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“Wake up!” The harsh voice said and a hand shook his shoulder.
“Dad?” Purple rubbed his eyes sleepily and shifted on his bed. “What’s happening?” he mumbled.
“Training. Be up and in the garden in 10 minutes sharp. Don’t be late.” Navy ordered and left the room, slamming the door on his way out.
The tween sat up on his bed, looking at the spot his dad had been standing just a few seconds earlier. ‘Training’ he’d said. Why? What was this about now?
When what they call the Disappearance happened, their entire family had managed to survive the attacks and get back to the Outernet safely. This should mean everything was fine now. This should mean things should go back to how they were before. But nothing really was the same.
His dad had gotten harsher. The previously serious yet caring man he knew was gone, leaving the scowling army general in his place. He shouted at them more. He was angry more. And his mom… he swallowed down the lump in his throat thinking of his mother, a shell of her past energetic self.
He descended down the stairs. Finding the living room empty, he exited to the garden. Just as promised, he saw his father standing against a wall with his arms crossed. “Took you long enough,” he said to the kid.
“So… what are we doing now?” Purple looked around, trying to spot any clue about what his father could mean, but the garden was just as empty as it had ever been.
“I’m teaching you how to fight. I can’t have you be weak and defenseless in a world like this.” He paused to inspect the kid, staring him up and down. “Come at me.”
“What?”
“Attack me, the hardest you can.”
“But I–”
“Stop talking and attack me, dammit!”
Purple gulped. He took a breath and ran to his father with a war cry, like he’d seen adult fighters do. He tried to land a punch, but Navy was faster, twisting his arm and he quickly was on the ground whimpering.
“That’s the best you’ve got? Again!”
The-twelve-year old stood up shakily and ran again, this time trying to catch his father off guard with a kick to his side, but the adult grabbed his leg and threw him back first to the ground. A yelp of pain escaped his lips as he landed. This time he didn’t get up, clutching his leg on the ground.
“Stand up! No son of mine gives up like that!”
“I can't!” His voice quivered and he swallowed down tears.
Navy took a step closer. “Don’t act all hurt on me, I went too easy on you,” he growled. “Back in the arena, we didn’t stop until we’d fainted from exhaustion. You’re just fine, you twig. Be a man and–”
“That’s enough!” a voice from the side cut him off. Orchid stood next to the door, unsteadily holding on to a wall and glaring daggers at her husband. Shakily, she made her way to her fallen son and stood in front of him, her eyes still pinned on Navy.
“Mom, I’m fine; go back inside,” Purple whispered. “The doctor said–” She hushed him with a motion of her hand.
“Don’t you think that’s enough? Don’t you think you’ve done enough?” She said, her expression turned more exasperated than angry.
“Step aside, Orchid. I’m simply teaching him the way of the world.”
“‘The way of the world’? Are you serious? You’re hurting my son!”
“He’s my son too!” he yelled. “You’re the one who led him to become weak like this. All these years I let you treat him with flowers and cuddles like a little girl. Now it’s my turn.”
Purple couldn’t breathe. His vision blurred and he could feel his heartbeat pounding in his head. His hands were shaking; he wanted to stand up and scream, but his voice wouldn't come out. He didn’t like this. Why were things like this? When did all this happen?
Why to him? Why did he have to be so unlucky?
“The world is cruel. It won’t show mercy to the weak,” he continued. “Did you get nothing from what we went through? You should be glad I care enough!”
Orchid took a step closer. “No, this isn’t how things are. This isn’t what we promised. You said you wanted your children to be better than this, but now…” She took a deep breath and her expression turned into one of melancholy. “You’re not the man I married,” she said looking straight into his eyes. “You’ve changed, Navy. You’re–” She didn’t get to finish her sentence before she broke into a coughing fit.
Purple immediately jumped to his feet to support his mother, whispering comforts to her. They went inside, leaving Navy alone to stare blankly at them going.
He sat his mother on the couch and scurried through the drawers to get blankets for her. He rearranged the pillows, then ran to open a window and back to Orchid. “Is this comfortable enough? Did you take your medicine? Do you need me to bring you anything? Some water? Or maybe the– ”
“Purple!” she cut him off, placing her hands on his shoulders. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay,” she said.
His heart clenched at her words. He locked eyes with her, looking at her pale skin and the dark circles underneath her eyes. No doctor they had asked could offer an explanation for her sickness other than shake their heads and tell her to rest. It hadn’t left her a day without pain since the Disappearance and yet she was still smiling at him in the same way she always did.
He nodded bitterly and sat down next to her.
“Mom, I'm sorry. I'm not strong enough, I’m– I should have–”
“Shhh.” She brought him closer, embracing him, locking him into her hug, brushing fingers through his hair like back before, when she braided flowers on him when he was younger. Back before, when all was good and he was still small and naive.
This time, he let the tears run freely down his face while his mother comforted him silently like only she ever could.