Hate Of The Unknown

Prologue

Julian's little hands felt like ice, and his body shivered from the cold. He was huddled up in the corner of the room, trying to keep himself and his younger brother, Jaron, warm. He wished he had a blanket to wrap them in, but all he had was his thin t-shirt, which provided little protection against the freezing temperature.

Outside, he could hear shouting and screaming coming from his mother's room, and he knew it was only a matter of time before her wrath was unleashed on them as well. He'd seen her do it before, in her drunken stupor, and he and Jaron could not escape the terror.

He closed his eyes, wanting to block out the memories of the violence, and instead focused on how his brother's tiny body felt in his arms. Julian started rocking him gently, murmuring calming words in his ear, though he himself was as afraid as Jaron.

The shouting and screaming stopped abruptly, and Julian felt relieved. He waited for what felt like hours, his heart pounding in the silence. Julian hardly dared to believe that his mother had actually fainted. Deep down, he knew it was only a matter of time before she would scream again or, worse, enter the room and hit them.

After an indefinite amount of time sitting glued to the floor, Julian's mother didn't wake up. Or screamed, or did anything else. Instead, the silence continued to stretch out. Then, finally, after what felt like hours of sitting in silence, he heard the sound of a car outside and someone's steps walking up the stairs. Julian's heart raced as he heard a knock on the door. He knew it was the police. The lights and the sounds were unmistakable.

A female police officer kicked open the door and scanned the cramped, icy room with a hardened expression. Julian felt a chill run through his body as she stared at him, her face shifting from a cold glare to a look of empathy. He could almost feel her judgment against his mother as she struggled to maintain her composure and offer a gentle facade.

The police officer peered down at Julian, her eyes filled with kindness. "Hey there, my name is Officer Bethany. What is your name?" Julian looked at her face; he couldn't see much because of the darkness. "J-Julian..." he mumbled. Officer Bethany nodded. "Could you tell me if you heard anything unusual just now?"

Julian trembled as he searched for the right words. "I-I heard my mom scream, but then nothing. I don't know why she was screaming, I swear," he said, casting his gaze downwards and avoiding her stare. Officer Bethany watched Julian thoughtfully for a moment before asking him softly, "Are you sure there isn't anything else you can tell me?" Julian was quiet for a moment, but eventually, he shook his head and gave a slight shrug, clearly intimidated by the situation.

After a while, Officer Bethany managed to make him tell her more. His lip quivered as he spoke about how his mother had been mean to him and his brother. Officer Bethany remained composed as she listened intently, her face radiating sympathy and compassion. His fear slowly faded as her warmth embraced him. She showed him kindness and understanding that allowed him some comfort, even if it only lasted for a moment.

Officer Bethany asked Julian, "Is there anyone else in this house or town who can take care of you two?" Julian furrowed his brow, trying to think of someone. Finally, after a moment, he spoke up, "My grandmother lives across town. I've only met her once, and it wasn't pleasant. Lots of shouting." Officer Bethany nodded and carefully scooped up Jaron in her arms. "We'll take you both to safety," she said before leaving the room.

Julian followed them silently, feeling unnerved without his brother in his arms. A wave of panic washed over him as he stepped out of the house. His mind was racing, questioning what could be going on. He felt a chill run down his spine as the cold night air brushed against his skin. Fear for his mother's safety weighed heavily on his chest.