Hound and Sticks

I haven't been getting enough sleep or rest lately, which is essential for a six-year-old to grow and develop in a healthy way. The pressure has been building up, and while I understand the importance of gaining knowledge and experiences, it's been challenging for me to fully enjoy and engage in them.

I find myself reminiscing about the past, reflecting on the mistakes I made and the consequences I faced as a result. Those punishments often meant being confined to my room, where I would spend my time reading books and literature.

While books can be a great source of knowledge, as a six-year-old, my primary interest lies in playthings and activities that other kids enjoy, as well as bonding with my parents.

Unfortunately, I'm not like other kids. There are no children in the estate where I live, and my parents aren't the typical parents either. This makes me feel like an outsider, an irregularity in my own world.

It's not that there are no other kids nearby; it's just that I'm not allowed to communicate with them beyond the confines of the estate. Lonely as it was I wasn't allowed to interact with the outside individuals and kids, leaving me out alone with the world.

The village, which is under the jurisdiction of the House of Stele, is protected by soldiers who take responsibility for its safety and security.

The smell of dirt and dust permeated through my nose which gave me a sense of longing for liberty that was in sight but out of reach.

It's uncommon for villages to be under the control of estates. In such cases, the estate owners or their representatives would govern the villages, taking charge of various aspects of village life, including taxation, law enforcement, justice administration, and protection.

"Why am I never permitted to leave the estate?" I grumble, wondering about the reasons behind this restriction. Looking at the kids running in the distance as they seem to chase each other, playing tag and running around carefree.

"There are several dangerous bases that would satisfy your curiosity, young Enzo" The voice of someone with a deep and noble tone resonates with an aura of regality and authority.

Don gently sat beside me sulking in the shadow of a sorrowful thought, I wore the countenance of one burdened by profound disappointment, the answer I had received failed to meet the lofty expectations that had taken hold of my heart.

"I get it, I get it well it's not like I would be able to get out anytime soon" Looking behind me I saw Ron and Aion crawling on the ground due to exhaustion.

Practically creeping on the dirt floor both of them move a couple more then stopped to look up at me and Don. Uncle Robert assigned me to my daily routine of playing tag with the hound trios.

Usually, Don would sit by the corner as I play around with the hounds running around the large ranch area that was apparently designated to be our own playpen. Passing it off as tag or playtime it's just in simple terms of being ethical. What ends up happening is that I would be the one who would chase the hounds around the ranch.

I lack the necessary training and physical prowess to keep up with the hounds' agile playstyle, especially considering their exceptional tracking abilities. Consequently, I've been unable to catch up to them thus far. The only opportunity for me to have any chance of catching them is when they become too fatigued or completely exhausted, similar to their current state.

Unlike Don who can fluently speak comprehensible and understandable words, Aion and Ron do not have the capability at the moment to speak the human language, both of them bark and growl just like how a normal hound would be.

"Enzo, qualities define an individual and you have natural aspects that are way above others" Don cheerfully said facing me.

At the edge of my eye, I saw something moving in the bushes. Instinctively, I inched closer, carefully making my way to a corner of the ranch, far from the hounds. Curiosity got the better of me.

Facing the edge of the forest, I saw towering trees and thick bushes that encircled the woods, emitting an air of mystery and imposing presence.

The mysterious entity moved swiftly from one brush to another, creating incessant sounds and rattling. The wind blew with a chilling cold that seeped into my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

Goosebumps covered my arms, and my heart pounded loudly in my chest. The pressure mounted, and cold sweat formed on my face. All my senses were heightened, and my vision narrowed.

My survival instinct screamed at me to keep my distance, but my curiosity pushed me closer to the bush, yearning to uncover the truth. However, before I could proceed, Uncle Robert appeared out of nowhere, shouting loudly to call us back.

I never was happy to be inside the mansion as I am feeling right now.

The day was coming to an end, the sun began to set down as it marked the day.

All of us were called back inside the mansion to prepare for dinner and to take a rest. Inside the dining room was Uncle Robert. Dining together has been a custom for me ever since I was very little.

The home felt abandoned, and desolated, and there were minor interactions with people inside the mansion which comes from the daily attendance of butlers and maids that served my family. There were a lot of servants that facilitates the mansion of our household, however, their presence is so minimal that all of them can be easily fade into the background.

Dinner was done with Uncle Robert, he gave permission for allowing to leave the dining room. Traversing a lengthy corridor bathed in dim illumination, the play of shadow light cascaded through the windows, amplifying an undercurrent of unease. Along the periphery of the window, I edged closer, its rustic appearance added a touch of antiquity to its allure, while the pristine glass pane offered an unobstructed view of the world beyond. The arched design of the window permitted gentle streams of light to filter through, casting a delicate glow upon the interior.

Compelled by curiosity, I carefully opened the window, allowing a breath of fresh air to grace my face. Leaning forward, my head emerged into the open expanse, assuming a relaxed slouch as my hands found solace upon the window sill.

The outside world unfolded before me, serenity wrapped in darkness. Its aura was one of tranquil beauty, shrouded in a chilled embrace that both invigorated and enthralled. The scene exuded an overwhelming sense of peace as if nature herself had come to a harmonious stillness beneath the inky veil of night.

At that moment, the pristine darkness held a sense of wonder, captivating my senses. The air carried a crisp chill, lending a refreshing bite to the atmosphere. It was a realm of captivating mystery and serene solitude, where the symphony of silence resonated with profound elegance.

Calm and still was the night as it brings peace to a fierce life. I was dazed and mesmerized by the scenery, stuck in a trance for a prolonged time, it was as if time allowed itself to slow down to enable me to feel the atmosphere tonight.

Something caught my eye in the far distance in the trees, I peered straight and saw movement running through the woods. I concentrated on figuring out what the figure was that was moving very fast in the forest.

A glimpse was all that I could manage to perceive as it moved fast through the woods, it was swift and rapid as it passed by.

I hardly managed to keep track of its movements, it scurried along the trees jumping through branches and strafing through the ground moving at unpredictable speeds. Moving in a blur I glued my eyes on the figure as it moved unconventionally it quickly motioned as it swings and jumps through the trees until it abruptly stopped.

A strange entity walked out of the tall trees. It was a nightmare, it gave off an aura of death, I was viewing him from a distance, it looked straight towards the window in which I am currently. I cannot take my eyes off the entity that came out of the forest. My thoughts raced as to what it could be.

I see the night behind it converging as if space that was warped would soon be swallowed.

Goosebumps came over me again, experiencing the feeling that I have felt earlier in the day. Unable to move, my senses tingled that I should run, I can't, I forgot. The pressure came over me, panicked dwelled inside of me, I can hear my heart beating so fast, and terrified.

Cold sweat trickled down my forehead, mingling with the chill of the night air on my skin. My breath caught in my throat, it was getting hard to breathe. The entity in front is far away from me. It was terrifying.

In there is a monster, a nightmare. It oozes darkness around him, I wanted to puke, I want to scream, I want to live, everything went back to me. It felt as if life flashed before my eyes. What did it want? How had it come to be? And most importantly, what horrors would it unleash upon the world if given the chance?

The appearance of the scarecrow is the embodiment of fear and horror. I was rendered helpless, a mere spectator to the impending terror that stood just beyond the glass.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from the creature's menacing presence, its unnaturally thin limbs and sharp, claw-like hands sending shivers down my spine. Every instinct within me screamed to run, to escape the clutches of this darkness personified. It was unbelievable that it was able to use these thin arms rapidly so that they did not break or bend

It wore a dreadful orange coat with ripped areas across its arms and torso. On top was a slightly torn straw hat torn but wearable. A giant belt that can be discerned from a distance away. Torned pants can be seen from the waist down, dark as the night, black as the shadow.

Finally, the voice of reason pierced through my fear-stricken mind as Uncle Robert's urgent shout reached my ears. His words snapped me out of the trance, reminding me of the imminent danger and the need to find sanctuary. With one last lingering glance at the enigmatic figure, I tore myself away from the window, slamming it shut as if to shut out the terror that threatened to consume me.

My pulse still racing, I stumbled backward, gasping for air as I collapsed onto the floor. Tremors coursed through my body, a mixture of lingering fear and the remnants of the creature's chilling presence. The encounter had shaken me to the core, leaving an indelible mark on my psyche.

As I lay there, trying to steady my ragged breaths, I couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was just the beginning. A dark chapter had been opened, and the unknown loomed ominously.