Chapter 4 Appeal to the old brutal force

Upon arriving at a hotel, I paid the taxi driver, my gratitude expressed through some crumpled bills. Entering the hotel, I made my way to the reception, where a young woman stood behind the counter. With a tired and somewhat hoarse voice, I greeted, "Good morning, I need a room just for today."

The woman, with a neutral expression, raised her eyes to meet mine. However, in a moment of self-preservation, I averted my gaze. On that day, I wasn't willing to decipher the secrets that reside in the depths of other people's eyes.

"That will be 200 Gems, sir," she said, her voice echoing monotonously through the nearly empty hotel lobby. The price sounded indifferent to me; at that moment, all I really wanted was a place to rest. Without saying a word, I paid the requested amount, and she handed me a room key, marked with the number 207.

I walked slowly through the silent hotel corridors until I reached my room. Upon entering, I noticed the space wasn't very large, but it didn't matter to me. All I needed was a bed and a roof over my head. The room, though modest, seemed cozy enough for a night's sleep.

Exhausted, I collapsed onto the bed, feeling the soft mattress embrace my tired body. The partially open curtains allowed rays of sunlight to enter the room, creating an almost poetic scene. The gentle breeze flowing in through the slightly open window caressed my hair, providing a sense of calm and tranquility.

My eyelids began to weigh down as if they had been filled with lead. I resisted for a moment, but soon succumbed to the call of sleep, allowing the world around me to fade into a soft blur as I surrendered to the arms of Morpheus.

The shrill sound of my cell phone breaking the room's silence pulled me out of a light and reluctant sleep. I felt the cold metal against my skin as I reached for the phone on the bedside table. My mother's name glowed on the screen under the soft room light. I glanced at the digital clock beside it: it was already 9 o'clock in the evening. Part of me didn't want to answer, but I suppressed that urge and swiped my finger on the screen to accept the call.

"Hello," I murmured, trying to disguise any changes in my voice.

"Where are you?" Concern in her voice was evident. I got up from the bed, feeling the cold of the sheets against my skin. "I'm at the library, on my way home," I lied. I headed towards the bathroom, intending to wash my face.

"Alright. Come quickly, your aunt is coming over with her husband today." She spoke quickly, almost as if she wanted to ask something else but decided against it. I could sense hesitation in her words.

"Okay. I'm on my way home." I finished washing my face, feeling the cold water refresh my tired skin. I hung up the phone and left the room, leaving behind a messy bed and a disturbing silence. I handed the room key to the attendant at the front desk, thanked her with a tired smile, and started calling a taxi for the ride back home.

It didn't take long for me to arrive at that structure of bricks and cement, which I could no longer call home. I let out a heavy sigh, a sigh that carried the sadness of a betrayed son. Just the memory of my parents' faces, two figures who had allowed my trust in them to be betrayed, was enough to reignite my bad mood. I walked up to the door and unlocked it with my key.

"I'm here!" I shouted, even though I had little desire to announce my presence. I walked into the kitchen, where I found my father and mother. Alongside them, a stunning woman with black hair that shone like a starry night and dark eyes that reflected the vastness of the universe. On her face, an expression that tried to convey happiness but seemed strangely forced to me. I averted my gaze from her, a precaution to avoid my powers from revealing information about her. This woman was my aunt.

"Eugene, how you've grown! Time really flies; I still remember when you were just a little boy." My aunt got up from her chair and approached me, enveloping me in a hug that I returned without enthusiasm. Through the contact, I felt a fleeting shudder run through her body, as if she were struggling with the strength of my grip. Suddenly, she pulled away, almost as if she didn't want to be near me anymore, which I found strange. In our past interactions, she had always shown an almost exaggerated affection for me, with long hugs that made me question the intensity of her attachment.

"Look at this young man, he's taller than me now. How are you, Eugene?" A man who had been sitting next to my aunt before she got up came closer to me. He approached with a friendly smile and extended his hand in a friendly greeting. This was Cleber, my aunt's husband. Honestly, he's one of the people I appreciate the most. He's always fun and full of spirit.

"Well, I had to grow up, right? Otherwise, I'd stay small forever. But look, I'm taller than you now." I demonstrated my height advantage, measuring from the top of my head to his. Cleber is a bit shorter than me.

"Are you making fun of me now? Hahaha. Hey, how about we play a game on the video game console? Do you still have that one I gave you?" Cleber patted my shoulders with enthusiasm, eagerly anticipating our next gaming session. I was looking forward to it too, even after a long nap to clear my mind of all the things I had discovered about my parents. A little fun would do me good.

"Let's do it. Aunt, you should join us; you used to be amazing at playing." I looked at my aunt, who was strangely quiet. That wasn't normal for her. She looked at me in surprise and lightly clutched her hands together. Unintentionally, she moved closer to me but stopped abruptly. I had already averted my gaze to prevent my special powers from being activated and receiving a flood of information about her, but I noticed that she stopped when Cleber looked at her.

"No. Maybe another time. I have some things to discuss with your mother; I need to catch up on the gossip." She said with a forced smile. Honestly, I decided to focus my vision on her, feeling a slight strain in my eyes. Despite the pain being less than previous times when I unintentionally used my powers, this time I was determined to use them. Soon, a screen appeared before my eyes.

{Name: Paula Andrade

Age: 35 years

Parents: Maria Helena Andrade and Joaquim Andrade

Siblings: Has an older sister named Lúcia Andrade

Blood Type: A+

Emotional State: Happy, afraid, desire

Likes:

Studies: Paula has a deep passion for knowledge. She delights in exploring new topics, immersing herself in areas she hasn't had the opportunity to study.

Writing: Since childhood, writing has been a constant in her life. Her skill in this area is so refined that her handwriting is admired by many.

Eugênio: Paula feels an inexplicable attraction towards her nephew Eugênio, an emotion she cannot pinpoint when or why it arose.

Games: Her relationship with games is complex, as she cannot determine whether she likes them or not, making it a nebulous emotional territory.

Dislikes:

Games: On one hand, games have led her to meet people she would rather have never met, marking a negative experience.

Violence: Paula despises violence, a fear so intense that it makes her want to flee at the slightest sign of aggression.

Cleber: Cleber, a figure that represents one of her greatest fears, constantly haunts her.

Sex: Sexual intimacy has become a difficult terrain for Paula. The act, which she believes should be gentle and loving, no longer interests her.

Current thought: "Am I going to suffer again today? Please... someone help me... Probably no one will hear... I chose this life, but what if I didn't make that choice... Could it have been different?"

Thoughts about relationships:

Thoughts about Cleber: "He saw me getting close to Eugênio, my nephew. He's going to get angry again, I don't want to be a victim of his wrath..."

Thoughts about Eugênio: "It would be different if you weren't my nephew..."

Thoughts about Heitor: "He should reserve his lascivious gaze for his own wife, instead of my breasts."

Thoughts about Paula: "Are you blind to your own husband's actions? I wish you would help me to get out of this hell I'm in, but fear paralyzes me..."

Body state: Marked by numerous injuries, bruises from punches and kicks.

Desire: "I wish someone would rescue me..."

Why is this happening to me? Why did I have to discover my parents' betrayal? And why, in the name of all things sacred and profane, do vampires exist? And why does this wretch mistreat my aunt? As for her nurturing feelings for me, it doesn't affect me, as I don't share the same feelings. But that doesn't mean I'll stand by! I want the world to fall down upon them!

"So, Eugênio, what gam-" Before Cleber could finish his sentence, I punched him in the face with all the strength I could muster. I felt my hand sink into his face. "Wretch!" A boundless hatred rose in me, boiling my blood.