No Sacrifice No Victory

I'm Nothing Like Him Pt1

Flame's heart shattered as he fled the boathouse. He stopped a mile away, struggling to catch his breath. He fought back tears. He fell against the tree and buried his head into his knees.

As Flame moved carefully through the dense brush, he suddenly heard rustling nearby. He quickly dropped down to avoid detection and saw two deamos engaged in a conversation that sent shivers down his spine.

"I wonder what Michel has planned for that kid?" one of them spoke with malice. The other dismissed it, "He's lucky Michel hasn't killed him yet, but who knows what could happen if he angers him enough."

Flame swiftly retreated to the safehouse Tygren had designated for emergencies upon realizing the danger lurking in his surroundings. His heart pounding with urgency, he wasted no time getting to safety.

~~~*~~~
Flame walked into the safe house and immediately noticed Tygren giving him a furious glare. "Are you insane?" Tygren shouted as he stormed over to him. Confused, Flame joked, "What do you mean?" Tygren scolded him, "You almost got killed by meddling with the Knights of Ardonia. Your brothers have told me everything. They saw how you almost got killed by one of them!" His anger was palpable, and Flame's tail flicked in discomfort. "I'm okay. It's just a scratch," Flame insisted as he wiped his bloody nose.

Tygren was angry with Flame and scolded him for nearly getting himself killed. He compared Flame's behavior to his father's and let him off the hook for now. Flame acknowledged his mistake, grumbling as he went to his room to clean up and bandage his wounds.

Flame considered Tygren as a father figure, despite being his nephew, because they both shared a burning desire for revenge against the Voltaris. He was confident he would emulate Tygren's actions and wanted recognition from his older siblings instead of being underestimated. But then again, seeing Ria's reaction and what she said about Tygren destroying an entire village made Flame doubt his uncle.

Flame gazed at his reflection in the mirror while he splashed his face with water. The scar on the bridge of his nose was visible through his short and messy hair. He smiled, followed by a sigh, and then plopped himself onto his bed with a thud. He stared at the ceiling above him.

He was experiencing a state of confusion and indecision. He was unsure whether to remain with the Voltaris, his family, and his home or depart to join the KoA. But if he joined the Knights of Ardonia. His clan would consider him a traitor, despising him for his connection to a murderer.

As Flame lay on his bed, lost in thought, he saw his eldest brother Kai walking towards him. "Hey, do you have a minute?" asked Kai as he sat at the foot of the bed. Flame couldn't help but feel defensive and asked, "What? Here to scold me more? Or here to tell me how messed up it was to do those dumb drug deals?" His brother sighed and replied, "I just wanted to tell you that you scared us back there. Uncle Tygren can be harsh. But, he is mostly concerned about you." Kai's words had a calming effect on Flame, who appreciated his brother's presence and concern.

Kai always went above and beyond to be a loving and supportive older sibling to Flame and their siblings. Despite Flame's tendency to keep others at arm's length, Kai never gave up on trying to connect with him. It wasn't always easy, but Kai never wavered in their love for Flame.

Flame sighed, sat upright, and leaned against Kai's shoulder. "Hey, I know things aren't the best, but as long as we have each other, we'll get through this," Kai said, giving Flame a small hug before getting up. "Night, baby bro," Kai smirked.
"I've told you not to call me that," Flame grumbled, making a pouty face.

Kai chuckled and quietly closed the door, and his footsteps died away. Flame laid down and thought for a moment. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad here with family.

Part 2 Coming Soon...