Shattered Reality

Chapter 2: Family

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Journal Entry # 102

Date: June 8th, 1484 A.F.

Happy birthday little brother, it’s been quite a long time hasn’t it? I remember the first day I met you 52 years ago, the day you came home cradled in mothers arms. I had been begging Dad to know when Mom was coming home with you. I had always wanted a little brother of my own after going over to Jacks house to stay the night, seeing how happy he was with his little brother. It was something I wished I could experience, no matter how young I was or you were.

That day you came home I was only 4 years old at the time, barely turned at that. I was so ecstatic that I was beaming from ear to ear. I didn’t know much at the time about babies, let alone how to take care of you but I never let that stop me. When you started to cry I was always the first to you, unless of course you were crying right next to Mom or Dad.

I remember the day Dad died and what became of me. When we finally got home I holed myself up in my room crying without relent from the tears. You waddled into my room and simply stared at me for a few moments trying to understand what was going on. Even though you probably couldn’t comprehend anything that was going on.

I looked up to you through my tear soaked eyes and snot covered face. You just as oblivious as ever, but what caught me off guard was you trying to hug me despite not knowing. I held you crying my eyes out. Soon enough we both fell asleep, you from just being tired and me from crying myself to sleep.

That day I made a pledge to myself, even if it were one that came from a child, that I would protect you until my very last breath just as Dad or Mom would’ve done.

From my first grade year to my eighth grade year I protected you from harm and did what I could for you. Me, you, and Mom. We were a happy family with not a care in the world. Yet that happiness was only the building that was to be the base of our demise.

I remember that horrible, horrid day. I was taking a test in Algebra when I got called to the office, I asked if I could finish the test but they said that I needed to come now. So I did what any kid with his head on straight would do, I did what I was told and went to the office without another moment of hesitation. When I got there I was greeted by the Principal, Assistant Principal, and a handful of cops.

All of them were saying sorry to me for reasons I couldn’t even begin to comprehend. That was until one of the officers took me aside and told me what had happened. My mom was killed in an accident.

Now I know that it seems normal for someone to cry, but I couldn’t bring myself to shed any tears. The only thing that came to me was anger, pure and horrid anger. I stood in that spot for a good thirty minutes before even taking a step, my head hung low and my eyes widened in shock but my fingernails stabbing deep into my hands causing them to bleed.

They tried to talk to me but I heard nothing of what they said. I simply walked slowly, occasionally tripping down the hallway towards my class. I walked in the door and a bunch of kids just stared at me, I went to where I was sitting packed my stuff and walked out. The teacher chased after me trying to get me to stop and return to class but I started to run.

I ran and ran, never looking back and never stopping. I didn’t care where I ran, I just ran. The world around me was just a narrow passageway of darkness. Surprisingly when I finally stopped running, I didn’t find myself at home or at any random place but at the front of your elementary school.

I walked into the school, hood up over my eyes and covering my face with my backpack slung on my shoulders. I walked down the 4th grade hallway towards your classroom. Once I entered the classroom I looked around finding you doing History work the teacher asking me who I was and why I was there. I didn’t say anything to her, only walking over to you. She yelled and yelled for me to get out, yet I tuned her out with only you on my mind.

I kneeled down and hugged you as tight as I could, telling you the horrible news through pained breathing and broken voice. The look on your face just destroyed me even further. I stood up and looked at the teacher through my broken eyes and said “He will be back when he deems he is alright. Neither you nor the administration of this school will say otherwise.”

She started yelling for help as I packed your belongings hastily and picked you up as you cried into my shoulder. I walked out of the classroom, the teachers and students all looking out of their classrooms at the scene that was unfolding to find us two. I heard sirens in the distance so I started to run, I ran and never looked back. I kept you in my arms as I ran, telling you everything would be alright, that we would get through this, that we were okay.

I ran home with you in my arms, you fell asleep halfway there leaving me with a deadweight, but not a weight I was unwilling to carry. When I got to the house there were already police waiting for us, so I woke you up ready to face what they had in wait for us. I held your hand as we crossed the barren street towards the police.

After that day I knew that I would always protect you as you were the only thing in the world that mattered anymore to me. We were placed in an orphanage in the town. Many families came to try and adopt us, but I would never let them take you without taking me or vice-versa. We were there in the orphanage for 5 years.

You were finally a freshman in high school and I a senior. That year was nothing but another tear filled one when you decided to run away from the orphanage, more so away from the pricks who constantly bullied you. I tried to stop you, sadly it was to no avail. It didn’t take long for those same people to come after me for the same reason they did you.

Only days after you had left did they start picking on me. For a few months I just ignored them, letting them have their fun. They insulted me? I ignored it. They hit me? I ignored it. They insulted my family? I drew the line.

One day when I was sitting at lunch, hood over my head to hide my pain, they had chosen to sit next to me. Each taking potshots at me with pitiful jokes and insults.  They called me worthless, they called me loser, they called me stupid. Of course I had already believed I was worthless, stupid, broken, a loser, a nothing.

When I finally heard enough of them I said, “Leave me alone, you’re not funny nor are you cute. Just leave me be.” One of them quickly chose to throw me off the bench onto the ground behind me. I laid there for a second and picked up a piece of grass stuck it in my mouth, laid back and put my knees up.

“Thanks for that, now if you don’t mind I’m gonna take a nap, wake me up when ya leave alright?” I stated sarcastically pulling my hood further over my face and putting my hands behind my head. Of course afterwards they started making fun of me and kicking me to try and get at me. I let them continue for a while.

No one else had stepped in to stop it, not a student, not a teacher, heck not even the security guard. Of course they wouldn’t, the jerk offs were part of the football team and we were going to state so no one wanted to lose them. What made me snap was when one of them said, “Your mother deserved to die you loser!”

Once I heard that I grabbed the guys leg and flipped him onto his back and landed knees first on his chest. Everyone was surprised, my hood was flung off and revealed that my face was black and blue with blood coming out of my nose. “What did you say?” I had growled at him. He simply smiled back and said, “Your. Mother. Deserved. To. Die.”

Once he said that, before I could realize it I had broken his neck turning his head 180 degrees to face the ground. For the second time in my life, I had started to turn this time with more control and a stronger fire in my heart. My veins, organs, muscles, bones, my skin, heck even my hair felt like fire as I slowly grew into the menacing creature I had known many years ago.

Everyone that was gathered were either too scared out of their wits to move, or were smart enough to get away before hell broke loose. Almost everybody except for the guys who had started beating me up had fled to the safety of the building around the enclosed outdoor area. Yet the walls around us were made of glass so they could see what was going on.

They locked the doors behind them so the group and I couldn’t get in or out. I turned towards the star quarterback, standing a full 3 feet over him. I slowly walked towards him as he backed away from me, not taking long to fall onto his rear end and scrambling to the wall behind him as I stood over him. Eclipsing his small pee ridden form.

I grabbed him by his jacket and lifted him up above my head. “Remember this face and remember it well because the next time you see it, it will be the last one you ever see.” Was all I said to him before dropping him to the ground. I turned towards the rest of his little group, “The same for all of you.”

That day was a day I will never forget, nor will I ever resent. That day I never returned to that school, I gathered my belongings and left the orphanage. After about two years of solitude in the wilderness, even in your death you’ll never believe the way I survived, I chose to return to civilization hoping my image had faded luck had it that I did.

I chose to lend my skills to the United States Marine Corps. I was 18 at the time I joined and when I met you again was when I was 25.  Just fresh out of the OCS. When I heard of a Corporal with the last name of Varellian I just had to find out who it was that had my last name. Of course anyone with a curiosity like mine would’ve sought that out as well.

Luckily for me you were being assigned to my regiment so I didn’t have to do much searching. That first day I saw you I waited until you were about to leave before pulling you aside, “Corporal Varellian, come here a moment would you?” I had asked.

“Sir?” You asked as you jogged into place in front of me giving me a salute. “At ease soldier just want to talk, informal of course.” I said, putting a hand on your shoulder. You gave me a relieved smile, “How would you like to go out for drinks later? Sound like a plan?” I offered you, causing you to tighten up again.

“Yeah I know a Captain asking a Corporal to grab a drink with em, don’t worry it’s fine.” I said hitting his shoulder with a playful punch. After that we met up at the pub downtown and before we entered the pub I asked, “I’ve got one question before we go in kid, what’s your name I mean your full name?”

You were taken aback by the question, “Shouldn’t you already know sir?” You retorted. I gave a smile, “Just answer the question.” I said rolling my eyes. “My full name is Neil Preta Varellian sir.” When I heard your full name my heart stopped and I fell into the chair behind me. “Sir are you okay?” you asked.

“You…you…you’re my…b…bro…brother.” I managed to stammer out causing you to become just as shocked as me. After that day, nothing was the same for me. A part of me was happy that you were okay and that you were where I could always keep you safe now. Yet another part of me despised you for running away back then, leaving me alone.

We fought side by side a few times, soon enough Jazmine joined us as well. Then the day came when I was running the rescue op to get you and Jazmine but that day I found you dead in the closet and Jazmine already miles away when I reached her.

Now I’m in a completely different universe separate from the universe we have come to know, or in the very least a multitude of galaxies away. My old life has faded and the new life I have taken is all but enjoyable being away from my only family I have left.

Hopefully some day soon I can do something to get them back. Maybe, just maybe, I can find a way to talk with you, mom, and dad again. I wouldn’t doubt it with how impossible this universe has been thus far in my journey. I love you little brother, and you will always live on in my memory despite the fact others may have forgotten already.

-Sit ad semitam reperio viam vestram pravis.-

-End of Entry-