Academy of Meanness

Chapter 1: The Horsemen

«Even in the darkest world, there are stars»

I sat in despair in the kitchen, finishing yet another cup of strong coffee. I hadn't eaten since yesterday. I had to resort to this just to keep from starving. The feeling of hunger had long turned into a constant burning sensation that made it impossible to focus on anything else.

My heart was tearing apart with grief. It tormented me. Each day, it became harder to endure. I wanted to silence this pain, but instead, my ears were filled with the sound of my parents arguing in their room.

Their screams pierced every corner of the apartment, traveling through the walls and filling the space with sorrow. It was impossible to escape the sound, impossible to shield oneself from its destructive force. Every word, every argument, struck directly at my heart.

— This is all your fault! — my father's voice roared like thunder, cutting through the silence. — Our daughter is in danger because of your carelessness!

And he was right. The danger that loomed over me was because of my mother.

— What a tragedy, — her sobs intertwined with her words. — What are we supposed to do about our daughter? They'll come for her! They'll take my only child!

I took a deep breath, set my coffee cup aside, and clasped my head in my hands. It hurt to hear such words from my parents. And yet, their truth cut me deeply. The fear inside me bloomed like a dark flower, growing ever more palpable. I knew their arrival was inevitable. If not today, then tomorrow. The riders would come and drag me away into their realm, hidden beyond our world.

— Bernard, what do we do?! — my mother's sobs filled the air. — Where can we hide her?

— Nowhere. You know you can't hide from the riders! — my father growled bitterly. — It's all your recklessness to blame! I told you to choose a decent man, not that scum!

— I... I didn't know what he was like!

Their divorce had been dragging on for over a year, leaving a bitter mark on our lives. My father—noble and caring—had always been a loving parent but had failed in marriage. His betrayal proved fatal for their union, shattering our family's happiness.

My mother suffered deeply from his infidelity. The betrayal inflicted a profound emotional wound. She felt devastated and hurt, betrayed by the man she had loved and trusted. To seek retribution for her heartbreak, she began seeing a wealthy man.

— What happens to her is on your conscience! I made a mistake leaving the kids with you! — he couldn't stop shouting.

I rose from the chair and headed toward the bathroom. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door, approached the sink, and saw my reflection in the mirror. Tears began to roll down my cheeks, like salty rivers carrying pain and sorrow.

I blamed myself for my mother's lover's death. He was a man she had once loved. But time and differences left their mark on their relationship. My mother had endured years of abuse and torment from that wealthy man.

Everything changed on that fateful evening when I decided to intervene. I stood up to defend my mother and pushed her lover away to protect her. But by accident, he struck the sharp edge of the fireplace and died.

Now, I stood before the mirror, staring at my reflection. The memories of that night came rushing back. The guilt was unbearable. I didn't wish for his death! But the fatal outcome of those events collapsed upon us, leaving my mother and me trapped in a tangled web of grief and loss.

My mother's pain became my pain. Her trauma became my trauma. I kept telling myself I had done everything I could to save her, but it wasn't enough to ease my guilt.