The Night of Screams

Kael had always been a dreamer, his world untouched by the cruelty of reality. At twelve years old, he saw the world as a place of endless possibilities—adventures in the forests surrounding his family’s estate, days spent exploring, and nights filled with laughter around a warm hearth. His mother, gentle and nurturing, always had a smile that could light up the darkest room. His father, a towering figure of strength and honor, would tell him stories of ancient warriors and the courage it took to protect those you love. And his younger sister, Layla, was the joy of his life, her laughter infectious, her presence a constant reminder of the warmth of family.

But that night—the night of screams—everything changed.

Kael had just drifted into a peaceful sleep, his dreams filled with thoughts of the next day’s adventure, when a sharp sound shattered the calm. It was an unfamiliar noise, distant at first, but growing louder. At first, he thought it was thunder, or maybe a large animal prowling near the estate. But then came the screams—agonizing, piercing screams that clawed at the stillness of the night. His heart raced in confusion and fear. He was no stranger to the occasional noise from the forest, but this—this felt different. This felt like danger.

Suddenly, the door to his room crashed open. His mother, pale and trembling, appeared in the doorway, her eyes wide with terror. “Kael!” she hissed, her voice frantic, “Get to the crawlspace, now!” Without hesitation, Kael jumped from his bed, his heart pounding in his chest. She didn’t wait for him to ask questions; she grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the floorboards. “Hide! Don’t come out, no matter what.”

As Kael was shoved into the cramped hiding spot beneath the floor, his mind raced. The house felt like it was shaking, the sounds of violence growing louder. Shouts, clashing steel, the sickening crack of breaking wood—all mixed with the acrid smell of smoke. Kael could see the glow of flames creeping beneath the edges of the floorboards, casting flickering shadows against the walls. His mother’s face was a blur above him, her hands shaking as she pressed the wooden planks back into place. The trapdoor was sealed, and Kael was left alone in the dark, his breath shallow and fast.

His heart ached with confusion, with terror. What was happening? Was this some nightmare he could wake up from? But the sounds outside only grew worse—the sound of his father’s voice, the clatter of armor and weapons, the screams of agony. And then, the silence. A terrible, oppressive silence that seemed to swallow the world around him.

Hours passed, though it felt like an eternity. Kael stayed hidden, his body stiff from the cold, his mind a whirlwind of fear and confusion. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t make a sound. His thoughts were filled with images of his parents, his sister—what had happened to them? Were they safe? Was anyone coming to help?

When the silence finally broke, it wasn’t with the sound of a rescue. It was with the echo of footsteps—the sound of retreating enemies, their voices carrying through the still air. The attackers were gone.

Kael waited, paralyzed by the fear that clung to him like a second skin. Finally, after what felt like hours, he crawled from his hiding spot, every muscle aching from the tension. He emerged into the ruins of his life.

His house was a smoldering ruin, the walls blackened by fire, the once-beautiful furniture reduced to ash and charred wood. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and death. Kael’s eyes scanned the remains of the home, his chest tightening with each step. He found his father—his mighty, proud father—lying motionless on the floor, blood pooling around his body. His mother was nearby, her form twisted in a final act of protection, a broken body shielding her daughter. Layla... his sister. Gone.

The world around him seemed to collapse in on itself. His family—the ones who had loved him, protected him, who had been his entire world—were now reduced to ash. At that moment, Kael felt something deep within him snap. A cold fire ignited in his chest, burning with a desire for vengeance.

“I will make them pay,” Kael whispered through clenched teeth, his voice hoarse with emotion. His innocence had been taken from him, replaced with the first embers of a fire that would consume him for years to come.

He buried his family beneath the ashes of their home, his hands trembling as he whispered a final goodbye. In the stillness of that night, Kael made a vow. A vow that would shape the course of his life forever: He would make them pay for what they had done. The world had taken everything from him, but Kael would rise from the ashes, stronger than ever before.

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