L O G A N

"Spill." Ayo stated blankly. Although I knew what he wanted me to explain, I decided to push it.

"Spill...what?" I asked softly. I am honestly uncomfortable with the question but I have no choice.

"The scars on your body. They don't look anything like gashes from an accident and they are too big for self infliction.." He trailed off and eyed me suspiciously, as if questioning if I'm really cutting myself due to depression, but continued when I stared blankly at him. "They must be from him, right? So tell me about your life and DON'T HIDE ANYTHING!" He demanded and I sighed. This would take a while.

***

"Father, please stop! I'm sorry!"
It was futile to beg him. He just keeps hitting and hitting until he is satisfied and leaves my bloody body to bleed to death but I don't die, no matter how much I wish to die, I don't die.

It has always been that way since I can remember. I learned at a young age that my father is a serial killer and I have to suffer for it. He uses me for escape and beats me up or starve me when things do not go his way. Sometimes he beats me up for fun and sometimes when he's drunk– which is a lot of times.

I was homeschooled by him, I never knew my mother and each time I asked, I got punished harshly for it. There was a time I got curious of the world outside the hideout, it wasn't pretty. He threatened to kill me if I did anything wrong so I stayed put.

When I was thirteen, I escaped despite the threats he gave. In the outside world, I met Rikki tan, a man who took me in and sent me to school. I was happy until I found out that he was my father's agent sent to kill me. I ran away from him again and got a job to sustain myself. That was until Maru released a threatening video to find me wherever I am and kill me. He gave a description of who I am in the video and it didn't take too long for everybody to know that I am Maru's son. I mean, who else in Beastgrovia has green and blue eyes?

The police kept me in custody and tortured me to tell where he is but I didn't. I know that man  like I do my palm. He can have you thinking you've trapped him when all the while you're in his trap and besides, he would've changed locations again so it would be no use to bring the whole SWAT team to an empty hideout.

I was released eventually and my life wasn't the same again. I had to suck at school work on purpose to survive and deal with hate messages on my locker and egging everyday. The school's board of directors looked for every way possible to expel me to no avail. Some people see me and pick on me, I almost regretted leaving the hideout.

I met Nata when I was fourteen, she transferred schools and when she saw me, I was punched on the face a repeated number of times and nobody stopped her from doing so. Apparently, my father made her an orphan. Since I've gotten used to harsh treatment and starvation, it didn't bother me when I didn't get my pay cheque or when people don't sell stuff to me or overprice them.

During lunch one day, I sat in the classroom because I didn't have anything to eat when Nata gave me her lunch box. It surprised me and I was suspicious that it contained poison but she just laughed and ate a bite.

"See? Not poisoned." She said between mouthfuls but I was still skeptic.

"Eat, I can't focus in class with your stomach making noises." She pushed the lunch box to me and I ate reluctantly.

"What's your name? I never caught it since we just call you bad news." Wow, she's so blunt.

"L-Logan." I stuttered and she smiled brightly.

"Logan, I like that name! By the way, sorry for punching you the other day. I'm aggressive in nature so my actions speak louder than my words and thoughts literally."

No kidding.

"Why are y-you–" I started but she interrupted.

"–talking to you? It's cause you're a good person, aren't you? Or...are you a spy? Did Maru send you here?! I doubt that though. With all the scars and starvation and threat video I'd say you ran away. You're a good person, right?" She babbled.

"Uhm..."  I wasn't sure of what to say.

"Let's get you to my guardian, I'm sure he will like you since I do. I think you need a place to stay too, you should stay with us! That would be so much fun..." She babbled on and on as she dragged me through the halls ignoring the stares she got. Her guardian was the new principal, Mr Kamile and he treated Naja and I like his own.

We met Sean a year later when we were fifteen, my father killed his mother too but he warmed up to me because of Nata. They became a thing even though I had a crush on Nata back then. I took a scholarship programme in Beastville and I moved with Mr Kamile's help.

***

"So yeah, that's pretty much how my story goes." I concluded. Ayo was silent for a while but he spoke up later.

"Your secret is safe with me." He gave his signature toothy grin which I returned with mine then Mrs Jennifer called us down for dinner. It felt so good to have my best friend back.

When I got home, I called the one person in my mind. "Nata..." I started but was interrupted immediately by her screech.

"BABY! What's up with your voice?! What happened?!" I moved the phone away from my ear until her voice dropped into a quieter tone. I could hear the worry in her voice and I smiled at her sisterly instincts.

"I'm fine... Ayo knows." Nata didn't need an explanation before she knew what exactly Ayo knew. I heard silence on the other end. I never told her or Sean about Ayo's awareness because I didn't want them worrying. Nata's small voice penetrated the silence between the lines.

"A-are you okay?" She asked solemnly.

"Sure. He was cautious of me at first but now he's okay with it and we're brothers again." I sighed. "Maru killed his mother, Nata. Do you think he will find me one day?" My voice was barely above a whisper but she heard.

"Hey, he hasn't found you in three years and he hasn't struck in four years, maybe he's dead." Nata comforted but I know that man like I know my palm. His silence either means the police is so close to getting him or he's planning something big and it's definitely the latter. One way or the other, I am involved in this big plan of his.

I talked to Nata for a bit until she dismissed me.

"Go to bed, baby, I'll call in the morning." Nata dismisses.

"'Kay. Tell Sean I said g'nite." I cut the call and shower up and change. As I was about to collapse on my bed, my phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, I smiled as I picked it up.

"Hey Shelia." I greeted. I have been an ass to her this past week but I am glad she took my apology well.

"Hi. Were you about to sleep? You fall asleep around this time of the day." Oh she knows me so well. We talked for a while until she fell asleep. I heard her cute soft snores on the other end and I chuckled to myself. Her snores were my lullaby that night and I drifted to slumber-world.

***
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