Agent Zero

Lionel Heptinstall

Leo was just four years old when his world shattered. He lived in a small, cluttered apartment with his parents and his younger sister, Mia, who was only three. Their home was filled with the sounds of laughter and the warmth of family, but beneath the surface, a storm was brewing. His parents struggled with their demons—financial instability, addiction, and the weight of unfulfilled dreams.

One fateful night, Leo awoke to the sound of raised voices. He peered through the crack of his bedroom door, his small heart pounding in his chest. He saw his parents arguing, their faces twisted in anger and despair. The shouting escalated, and Leo felt a sense of dread wash over him. He clutched Mia tightly, trying to shield her from the chaos outside their room.

When morning came, Leo found himself alone. His parents had vanished, leaving behind only a note that did not explain, just a few hastily scrawled words that made little sense to a child: "We're sorry. We need to go." The weight of abandonment settled heavily on Leo's small shoulders. He didn't understand what had happened, but he knew he had to take care of Mia.

Days turned into weeks, and the reality of their situation began to sink in. With no food and no one to turn to, Leo did his best to provide for his sister. He scavenged for scraps, rummaging through the cupboards and searching for anything that could sustain them. But as the days passed, their situation grew dire. Mia, too young to understand the gravity of their predicament, became weaker and weaker.

Leo tried to be brave, but he was just a child, and the burden of responsibility was too much for him to bear. He watched helplessly as Mia's laughter faded, replaced by a frail whisper of hunger. One night, as he held her close, he felt her tiny body grow cold. In that moment, Leo's heart shattered. He lost not only his sister but also the last thread of hope that had kept him going.In the days that followed, Leo fell into a deep despair. He stopped eating, stopped caring, and eventually succumbed to the darkness that enveloped him. His body weakened, and he slipped into a coma, a protective cocoon from the pain of his reality.

When he finally awoke, it was in a sterile hospital room, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. The doctors explained that he had been found, alone and unresponsive, after a neighbor reported the smell of decay coming from the apartment. They had rushed him to the hospital, where he fought for his life.

After his recovery, Leo was placed in an orphanage, a place that felt both foreign and strangely comforting. The staff were kind, but the sterile environment and the absence of family left him feeling lost. He missed Mia terribly, and the memories of their time together haunted him. The laughter they shared, the games they played, and the warmth of her small hand in his were now just echoes in his mind.