Yes, Master

Chapter 10: Revenge

Third Person POV:

Flashback

The boy's bare feet echoed across the pavement as he ran with all his might towards the forest across town. He hadn't seen anyone, thank goodness, for if he had they would bring him back to that horrible excuse for a home. 

It was true that he would miss Ms. Davynn, but he had to get away from James and the others. Joseph had his share of torment, and refused to take anymore. 

Soon enough the pavement turned to dirt, which turned to grass. Looking around, he saw giant evergreens towering over himself and the town he left behind. The young boy cringed as he heard wolf's howl and creatures scurry through the brush. He was beyond scared. Joseph almost turned back, when he felt blood drip down his front. He brought his hand up to his broken and bleeding nose, remembering the events of the night. He suddenly felt every single one of the punches and kicks that were dealt to him. Stumbling forward, he crouched against the bark of a tree. He couldn't go back, even if he wanted to. This was his life now. Joseph convinced himself he would teach himself to hunt, and he would find a stream with water. Unconsciously, he started to speak to himself. 

"This won't be so bad. I can survive. I am smart, after all." 

"Yeah, what's smart gonna get you out here? Death. That's what."

"Well then what am I supposed to do?! I can't go back! James and the others will kill me!"

"Are you sure about that? Or are you just running from your problems?"

"I am NOT running. If I would have stayed I would be beaten every day. I can't handle that."

"What about Ms. Davynn?"

"Yeah, what about her?"

"Won't she be worried about you?"

"For a little while I think, but she'll probably be glad to have a crazy kid out of her hair after a while."

A tear fell down the small boy's cheek as he started to twitch and fiddle with his fingers. He was exhausted, but sleep wouldn't find him. The forest noises grew around him, echoing through his head. The scurries and howls filled all of his thoughts, and soon enough he was shaking. He had been engulfed as a snack to this menacing forest, and would probably be dead by morning. 

He would be, if it weren't for the two shadows lurking in the darkness, watching the pitiful boy. 

They had heard him talking with himself, and saw as he broke down and started to cry in fear. They listened in as the boy's cries soon turned to mumbles of threats. The two were amused by this small human, and enjoyed studying him. There was something off about him and they relished in the precariousness of his situation.

It was because of the two creatures' fascination with the boy that he would stay alive the next several months. They covertly led him to water and filled his miserable traps with animals. The man and woman watched in delight as he grew to be accustomed to the wild. As he did, more and more of the boy's erratic behavior came to be. He now almost always spoke aloud to himself. His words were always the same, going on about if only 'they' could see him now, and how someday he would get his revenge. His animal traps got more inventive and cruel by the day. The two creatures were delighted with what they claimed to have created, and admired the animal-like qualities the boy came to possess. 

After more than a year, the couple grew tired of watching the boy. However, they felt sorry for him, and didn't want to let him die. It was because of this that one day, they revealed themselves to the unstable child. 

The young boy was sitting by a river, washing his face when he heard two twigs snap behind him. He whirled around, stake in hand. 

The man was the first to speak. "Now, now, young child. Calm down. We are only here to help you."

The boy's eyes narrowed as he eyed their peculiar looks. The couple was dressed in all black, and the male had a cape falling behind him. Their skin reminded him of the moon, and their eyes shone red in the night. 

"Ha! I don't need your help! I like living out here! Now, scram!" He looked at the two and threatened them with his stick. 

The couple looked at each other, clearly amused, but deciding to play along. The female spoke next. 

"Oh no! Please don't hurt us! We only wish to make you stronger!"

The male chimed in. "Yes, yes, we heard you talking about those people you wish you could get your revenge on. We admire that and want to help you." He studied the boy's face and watched it as he contemplated his decisions aloud. 

"I don't trust them. Kill them now."

"Wait, wait! Hasn't it always been our dream to get revenge on the boys at the orphanage?"

"Yes, that is true, but how do we know they will make us stronger and not kill us?"

"Why don't we ask them?"

The boy now looked at the two creatures expectedly. They looked at each other and decided to show the small boy some of their strength. In a flash, the male had turned around and snatched  a trunk off a tree the size of the boy. He handed it to the female and she broke it in half like a twig. The boy looked up at them in wonder and awe. 

Smiling, the male advanced towards him. "I'll take that as a yes. Now, boy, this is going to hurt, but if you want to be as strong as us you'll have to endure." 

The boy looked up in alarm as the male came towards him. He soon calmed down remembering what they could do, anxious to be that strong. "My name is Joseph."

The female looked at him with curious eyes. "Your name is whatever you wish it to be now."

Joseph's eyes shone with delight. He was so engulfed in his opportunity for revenge, that he didn't notice when the male bent down next to him and sunk long fangs into his neck. 

With a start, Joseph screamed in pain. The male hushed his voice, trying to give him comfort. 

"Don't worry young Joseph. This will only hurt a bit."

The young boy screamed once again before surrendering to a black nothingness. 

Joseph awoke next to a stream in the middle of the woods. It was pitch black outside, yet he could see every detail of everything around him. Each blade of grass stuck out, along with each spider that roamed through the trees. The birds up high chirped annoyingly in his ears, and the water ran peacefully next to him. Somewhere in the night a wolf howled and his ears perked up at the sound. It sent chills up his spine and before he knew it he was on his feet. Joseph soon remembered what happened to him and joy filled his entire being. He ran over to a tree and split it in half with ease. Grinning wickedly, he sprinted as fast as the wind towards his old orphanage. He was craving something, and he knew exactly where he could get it. 

***

Joseph looked around him at the destruction he had caused. A grin was plastered across his face as he took in the lifeless bodies littering the building. He remembered as he watched each of those eyes stare up at him in horror, remembering the small and weak boy they once knew. He let them scream, it only encouraged him. He remembered saving the best for last, as he sprinted up the stairs to his old bedroom where he could hear James' muffled cries. He had let his death be slow and torturous, allowing James to feel that small boy's pain that he had once tortured. He remembered making him bow down and submit to every command Joseph had given him. 

Joseph waded through the bodies and made his way to the front door. He paused right next to the door and stared down at a woman's lifeless body on the ground in front of him. Ms. Davynn had tried to stop him, and in his rage he killed her. He felt remorse for her death, but couldn't dwell on it because of the corrupt happiness that was bubbling up inside of him. Joseph smiled once more before remembering James' last words to him. He had been on his knees, begging and pleading to spare his life. As a last insult Joseph had James call him a name that showed how insignificant he now was. A word that perfectly portrayed his place in life. 

With pleading eyes and bleeding pores, James' lips rang out his dying word, "Master."