Chapter 4

(TW: Mentions of sexual assault and abuse)

Karson exited the bus with Darciel following him. He was stopped by Aiden and his followers. "Look at all those wounds Karson. Who did this?" He asked jokingly. Karson looked down, too afraid to look at him. "Is wittle Karson scared?" Aiden pushed him. "Aye man just leaves him alone," Darciel said as stood between them.

"Darciel since when are you hanging with this pussy?" He scoffed. Darciel rolled his eyes. He pulled Karson's hand and they left. Aiden stared at the two frustrated. Karson turned around and made eye contact with Aiden who glared. Once they were out of sight Karson pulled his hand away. "Are you okay?" He asked him.

Karson nodded. "I have to get to class," He said, turning around to walk up the stairs. Darciel just stood there watching him leave. He sighed and pulled out his phone. "Hey I was able to get to him first, t," He said into the phone. "Good. Make sure he's safe" The man on the other line replied. "Yes sir" Darciel replied. The man hung up and Darciel pocketed his phone.

~~~~

Karson got home, his Monday went smoothly surprisingly. "Hello Mrs. Snow" He greeted. "Oh Karson, hi. How was school" She asked, as she watered her plants. "It was good, thank you" He smiled politely. "Oh right," She dropped the water hose and left inside.

She returned with Haru who purred immediately after seeing him. He smiled. "Thank you for watching him. Did you have a hard time?" He asked, searching his pockets. "Nope. He was well behaved" She smiled. He pulled out a twenty from his pocket and handed it to her. "Oh, no-no. You don't have to pay me" She shook her head, handing him Haru.

"No, yes I do," He said, keeping his hand out. "No, you don't. Keep that for your self and if you need me to take care of him again I'd happily do so" She smiled, turning off her water hose. "But Mrs. Snow you deserve it" He insisted. She just smiled and left inside her home. Karson sighed defeated. "What a nice woman," He said as he petted Haru.

He entered his own home, tired. He hasn't been getting any sleep the past month and he was seconds from passing out. He collapsed onto the couch after putting down the kitten of course.

He had forgotten to set his alarm so by the time he woke up it was morning already. Karson didn't hear his parents enter his home or did he hear Haru cry out from being lifted shy "Why the fuck is there a cat in my house!" He heard his father yell. Karson shot up from the couch. He cursed under his breath and ran to his father.

"Please don't hurt him. It's my fault, I brought him in" He pleaded. "With whose permission?" His father glared harshly. "No one's sir. I'm sorry" He bowed his head. A loud slap was heard. "Don't get smart with me, boy!" He yelled. He dropped the kitten and Karson immediately picked him up.

"It's either you or the cat. So which is it?" He asked, a smile on his face. "Me," He said without hesitation. Suddenly punch landed on his face. He fell onto the floor because of the harsh force of the hit. He shielded Haru from the hits that came landing into his ribs.

"I'm sorry" He whimpered out. "That's not gonna cut it!" He yelled. Karson was beaten for two hours. "If you want to keep that thing you better get a job and keep it out of my sight. Understood?" He spat. "Yes sir" Karson replied his body shaking and in pain. "Good" He left upstairs. Karson felt tears fall from his face. "No, I can't cry I deserved the punishment" He shook his head. Haru walked to him and rubbed his head on his cheek.

Karson smiled and picked him up. He walked upstairs, he realized he hasn't fed Haru since last night. "Oh my gosh. I'm such a horrible person. I'm so sorry Haru" He said, ashamed. He fed him and gave him some water before he went to the bathroom. He sighed. He needs to clear his head. So he turned on the shower and stepped into the cold water.

He felt himself relax he stood there for thirty minutes before he decided to shower. Once his shower and morning routine was over he got dressed for school. He left the house and dropped off Haru at Mrs. Snow's house. He left earlier than he needed to because he was going job searching.

He walked around looking for signs in stores or fast-food restaurants. He stopped at a convenience store. "Good morning" He greeted. "Hello," The old man at the front responded. "I saw you were hiring" Karson smiled. "Yes, why? Are you interested? Please be interested. I'll pay you more than average pay" The man pleaded, clearly desperate. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. The man thought.

"Oh uh yeah I am interested actually" He nodded. He felt bad for taking advantage of a desperate man but the pay seemed good. "Ok, your hired" The man smiled. "What really?" Karson was shocked he got the job so easily. "Yes, oh by the way what's your name? I'm Markus" He introduced himself. "I'm Karson. Nice to meet you" He smiled.

"Alright let's discuss your work hours" Markus replied pulling out his notebook. "Okay" Karson smiled, walking over to him happily.

~~~~

Jason was a sociopath, well that's what most people thought of him. He was raised in a cabin away from the world. There were no documents on him, nothing. His mother was the sweetest person he's ever met. She gave him his name, although the people he works for just call him Soldier 7. He lost his mother when he was only 5 he doesn't remember her much. His father shot her in front of him, claiming she was infecting his brain.

But for some reason, he didn't cry. He felt no emotion. He just stared at her dying. Jason was then taught to handle a gun and fight. He had his first kill, which happened to be his father, at the age of 8. He was a killing machine. He was raised to be a mercenary. At the age of 13, he got his first job. To kill a politician, Jon Gardner, who had threatened their business.

He still remembers that day. There we're other mercenaries in training with him. He was told whoever killed him first got the job. Jason was sat on the rooftop his sniper in front of him. He was scouting the area before he made a move. "Boss his son is with him" One of the trainees voices we're heard in the earpiece. "Okay get the job done" His boss's voice was heard.

He stared as a 13-year-old boy ran to his father a smile on his face. Jon had been holding a celebration ceremony for the company he stole. He noticed how the boy tensed when his father lifted his hand. He was confused at first but it finally hit him. He watched as Jon took his son into another room three businessmen following him. He rolled his eyes. He was going to wait but seeing someone going through the same thing he did, made something snap inside him.

Jason aimed and shot Jon in the head without hesitation. Before he moved on to all the businessmen. He left his spot at and killed everyone in that party in less than 5 minutes. He stopped in front of the kid. He kneeled in front of him. "Hey, kid. Go to this address. He'll help you. Tell him Jason sent you" He dropped a paper in his lap. The boy picked up the paper with shaking hands. "Thank you" He whispered. "Whatever. Now go get out of here" Jason pulled him up. The boy ran off.

His boss was outside waiting with all the trainees. When he saw the house set fire. He looked up shocked as Jason exited the house the head of Jon in his hands. He dropped it in front of him, face emotionless. "You got the job," His boss said, turning around without another word. That was the first time he saw Jamie.