The cold, damp air of the basement clung to Konni’s small frame like a second skin. The darkness was suffocating, broken only by the faint glow of his yellow eyes as he sat huddled in the corner. With a jagged piece of black rock, he scratched at the floor, drawing a family—a mother, a father, and a child, all smiling, all together. It was a fantasy, a fleeting escape from the nightmare he was trapped in.
His stomach growled, a constant reminder of the hunger that gnawed at him. When the hunger became unbearable, he resorted to eating the infernal pests that scurried across the floor—disgusting, wriggling creatures that left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth. But even that was better than nothing. Konni missed the warmth of a home-cooked meal, the comfort of a mother’s embrace, the safety of a family. He missed it all so much that it hurt. Tears streamed down his face as he curled into a ball, whispering to himself, hoping this was all just a bad dream.
“Mama… please… I’m scared,” Konni whimpered, his voice trembling and broken. His small hands clutched at his chest as if trying to hold himself together. “I just want to go home…”
The sound of the heavy basement door creaking open snapped him out of his thoughts. His mother, Kaira, stepped inside, carrying a tray of food. It wasn’t much—just a meager portion of bread and a bowl of thin soup—but to Konni, it was a feast. His heart leapt at the sight of her, not because of the food, but because she was there. He scrambled to his feet, the chains around his ankles clinking as he tried to run to her, only to be yanked back painfully.
Kaira knelt before him, her expression unreadable. Her long white hair fell over her face, shadowing her crimson eyes. She wore a tattered dress that clung to her figure, the fabric frayed and stained. Her horns, curved and sharp, framed her face like a twisted crown. She placed the tray on the ground and spoke in a voice that was soft but distant, as if she were forcing the words out.
“You… you need to eat,” she murmured, her voice trembling with uncertainty. She avoided his gaze, her hands fidgeting nervously.
Konni didn’t care about the food. He lunged forward as far as the chains would allow, wrapping his arms around her in a desperate embrace. Tears streamed down his face as he buried his head against her chest, clinging to her as if she might disappear at any moment.
“Mama, please… I want to leave here,” he sobbed, his voice muffled against her dress. “I promise I won’t be a burden. I just want to be with you… please…”
Kaira hesitated, her arms hovering awkwardly before she finally returned the hug, though her touch was hesitant, almost reluctant. Her heart was a battlefield of conflicting emotions—love for her child, anger at the world, and a deep, unshakable resentment that she couldn’t quite place. She wanted to hold him, to protect him, but the weight of her pain held her back.
“Mama needs to think… and rest,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She gently pushed him away, her hands lingering on his shoulders for a moment. “You need to eat, Konni. Please… make sure you do.”
She forced a small, strained smile, her crimson eyes glistening with unshed tears. Konni nodded, his own eyes brightening slightly as he managed a weak smile in return. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, a flicker of hope sparked within him. Maybe things would get better. Maybe this nightmare would end.
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Kaira kissed his forehead before standing and walking back to the door. She paused for a moment, her hand resting on the handle, before leaving without another word. The sound of the door closing echoed through the basement, leaving Konni alone once more. He ate the food slowly, savoring every bite, and for the first time in weeks, he slept without the gnawing ache of hunger in his stomach.
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Days passed, and Kaira began visiting him more often. She brought him food, sat with him, and even allowed him to spend time upstairs in the dimly lit living room. Konni clung to these moments, cherishing the small glimpses of normalcy. He would curl up on the couch, hugging his tattered stuffed toy, while Kaira busied herself around the house. But the peace was fragile, and it didn’t last.
One evening, Konni awoke to the sound of raised voices outside. He crept to the window, peering through the cracked glass to see his mother arguing with a group of demons. Their laughter was cruel, their words laced with malice.
“You owe us, Kaira,” one of them sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. “And if you can’t pay, we’ll find another way to settle your debt.”
Kaira’s voice was sharp, filled with anger and desperation. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, as if trying to shield herself from their words. “I can’t pay you! I have nothing left! It’s just me and my child!”
The leader of the group stepped closer, his grin widening. He reached out, brushing a strand of her white hair from her face, but she slapped his hand away, her eyes blazing with defiance.
“Then maybe your child can pay for you. After all, you’ve said it yourself—you don’t even want him, do you?”
Kaira’s face paled, her hands trembling at her sides. She took a step back, her voice barely above a whisper. “I would never… I’m not that kind of woman!”
The demons laughed, their voices echoing through the night. The leader leaned in, his breath hot against her ear. “Think about it, Kaira. We’ll be back for your answer.”
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When the demons returned, Kaira stood at the door, her face devoid of emotion. She accepted a bag of coins from the leader, her hands shaking as she clutched it tightly. The demons pushed past her, their laughter filling the house as they descended into the basement.
Konni’s heart raced as he heard the door open. He tried to run, to hide, but there was nowhere to go. The demons grabbed him, dragging him back to the chains he had hoped to never see again. He screamed for his mother, his voice breaking as he begged for her to save him. But she didn’t come.
The days that followed were a blur of pain and terror. The demons tormented him, cutting into his skin, mocking his cries, and breaking him piece by piece. Konni’s world became a haze of agony, his once-bright eyes dulled to a lifeless black. But the final blow came when they ripped his horns from his head, the pain so overwhelming that he thought he would die.
Yet, in that moment of unbearable suffering, something inside him snapped. A dark, primal rage surged through his veins, and the chains that bound him shattered. He moved like a shadow, his small hands gripping a discarded knife as he tore into the demons with a ferocity that left them no time to react. The basement became a slaughterhouse, the walls painted with blood as Konni’s fury consumed him.
When it was over, he stood amidst the carnage, his body trembling as he stared at the lifeless forms around him. He didn’t feel relief or satisfaction—only emptiness. He gathered what little he could from the demons’ belongings and climbed the stairs, his small feet leaving bloody prints on the floor.
In the living room, he found Kaira. She sat curled in on herself, a bottle clutched in her hand, her face streaked with tears. She looked up as he approached, her eyes filled with guilt and sorrow.
“My baby…” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I’m so sorry…”
Konni stepped closer, his small hands trembling as he reached for her. For a moment, it seemed like they might find solace in each other’s embrace. But then, in a flash of movement, Konni drove the knife into her back. Kaira gasped, her eyes wide with shock as she slumped to the floor.
“I’m sorry too, Mama,” Konni whispered, his voice hollow as he watched the light fade from her eyes.
The house fell silent, the weight of what had happened settling over Konni like a shroud. He stood alone in the darkness, his heart as cold as the basement he had escaped. The nightmare was over, but the scars it left would never fade....
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