The Troubled Soul (Volume 1)

Chapter 29: To Protect His Friends.

~December 25th, 12:10AM, Christmas morning~

It was late, or early, Josh didn't even know what time it was. Almost a month had past since his last breakdown...and the last time he spoke to any of his Companions. He never talked to anybody anymore, he would rarely even talk to Violet and Rose. Mr. Jackal had told Ms. Jerel everything that happened that day.

She was terrified of Josh after hearing this, but she still wanted Josh to have a good life because of his past so she didn't stop the kids from trying to play with him, but he never played with anybody anymore. He would rarely play with Violet and Rose, but that was about it. The only people he ever interacted with anymore was Violet and Rose. Ms. Jerel told all the kids in the orphanage about Josh's powers but she didn't tell them that he killed all those bad people in the street. She wanted him to make friends but also wanted the kids to be safe.

Josh never slept anymore. He figured out that he can use his energy to keep himself awake without hurting his mind, but it would sometimes hurt his body, but he didn't care that it hurt if it meant no more nightmares. He hasn't slept since he woke up the day after his last breakdown. He eats and drinks, but just enough to give him enough energy to use his powers and stay awake, which he had calculated the perfect amount for his age. He may not understand most stuff he is supposed to know at his age, but he knows some stuff he shouldn't know at his age.

Josh asked Ms. Jerel if she had a computer or something he could use whenever she wasn't using it. Fortunately for him, she had a computer she didn't use anymore. So she gave it to Josh since he was the only one who ever used it. Josh had learned a lot through the internet, both good and bad.

He learned what snuggling and cuddling is. He learned the names of some guns, bullets, and knives. He learned that The Demons were very destructive because they blew up a whole bank full of people inside. He learned affection was. There was more stuff he learned, but the rest was just useless to him.

Josh had decided to start practicing his powers, whether it hurt him or not, but to start slow. He learned how to switch his eye colors to blood red, pure black, and hazel. He could make one eye a color and make his other eye a different color, so he mastered changing his eye color. So he started to try and summon things with his shadow power, but he didn't know what to call it yet.

Josh was currently sitting in the corner of his bed, looking at the moon through a window that was just above his bed, head level with him. He only ever smiled when he played with Violet and Rose and when they kissed him on the cheek and lips. He was switching his eye color between red, black, and normal hazel with a blink. The reason he never slept anymore...was because he was terrified to sleep. He was scared of his nightmares. To see his parents die again, to see his friends and family die around him again.

When he heard moving in Violet's bed, he didn't bother to stop switching his eye color. He didn't even look at or respond to the noise. Everybody in the orphanage knew about his powers, even Jackson and Rachael. After all, what the point in hiding a secret that everybody already knows? Then he heard Violet's voice, which still sounded like heaven for him to hear. He didn't know why, but really loved hearing her and Rose's voice. But her voice did sound tired because she was tired.

Violet: Hmm, hey Josh.

Josh:...Hey.

Violet: Can you look at me for a minute?

He did as she said and looked at her. She was looking at him too as she was lying down while he was sitting up.

Violet: You can't sleep?

He shook his head.

Violet: Why don't you ever sleep anymore? I know it hurts you.

Josh:...Nightmares.