Chapter 2: The Outcast

Hera

“Gross,” I said as I watched the two teenagers kiss on television. It was a reality show that my parents were religiously watching, and it revolved around the lives of teenagers traveling around the world to find their mate.

Cy and Saran turned back to me with smiles on their faces. “Gross?” Saran chuckled. “You’re bound to do that someday, Hera. You’re already 17, so you’re going to find your mate very soon, and I’m sure that you’ll take back those words once you meet him.”

I clicked my tongue and shook my head. “Never in a thousand years,” I said in a resolute voice.

“Is Hera shitting on your favorite show again?” River, my brother, said while trudging down the stairs with two luggages in hand.

“Language, River,” Saran exclaimed while turning off the TV.

“Cut me some slack, mom. It’s my last day here, so forgive me?” He said sheepishly while tugging on Saran’s sleeve.

Saran rolled her eyes and sighed. “Come here, you troll. You’re lucky that I’m going to miss you. Why do you have to go to the city for your last year of college anyway?”

River encased Saran in his strong arms and rested his head on her shoulder. “You know that I’ve always dreamed about going to the city, mom. Besides, didn’t you ask me to make you lots of money? I’ll be able to do that if I graduate from the prestigious university in the city. Then, I’ll be able to improve the village and make all of your dreams come true,” he said sweetly.

Cy cleared his throat and placed his hands in his pockets. “It seems like I’m not a part of this family anymore.”

Saran and River broke their hug and chuckled. River extended his arm towards his father and smiled. “Come on, pops. Give your boy one last hug before he goes.”

Cy smiled and went into his arms. The three of them went into a group hug, and I smiled bitterly and looked down on the ground. They seem like such a happy family, with no place for me.

I walked away quietly to let them have their moment. I don’t blame them, really. They gave me a great home and provided me with the basic necessities for life. But, you really can’t deny that blood is thicker than water. Even if the world turns upside down, I’m still never going to be their real child.

I laid down on my bed and retrieved the compact mirror on my bedside table. I stared at my red hair, plump lips, and hazel eyes, so different from the features of the people downstairs. I also stared at the scar on my right eyebrow and recalled how I got it. It was the very first time that I went out of the house and the very first time that I realized that my family wasn’t my real one.

***

11 years ago

I leaned on the windowpane and looked through the transparent glass. It was a sunny afternoon in June, and the kids in the village had just gotten back from school, and they were all now playing in the playground near our house.

“Mom, I’m going to play with the guys on the basketball court. I’ll be back before dinner,” River shouted.

“Okay, sweetheart, ” Saran responded loudly from the kitchen.

“Bye, squirt,” he said and ruffled my hair before walking out the door.

I stared at his back, envious that he could go wherever he wanted. I also wanted to go to school, play with the other children, and walk around the park. But, my parents always say that I’m “special” and that I should stay at home to keep myself protected.

I don’t know why, but I was feeling more courageous today, and it looked more tempting to play outside. I turned around to see my mother working busily in the kitchen. ‘I’d be back before my mom finished cooking,’ I thought to myself.

I slowly opened the door and felt the warm kiss of the sun as soon as I walked out. I closed it quietly and wiggled my toes on the soft and green grass. I giggled to myself as I felt the grass tickling my feet.

I excitedly walked out of our gate and into the playground. I stopped to look at the other children playing on the swings and the slides, hoping that I could also play with them. I walked closer and closer, and with every step, the children started noticing my presence. By now, they were all looking at me curiously, their eyes asking who I was.

“Hi,” I said softly with a smile.

“Who are you?” One of the kids asked me.

“I’m Hera. I live over there!” I pointed towards our house.

The kids looked at me strangely, and they started whispering to each other.

“Isn’t that leader Cy and Saran’s house?”

“I don’t think River has a sister.”

“Why is she lying? River doesn’t have a sister.”

I frowned. What do they mean? “I’m River’s sister,” I said in a firm voice.

One boy glared at me and pushed me towards the ground. “Stop lying! We’ve never seen you in their house, and River does not have a sister. Go away because we don’t like liars!”

I felt the small pieces of gravel embed into my skin, some blood being drawn out. I looked at my hands then looked up to them in anger. I rigidly stood up and pushed the boy down the ground. “I’m not lying! I just wanted to play, but why are all of you fighting with me?”

“Joshua!” I heard someone scream from behind us. She held Joshua, the child that I pushed down the ground, and threw me a heated glare. “Who do you think you are? Why did you push my child on the ground?”

“He pushed me first!” I said, keeping my guard up.

She pushed my shoulder, causing me to stumble back. “Such a disrespectful child! Where are your parents? I want to talk to them so they can show you some manners.”

“Hera!” I heard my mother shout from a distance.

I turned around and waved my hands up in the air. “Mom! Over here!”

She rushed to where I was and kneeled down to my level. “What are you doing here, Hera? Didn’t I tell you to stay at the house?”

“But, I wanted to play, mommy,” I said in a pitiful voice.

“L—Leader Saran? Is this— Is this your child?” Joshua’s mom asked with wide eyes.

Mommy stood up and cleared her throat. “Cynthia, it’s good to see you again. And yes, this is my child. Did she cause any trouble for you?”

“B—But, leader! I never knew that you had a second child. And she looks nothing like you or even Cy. Is she…”

My mom’s eyes shook as Cynthia, Joshua’s mom, continued to ask questions. Just then, Cynthia covered her mouth and moved back in surprise.

“Is she that girl? The daughter of the one who was killed in the war?”

I looked up to my mother, confused. What is this lady talking about?

My mom continued looking down on the ground, still not being able to respond.

“How could you keep the child of that demon, leader Saran? Her mother had caused us so much suffering, so why did you let this child into your home? Aren’t you afraid of what she’ll do to your family?”

“She’s a child, Cynthia,” my mother said in a loud voice. “I would appreciate it if we didn’t talk about this in front of the children.”

“But when can we talk about this, leader? Do the villagers know that you’re keeping a demon inside of your house?”

“Am I the demon, mommy?” I asked innocently. "I just wanted to go out and make some new friends,” I said softly.

I broke away from my mother’s hold and went closer to Joshua. I don’t want my mommy fighting with anyone anymore, so I’ll just say sorry to him even if he pushed me first. 

I offered my hand and was about to say sorry, but his mother suddenly screamed and pushed me down the ground.

“Don’t get close to my child, you demon!”

I fell down, but she pushed me with such a great force that my head made contact with the bottom of the slide.

“Hera!” My mom screamed.

I felt a warm liquid running down my eyes, so I wiped the wet area with my hands. I was shocked, however, when I saw that my hands were stained with red after wiping the area.

“Mommy?” I said in a scared voice.

“Cynthia! How could you do this?” My mom exclaimed. 

Cynthia scoffed and glared at me on the ground. Her figure blocked the warm sun, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

“Don’t be so dramatic, leader. This child deserves it.”