Chapter 220: Human Cattle
Many years passed, and Sophia had turned 17 while Tyler was around 15. But they were in the same grade of studies despite her being 2 years older. Of course, her stature didn’t suggest in any way that she was 2 years older, at least compared to Tyler. It was Tyler who looked older than her, considering he had grown taller and slightly bigger than her by now.
But now they had grown quite close, very close, due to many events that had passed between these years. Tyler never treated her like the other boys did. Most of her peers or anyone in general approached Sophia, either for her beauty or her family background. But Tyler only sees her for what she truly is, as an individual, as a true friend. As Sophia, nothing more and nothing less. At least, that’s what she always says to him.
There was one thing about his closest friend, Sophia, that he understood by now, which was that everyone who saw her for the first time. They would be taken aback and scared of her red eyes, regardless of their age or her own. But as time passed, they would all become infatuated with her beauty in different ways.
The old would praise her beauty extensively to the point that it would be too much. Boys her age or older would usually look at her with desire, and girls would look at her with jealousy. Those younger would usually be scared of her eyes. Even her parents treated her like an asset.
They would always walk to school or back home together since Tyler’s uncle’s house was right beside them. They were as inseparable as they could be. But the situation between them was complicated. They were friends, but were as close as brother and sister. Neither knew, and neither dared to do anything about it.
But that would maybe change one day as they grew older.
One day, Sophia’s father called Tyler to their home, while Sophia’s mother took her to a party hosted by a wealthy person to show her off as the beauty she is. He was obviously nervous and gripped with tension. Because he knew what her father was going to say, it was apparent at this point. Even the reason her parents allowed her to always hang out with him despite the difference in their status is because…..
As he went through the large door of the mansion, the beautiful and vibrant rich garden of the Turner house appeared in front of him. It was the second time he had ever entered here. A guard pointed him in the direction of where he should go. Nodding, he went towards a particular corner where Sophia’s father was watering the trees with a water pipe.
As he approached, he greeted the man respectfully, despite the absolute hatred in his heart for the man, “Hello, Sir.”
The man did not turn around, not even a glance, as he kept watering the trees with a neutral expression, as if he were nothing, treating him like air. Well, it was expected to be something . After a whole 5 minutes of silence, in which Tyler did not bother the man and stood there motionless.
When he was finally done with watering, he said to him, turning around and looking at him for the first time, “Do you know what the purpose of a cattle is?”
Without waiting for his answer, turning off the pipe, he started walking in another direction. Tyler followed obediently and answered without much thought, “To die.”
The CEO nodded, “Indeed, a very accurate answer. Too accurate, almost.”
He then added with a chuckle, “But we are not cattle, are we?”
“No,” answered Tyler.
The man finally stopped in front of the most beautiful section of the garden, it was filled with vibrant red roses, the lovely scent of the flower drafted into the man’s nose as he visibly breathed in, and continued, “Do you think I am the one who waters these flowers or takes care of them Tyler?”
It was the 2nd time the CEO had called him by his name, but he showed no reaction; he answered emotionlessly, “NO.”
“But then who does it?” he asked.
“The gardener.” Each of his answers was instant. But he growled in his mind, the fucking bastard was referring to Sophia as the flowers and him as the Gardener.
The man smiled, “Indeed, but even if he does everything? Do these belong to him? Is he the one to enjoy the fruits of his own labor? No, he is not, despite the sweat and effort he puts in; the flowers are not his to pick. Nor his to smell, nor to enjoy. Ironic, isn’t it?”
Tyler looked at the person for a few seconds more and nodded, “Indeed.”
“Now, to get back to the point about cattle. We both agreed that we are not cattle.”
His countenance turned serious as he turned towards him and added, “But Humans are cattle, Tyler, at least a particular class or group of them is, but they are a different kind of cattle. And you cannot deny that.”
A trace of emotion finally appeared on the face of Tyler, “I suppose I cannot deny it,” he agreed.
The man continued instantly following his answer, “And for that different kind of cattle, its purpose is not to die, Tyler Cross, but to SERVE A PURPOSE.”
“Just like the gardener who never gets to have the flowers he cultivates. Just like parents do not get to keep their children at their homes forever.”
He came closer to him and whispered in a grim tone, “Just like the flower you helped recover or even bloom, it does not belong to you. You must know your role, BOY, your place, your purpose, as a cattle should.”
Tyler could barely hold in his rage; his eyes blazed with sinister fury, but he was helpless; he could do nothing. The man continued unbothered by his menacing look or the contained rage,
“The only reason I even allow you to stand beside her is because of what you did back then. You saved my daughter’s life, and for that I am grateful. But like I said, you served your purpose.”
“Honestly, I don’t mind you being by her side, as long as you keep certain boundaries. You’ll serve your purpose even better. And if you don’t, I’m afraid your uncle will lose his job. I will also make sure he is not employed anywhere else ever again.”
Tyler’s expression twisted into a grimace as he gritted his teeth.
“As for the cattle dreaming about becoming the shepherd, unless you pick up the knife and draw blood effortlessly like you did back then. You’re not capable of it.”
“Stay beside her, protect her, keep her blooming and untouched, fresh. Until someone worthy comes along, and picks her up, and that is your purpose, the purpose of the human cattle, the purpose of you, Orphan boy,” he announced with a dark smile. “And do not worry, you shall be paid handsomely for it as well, just like an expert gardener.”
Seeing Tyler glare at him with an absolutely murderous expression, he snorted and waved his hand in disgust, not wishing to look at his face anymore. “Okay, you can go.”
Tyler looked at him for a few more seconds and turned around with immense unwillingness to leave. But the bastard called him out again, “Wait.”
As he gazed back with still fury apparent in his eyes, the man stepped closer to him, brought a handkerchief out of his pocket, and gave it to him with a chuckle, “Use this, there is too much blood dripping from your hands, boy.”
Tyler only now noticed that in his right hand, he had clenched it so hard that his fingernails had dug deep into his palm, and an unhealthy amount of blood was leaking out, as it stained the grass with blood. He gave a visible sneer to Sophia’s father, and just as he turned around to leave.
“BOY, clean your dirty blood from the grass before you go,” he ordered loudly while dropping the handkerchief.
Seeing him remain standing and not do anything, he bellowed, “Clean this shit right now, boy. Otherwise, you will not see her ever again. I can assure you that.”
There was a moment of absolute silence after that statement, but eventually Tyler’s rage-filled expression turned to a demonic laugh. The CEO arched his eyebrows, hearing that; something was very disconcerting about the boy’s laughter. Something utterly alien and unnerving, Something Inhumane, just like the very first time he gazed into the eyes of his child daughter. Those blood red, inhumane eyes. They were anything but Human.
Now the blue eyes of this boy also felt the same. The boy stopped laughing like a madman, but his subtle smile and the glint of madness remained. He cleaned the blood that had been spread all over the grass with the expensive-looking piece of cloth. When done, he stood and looked straight in the eyes of Sophia’s father, and announced with a trace of dark malice and unbreakable promise, “Even a dog has its day, mister Turner, and we shall see who remains as the CATTLE.”
“When that day comes.”
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