Polaris: Origins

Cain and Abel

** Terrance Masters **

My head hurts. I want to go somewhere quiet.

Where it's calm and I can think without someone shouting at me.

But he isn't giving up. Emmanuel just won't let me go.

I'm battling to keep my sanity. Holding back.

My walls are breaking, but I must hold it together, for me and for my family.

I can't trust them. These people, so familiar, yet so strange.

The more I think I know them, the more they continue to surprise me, and the very less I seem to know.

I built this idea of them after I left, my dad and my brother that is.

They were supposed to hate me, disown me even. Not welcome me back in like some lost lamb.

I feel this deep rage for them.

I came here expecting a fight for dominance and survival. When they just let me in, I was...

Suspicious.

Now my father and brother are here trying to patch up a severed limb to this body we call a family.

The women and children are casualties of the Masters' destructive capabilities.

Something I hope doesn't pass from father to child.

This deep hate that I've kept pent up all these years, it's making me unstable. Especially when I don't know how to react to them.

Sigh.

I can't trust myself. The stability I've set up is crumbling.

If I don't be careful, I could give in and fall into their trap.

Must admit that Manny's asking some questions that has me questioning my motives.

I thought I was doing what was best for my family.

I love my wife.

I would do anything for her.

Was my decision to stay with her family selfish?

Was it my drive for respect and to feel accepted and validated?

No, I refuse to let myself be made to look like the villain in all this.

All I wanted was a bit of respect, just a feeling of belonging, to something greater than myself.

Was that too much to ask for?

I looked around.

Emmanuel's face fancily displayed the depth of his anger.

My wife was crying on the sofa, being consoled by Emmanuel's wife.

Why is my world falling apart again?

I hate this.

I started going upstairs to the room.

"Where are you going?" Emmanuel growled.

"To my room. As I said, we're leaving"

"You're not listening Terrance. You're not leaving here until we get this sorted out, or you apologize to Dad"

"I'd rather die than follow your commands."

"Then so be it" he roared as he grabbed me by the throat and lifted me off the ground.

"Let go of me" I gritted my teeth as I tried ripping his hands away.

But he was too strong.

Air was getting harder and harder to obtain.