The Untamed

Chapter 5: The Kin

   “You’re not some normal kid,” said Kane.

   Clyde snorted. He figured that much out on his own already. Breaking his teacher’s nose and running away were not things that were usually considered normal. On top of that, he had just hospitalized someone without really meaning to.

   “They’ve told me your past and I know more about you than you do yourself.”

   He waited in baited breath for the man to continue. The boy recalled that the man mentioned “they” back in the alley.

   “But the question is,” he continued, “where do I start?”

   Following this statement, there was a long and abusive silence. These silent moments made Clyde shiver as he wondered what it was that Kane was thinking. For all Clyde knew, this could very well still be some trap. And sitting in utter darkness with silence surrounding him, Clyde’s suspicions were naturally raised.

   “There’s so much to explain. It’s difficult to answer fourteen years of being in the dark all in one conversation, so I’ll only tell you what you need to know for now.”

   A stray car drove by and both of them turned their heads to see it.

   “It’s a wonder that all of this has been kept from you for so long. And it has been with good reason. If you knew about these things as a child, there’s no telling how you could spread such information.”

   “Like what?”

   Kane sighed deeply. “The Kin,” he said softly. “If you mentioned anything regarding the Kin, you would have been in deep trouble.”

   “Kin?” Clyde asked timidly. “You mean like family?”

   Kane laughed darkly and stroked his beard. He shook his head and muttered something under his breath before continuing.

   “No, not like family,” he replied. “For as long as human beings have been around – maybe longer, there have been things here with a formed civilization. Even before the first human being ever arrived here, this species ruled the Earth. And once man made his arrival, he began to take over.”

   The man glanced at Clyde through his mirror and received a blank expression in return.

   “This species is known as the Kin. And believe me, the strength they possess is far greater than that of our own. The only reason why we became number one on the food chain is simply because of this.” He pointed to his own head. “We’re much smarter than they are.”

   “Okay, so there’s another species living amongst us,” Clyde blurted out. “How come no one’s ever seen them?”

   “The Kin aren’t visible to everyone. Only certain people can see ’em.”

   Clyde wrinkled his eyebrows. The man hardly mentioned one thing and he was already finding it hard to believe. A whole species? Living amongst human beings? If they really had an entire civilization around before mankind came into existence, where was it now?

   “You and I can see them,” the man continued. “I knew you could from the very moment I looked into your eyes that first time. The Kin try to live away from humans – in isolated places. Forests, deserts, oceans, mountains…places where normal human beings usually wouldn’t go. As you can imagine, the Kin hate us humans because of the way we took over the world.”

   “What are you talking about?” Clyde interrupted rudely. “Nothing you’re saying is making sense!”

   “Exactly the reason why I’m only going to explain the important things now!” Kane growled. “If you want answers, you’re going to have to be patient. I know you’ve been kept in the dark all your life about these things, so it’ll take some time for this stuff to make sense. I’m here to make you understand. You don’t have to accept a word I’m telling you.”