Chapter 1: “A Changed Boy”

3RD PERSON

The rapid firing of guns continues. For him, it sounds like a rain of bullets. He can’t even hear his own screams. He stays where he is, crouched under the table with hands covering his ears. He wants to go out, to check on them. But for a boy of seven, what can he do? He can feel his knees trembling and his heart beating fast. He’s praying for their safety. Praying that it will finally stop. And then the shots died down. He heard two little girls crying and he calmed down a bit. He slowly moves out of his hiding place, taking a peak. But the scene before him made his heart stop and his feet rooted on the spot.

He saw his mother lying grotesquely on the floor, bathing with her own blood, noticeably dead. His father, badly wounded, embracing his two younger sisters. And a man, a man, he can’t hardly see the face as tears welled up on his eyes, pointing a gun to them. To the remaining members of his family.

“He killed her.” The boy muttered under his breath. He heard rustling of feet outside and instantly knew there are many of them. But why? a voice suddenly screamed to his numb mind. Anger rise up into his heart. An anger he had never felt before. He wanted to kill that man.

“Please spare them. They are too young to die.” He suddenly heard his father spoke.

The man just laughed and said, “You and your family will remain a legend to your colleagues, Shadow. And I will be honored for killing you.” He pulled the trigger as the two little girls cry.

The boy, however, was awakened from his reverie as he saw his father dropped to the floor. The man advanced to his crying sisters and he felt his body energized, his mind cleared and started making plans to save them.

A gun! I need a gun! He desperately thought as he wandered his eyes around.

Father’s table! I saw a gun inside father’s table!

Another rain of bullets started outside. He ignored it and swiftly went back to the table he hid a while ago.

“Third drawer.” He muttered looking back to his sisters. Luckily, the gunshots outside confused the man. He creased his forehead in confusion. Then the boy found the gun. And before the man raise his arm, the boy pulled the trigger and shoot him at the back of the head. The shots outside ceased as the man dropped dead to the floor.

“Oppa!” his sisters shouted with tears on their faces. He smiled weakly at them, suddenly feeling dizzy. He heard footsteps coming inside their house. He took one last look to his mother and father before finally collapsing still gripping his father’s gun.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

3RD PERSON

“Are you okay?” a man’s voice greeted him as he opened his eyes.

“Father?” he uttered.

“I’m not your father my boy. I’m his best friend. Just call me Mr. Gonzalbo. He left you and your sisters to me before he died.” The man said with a sad voice.

“You talked to him? Where are my sisters?” the boy straightened up and take a look at the man’s face. “Where are they?”

“There they are, calmly sleeping now. My wife put them to bed.” Mr. Gonzalbo said pointing on the bed next to him.

The boy exhaled and relaxed. “At least I’m able to save them.” He smiled.

A minute passed as Mr. Gonzalbo waited. Then the boy said, with a different tone. “Is he dead?’

Of course he will ask about it. Mr. Gonzalbo thought. This boy isn’t a fool. He’s smart and brave like Shadow. Like his father.

“I’m asking if he’s dead. The man who killed my parents.” The boy asked without changing his expression.

“No, he’s not dead. You just wounded him badly. But we’re able to arrest him.” Mr. Gonzalbo told the boy looking straight to his eyes. He knew that like his father, this boy will be able to accept it.

“Who are you? If you are father’s best friend, why is it that I’ve never seen you before? What are you and father?” the boy answered him. Mr. Gonzalbo was not even a bit surprised with what the boy asked.

“You really want to know?” he asked. The boy just looked at him. Those determined eyes remind him of his friend.

“You’re really like your father. Listen to me carefully and decide what you will do.”