Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 9: Blank's Childhood (8)
[2 Days Later]
In a village far from the previous one, with a house that already had concrete walls and neater white paint.
Knock Knock Knock.
"Kaelan, I've made breakfast. I made chicken soup... Kaelan?"
Creak.
"Brother's coming in."
Kaeri entered Kaelan's room with a floor and walls as white as snow, on a bed with thick foam fabric comfortable for the feet and the scent of lavender from a room freshener that should bring happiness and comfort.
However...
Kaeri looked at Blank with pity. His eyes were blank, unclear where they were directed. Silent and motionless, not a single body movement was seen.
The boy just sat... Sat curled up, his gaze directed forward but his eyes dull. As if his emotions had vanished and emptiness enveloped him.
Kaeri sighed. (Oh dear, this child is still empty.)
Kaeri approached Blank at the edge of the bed and hugged him. He guided the left side of Blank's head to land on his somewhat hard yet comfortable chest. He stroked the little boy.
"Alright... Kaelan, let's eat... Everything will be okay from now on... Your brother will protect Kaelan."
His face was flat. His eyes turned gray. Kaeri gave warmth, but his heart remained cracked like a glass that had fallen from a table.
Kaeri sighed heavily. (This is bad. Since that time, he hasn't eaten much, surely only a little, and hasn't moved much besides staying in his room.)
His mind couldn't function. He didn't fully understand how to calm a child currently experiencing emptiness in his life. "Kaelan... I'll make you some milk."
Blank still didn't answer. His lips didn't utter a single word, and his breathing was normal. But that was very dangerous because his thoughts could be in disarray, and his mental state could shatter at any moment starting now.
Kaeri kissed Blank's hair and then stroked it. "It's okay... I'll always be with you from now on."
Even though that was something that could bring comfort and calm. An older brother giving extra attention to his younger brother should at least elicit some emotion now. But no... Blank was still empty.
Kaeri went to the kitchen and made fresh white milk. With his skill, he added some extra milk powder and the right measurement so the milk would be very delicious to drink while still warm.
"Kaelan... I brought white milk."
Kaelan sat back beside him. "Let me help feed you."
Kaeri took a spoon with a concave shape capable of holding one sip of milk. "Aaa... Here comes the airplane."
Kaeri began to let the milk flow into the boy's mouth between his lips.
But his effort was futile. Even though the liquid had entered his tongue, little Blank didn't want to swallow it and let it fall from his lips and flow down.
"Oh dear, Kaelan... Your clothes got a little wet. I'll get you a shirt."
Kaeri took a shirt from the closet. Even though not many clothes were brought, he would still change the boy's clothes even though there was no reaction from him now.
"Kaelan... Let me change your clothes first."
Blank didn't answer. Not a single word or movement occurred. Only breathing and slow blinking.
Kaeri tried to change Blank's clothes. Even though it was possible and the boy complied, what was very worrying was his way of seeing the world. Everything seemed to have ended in his eyes.
Kaeri sighed. He scratched his hair where it didn't itch. "Kaelan, you need a bath. You're a big boy now; I can't bathe you."
Even though intending to joke and restore his heart, the boy still didn't budge at all.
Kaeri lowered his head. He pondered. (I have to find a way.)
(...)
After thinking hard, he could get an idea that Blank might accept now. "Let's go for a walk outside. It's too stuffy in here."
Even though he still didn't get an answer, Kaeri immediately carried the boy on his back.
"Let's go out... Kaelan."
They walked out together. Passing through a new, unfamiliar countryside to the boy's eyes.
Kaeri saw a mother watering plants in her front yard. "Good afternoon, Ma'am. What plants are you watering?" He said while smiling.
The woman looked a bit surprised. She returned his smile and said, "Oh, these are watermelon plants. You're the new child who moved here, right?"
Kaeri smiled. "Hehe, yes, Ma'am. Nice to meet you. Our house is over there." While pointing with his thumb.
"Ah, yes, we'll drop by sometime. Hope you like it here." Kaeri answered with a warm smile that made his eyes squint.
Then during the walk, he was greeted by a man cutting grass near his gazebo. "Hello, son. You're the new child, right? Where are you going with your brother?"
Kaeri glanced. "I'm just looking for some fresh air here, sir."
The man shook his head. "Not the right time to go out at 11 AM. It's already hot, not fresh air anymore."
Kaeri chuckled softly. "Haha, it's okay. My brother is tired, so I'm just taking him for a walk."
The man nodded and pointed to the North. "Over there... You go up the hill. There's a waterfall and shady trees, also a meadow... Better play there."
Kaeri, who was carrying Blank, instantly smiled and became enthusiastic. "Oh really!? Thank you, sir. I'll go there."
"Yes, be careful. The path there is a bit steep, and don't get near the cliff."
Kaeri smiled with a slight tilt of his head. "Yes, sir."
Kaeri then began climbing the hill. He looked at the somewhat steep path adorned only with stones as direction markers.
"Wow, Kaelan... This place is fresh, even in the afternoon."
Pine trees surrounded them. Even though the air outside should be hot, the trees blocked the sun from shining on the ground, but there were still many small spots lighting their way.
As Kaeri climbed higher, wind began to come and provide fresh air. The still-preserved and seemingly old green trees became their attraction to enjoy the existing atmosphere.
Many squirrels jumped from one tree to another. Small birds perched on their nests, and melodious chirping made the atmosphere even more serene.
Step by step, they moved away from the house, but step by step, the loud sound of water falling from a height began to be heard, along with a small flowing stream.
"Waaa!"
Kaeri saw water as clear as glass, almost perfectly showing a light blue color. The surrounding stones and trees made the atmosphere more natural and calming.
A gentle breeze.
The wind brushed the pine trees very well, leaves swaying with branches following its rhythm.
"This is so cool, Kaelan! You see it, right?"
Blank was still silent with a blank gaze on his brother's shoulder. (Oh dear, even though the place is this beautiful.)
"Hey, look, there's a special barbecue spot here. We can grill something."
Kaeri looked around and tried to find something to grill and eat. "Ah, there are sweet potato plants. I'll take some."
"Kaelan, I'll put you on this rock for a moment. I'm going to get some sweet potatoes."
Kaeri placed Blank on a large rock, then he ran to get to some sweet potato plants. (Maybe three or four are enough. Sorry, owner of the plants, I'm taking a little.)
But in Blank's mind now...
(...)
"Kaelan~"
Blank, with a flat expression and not looking at anything now, heard a voice he recognized.
(Grandpa... Grandpa is here?)
"It's okay, Kaelan... Grandpa still loves you~"
Blank clenched his fists on his knees. (Sorry, Grandpa... Grandpa's house.) The boy's eyes began to well up. He felt guilty for leaving his grandfather's house, which had become a lifelong memory for him.
"Don't be angry... Grandpa always forgives Kaelan~"
His vision grew blurrier. His face looked at the water below as tears began to flow little by little. (Sorry, Grandpa...)
Then, as Blank looked at the water, he suddenly saw the silhouette of his grandfather behind him.
(Huh... Grandpa?)
The silhouette smiled very kindly at Blank, then turned around and walked away behind Blank.
(Grandpa, wait.)
Quickly, Blank looked behind him and was instantly very shocked. His body trembled, and he couldn't believe it.
"Gr... Grandpa...?" He saw his grandfather alive again, but in a place a little far away. The boy immediately stood up and then began to run.
Kaeri, who was carrying 4 sweet potatoes with a smile until his eyes closed. (Haha, these are big. Kaelan will be full. I'm good at grilling sweet potatoes.)
Then he saw Blank standing and running. His eye twitched. "Huh? Where is Kaelan going?" He then looked at the direction Blank was running toward.
The sweet potatoes fell from both his hands. Kaeri ran as fast as possible, jumping over rocks quickly. Cold sweat was already flowing, and his teeth were visible from his open mouth. (Don't, Kaelan!)
[That's the cliff over there!]
But it was very different from what Blank was seeing. He saw his grandfather spreading his arms as if making room for a hug.
Blank ran faster. He stretched out his hand, but that direction led towards the cliff he was about to cross.
Kaeri shouted. "Kaelan!"
Suddenly, the ground Blank stepped on after reaching the cliff edge began to give way. He was dragged down along with the landslide. Kaeri's face paled. He was too far from Blank earlier, so he couldn't catch up. He shouted downwards.
"Kaelan!"
He was shocked. Blank had fallen on large rocks at the edge of the cliff and was still alive, even though beside him was the landslide. (Ah, he's safe. I have to be quick.)
Blank was seen lying on a rock, his vision beginning to blur. But he saw the silhouette of his grandfather in front of him. (Gr-Grandpa...)
Meanwhile, Kaeri was thinking of a way to save him. "Oh dear, what's wrong with that child? The spot can't be reached just by hand."
Kaeri looked around. But there wasn't a single rope he could see to pull Blank up. All he saw were leaves and wood, nothing else. (Damn!)
Kaeri looked at Blank. He tried to reach him, but the boy was still lying there. If he would stand up and jump, Kaeri could reach him. "Kaelan! Get up!"
Blank was still motionless. His left head was seen starting to bleed. That meant there was an impact before he could lie on those rocks.
Suddenly, the rocks began to shift slightly. The landslide caused the cliff's density to thin out. This was dangerous because Blank was still there.
Kaeri looked to his left. There was a cut branch from a tree long enough to reach him. He took it and extended it towards Blank. "Hey Kaelan, grab this wood quickly. The rocks could fall."
But Blank's hallucination grew stronger. His eyes grew blurrier, and he seemed to see his grandfather and a married couple. (Grandpa... are those Mom and Dad?)
(Damn!) Kaeri was beginning to lose control. He even used the wood to hit Blank's shoulder to wake him up. But he remained motionless, and the little boy's blood began to drip onto the rock. "Kaelan!"
The rock began to descend. In Blank's count, he didn't feel anything. But with the energy he had, he said, "I want to meet you all."
Kaeri heard those words. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. (Bastard! This is going to hurt.) He looked at the lower ground to his left. The spot wasn't as steep as the right side. He had no choice but to take Blank and fall over there.
The rock began to fall. Kaeri jumped down and caught Blank. He leapt from a rock as a foothold. But even though he tried, they would still suffer a hard impact.
But as they were falling to a higher position with less injury compared to others, a rock the size of a fist hit the left side of Kaeri's forehead. The rock fell from the cliff edge.
"Gah."
That made Kaeri's vision blur. With the remaining strength, he landed his body first so Blank remained safe in his embrace.
Crack.
The two of them fell in a safer place. Both were unconscious now. Nothing moved, nothing stirred. Both of them closed their eyes. Their heads slowly bled onto the ground.
After 40 minutes, finally, one of them began to move. The first was Blank, who tried to lift his body with both hands and legs.
His body trembled weakly. His head was dizzy, and his eyes were blurry. But when he managed to see, he was utterly shocked. His eyes widened, and instantly he couldn't believe what had happened.
A young man lay sprawled with blood flowing from his forehead, passing over his eye and cheek. His left arm also didn't look in a normal position.
The boy trembled. His eyes widened and welled up with tears. He felt it again, this pain. An older brother he hadn't known for long and who gave him peace was now helpless before him.
His hand pointed towards the young man. Even though trembling, he tried to lift him. Cold sweat flooded his temples.
[Br-Brother...]