Half Brothers

Chapter 1: The Letter

Momma has kicked me out again. She always does that to me, a kid, and she's always mad at me for some reason, but never to Amber or Bura. I always wonder why.

I sit on the curb of a sidewalk that looks out into the streets, watching everyone pass by. The parents don't seem to be mad at their children. They actually seem happy.

Ever since I can remember, everyone has stayed away from me no matter what. They don't even try to hide the fact. They purposefully stray away from me with their kids as if I pose some kind of threat. I promise I don't like hurting people! It's the last thing I would ever want to do! I'm actually the most harmless person here! Still, everyone avoids me.

On my arms, various scrapes and cuts scatter around even on my body. I always seem to be getting hurt no matter what when Momma kicks me out, but when I show them to her, she just scoffs and tells me to "man up." Then, she sends me to my room. She always seems to call me terrible names, but her most favorite is "wretched child" or "bastard child" or something along those lines. I don't know what any of those mean, but just the way she says it makes me want to cry.

I get up and look at the sky anxiously. It's getting dark. If I don't get home soon, Momma's going to hitme or something worse. She always wants me back before dark because she thinks I'm gonna cause mischief, which I would never do!

I make my way home as fast as I can, yet the darkness if falling faster and faster as if it wants me to get in trouble. In no time at all, I find myself back to where I came from. Am I lost!? No, no, no! I can't be late! I can't get lost now!

I feel hot tears seep through my eyes. She's gonna hit me! I just know it! I won't be able to get home in time!

"Please, please, please, no!" I plead silently. "Please don't let it be night when I get there!"

Too bad life doesn't work that way. It's completely dark by the time I get back home, and as soon as I close the door, Momma's screaming at me again.

"Where have you been, you little wretched piece of shit!?" she yells.

I cringe at her tone. She always makes my ears hurt, and I don't like it...

"I always tell you that you have to come home before nightfall, and you never listen!!"

"I-I'm so-sorry, M-"

"Shut your damn face!!"

Behind her are Amber and Bura. They're snickering as if they've done something bad, like a prank, but I know why and who they're laughing at.

They're laughing at me.

Momma's hand slaps me across the face harder than before, and I feel her nails gouge into my face. I cry out and lose my balance, falling to the ground with my hand cupping my stinging and bleeding cheek as I try not to cry. Momma hates it when I cry.

"Look, Amber!" Bura laughs. "I think he's gonna cry!"

Amber laughs, too, and Momma towers over me with her eyes narrowed. She looks so angry.

"Go to your room right now, and don't let me see your face all day tomorrow!" She kicks me harshly, and I yelp. I scramble to my feet quickly. I run to my room so fast.

As soon as I enter the room, I hear the door's lock click. Unlike the other rooms, my door locks from the outside, so they control whether I get out or not. I have one window near my bed, but it's sealed shut, and I have no way to open it. My room has virtually nothing in it except for my bed. I haven't been to Amber or Bura's room, but I'm sure it has more stuff than I do since Momma always buys them things.

I plop on my bed and bury my face in the pillow. I start to cry softly so as not to be heard from downstairs. I don't want them hearing me.

I think of all the bad, horrible words I've heard and shout them in my head. I also imagine terrible things happen to them, all those gory deaths or torture things. It makes me feel a little better, but it doesn't solve anything.

Just as I start to calm down, and the images die away, I hear a soft poof next to my ear. I lift my head and, with a small sniffle, grab the object. It's a black and purple envelope with strange writing on the front. Strangely enough, I can read it better than I can read the writing on every sign here.

"From the Kingdom."

That's what it says on the front. I sit up and carefully open the envelope. Inside is two sheets of paper. One is full of writing while the other is blank. There's also a strange pen inside. I make sure to close the drapes and hide under the blanket before I start reading. The same writing covers the paper in neat writing, though it's child-like.

"Dear Number 100 Red Nova Sorcerer,

Hey, Nova! Long time no see, huh? I hear the family that houses you calls you 'Astral.' It's different, but okay. I've also heard that they aren't treating you right. Is that true? I would hope not! I don't want to have to send some guards over there to protect you. Just so you know, we've won the war, but Mother and Father have died during it. I'm glad you weren't there to see it. I doubt you would have been able to handle it. Since they're dead, I'm in charge now. Me! A kid! Hey, I know you have no idea what's going on and you don't remember anything I've just talked about Mother and Father, but I felt like telling you. You still have a right to know, right? After all, you're my brother. I'll help you out, though. Please, respond with the paper and pen I've sent you. Don't worry about not knowing this language. You know it well.

-Number 96 Black Mist."

I read the letter over and over again, my confusion growing more and more. Why does he call himself my brother? I don't have any brothers besides Bura. Also, how does he know I have no idea what he's talking about? Oh, well. I guess I'll have to ask him personally.

"Dear Number 96 Black Mist,

What are you talking about? I'm just so confused right now. What do you mean by 'I don't remember'? Also, Mother and Father died? I don't remember having a father, and Momma's still alive. I should know.

-Astral."

The strange words just flow onto the paper easier than the other letters I've been learning. I wonder why.

Just then, a blue and white envelope pops in. I guess I put the note in there, but how do I send it?

I carefully place the letter inside. Words appear.

"Tap to send."

I do that, and it poofs out of here. The one that Number 96 Black Mist sent to me is still here, so I stuff it under the mattress so no one will see it. I make sure that nothing sticks out, not even the corner.

I settle back in bed, happy now that I have someone to at least talk to. It doesn't matter that it's through notes being sent back and forth. He's still willing to talk.

I close my eyes and go into my first deep sleep in forever.