"No! Just make it stop! Why are they doing this to me? They took...everything from me! It feels...as if I’ve been cursed, devoid of any happiness. All of them...are just sick-minded f*cks!!!”

The boy screamed those words crying and sobbing, as he ran in the pouring rain. He ran as farther as he could on the empty and lone streets under the faint luminosity of the flickering street lamps. He was chased by his pursuers, he knew that he had no place left to turn to, there was no hope but absolute despair for him. He was shunned, lost all he once held dear. Deep in his shattered mind, he started to lose all sense of his surroundings, he kept running unconsciously until an abrupt and crude noise broke him free of his thoughts. He looked towards the source of that crude noise and saw a truck heading towards him in a fury.

When he came back to his senses he found himself in the middle of a road. A bullet was fired from behind that grazed his leg which caused him to slip and the fall wrenched his ankle. The truck was still coming at him and showed no sign of stopping due to the rain sliding nor he had any chance to avoid it. Its constant horn sounded like the trumpet of death to him. He knew it was already too late to avoid it, the sword of Damocles hung over his head. The overwhelming stress, exhaustion, anxiety and that feeling of utter hopelessness took its toll on him. The cold rain paralyzed his muscles and made his entire body freeze as if death itself had drained him of the energy to move. But even so, he embraced death with a smile on his face as tears rolled down his cheeks, in his last breath he uttered: “I’m sorry…” before the angel of death finally reaped the soul from his body. He met his demise and was finally free of all his suffering.

But is death really the answer to all suffering? God granted us the ability to feel emotions, those emotions and sensations might be a bliss for someone but for someone they could be the cause of all pain.

Benevolence, sympathy, and kindness is the definition of humanity. If biologically just being a human is termed as humanity then what about those people who have already lost it? Those who murder and take a life without a second thought. Can they also be called humans? If that was the case then we already have monsters walking among us in man’s guise.

If I were to define humanity then it would be on the basis on, to have a sense of regard and respect towards their fellow humans, to be benevolent to others and those weaker than us. The ability to feel others pain and suffering, to sympathize with them. But I’m afraid to admit that some have already lost their compassion towards humanity to such an extent that they consider others worthless of value. They have lost all the characteristics that define a human. For them to become so inhumanely vicious is if they went through something so bad that they tend to view others as worthless and insignificant. Most likely they are consumed by vengeance and are blinded by their rage eventually giving into monstrosity. This fury and rage instilled in them clouds their judgment and poisons their conscience to the point where killing feels right to them. They start using others as mere tools in the way of achieving their iniquitous goals.

But not everyone in this world is born bad or destined to become a monster. Rather it’s the circumstances and the society they are raised in which defines their actions and shapes their personality, intellect, and character. There’s a crucial turning point in each individual’s life which can either make a positive change or have a negative impact on them making them who they are now.

SO IN A WORLD LIKE THIS WILL YOU KEEP CLINGING TO YOUR HUMANITY OR GIVE INTO MONSTROSITY?

So this world, it’s becoming more and more rotten with each passing day. The corruption spreads like a plague. People with any goodwill in their heart are short-lived. This world is no longer a place safe for those who are weak, it has become the survival of the fit and the rules of the jungle apply.

“This world is a jungle, you either fight or run forever.”

TO BE CONTINUED...

***THREE YEARS AGO (Prior to the Prologue) The month of November\, the year 2019***

Among the enormous, most lavish and luxurious mansions of London there was a grand manor which belonged to the Winslows. A family of filthy rich and powerful, hiding behind their superficially virtuous personalities and facade of holding Noble-looking events and charities but even that was merely a mean for them to gain more political power and wring more favours out of others. The manor's owner Lester Winslow lived there with his second wife Camila Aubrey and two sons Bryce the younger son and Liam the older son, but both siblings’ only had a difference of a year and a half between their ages. Lester also had a daughter named Vivian who was born from his late wife Diane. All his children were in their late teenage years.

The manor covered extensive grounds. With basketball and tennis courts, a football ground, Martial Arts Club, a Dojo, Gymnasium, Swimming pools, and exquisite gardens. The garages housed about a dozen cars including sports cars, SUVs, a limousine, and business class cars. There were different cars for different occasions.

The manor was armed with high security and a battalion of maids and butlers away at a call and always ready to serve their masters. This versatile and luxurious manor covered in autumn coloured vines and beautiful gardens with exquisite flowers under the dazzling winter’s sunlight would make anyone's dream home look pale in comparison.

Behind the mansion, there was a servant quarter building extending over three floors. Through the window of a room of the servant quarters, a boy of age around fourteen could be seen slumbering in a dark and damp room on an old bed with the gloom hanging in the atmosphere. But the dawn washed away all the dark and illuminated the murky room with its glistening sunlight. A few hours after dawn the boy woke up from the intense sun shining in his eyes through the window. He slowly opened his eyes, his pupils contracted from the profound sunlight coming from the window. He got up whilst still sitting on his bed. The pupils of his smoke-grey eyes dilated back to normal as his eyes were out of the sun’s vicinity. His chocolate copper brown hair shined vibrantly under the gleaming sun as his back was turned against the sun.

Though the boy was slim, he was not a bag of bones. His physique would look more well-built if he ate properly and exercised. Overall he had a handsome face and was blessed with a pair of attractive warm-grey eyes. Unlike other boys, Willem took care of himself. He kept himself clean, his nails trimmed and his hair always tidy.

He stretched his arms and glanced around the room to look for his mother. Her absence made him assume that she had already gotten up and gone to work. The boy too got up, bathed, brushed his teeth and put on his boy servant attire.

Before leaving the room he saw an apple on the table beside the door, with a note along with it. It was from his mother.

The Note:-

“Willem, I’ll be leaving early today. Sorry I couldn’t give you anything else besides this apple. I know this isn't enough for you but it’s a start. So please eat it. Love Mom.”

The boy ate the apple and left the room for work. On getting out of his room he could smell breakfasts cooking for the lords and ladies of the house. The pleasant aromas reminded him of his own hunger as his stomach growled.

The trays of fancy breakfast were carried to the rooms. The boy passed along the young Lord Bryce’s room, who was savouring his breakfast but left the bread crust he disliked to be disposed of. A maid came by and took away the tray. The boy followed the maid to the kitchen. As she was about to dump the fresh bread crust into the bin Willem stopped the maid. “Ms.Linda, wait! Don’t throw it away. We shouldn’t waste food no matter how little it is.”

“Huh? Whatever, you can have it if you want. Anyways the young lord doesn’t like the bread crust.”

The boy ate the leftover crust and left the kitchen. To him whether crust or crumbs mattered not, he valued what little food he got.

The boy was wondering about where he could find his mother, whilst walking away he was called from behind by a maid, “Hey boy, take this and start cleaning the furniture,” said the maid as she shoved a duster in his hand and went away in a hurry.

The boy went from room to room cleaning the furniture, carefully dusting all the expensive showpieces. As he was cleaning the window he gazed outside looking at a couple of boys in fancy clothing, a couple of years older than his age, playing football. It was clear that Willem yearned for those fancy clothes, toys, friends to talk and play with. His stomach was growling with hunger, but he was so absorbed in watching the other boys play that he forgot about his hunger, since a mere apple wasn't enough to quench the hunger of someone who did not even eat his yesterday's dinner properly. The lunchtime was still far.

While cleaning the shiny glass window, it reminded him of the toy shop with the large glass window pane that he walked passed yesterday with his mother, it had the same glass as the young lord’s room window. But more importantly, behind the glass were the new action figure robots that caught his eye but were far from his reach with his empty pockets.

Lost in his thoughts a familiar voice called his name.

Lost in his thoughts a familiar voice called his name…

“Willem? Son? Boy, are you daydreaming again?” she chuckled as she called his name.

Willem turned around and saw Marianne standing behind him with her hands behind her waist, gently smiling at him. She had lovely, long and wavy chestnut brown hair. Marianne’s hair and her light skin tone radiated beautifully from the sunlight entering through the window until she moved aside. Besides being a mother of a mid-teenage boy she was slim and smart. Despite the fact that she was in her mid-thirties she looked a decade younger than her actual age. She was a gorgeous woman with the proper manners of a lady.

“Mom! Where were you?”

“Sorry son, but I had to leave for work early today. You were sleeping so peacefully that I didn’t wanted to wake you up. Anyways, I got something for you so close your eyes and then open them after the count of three, ok?”

Willem closed his eyes and counted to three “One, Two, Three, and…?” He opened his eyes and was surprised to see his mother holding a box which was beautifully wrapped in gift paper. Willem asked his mother “Mom, what’s this?”

“It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if I told you now would it be? How about you open it and find it for yourself.”

Willem unknotted the blue ribbon and unwrapped his surprise gift. He was overjoyed to find the same action figure he had seen in the toy shop yesterday.

“Happy Birthday son!” Marianne smiled and enthusiastically cheered her son.

“Whoa! Mom, it’s the same one! But you needn’t to, it would've been fine either way.”

“Now now, you silly boy, I saw how you were drooling for it.”

“Thank you so much mom, you are the best!”

“I’m glad you liked it son, sorry I got a bit late, I couldn’t give it to you on your birthday.”

“No, It’s fine mom. I’m happy regardless of it because I have you. I love you, mom.”

“I love you too, son. I only wish the best for you. Now give me that duster and go play with your new toy, take a break and I’ll handle the work from here.”

“Thanks, mom.”

That toy was something special for Willem because it was a dear gift from his mother. It was the first time his mother was able to gift him something that costs more than ten pounds. It returned the smile on his gloomy face. Willem took the toy to the garden, he glanced around to see if anyone was there, luckily the place was empty so he approached the sitting area, where he needed the table to assemble his new toy which was actually the fun part for him.

He carefully opened the box and was amazed at the quality of the product. Some parts were made up of plastic and some of metal. He read the manual and started to assemble his new robot. Willem was a smart boy, he managed to assemble the entire robot in a matter of a few minutes. Even though the boy never really went to school but his mother had taught him well because Marianne herself was a high school graduate. She taught her son whatever she knew herself, including modern education and proper manners of serving in a mansion.

He was just done with the toy, that his concentration was broken by an abrupt voice which called his name from behind. “Willem?!” It was the young lord Bryce’s voice.

Willem turned around to see Bryce standing behind him. A football was under his right foot and both his hands were at the back of his head. His hands brushed through his dark auburn hair as he lowered his arms. His Hazel Eyes gave out a wolf’s stare towards Willem with such coldness that it sent a chill down his spine.

Willem quickly turned around to face him and hid the toy behind his back. Because Willem knew that he might end up losing his prized possession to the young lord. But unfortunately, the window to react and hide the toy was too small for him. The only thing that he could hope for was to try evading Bryce.

Though it was a mere two year age difference between them. Willem didn’t even stood a chance against Bryce, not just because of the difference of strength but status too. Unlike what most people would think that a rich brat would be fat, Bryce had quite a well-built body for a sixteen-year-old. Not exactly a six-pack muscular body but the type of physique which won’t make him prone to bullying from the delinquents around his own age. He had a handsome face but a cold glare in his eyes. He was the type of person who could lure someone in his deceptive charm with mere lip service.

“So this is where you’ve been. Slacking off instead of working!” said Bryce. Willem could sense an intimidating tone in Bryce’s voice. He could feel a bad mood swing coming at him. “Willem...”

“Yes? Master Bryce.”

“Just what the heck are you doing here?”

“Nothing...my lord,” Willem stuttered.

“And what is it that you are trying to hide behind your back? Show it to me...”

“It’s nothing my lord, please excuse me I’ll return to my duties promptly.”

“Promptly?...Pff...getting fancy are we?” said Bryce in a sarcastic tone. “WELL, NO, you won’t be PROMPTLY going anywhere...” Bryce held Willem from his left shoulder. And that was it, the end of the toy ownership for Willem.

Before Willem could react Bryce punched him in the face, knocking the boy down. The toy figure fell down, lying in front of Willem. Willem quickly clenched the figure with his left hand.

“Ah! So this is what you’ve been hiding behind you,” said Bryce as he smirked. “You know I don’t like liars.” Saying this Bryce placed his football boot on Willem’s hand holding the toy figure. Bryce kept putting pressure on his hand just to listen to his screams. The boot’s aluminum metal studdings on its sole kept stinging Willem’s hand but he gritted his teeth, trying hold back his scream.

“Lord...Bryce please, I’m sorry! Ugh...Please...don’t break it, my mother gave it to me as a gift.” Willem pleaded Bryce, his voice was breaking from the pangs of pain he so terribly felt in his hand under pressure. But Alas, all was in vain. Bryce lifted his foot and stomped on Willem's left hand which was holding onto his prized possession. The blow was strong enough to shatter the toy figure. It’s metallic and plastic pieces shattered and broke apart, they jabbed into Willem’s hand. Those fragmented pieces tore opened his hand and it started to bleed profusely, along with his agonizing screams echoing through the gardens.

This was the first crack of shatter on his persona.

(Willem's mind is personified as a picture in a glass photo frame, of him and his mother smiling. With the first loss, a small crack appeared on the corner of the glass, this was also a crack upon his persona.)