Author's Note:

Hey! I was planning to give you a prologue and a chapter this week, but then my birthday came up and its the last week of the project in uni which means staying up till 6 in the evening at some days which leaves little for time for writing. Well, it'll be over by Tuesday and I'll have more free time. I might even make a double chapter release this volume ^^

Anyway, hope you enjoy this little piece from Ace's fourteenth birthday and forgive me for its shortness!

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Sun was shining through the window. Its rays went deep into the room, reaching for the bed. A golden head lay there, eyes tightly shut. The person grumbled at all the light and turned on the other shoulder.

“Kirin, wake up!” came a voice from the window. It was gentle, clearly female but with authoritativeness.

“Don’t want to,” murmured the boy into his pillow. He pulled the covers higher over his head to not hear his mother moving around.

That helped him little, though. She came over and pulled it fully off him, tousling his hair. “Get up you, sleepy head,” she said with a laugh. “Don’t you want to see you birthday presents?”

Kirin had no such wish so he grumbled a bit more, but turned around. Everyone had probably prepared an elaborate celebration for him which meant there was no way out. He had to get up and pretend he wanted to be there. What a pain.

A set of clothes hung on the back of his chair. “Put those on and come downstairs. A surprise is waiting for you there so don’t take too long!” Mother said to him with a smile and Kirin answered the same.

His was a bit forced but she didn’t seem to notice. He sighed when she left and turned the table lamp off. It was light enough and he had to get going. Creamy T-shirt, blue shorts and white running shoes.

That was all. He brushed his hair with his fingers as he walked downstairs. It wasn’t like anyone was going to see a difference if he did anything more to it. His hair was a mess of curls whether he brushed them or not.

“Forgotten anything?” Father asked from the table, lowering his tablet for a moment.

Kirin smiled at him from the doorway, running forward. He hadn’t expected for father to come too, it was a pleasant surprise. “You’re back!” he shouted out, hugging his father’s neck.

“Now, now. Aren’t you too old for that?” father asked, hugging him with the left hand while putting the tablet down.

“No!” Kirin said, shaking his head wildly. “Never!” He then positioned himself to sit in father’s lap and for a moment pretended that everything was fine. There were no sickness to separate them, no businesses to take them away and no villagers to interfere.

Mother came over, putting a cup of coffee before Kirin and a plate with scrambled eggs in the next seat. “Eat, you little kid. If you had gotten up earlier, then maybe you’d have had some time to play around but now we’re already late. Hurry up!”

She talked with a smile in her face, no rush in her motions and Kirin answered with a wide grin of his own. He then grumbled a bit, taking his seat but the smile stayed on his face. Both of his parents had taken time out of their busy schedules to be here today for him and he wasn’t going to let it turn sour.

There had been more than enough of that for the last year. It was a hard feat to remember the last time they were like this, all together.

“Where are we going?” he asked while chewing, his eyes on mother.

She was scrolling through something on her own tablet, raising her head in surprise at his question. “Oh, that. It’s a surprise! But I can say, you’ll love it.” Her eyes noticed the clock at her tablet and she quickly stood up. “Are you done? We’re really later!”

“Let him finish,” father said, waving his hand while taking a sip of his coffee. “Nothing will start without the main star.”

“You’re correct there,” she answered with a laugh as they both turned to face Kirin. “Happy Birthday, son!” both of them said in unison and moved to hug him.

“Thanks,” he murmured with shining eyes, accepting the hugs and then stood up from his seat. “Let’s go now! I want to see where we’re going!”

Right outside the house people were lined. It was very sunny so Kirin had to cover his eyes for a moment but the sound was enough. He heard them chattering in soft voices, stepping from one foot to the other.

There was a loud cheer as he left the house. He smiled broadly and they rushed to congratulate him. Their voices buzzed in his ears, mixing into one snarling beast which he had to face head on.

It was tiring to keep beaming all the time, shaking hands and taking boxes one after another. They piled up high near the entrance but no one cared to let him have time to open one.

Not that he wanted to. It was obvious what he would find there.

Maybe it was a present of itself, not having to open them. It could be some spirit was still looking after him. Laughter bubbled in his throat but he managed to stifle it down. These people wouldn’t understand. They knew nothing.

In time he was brought to the beach where the main party was being held. There were dozens of tables with various foods for display which you could just go and pick. Most of them were sweets, cookies and cakes for the children but adults didn’t seem to shy away from them either.

At lunch the local shop brought a huge ice cream cake. It was almost one meter tall and threatening to melt at any moment. Kirin was told to take the first scoop and then everyone dived in.

He had to say it was tasty and most stayed quiet while they ate. It was a welcome break from all the conversations and smiling, his whole face hurt from that and the day wasn’t even half way through.

The only good thing was that his parents were here. He stayed next to them all the time and did his best to get rid of everyone else. But they were a persistent bunch. The whole village had turned up, no surprise there, but it was a wonder how they didn’t see through his fake cheer.

To him it looked pathetic the way he was pretending. Anyone should be able to easily see that all he wanted was a few quiet moments with his parents, but no one seemed to get it. His parents especially.

Somehow they had gotten the idea that he was probably lonely, not able to befriend anyone. For that reason they constantly called up other kids so he would have someone to chat with while sitting with them.

A few times they had even suggested he should leave and go play. His mask had broken then for a moment and he’d shouted at them, almost crying. Mother had instantly hugging him and he calmed down while everyone pretended that nothing had happened.

Kirin supposed it was a good thing. The last time he’d had a breakdown various doctors, psychologists or such, had come and tried to talk to him. They wanted him to tell everything about himself, explain his problems and why he’d acted the way he’d done.

Being innocent and stupid, Kirin had done what asked for the two hours he was in session and afterwards his parents were called, he was locked in a white room where his every step was monitored and he had to have talking sessions two-three times a day.

If that wasn’t enough, he was given some medicine.They said it was only some vitamins but not concentrated enough to cause him damage.

Like hell it didn’t. He felt like puking all the time but was unable to. It had been the worst two weeks in his whole life. No competition there.

After that he’d learnt and never again told anyone the truth. It was much simpler to smile and pretend everything was okay. That there was nothing that dampened your mood. That you were an idiotic optimist, unable to grasp your own cursed situation.

“You sure you don’t want that?” Vera asked him, the last piece of a chocolate cake in her hand. “I will eat it, you know.”

“Whatever,” Kirin muttered, tired from the long day. It was evening now and the sun had set. Fires had been lit, lightening the beach and music blasted through the speakers someone had brought.

“If you say so,” Vera said shrugging and left, biting on her prize. She seemed very satisfied, not eager to return to him so he turned around to chat with his parents. Finally no one was around so they could talk, just the three of them like all those times long ago.

As he turned around his eyes landed on empty space. There was no one beside him. He felt his heart pick up speed as he glanced around. People were chatting in groups of four, five, laughing together and joking but none of them looked like his parents.

He stood up and slowly walked towards the music but they weren’t there. Then he checked the place where food was kept, walked around all the tables to no avail. Fires, cars, the moonlit beach - all were empty.

It was as if his parents had disappeared from the planet Earth. His breathing picked up and he found himself hyperventilating. It was dark all around, only the light of fire showing the way.

Also moonlight. Like that night. His eyes started darting around but he saw only shadows. Were these people he knew or were they the ones from that night? Shirtless man, a person with a knife. Red colour.

He felt himself falling to the ground, starting to crawl away. This place was dangerous. He needed to get away. As fast as possible. Now. Or he would be like that man. Dead. Dead. Dead.

His knees scrapped against the stones but that didn’t matter. He was getting away. That was important. That was good. If he could only get away. He would be safe. Yes, he would be safe.

Someone was shouting. He had to turn, he had to see. Kirin’s head snapped back and he saw a huge man looking his way. He had a giant knife. One very large. Butcher’s knife. And he was pointing at him.

Kirin screeched out and rushed to his feet. He fumbled, his own limbs getting in the way and fell. Crawled forward, scrambled up, tried to run.

Move. That was what mattered. If he stopped, he’d be dead. Dead. Dead. The word echoed in his head, urging him forward. Tears rushed out of his eyes, blinding him.

He didn’t care. He was up and running. That was good. Very good.

No! There was sound behind! The man was leaping after him! It stopped Kirin’s breathing, his lungs screaming for air that wasn’t coming. His side hurt like never before but there was no stopping.

Dead. Dead. Dead.

He saw crimson before his eyes and doubled in speed. There were trees ahead. If only, if only he could reach it! Maybe. Yes, maybe he could hide there. Like the last time. Right. Right! Like last time!

If he hid, he’d be okay! For sure! He’d be okay! Yes! Hide! Hide! Hide! That was what mattered. The trees were before him. So close. Just a hand’s reach away.

But the steps behind were catching up. He could hear them in his ears. Ever louder than the beating of his own heart. And it was loud. Very loud. Bang. Bang. Bang.

Each step was another nightmare. Was the man close enough? Was the knife coming? He could see it flashing in the moonlight, passing through his skin. It would leave slightly red. Yes, a bit red. But it would return. Again. Again. Again.

Until it was all crimson and there was no red in him left. Knife. The knife. It was the thief of colour.

One more step and he’d be inside the trees. Yes. The trees. He would be safe there. Safe. That was good. Safe was good.

He put his right foot before the left but he didn’t move. His feet flailed in the air.

“Ang, why did y-” the man started to say but words didn’t make sense to Kirin. Blood was rushing in his ears, sounds of the outside a distinct echo. He punched the man, kicked and bit.

The person hadn’t expected that and Kirin dropped to the ground, scurrying away on all four. He rushed into the small growth, standing up and continuing to run. There was no way he could stop.

The man was too close. The knife too near. Kirin didn’t want to be out of red. He didn’t. Really.

Trees ended and he was out again. So he ran. And ran. And ran. It was good. Running was good. Distance was good. He needed to be away. Far away.

And to hide. Hiding was good too. It was important to hide. The man had missed him when he hid. His eyes fervently went over the land before him. There was nothing in sight. Barren land. Sand.

Run. He had to run. Far away. Very far away.

His lungs screamed. Side hurt and tears blocked his vision. He brushed them off with the back of his hand, the snot too.

Cliffs. He remembered some being here too. A cave he’d seen once. There was a place to hide. Good. Very good. He put one foot before the other. That was movement. Also important.

He closed in on the sea. The ground started raising but he entered the water. It was cold but he went ahead. He had to hide. If he hid, he won’t be dead. Dead. Dead.

Cave. There had to be a cave. He waddled through water past his chest, but he couldn’t see it. Cave. Where was the cave?

He went ahead but there was nothing. Where did it go? He needed to hide! It was important! The man was after him!

He swam around, something coiling around his foot. It prevented him from moving and he tried to get his foot back but it didn’t budge. Back and forth. Again. One more time.

It was out. He had his foot back. That was good. He could hide now. And there was the cave. It was covered in seaweed so he hadn’t seen it at first. But it was there.

Kirin took a quick glance but the man was too far away. He wasn’t in sight. Good. Very good. He dived back in, swimming through the drifting seaweeds and pushing himself out inside.

The place wasn’t large, no more than a meter high and less than that in length but it was safe. No one would find him here. It was a secret place. He hadn’t even told Sam about it. Only darkness, his other best friend knew about it.

“No!” he screamed out. Darkness wasn’t his friend. It was evil. Bad. Those people belonged to it. The man belonged to it.

Kirin took his head into his arms and held it together from splitting. Why did it have to hurt so much? He fell onto his knees and stayed like that for a while, resting his body and head on the cool ground.

His heart was still beating like mad, blood rushing though his veins at top speed, but both were calming down a bit. He was starting to feel the outside word. A cold draft coming from somewhere. It wasn’t summer yet and the wind was chilling him to the bone. Water dripping clothes not helping.

He curled into a corner, hugging his knees and put his head on them. It was cold and dark, perfectly black but it was safe.

And that’s what mattered.

He was safe.