Chapter 1337: A Harsh Childhood |
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It was at that moment when she was only seven years old that she learned the world wasn't so simply, and that it didn't work like her grandma usually told her.
"You don't got candy?"
"No, sorry… but we can still hang out? Wanna play ball?"
"Eh, nah… I'm good."
Her grandmother, someone born in the countryside, knew of very old customs, perhaps remembering a nicer world.
"Nothing? Really? What about the chocolate you always got?"
"Sorry, I didn't bring anything… We could play with the… toys?"
"What? I don't like playing with toys, I prefer smartphone games!"
"If you don't have any candy then why I should ever talk to you…"
"B-But you said we were friends…!"
"I never said that! Also you're ugly!"
"Eeh…?"
Even the kids were harsh.
"Hmm…"
At the end, she found herself alone.
All the company she got before was bought, the candies, the chocolate she shared.
They were only after that.
To become her genuine friend? It would take more effort than that.
Much more.
She felt devastated, all the friends she thought were her pals, her buddies, were just ignoring her now.
At the end they were right, the girls that were angry at her were all right.
"See? What did we tell you?"
"…"
"Nobody cares about an ugly pig like you."
"…"
"Buying friendship with candy… Unbelivable!"
"I-I… I'm sorry… I-I thought… G-Grandma said that-"
"B-B-But I'm sorryyy! Stop stuttering!"
"Why do you stutter so much?"
"Stupid pig."
"Dumb piglet!"
"Say oink if you're so sorry!"
"Oink oink! Like that!"
The girls started to abuse her more as they noticed she wouldn't fight back, that she would only look sad. Children often times target those that look weaker and are meeker, those that let others abuse them.
Some say that it's a natural instinct within humans to bully and abuse the competition, even while living in a society, we still act like animals, even when we're children.
"L-Leave me alone!"
She eventually rana way from them, from everyone.
Crying in the corner of the schoolyard, hiding from everyone, below the stairs leading to the second floor.
She ate the candies she pretended to not have, and then her chocolate bar.
Alone.
The sweets made her feel happier, a bit, they made her feel a bit fuller.
With her father dead, and with no friends, being bullied…
She always felt stressed, nervous.
She could only retort to fill that hole inside of her with food.
With sweets her grandmother always gave to her.
"Is this why I'm so fat?"
She wondered that sometimes, blaming her grandmother for her own condition.
"It's all your fault grandma! You keep giving me candies and snacks… they make me fat!"
"B-But dear… You're not really fat, you're big at best, like your father and I were-"
"I'm fat and ugly! I'm a fat pig! That's what they always say when I go to school! I'm horrible!"
"W-Wait, why would they ever… Didn't you said you had friends?"
"I don't have friends! Everyone hates me because I gave them candies! Y-You said it would work but… but everyone hates me instead…"
"Oh dear, oh dear… C-Calm down, please, it's alright. We could try something new, let me help you-"
"I don't want your help anymore!"
She escaped her grandmother, she ran away into the forest, deep, deep into the dark, scary forest, crying, lamenting her life, cursing herself, hating herself.
Her mother died when she was born, she literally killed her mother.
Her father died a year ago, he lied to her when he said he would live until he was a very old grandpa himself.
Her grandmother only made things worse with all the stuff she taught her and fed her.
And back in school, they already bullied her and mocked her.
Where else could she go?
What could she even do at this point?
"Dear! Where are you?"
Her grandmother's voice echoed from behind, as she kept running.
And crying.
And running.
And crying.
The darkness of the forest engulfed her, as her footsteps became slower, she was exhausted.
For how much has she run?
"Haah… Haahh… Haahh…"
She fell to the floor, gasping for air.
She cried, hugging the grass, grasping it tightly.
"Mom… dad…"
Recalling her memories with her father.
And the fantasies and dreams she had about met the mother she never met.
That she could never, ever see…
The girl slowly fell asleep.
…
The darkness slowly continued gathering, spreading.
And two crimson eyes glanced at the scene, smiling.
"Aaaww… How sad, isn't it? Childhoods can be really rough. I guess not everyone had an ideal childhood they wanted to keep living, hm?"
A child-like nightmare demon watched the girl's nightmares, the nightmares of a childhood she hated.
"But that's how it is at the end! Childhood can be rough, but it is still better than real life, isn't it? Responsibilities, work, the terrifying future, meeting the expectations of others… Stress, sickness, diseases… An adult life is so tough!"
As he giggled, he spun around the white space, absorbing nightmare essence from his victims.
"But don't worry… That won't be the case anymore. You're here with me, and we'll be together forever. Your childhoods can be relived for all eternity. Suffer, wither in pain for me, please… Show me all your delicious traumas. I can't have enough!"
As the demon devoured this endless source of power and food, his eyes noticed something.
"Hmm?"
A little girl riding a giant black dragon, flying across a lush green forest, near the snowy capped mountains.
"What?!"
His eyes widened in anger, slamming the table in front of him.
"Why are they…?! How did they even get there! I am fairly sure that I made sure everyone… Wait a second."
He realized something was wrong.
"That girl… the scaled one, she was a child? An actual child?! How young is she to not be affected by my powers?! Is she four years old or something?"
As they flew, they rapidly approached her, amidst the dark forest.
"No, no, no, this can't be happening! Wait a second…! I have to do something, dammit! I can't just lose the game now! Aaah! Whatever! Screw you all!"
He quickly generated several black seeds from his hands.
"Go!"
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