*HELLO, EVERYONE. IT'S ME AGAIN, WITH ANOTHER CHAPTER OF C&B.

So I just wanted to take a moment away from the caps lock to dedicate this chapter to someone. Recently, I got news that a big fan of my stories, named Jane, had passed away from lung cancer. A friend of hers, which I also dedicate this chapter to, told me the news and I was pretty rattled by it. It's hard for me to pinpoint why it struck me the way it did, but I felt really sad, nonetheless. Especially since this girl had helped me when I was going through a rough time, and I hadn't even known it. And it's so surprising to have her help me with my problems when she had had much bigger problems. But I was still thankful for the things she told me. I'm thankful for all of my fans and I wish them the very best. I'm dedicated to you guys, to make you all happy. And maybe that's why Jane's passing shook me. I guess I felt that I failed in someway, but I know that's not really the case. Regardless, thank you, Jane, for having been an amazing girl even through a devastating time, and thank you damnitsblue for having been there for her and for being strong.

Enjoy the chapter everyone and I wish you all the best. Whatever your demons are, you can defeat them.*

Stay Creepy, My Friends!~

Chapter 59

Ao's POV

Slender and I walked through the woods for quite some time. It was mostly silent between us, but every so often he would ask if I was doing okay, which I always replied with yes.

"So, where are we?," I asked as I gazed up at the trees around us.

"We're not too far from Gracewood," the tall being answered me. I nodded as I stepped over a tree root that jutted out from the ground. The forest was very pretty and serene, despite the season. Most of the trees had lost their leaves only to have them strewn all over the ground.

"So, uh, how is school?," Slender
asked randomly.

I looked up at him. "It's pretty good," I answered, "Doing well in my classes, despite doing training and trying not to die."

"That's...very good to hear," Slender commented a little awkwardly with a nod of his head. I let the moment go anyway.

"So, why did you choose to come here?," I inquired to him this time.

Slender seemed to survey the environment before responding, "The forest is a place that I've deemed home for quite some time. I trust these sorts of places."

"Do you live here?"

"Not quite," he said, "A long time ago I claimed an old mansion as mine, placed it within the woods, or just about any woods for that matter. It's a building that can be found in every forest, so long as I let it be seen."

That actually sounds cool.

It does.

After walking through the forest, we finally came upon a clearing. The grass looked less green than it should due to the weather but the area still looked pretty. "We can talk here," Slender said, referring to the edge of the tree line and the clearing.

"What is it you wanted to tell me?," I inquired.

Slender messed with the sleeves of his suit and replied, "I wanted to tell you a little story. One that not many know of. You should take a seat, this will be a while."

"Oh," I murmured and did as he said by sitting on the grass. He didn't take a seat, and I had a feeling it'd be awkward for him to do so, considering his stature.

"This realm of yours," he began almost regally, "where humans reside--I was never from this place. I stumbled upon it by accident, a fortunate one on my part. Like how your human nations colonized other lands back in your history. I will admit that at first I had wanted to take total reign of this world; make all humans my slaves and such." I was a little taken aback by that statement. He continued, "But, I grew too fond of the human race to do that. To completion, at least."

That's so nice to hear.

Slender fiddled with his tie for a moment and went on. "I vowed to defend this realm; protect all creatures that resided in it, but more for the sake of keeping what was mine. For a time, things weren't challenging, but that changed as soon as a being, just as strong as I, came. You've heard of Zalgo, I'm sure?"

I nodded. "The person I have to defeat," I commented.

"He's not really a person, but yes, he is your biggest enemy," the tall man said, "He was also mine. He came here wanting what I had wanted from the beginning, but he never changed his mind like I had. His thirst for domination and chaos was so great that even I could barely fathom it. Yet still, he and I fought over this realm, over what we deemed was ours for the taking. In this scrimmage, there were many disastrous events that the humans endured. Many lives lost, many societies destroyed, dark times for even centuries. Tell me, has anyone told you of the rules of infinite entities?"

"No, sir," I answered.

"Then I'll explain. Basically, the rules state that if an entity has a greater power than another, then that entity shall be the victor in battle. The entity that loses, is to succumb to its inevitable demise. But, if both entities have equal power, there will be no change. That's how it had been for many millennia between Zalgo and I. Neither of us would gain nor lose anything. We were hateful equals."

He paused for a moment and I interjected, "But..?"

Slender stifled a wry chuckle and added, "But that changed as well. At a time before the change, I realized that soon enough my power and influence would diminish due to my stay in the human realm. Although I won't die immediately, I would be susceptible to defeat by another force. Being an infinite entity does not mean total immortality, but means that a being can stretch across infinite times; spaces, realities and universes. Sometimes infinite entities are a universe. If I were to die, it would take a lot to put me down. There are scarcely any other beings that can come to match me. Anyhow, before my decrease in power ever began, I devised a plan that would ensure that there would still be a worthy guardian of this human realm to fight Zalgo. I didn't want to leave this world without knowing I could count on someone to take my place." A pause of silence. Slender sighed, "So, now that that's been discussed, I will tell you another story, and this might get complicated so pay close attention."

As if things don't already sound complicated..

I couldn't help but agree with Sam, but I stayed silent to hear Slender's big explanation.

"Many centuries ago," the tall being started, "say about the seventeenth century, there lived a man with his wife and son. One day, this man's family was taken from him; he lost his beloved wife to Native American poachers; his son suffered an unfair demise by those same heathens. The man's grief and desperation led him to trying to bring his son back to this world, since it was promised that it was possible. This was a man of science, mind you, yet he tried non-scientific methods in order to achieve his goal. Sadly, they had never worked. Time passed, and he had slowly begun to give up all hope...until he and I crossed paths."

In the middle of Slender's speech, I found myself leaning forward with intrigue.

Slender turned his head down towards me and said, "Seeing his suffering and misery, I offered him a deal. I would give him his son back, in return for something that I needed. With nothing left to lose, he made the deal with me. Using my power, I was able to transfer his son's soul into the womb of a surrogate mother. Nine months later, a child was born, a baby girl. Although the mother had died in labor, the man was still happy with this new child."

"What was your end of the deal?," I asked.

"What did I receive? Well, I received what was to be my guardian," he answered with a hint of pride in his resonating voice. "The child that I gave life to held what was the proxy power, and the soul of the son. She would be the one and only proxy; this world's eternal protector. The child would practically be an immortal and powerful being, a god," --Slender's head lowered in a solemn manner--, "But her immortality would not set in until the age of fifteen, and, unfortunately, she did not survive long enough. Her death crushed me and depleted any hope I had of having my guardian."

Another pause of silence. I added in again, "But?"

Slender chuckled, and, if he had a mouth, I'm sure he'd be smiling. "Upon the young girl's death, the proxy power that resided within her traveled and sought out another host. Thus, the line of proxies had been born. I never intended for it to do such a thing, never dreamed of creating a fully autonomous essence. But, I had, and it still worked. Although the immortality hadn't come with it, the humans with this power still served to do their duty."

I smiled up at him and said, "That sounds...mind-blowing. But, I don't see how this directly correlates with me. Did you just want to tell me the history behind this power that I have?"

Slender was silent for a moment and shrugged his shoulders. "Yes, but not quite," he started a bit ominously, "you see, upon the young girl's death, the proxy power did leave, along with something else..."

Furrowing my brow, I cocked my head and asked, "What do you mean?"

Slender adjusted his suit as he explained, "The young girl's soul had been bisected; one half staying to fade within her body, and the other half left to drift off into a hidden fold of time and space, waiting until it was fully restored into a human being again. This new life came into the world without birth or ceremony to start again. This soul, this new being, was you."

I sat very still and stared at the tall, pale man in front of me. Blinking, I shifted my eyes around and stifled a chuckle. "Hah, uhm...what?" Slender didn't reply or move. I scratched the back of my head and remarked, "That's a very far-fetched claim, sir. I mean...you're joking, right? Sir? You're joking...!"

He managed a quiet sigh and reached into his coat. "Tell me, Ao," he started as he searched for something, "do you recall ever seeing something like this?" From his coat, he pulled out an object and held it out towards me. I looked up, still feeling disbelief, and muttered, "What is tha--?" I stopped and my body suddenly froze. My eyes went wide and I could feel my skin crawl, even under my warm clothes. I found it hard to look away even though I had wanted to. In Slender's hand, staring right back at me, was a white mask with red markings on it. It was worn in places, but the colors still burned bright.

Images ran through my mind, ones I've never experienced before or could never have imagined. A man with brown hair and a beard, who always looked so knowing and dominant. A black man and a woman who had always smiled at me, laughed with me. I was staring down at a piece of wood in my hands, which would become the red and white mask. A horse that had become a good friend and one that I took care of. All of the good moments, the serene times. Suddenly, the sounds of agony; from other people, from the people I had loved, and from me. Scenes of tragedy. I remembered it.

The gunshot that echoed in the forest and left me fleeing, tired, dirty, orphaned.

The gunshots that echoed in my ears as I hid inside a little, old house, shaking in fear, with utter incompetence.

The dirt on my hands as I patted down two graves.

The flames I created in the homes and streets of those I didn't and would never know. To avenge all that I lost, including myself. No, it was out of vengeance. Complete, disgusting, and horrid vengeance that leaves you rotting inside.

Those same searing flames that maimed many also left me in shambles; screaming, sweating, burning alive, dying slowly and ever slower.

Those nights I spent crying.

Crying.

Wishing I hadn't been the way I was.

Crying.

The people I've killed.

Crying.

The horror that I created--that I was.

Stop.

Everything that I could never protect.

Stop this.

The promises I would never fulfill. The promises I have broken.

No..

The mistake that I had been.

Stop it.

That I still am.

Stop.

Stop..!

STOP.

"Stop it!," I exclaimed as I finally turned away and clutched the sides of my aching head. Hot tears streamed down my face and I let out a strained sob.

Over the sounds of my sniffling and whimpering, Slender's voice still echoed in my ears as he said, "Ao Matsukochi, you had once been infamous child-witch, Emily Mason. You were to be the first proxy, the one and only. Now you have returned once again. This power within you that makes you the proxy has seen many hosts and has traveled far and wide, but now that it is reunited with you, it shall stay."

"No!," I protested and shot my head up. Frantically, I stood up and had to lean against a tree momentarily for balance. Trembling from my panic, I blurted, "No! That's not true! You're lying!"

"Ao--."

"Don't!," I panted as I started backing away, "Don't try to convince me! You can't...you...!" My sobs wouldn't let me speak, as did my jumbled thoughts and the voices of people I didn't know that floated around in my head. They all called me Emily or witch. Nothing but chanting prayers, bedtime lullabies, screams of the agonized and angered in my head. It was so loud that I couldn't even hear Sam calling my name.

Ao, watch out!

But I was too late to see the rabbit hole hidden in the ground. My foot was caught and I tripped onto the cold, dry ground. I turned over onto my back, looked up at the sky and just lay there as I cried. Something suddenly slithered under my back and I was forced to sit up. When I glanced up, I saw that Slender had walked towards me and helped me up with one of his tentacles. The tall man got down on one knee and hunched over for me, placing the red and white mask on the ground.

"I know this is a lot to take in all at once," he started in a quiet and calm voice, "but, what I say to you is true. There's nothing that can change who you are and what you have endured to be that person. It may not be now, but you will have to accept this eventually."

"But...," I whimpered, "I...I can't. I don't want to be your proxy. What about Elizabeth?"

"As much as I respect her, she is not the proxy. She shouldn't be, not when you are here now," Slender stated knowingly. "Something went wrong, but that doesn't change the fact that you are the true proxy."

I hung my head and sobbed, the crisp cold freezing against my tear stained cheeks. "I don't want to be," I murmured, "I don't want that responsibility..! Not because I'm lazy or stubborn, but because I don't want to fail anyone. There's an entire world to disappoint and lose. How could I ever be a god to protect humanity when I could barely protect the ones I love? I can't be this, not forever." I covered my face and used the sleeves of my coat to wipe my eyes. My head was still racked with pain but luckily the voices of people I didn't know started to fade away.

With my eyes covered, I could still feel Slender's presence coming closer. His hand rested on top of my head and another was placed on my shoulder. When I lifted my head, I could only see as much as his chest. A black tendril gently removed my glasses and I leaned forward to sob some more. During this, the tall man rubbed my head in a comforting manner, but it had a slight awkward hesitance to it.

In a near whisper, I could hear his voice telling me, "Ao, no matter what you do; no matter who you become from this or how you fulfill your duty, no matter what mistakes you make, there will still be someone that believes in you." My sobbing began to calm down and I kept listening to Slender. "You will not always be strong, that's impossible in this world. But, I know you can prevail, like many others have before you. You're not doing things on your own. You have the others and I on your side. With that, I know you will succeed in your endeavors. You are capable."

My crying was reduced to sniffles and my headache became less bothersome. Over the tranquil silence, Sam spoke up after having stayed quiet for most of the time.

He's right, Ao. I'll be on your side no matter what, and I'll make sure you win whatever battles you face. Count that as a promise; one that I can't and will never, ever break. I won't let you fall.

His words pushed more tears, but they were of relief and not of panic and fear.

Slender took his turn to speak and said, "I apologize for Ms. P not being here. I'm sure she would give you much better comfort and advice than I could."

I sniffed and murmured, "It's okay. I don't mind this." I pushed my head away from his chest and looked at where I was once laying it. "Sorry, about your suit," I added, referring to the tear stains on the black material.

"That's fine. Not exactly the worst thing to stain my suit," he replied.

"What was?"

"You don't want to know," he muttered a little too quickly. It still made me smile though.

I leaned my head against Slender for a little while longer and let the rest of my tears fall until they stopped. Looking over at the mask on the ground, I noticed tiny white specs showing up on its surface, little by little. I held out a hand to catch one of the specs and when I did, it melted on my palm.

"It's finally snowing," Slender commented as he pulled away from me and turned his head up to the sky. With a wry chuckle, he remarked, "Sally will be eager to play in the snow today."

I took my glasses back from him and put them on so I could see better. Shifting my gaze up to the tall being that kneeled in front of me, I thought about what he said, about him slowly losing his power. It hit me that someday he'll have no power left, that he may die because he's grown too weak. I then realized that this being; this strong, remarkable and otherworldly entity, is slowly losing his essence even now. And I'll be the one taking his place.

I would be a god; a being so immortal that I could keep fighting Zalgo and protecting this world. And I don't know what's worse: the great responsibility bestowed on me or the horrible reality that everyone I love won't always be there for me.

"Am I immortal yet?," I asked with reluctance to even receive an answer.

Slender faced me again. "No," he answered, which had me sighing quietly in relief, "but you will know when you are."

I wonder how long I have until that happens. Gingerly, I took the red and white mask in my hands and stared down at it. It stared back at me, looking menacing and worn. I held it close as thoughts of whatever past life I had had flowed into my mind. This mask was to represent good, but it was a symbol of something more sinister. Maybe now, I can start again and make it so that it does represent the good that I could never achieve.

"Shall we return to your home?," Slender asked as he stood up straight and held out a hand for me. I nodded and grabbed his hand so I could stand up again. Before the strange sensation of Slender's teleportation overwhelmed me again, I clutched tightly onto the mask in case I lost it somehow. Finally, the feeling of floating started and I closed my eyes to prepare myself for one more round of transcendent travel.

---

After a long and emotionally strenuous day, I plopped down onto my bed to get sleep. Having taken a warm shower also helped me relax. I just laid down, wrapping myself around a pillow, and stared at the wall. I took in a deep breath, then sighed.

Ao?

Taken slightly aback from Sam's voice, I responded, "Yeah?"

Are you okay?

I wasn't quick to answer that, but I did anyway and said, "I guess."

Ao?

"Yeah?"

...I'm really sorry.

I furrowed my brow and asked, "For what?"

For hiding things from you, things about you that would make you upset.

"What things?" I sat up in bed with an expression of concern.

I hid away your past life from you. I couldn't let you remember all of the things that you endured when as Emily, so I sort of blocked it out. I didn't even want to reveal who I was to you. I wanted you to start a new life again, a better one. That's all I ever wanted for you.

Just when I was about to speak, he kept going.

I also hid your old friendship with Jack after that last fight you two ever had. You were too young to be so sad, so I helped you forget. I'm sorry I never told you any of this. I'm sorry about the ways that you had to find out. I...I know these are terrible things, but I only did them to keep you happy and safe. Because I love you and I never want to lose you. Ever.

I sat there, staring straight ahead at the wall, not uttering a word. It was so quiet in my room that I was able to hear ringing in my ears.

Ao, please talk to me. I need you to say something. Please. You can even curse me out, just say something.

I let the silence drag on for a few more moments, before I stifled a small chuckle and smiled. Then I began to giggle a little more.

Wh-What's so funny? Ao? Is my misery that entertaining?!

I laughed harder, which made Sam complain more.

Ao, this isn't exactly a funny moment. I poured out my nonexistent heart to you..!

He kept making me crack up, until I was sprawled across my bed, wiping at my eyes.

Stop it..! C'mon, now you're just being a jerk..! Ao!

Finally recovering from my fit of laughter, I replied, "N-No, I'm not laughing at you."

Then what is it?

I sat up again and exhaled a heavy breath. "You're just so adorable," I answered with a lighthearted chuckle and smile.

Huh..?

"I'm not upset with you," I assured him, "What's done is done, anyway. Sure, what you did is pretty strange, but I can understand that you did all of these things to keep me safe. Thank you for that. There's no need to feel so guilty."

But--.

"It's fine, okay? I'm happy with the way things have gone. Well...minus the times I've been kidnapped and attacked by enemies.."

Which I could've prevented.

"Sam."

Sorry.

I smiled. "Quit judging yourself so much. Everyone makes mistakes, even bodiless spirits. You're perfect the way you are. Regardless of who you are to me, I will love you, too. So, please don't be too hard on yourself." I didn't get a response right away but Sam had replied nonetheless with a hesitant,

Okay..

I nodded but then yawned and and stretched my arms out. "I'm so tired," I murmured, and crawled under my bed covers. "I'm going to bed, okay?"

Yeah.

I stared up at the ceiling, thinking for a moment. With a smile, I murmured, "This whole time...you were my half-brother. Right?"

Sorta?

"And what is Slender..?" Sam was quiet for a few seconds.

I think he's your dad?

"Whoa, that's bizarre," I awed. "But then that would mean that you aren't related to me, right? Or are you, like, a brother in theory..?" Sam chuckled.

You're too tired to try and think about this stuff. Go to bed.

I yawned again and murmured, "Alright. Goodnight, Sam..."

Goodnight. Sweet dreams, my Queen.

I managed one last smile before taking off my glasses and snuggling against my pillows. Sam turned off the light for me and I closed my eyes to finally get some shut eye.

---

There was a cool, gentle breeze outside. The sun was high in the sky and I could hear a few birds singing. In my hands was an ax and, in front of me, a tree with a gash at its side. I huffed from exhaustion and suddenly the feeling of sore muscles hit me hard. I lifted up the ax to take another chop at the tree's trunk, then another, and another until the gash got deeper. It was a relatively thin tree but my tiredness made the work harder. Looking behind me, I saw all of the other trees I took down before. About seven, or was it eight? I lost count.

Deciding to stop for today, I held the ax by my side and trudged through the greenery of the forest to head towards home. When I came out from the tree line, I saw a wooden cottage. In front of my little abode, there was a woman with very dark hair, dark eyes and tanned skin. Her dress was a casual cotton one, unlike the old rags clothes she had once wore, as she had told me at a time before. She was washing clothes outside, scrubbing away at every piece of fabric. When she saw me, she smiled and spoke to me in a gentle voice. The language she spoke wasn't English. It was harsh, and there were many clicks in her words. Still, I understood her and replied back in the same tongue.

I set my ax down somewhere and jogged back into the woods to start picking up the pieces of wood that I cut up from the trees I chopped down. My tanned hands scrambled for a grip on the logs and I managed to carry, at most, two at a time. That's what I did for all of the logs; walking back and forth through the woods, until my task was done and my clothes were drenched in sweat.

"Your father should be home soon," the woman told me in her native tongue as I sat down next her on the grass.

I responded with a sigh and said, "Good. I'm exhausted."

The woman suddenly slapped a wet shirt against my face and I only sat there. "It seemed like you needed it," she said with a chuckle.

"Thank you, mother," I retorted with sarcasm and removed the wet shirt from my face to toss it into the washing basin.

I laid down in the grass beside my mother; eyes closed, enjoying the nice breeze while listening to the sounds of birds and my mother washing clothes. When the latter noise stopped, I opened my eyes to look at her. She was staring back at me with her dark, warm eyes. "What is it, mama?," I asked.

She smiled at me and brushed the hair from my face. "You've grown into such a strong, young boy," she started, "it'll almost be time for you to look for a wife."

"Ah, mother, not this again," I grumbled and flashed her a slightly annoyed look.

"You know it must happen eventually," she stated knowingly.

I crossed my arms and closed my eyes, saying, "Who will ever choose to wed someone like me? White women prefer white men, and the other tribe girls would never want to marry a boy of my looks."

"Why not? You are a handsome man."

"Without dark hair and dark eyes, mother. That is not normal. Those women love a normal looking man."

My mother shrugged. "Possibly, since we are accustomed to the white men now, they've learned to be attracted to different traits?"

I laughed out loud. "Yes, and I suppose that the river has grown so accustomed to us that it crawls out of the bank to greet us."

I felt my mother smack my arm and I groaned. "Have more faith, my son! Surely someone can love you, just as I and your father do. We knew you weren't like the other boys, but we still gave you endless affection and care."

"But you are my mother," I replied, "not a mate. You have to love me."

"I don't have to. I could've just as easily disowned you or thrown you into a river if I truly wanted to. But I didn't because those things are frowned upon."

"So you would hurl me into a river?"

"That is not what I'm saying," my mother said, pointing a finger at me. She went on anyway, "What I am trying to explain is that whether I have no other choice or I do, I will always love you."

She rubbed a hand against my forehead and I smiled at her. "Thank you, mama," I murmured.

"And besides," she added on as she ran her fingers through my hair, "to have such pure white hair and eyes as the ocean is a rarity. Like a diamond among jade."

"Or a goose among ducks."

"A swan among geese," my mother countered with a smirk and I sighed again.

"I need to relieve myself," I announced as I lifted myself from the ground. My mother stayed seated by the basin, continuing with her chore. I headed for the woods to do my business like I intended. When I had finished, I started to make my way back along the path. As I was walking, I heard other noises beyond the trees, noises that were not natural of the forest. I turned and looked past the trees to see what was the cause of the sounds.

Just barely, I made out the figures of men coming through the forest, a wagon in tow. At first, I thought they were associates of my father, or delivery men. These thoughts changed when I saw what resided in the wagon. Underneath a tarp that was draped over the box, a little boy of my ethnicity had poked his head out. His mouth was bound with cloth and his hands were tied with rough rope. His eyes screamed for help; for freedom, but he was quickly shoved back under the tarp by a man walking along the side of the wagon. That's when I realized who these people were and quickly and quietly raced back to mother. My heart beat faster than I could sprint, panic was settling in my bones, but my objective didn't falter.

As soon as I made it back to my cottage, I raced towards mother and said urgently, "We must hide! Now!"

With wide eyes, she asked, "Why? What's going on?"

"Collectors," was all I said and that had been enough to get her on her feet. We hurriedly rushed inside the safety of the cottage and I picked up the ax along the way. Quietly, we closed the door and barricaded it with the dinner table and a couple of chairs. The both of us hid in a special spot where we wouldn't be seen through the few windows we had. I made sure my mother was tucked into the farthest corner under her and my father's bed. If collectors catch her, there is no telling what unspeakable things they, or buyers, would do to her.

Listening closely, I heard the group of men reach our yard, walking about. There was a scream, probably from a prisoner, but it was cut short by something I don't wish to know of. There was a knock at the door but there would be no response to it. I realized that mother had left the washing basin out there, with the fresh wet clothes too. They would know someone was here.

I hoped that father would come home soon. I have never heard of collectors taking natives from people who already claim responsibility for them. Considering father's occupation as a doctor, they would have to leave us alone. Plus, he is white. Why would white men ever betray their own?

The men outside wandered around the cottage for what seemed like ages, until they announced their discontinue of a search in their English tongue. The rattling of a wagon drew further away but mother and I still waited. I could hear my heart pounding in my own ears as I waited and waited. My mother was shaking with anxiety since she held onto my arm for some sort of comfort. In my own anxiety, my grip on the ax tightened so much so that my knuckles grew paler.

Once enough time had passed, I crawled out from under the bed but had my mother stay behind still. She mouthed to me 'be careful' before I creeped towards the front door in a crouch. Ax in hand, I was alert for any sign of danger. I quickly peaked through all of the windows for any sign of the collectors' presence. Nothing.

Finally, I came upon the front door, quietly moving aside the barricade that my mother and I had thrown together, but not enough to where it would be out of reach. With a slightly trembling hand, I turned the doorknob and slowly opened the door. Outside, the wagon with the imprisoned natives was nowhere to be seen, the washing basin was left untouched along with the clothes, and everything just seemed as it was before. I stepped out to check properly, when suddenly there was the sharp sound of a window breaking, followed by my mother's scream.

Just as I was about to charge back inside the cottage, the door was slammed shut in front of me. From the sides of the cottage, two men came out and ran towards me. Quickly, I darted out of the way of both of them just in time and wielded my ax. Both of them held snarling expressions and I could feel my heart rate speed up again. One of the men charged at me with a knife in hand but I quickly dodged out of the way before he could stab at me. The other man took this time to rush me and he managed to slice at my arm with a knife of his own. They were much faster having smaller weapons, but I still knew how to use an ax. Before the man who sliced me could back away, I quickly brought down my ax on his shoulder. His cries of pain rang in my ears as I yanked the heavy blade out of his body, causing his gash to split more. Behind me, I heard the other man's footsteps and I spun around to meet him. He shoved me down to the ground and I panicked, knowing I could not stay down for long.

The second man sat on top of me and began to punch relentlessly at my face. My cheekbones and nose throbbed instantly and continuously as each strike rattled my head more and more. Mustering up my strength, I managed to hit the man with the hilt of my ax and falter his punches. During this pause, I rammed the end of the ax against his face, sending him falling backwards onto my legs. I sat up, raised my ax, and used mighty force to throw the blade down onto his stomach. His screams also pierced the air, but I had not stopped then. I stood up, pulled the ax out and sliced at him again. His flesh tore away the more I chopped at him until I could see the bone from his rib cage and his own innards. His wails of anguish had ceased gradually until he was forever silent.

With a sheet of sweat on my face, and a surge of rage in my blood, I turned towards the other man whom I had hit first. He was still alive but barely able to move. His face was streaked with tears and blood soaked his shirt from his deep wound. I knew he would bleed out, but I wasn't going to give him any chance of surviving. Instead, I stepped up to him, raised my ax and, before he could fully scream, brought it down on his neck. The blade had not fully gone through so I kept hacking away; over and over and over again, cracking bone and slicing into spurting meat, until his head finally lobbed off of his shoulders. I stood there and panted, staring at the two messes that I had created. I finally noticed the blood that was splattered onto my hands and the ax was covered in it. Realizing what I had done, I could barely breathe or move.

There was a noise behind me again and I turned to see a man running up behind me with a heavy club in hand. Before I could counter his attack, he hit me at my lower back and I screamed in pain. I fell over onto the ground, dropping my ax on the way down. The man who hit me tossed the bloodied ax away and grabbed onto my hands. Another collector came up with rope and the two of them worked to tie me up. I struggled but it seemed that it was futile. Looking over, I could see another man holding my mother. She was bound in rope and her face was a mess of tears. Despair filled me at the thought of them taking her away from me and I snarled at the man who kept her hostage. I spat out curse words in my mother's native tongue to the men. It would be impossible for any of them to understand the language, but one of them struck me across the face anyway, silencing me.

The two men picked me up onto my knees. My hands were bound behind my back and I heaved from the utter rage coursing through my veins. The man that had my mother walked up to me and roughly grabbed onto my face. He forced me to look up at him and I could see the amazement in his eyes as he gazed upon me.

"Is this one even Indian?," he muttered as he turned my head from side to side.

"Most likely," one of the men who held me had replied, but he was unsure himself.

"He's an odd one," the leading collector --from what I could presume-- said, "Hard to tell if people would purchase him."

In my mother's language, I growled, "I am not a bag of onions to sell away, you wretch." In their English, I hissed, "To hell with you, your people and your God!," then spat at the man. Instantly, I was struck across the face with his backhand, a gesture that spoke more than a regular slap. I groaned and spit out some blood to the side, while my mother whimpered my name.

"No matter, we will still take him," the leader stated, wiping off my spit onto his shirt. "Gag him and get him and the woman on the wagon."

Just as soon as one of the men holding me pulled out a cloth to wrap around my mouth, there was a shout from the tree-line. We all turned to see none other than my father. He was on his horse, face full of exasperation as he and the animal came to a halt. He hadn't even waited for the horse to stop before he jumped off.

"What are you doing?!," he bellowed, cheeks red.

"We are taking these Indians," the leader of the collectors stated.

"Like hell you are!," Father growled, "This is violating my rights! Everyone knows you cannot take Indians who are already under ownership! Especially, not a mixed race child!"

The leader huffed and replied, "Your mixed-race heathen butchered two of my men, as you can clearly see." He motioned to the slaughtered bodies that I left behind and I hung my head. Father doesn't approve of violence, especially not any so gruesome. The leader went on, "It is against the law for an Indian under a white man's ownership to commit acts of murder, rape or other assault."

"It is also against the law to trespass on a man's property and enact violent behavior on innocents," Father stated dominantly.

"What will the people be more concerned with? That we trespassed, or that your boy slaughtered two men in cold blood?"

"I was protecting my father's home! Protecting my mother!" I snapped.

"Quiet!," another man commanded and pulled on my hair. I could see my father fume with anger upon seeing this and he shouted, "You get your filthy hands off of my son!" He began storming towards the two men who held me, but the leader stepped in with a gun in hand. He aimed it at my father and grumbled, "I would not come any closer, if you want to stay alive."

Sneering, Father said, "This is absurd..! You cannot take them. They are my family. And there is no god that would allow you to run with them! I surely won't!"

"Unless you're a deadman," the leader said as he cocked the pistol. The leader lifted the weapon up to my father's head, but was interrupted by my father stating, "Let us make a deal."

The leader lowered the gun and narrowed his eyes at Father. "What sort of deal?"

"I will give you money in exchange for my wife and my son's freedom."

The leader smirked and asked, "That sounds fair...but I state their prices. I want one thousand. For each of them."

Father's hard expression faltered to make way for slight concern. "I do not have that much money as of now."

"Well then we will take your Indians--."

"No!," Father pleaded. I have never seen him so panicked, so terrified. It made my insides churn. If he is not collected in a stressful situation, then surely we have every right to be terrified as well.

"You must give me a chance," Father begged, "please. They are my only family. Give me a chance..!"

The leader turned his chin up and shifted his gaze towards my mother then me. He sighed with annoyance and said, "I will offer a deal as well. You will pay only one thousand for only one of them."

Father shook his head. "I cannot choose! I need them both--."

"You only get one!," the leader repeated again, more angrily this time. "So choose or you have neither!"

Almost immediately, I shouted, "Father, choose mother! Choose her! Please, you must! She will not survive without either of us with her! They will hurt her!"

"No!," my mother screamed in protest.

"They wouldn't dare to kill me," I continued arguing, "I can endure labor, I can endure more! They will let me work and live! I will be fine, but mother won't, so save her!"

"Don't!," Mother shouted at Father in her native tongue, "Love, you cannot let them take our son! He is our flesh and blood! Our one and only! Please don't choose me and save him! If you let these pigs take our boy, I will never, ever forgive you!!"

"Father, choose her!," I shouted.

"Don't!" She screamed.

"Choose mother!!"

"Don't you dare!"

"CHOOSE HER!!!"

"Be quiet already!!," the leader growled and ordered for his two men to tie cloths around our mouths. When we were finally silent, the leader turned back to Father and asked, "So who will you keep? The woman, or the boy?"

Father swept his gaze between mother and I. I silently begged him to take mother instead of me. Mother also pleaded with him with her warm, dark eyes. Tears were streaming down her face, soaking the cloth around her mouth. Father, please, save mother. Save her and let me go..!

Father began to open his mouth and my heart pounded against my chest in anticipation for his decision. And my heart instantly dropped into my stomach when he announced, "I choose my son."

Mother hung her head, and I heard her sigh with relief right before I began screaming behind my gag, struggling in protest. I wanted to grab mother and keep her away from the men, but two of them were already carrying her away.

The leader walked up to me and grabbed onto my white hair, pulling me forward towards Father. "Here is your boy," he muttered as he shoved me onto the ground. I groaned and glared up at the man.

The leader stated, "We will also be taking your horse."

"That is fine," Father murmured, still defeated, as he handed out a bag of coins to the leader.

The leader smiled, checked the contents, then nodded as he tossed the bag in his hand. He began to turn, when he stopped in his tracks and added, "Oh yes, I forgot to mention to you, my good sir. You see, I'm not much of a trading man. I either take what I want..."

Before I could blink, the leader raised his gun and fired into my chest. White hot pain rattled my body and I fell over onto the ground. My mother's screams rang high in the air, along with my father's bellows of rage. The leader, still with his sarcastic tone, finished, "...or destroy it so no one can have it. It has been a pleasure doing business with you." The leader smacked my father across the face with the pistol, sending the man toppling down to his knees beside me.

As I bled out onto the ground, I watched the leader walk away with the other two men; watched them take my father's horse and my sobbing mother away, watched them drag her flailing body into the forest. I begged for the trees to part for her so that I could still keep my sights on her, but the bushes and tree trunks and the green canopy above betrayed us. She disappeared behind nature and I knew I would never see her again. I would never see anyone again as my blood runs down my skin, staining my clothes and the dirt under me.

Father, still dazed from the hit to his head, crawled to me and managed to sit up. He grabbed me and propped me up onto his lap, his arms trembling. He brushed away the light hair from my face but that didn't cease my gradually blurring vision. He held me close and I could hear his quiet sobs. Looking up at his face, I was amazed to see him crying. He has never cried, ever, and to see him like this made me despair. His tears dropped onto his spectacles, ran down his cheeks and disappeared past his  chestnut brown beard.

Father untied my hands but what was the use now? In a quiet voice, he whimpered, "Please, don't die, don't leave this earth. Hang on to your life. Y-You can still survive..!" He pulled out a hanker chief and began pressing at my wound. I looked down only to see that my entire chest was stained red. Suddenly, I found it hard to breathe and began coughing, watching as red spittle escaped my mouth and fell onto my father's hand.

"Have strength," he said, still desperate for my survival, but even I knew I wouldn't last. "If I can carry you inside the cottage and grab my tools, I can heal you. Yes..! I know it can work--."

"Father," I murmured in an almost inaudible whisper. He stopped to look at me. I shook my head and said, "It's too late..."

"N-No," my father protested sadly, "there can still be a way--."

"We both know," I coughed up more blood--, "...that I will not make it. It is of no use...to try...and...sa..." My voice was leaving me. My vision was fading. All feeling was nearly nonexistent.

"Don't leave me," my father pleaded, voice full of anguish, "Please...! I am sorry for failing you as a father. I am sorry that I cannot do more. I betrayed you and your mother. I am sorry! Just...you can't leave me...!"

"Father," I began."

"What is it?," he whispered in a trembling voice.

Mustering up the last of my strength, I spoke with what I had left of my mother: her language. In an airy voice, I murmured, "...ka...beia...kho...khu..a-a..."

Father stared at me, eyes wide. That was the last image I saw before my vision finally left me. His voice echoed in my ears as he called out to me with his cries of agony. The last thing I heard was my name, something my father gave to me, the last reminder that I had of him and myself...

"Samuel!!!"

Everything faded away into nothingness. The feeling of Father's arms around me was no more. His voice was gone. My last thoughts were of despair and guilt. Despair for my death and for Father's loss. Guilt for not having been strong enough to save my mother, to protect her like I was taught to. Father did not fail her or me, but I failed them. The last words I uttered to Father echoed around in the nothingness that was the deathly void, gradually growing quieter and quieter, yet these words spoke louder than anything I had ever uttered in the life that I had.

I will live on.