they were on the road, they passed by a burning house. Viktor slowed the speed of the car to check what was happening. From the flaming house down to the bailing child he saw nearby. The child seemingly just evacuated from the building, based on the small hint of black ashes on his skin.

They kept driving till they got to where they were going. Hank and Viktor just picked up a few of the grocery bags. The items have been rearranged and placed in their proper locations. After that scenario, Viktor immediately went up to his room with no words for Hank.

Viktor shut his door and locked it. He quickly flopped on his bed as he cuddled his fox plushie. He reflected on what he witnessed in the day's scenarios. The boy reunited with his family and the boy who cried loudly near the burning house. All of a sudden, he recognizes himself in those kids. The suffering, anguish, sadness, and yearning he has experienced since his family's passing. The fire claimed the lives of his whole family..

The heat from the burning home on a cold winter night.

He's the only survivor from his family-his siblings, his parents. Died. Perhaps it was a good thing they were warm throughout that bitter winter. The adversary of his father massacred his family. He had no idea who the suspect was until today. He wanted revenge, but his grandma Ellisa stopped him; she said, "It is better to leave it like that." Not because she doesn't want those people punished but also because to respects his family. He knows for himself that his family, especially his father, never wants him to be hurt. And the revenge may cause him some pain.

Now he's suffering. Alone, every night. Visited by nightmares day by day. The voices in his head never leave him alone. It's almost time for his sanity to shatter and turn into a black hole. He doesn't know anymore. He is entirely lost and weak.

He is defeated by the war in his head.

The next thing he knew, he let out the tears that he had been holding ever since. He let out all the pain he was keeping from everyone. He let out the emotions he had been trying to suppress.

As the vines were growing, a blossom at his wrist consumed his whole left arm.

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Hank knew there was something wrong with Viktor, from the loud silence in the vehicle to the weird acts while fixing the groceries. Viktor typically ruins things the way a curiosity-driven kitten knocks a glass off a table. However, nothing was there this time. Nothing offensive, no insults. He finds it annoying, but what can he do?

With a big breath out, he grabbed a supermarket bag containing his necessities and headed upstairs to his room. He locked his door and fixed his things. Afterward, he texted his lover.

"Hey baby"

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