[A/N: This Chapter is a flashback Chapter, going back into the MC’s life.
It’s only purpose is to help give y’all a better understanding of the MC and his personality.
In essence, it could feel more like a slice of life Chapter, if you aren’t fine with that, you can skip to the next Chapter!]
The sun seeped in through the curtains, spreading its warmth through the room.
Kids could be seen playing around with different toys, bright smiles on their faces.
A young boy, round black hair, a pale body and sunken eyes quickly walked into the room with a few bars of chocolate in his hands.
He stopped at the corner of the room, crossing his legs as he sat down to eat his chocolate.
But suddenly, a large shadow covered him.
He raised his head up to see the source of the obstruction and he could see three kids surrounding him.
In the center of the group was a tall boy. While he still looked malnourished like the rest of the kids, he gave off a more intimidating aura.
"Akhil, give us the chocolates," the boy demanded, looking at the younger one condescendingly.
Akhil shuffled his feet against the ground, pushing back slightly and blocking the bars of chocolate with his body in a protective stance.
"No! It’s mine. I haven’t eaten all day. Miss Kate gave them to me. If you want yours, you can go meet her," he said, unwilling to give out his chocolate bars.
The bigger boy frowned deeply at his remarks. Without any permission, he grabbed one of the chocolate bars and ruthlessly yanked it out of the young boy’s grip.
"Didn’t you hear what Miss Kate said about sharing?" he retorted as he looked at the chocolate bar in his hands with satisfaction.
"I don’t want to share with you! Give me back my chocolates!" Akhil roared in retaliation as he stood to take back his chocolate.
Despite the large difference in height, he didn’t let his fear get the better of him as he dragged the chocolates with the boy.
Thanks to the commotion, all the other kids stopped playing and turned to the two staring at them.
Just then, a loud voice echoed from behind.
"Jace! What are you doing?!" Hearing the voice, the boy stiffened, letting go of the chocolate bar.
Thud!
With a low thud, Akhil fell on his butt, his eyes lit up as he stared at the chocolate bar that was now in his possession again.
He quickly stood up and ran towards the young lady, hugging her legs.
Kate stared down at the young boy, ruffling his hair before turning her attention back to Jace.
"You’ll be punished for this... Since when did bullying become a norm here?!" she yelled at the three boys who instinctively shivered at the sound of her voice.
Soon after cautioning them, she turned her focus fully on Akhil.
He had already downed a few bars of chocolate, the smears of chocolate all over his mouth.
Seeing his innocent little face, she chuckled. "Come here, my boy!" she said, carrying him off his feet.
But she soon noticed the angry look in his eyes as he stared at Jace and his friends who had tried to bully him.
"I’ll never share anything with them again!" Akhil declared, but his words were followed by a sharp wince as Kate pinched his nose.
"You should always be kind regardless of how people treat you. There will always be a reward for kindness. Perhaps, who knows... someday, a good family will take you out of here," the young miss said with a warm smile.
The boy looked back at her with his round black eyes... and a large smile cut across his face.
"Alright, Miss Kate! I’ll do my best to be a good and kind boy!"
---
"We’ll be taking the boy with us," a man said with a large smile on his face.
"Me?" Akhil asked, with a look mixed with confusion and surprise.
"Yes, you," the man replied as he held Akhil by the hand.
A bright smile formed on his face as he looked at Kate.
She winked at him, and he ran his hand through his hair happily, a bright smile on his face.
"Alright sir, we’ll arrange the documents now," Kate said with a warm smile as she brought out the legal files for the child.
Right after the two parties were done signing the documents,
Akhil followed the man as he walked out of the orphanage door, with two heavy guards behind him.
They stopped in front of a sleek black limousine and one of the guards quickly went to open the door, allowing the man to enter inside.
"Come here, boy," the man said as he raised Akhil, carrying him over his shoulders.
Akhil’s eyes remained on Kate as he entered the car. He felt a tinge of sadness as he looked at her, but she gave him a reassuring smile.
Mouthing her usual phrase in the air, "I’m always here whenever you need me."
He waved his hands at her as the guard shut the door.
His heart heavy with worry, "Is this a good thing?" he suddenly asked.
The middle-aged looking man placed him on the chair and turned to him.
"Well, that’s a question you’ll answer for yourself. If you don’t like it at the end, you can return here. I’m not going to force you."
Hearing the man’s blunt reply, Akhil quietly nodded his head and kept quiet through the ride.
Meanwhile back at the orphanage, news of Akhil’s adoption spread like a storm.
"Did you hear?! Akhil was taken by a really rich family!"
"Yeah, I heard the man was a minister!"
"Damn! He’s so lucky."
"But honestly, he truly deserves it... He gave me his chocolates so many times whenever I told him I was hungry. He’s really kind," a girl said, her cheeks tinted red as she dug her face into her chest.
The others nodded in agreement.
Soon, Akhil saw himself standing before a grand mansion, and seeing the sight, he quickly remembered Kate, and a smile cut across his face. ’I’ll always remain kind!’ he thought, smiling sheepishly, squeezing his hands tightly in a quiet promise.
Slowly, Akhil opened his eyes, and the memories faded.
That was a silly promise he had kept as a kid. Growing up taught him how rough keeping such a promise was. But even throughout that time, nothing had ever quested his morality like the scene he was facing at the moment.
He was caught between the crossroads.
And the decision was a really hard one. The beasts he had killed so far all had beastly appearances.
Telling them apart from an actual beast wasn’t even possible.
But this... this was a different case altogether.
And he wasn’t sure of himself at all.