The Life As The Devil's Son

Chapter Three: Darkened Path

As Jack escorted me to the training ground, I couldn't help but shiver with dread. The environment around us changed drastically as we left the confines of the cell. The air grew thick and suffocating, carrying a strong smell of sulfur and burning wood. The ground beneath my feet felt scorching hot, and the sky above us revealed dark red clouds. It was then that I knew I was truly in hell.

Once we stepped onto the training ground, it was like something straight out of a post-apocalyptic movie! Sharp rocks popped up from the burnt ground, and creepy shadows were doing some crazy dance in the fiery glow. The walls of the caves were practically on fire. It was not your typical training spot, that's for sure!

Demonic figures lurked in the shadows, their dark eyes piercing through my soul as they observed our every move.

I clenched my fists, refusing to show any sign of fear despite the unsettling surroundings. Jack, however, seemed right at home in this nightmarish landscape, his black eyes gleaming with an eerie intensity.

"Welcome to your new home, kid," he said, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

I glanced around, taking in the horrors that surrounded us. "This place is a nightmare," I murmured in a low voice.

"You'll get used to it," Jack replied dismissively with a wave of his hand. "Now, let's get down to business. Your training begins now."

Jack wasted no time, immediately launching into his twisted version of training. I braced myself for combat exercises or magical drills, but what came next was beyond my expectations.

As he handed me a live snake and a wickedly sharp dagger, I felt a jolt of fear surge through me. I stared at the serpent, its beady eyes fixated on me, and then looked back at Jack with wide eyes. This wasn't what I had signed up for.

"What do you expect me to do with that? Throw a surprise party for Medusa?" I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes.

Jack frowned. He obviously didn't like my sarcastic comment. "This is not a joke, kid. This is about survival. Your survival," Jack warned while shaking his fist at me.

I hesitated, my hand trembling as I reluctantly took the dagger and the snake from his hands. My mind raced, searching for a way out of this sick test. I held the dagger aloft, my gaze flicking between the weapon and the snake. The creature hissed, its forked tongue flickering out, and I could feel its cold scales brushing against my skin.

"Kill it," Jack commanded, his voice echoing through the training ground.

My heart pounded in my chest, and I gripped the dagger tighter, my knuckles turning white. I raised the weapon, my breath catching in my throat, but then, in a moment of sheer hesitation, I let them slip from my fingers. The dagger clattered against the ground, and the snake slithered away.

Jack's eyes narrowed, disappointment flashing across his face. "Not good enough, kid. There is no room for weakness in this world."

Desperation flooded within me, and my eyes shifted to Jack. "Please, I can't do it. I won't." I pleaded with a shaky voice.

His expression remained unyielding, and he leaned in close, his voice a sinister whisper. "I am not leaving you a choice, Austin."

My heart sank, and I stared at the ground, my mind racing. Then he said the words that chilled me to the bone. "Kill the snake or your mother dies."

"No, you can't!" I blurted, my voice cracking with a mixture of fear and anger. "This is sick, even for you."

Jack's grip tightened on my shoulder, his fingers digging into my flesh. "Make your choice, kid."

My eyes darted between the snake and the dagger. A surge of determination coursed through me, and I bent down to retrieve the fallen dagger. I held it tightly, my knuckles turning white as I approached the snake.

"Fine, if this is the way you want it," I muttered in a hoarse whisper.

With a deep breath, I picked up the snake, closed my eyes, and sliced the snake's head off with the dagger.

As I opened my eyes, I watched the head drop to the floor, and I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. My body trembled as I realized what I had just done. I dropped the dagger, and I sank to my knees in despair. This wasn't who I was, and this wasn't who I wanted to be either.

Jack's grin widened, revealing an unsettling mixture of satisfaction and approval in his gaze. "Congratulations, kid. You just took your first step into the darkness," Jack applauded as he clapped his hands.

Tears streamed down my face as I glared at him in disgust. "I want to see my mom," I demanded.

Jack's laughter was cold and mocking. "Oh, how touching. But I'm afraid that's not part of today's lesson plan," he said while crossing his arms.

My voice quivered with a mixture of anger and desperation as I spoke: "You can't keep us apart. She's my mother!"

He shrugged, showing no remorse or empathy, as his lips remained in a straight line. Kneeling to my level, he spoke in a low voice, "Life's full of disappointments, kid. Get used to it."

Without another word, I turned, sprinted toward the dungeon, and ran up to the cell where my mother was being held. My heart pounded in my chest as I reached the cell door and grabbed the bars, shaking them with all my might. "Mom! Mom, are you okay?" I asked, my voice quivering in terror.

She rushed to the bars and shook her head. "Austin, don't! It's not safe!" she warned.

I ignored her, my fingers gripping the cold metal. "I'm getting you out of there!" I declared, my voice rising with every word.

Jack's hand clamped down on my shoulder like a vice, yanking me away from the cell. "I said no!"

My anger flared, I spun around to face him, and I spat back. "Let go of me! She needs me!"

Jack's eyes bore into mine, his grip unyielding. "And you need to learn your place. You're not in charge here."

"Let me go!" I shouted, struggling against his hold as I gripped his arm.

"Enough!" Jack's voice boomed, his patience wearing thin. "You're not going to win this battle, kid."

I stopped fighting, my breath ragged as I glared at him. "You're a monster!" I shouted while gritting my teeth.

He smirked wickedly as he spoke. "Yes, yes. Now, if you're done with your little tantrum, we have work to do."

My mother's voice rang out from behind me as she gripped the bars. "Austin, just listen to him for now. We'll find a way to get through this."

I shook my head, frustration and desperation boiling inside me. "No, Mom, you don't understand what he's trying to do. He's trying to turn me into my father."

She reached through the bars, her hand hovering near mine. "I know it's hard, but you're stronger than you think. Don't let him break you."

I wiped away my tears, and my determination resurfaced. "I won't become like him. I won't."

Jack kicked my leg and commanded, "Time to move, kid."

I turned to face him, and my jaw clenched. "Fine, let's get this over with, " I muttered as I stomped away from my mother's cell. As I walked, her words echoed in my mind, a flicker of hope in the darkness that surrounded me. I couldn't let Jack's twisted version of training break me down. I had to stay strong and find a way to resist the darkness that threatened to consume me. One step at a time, I was going to fight against the fate that Travis and Jack had planned for me, no matter what.