GO, DIE & COME BACK

CHAPTER 1: A FATED FAMILY

"Brother!" Little Matt shouted. "Please get slow!"

A nine-year-old boy with braces was padeling so hard but could not keep up with his brother. The supporters on either side of his bicycle were forbidding him from going swiftly. Moreover, his father was holding the bicycle from the back, which made him even slower. "Can you please leave it? Go hold on to Big Brandon's bicycle if you wish. You're making me a tortoise, and now he'll bully me!"

As a man who had put forth a lot of effort to support his family and create a pleasant life, Sir Eric exuded quiet confidence. His clothes, which were usually well-crafted and spotless but never flashy, represented his accomplishment. He wore elegant casual wear or tailored suits. His face displayed the lines of experience, expressing both worry and laughter, and his hair, which was beginning to gray somewhat at the temples, gave him a distinguished look. A well-defined jawline, expressive eyes, and a straight nose slightly softened by a well-groomed stubble or beard were the strong yet delicate features of his face. His piercing blue eyes were kind and serious, with laugh lines at the corners that betrayed years of happiness and laughter with his family.

Right then, Brandon surpassed him with a teasing howl, squashing a squirrel that was rushing towards the tree with a mouthful of nuts. Matt almost puked seeing that, but Bran did not care at all. His laugh became louder.

"It is your first day." Sir Eric Barrel said, holding even tighter.

"The first day of the third week!" Matt said it in an emphatic tone. "I can try it alone. Please let me try once." His request made Sir Eric loosen the grip, but not for more than a second, and that time even tighter.

"You must allow him once, if I'm not mistaken." Mr. Raymond said. He was the most trusted man that Sir Eric had beside him in his business. "The boys had been doing practice for weeks. If I were in your place, I would have even removed the supporters and called out 'Faster!' to energize them."

"I cannot risk it." He spoke without looking at Raymond.

"You have to, someday, and it would be advisable to make it early." Raymond's gentle words reached his ears. Sir Eric glanced at that man's countenance and nodded slowly in agreement. He looked at Matt and retracted his hands with trembling fingers. "There you go," he whispered. Matt took a deep breath and paddled further. On and on, he went. Sir Eric found his son growing smaller as he went farther. The enthusiasm in Matt was increasing rapidly, as was his breathing rate and his pace.

"Catch me if you can, you braced tortoise!" Brandon taunted as he passed by Matt after completing a whole round. "You have traveled less than even ten meters. What a shame!"

"I don't want to learn anything with him!" Matt, in rage, kicked the bicycle down and left the area with thumping steps.

"You should not do this to your younger brother, Bran," Sir Eric said sternly.

"Alright, dad, I'm sorry." Brandon replied. "But this will make him learn quicker. He will never be able to learn when you are always after him."

"He needs it. I also did this to you when you were of that age."

"Oh! I don't remember. Sorry, but I don't think you ever loved me as you have always."

Eric interrupted, "No, Brandon, please don't start it again. I don't want to get upset now." He turned to go.

"And now you are running away from facing the truth. Accept it!" Brandon said in a way that he had forgotten who stood before him.

"Listen, lad, you are my older son. I love you the most. You are going to be the heir to that place where I am right now. All these properties will be yours. You'll be handed over all the business stuff, which I am handling now. I want you to be eligible for that." Every organ of Eric's body knew that he was lying.