The One Above All

C2: When Did You Get Out?

A loud, violent sound echoed from inside the house, followed by a woman's scream.

Outside, the crowd fell silent. Some winced. Others looked away. But no one moved to help.

Instead, the whispers resumed. As if it was normal. As if it was expected.

"Look, he's hitting her again. That brute!"

Veyron exhaled slowly, his fingers slowly tightening around the small bag in his hand.

His expression didn't change. But the air around him grew colder, heavy and dangerous.

He stepped forward.

"Hey—" one of the neighbors called out instinctively.

But Veyron didn't stop or spare him a glance.

Another scream echoed from inside.

This time, it was weaker.

His gaze darkened. Six years ago, they had called him a monster. Something that shouldn't exist.

And yet, people like Robert were still allowed to walk freely.

Veyron reached for the door which was slightly ajar and pushed it open.

Inside the house, an obese, bald man with ugly facial features grabbed a woman by the hair and slammed her head against the table.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

"Argh—!" Blood trickled down her face, her body trembling.

"You bitch!" the man snarled, his breath thick with alcohol. "If you know what's good for you, give me all your money before I lose my patience!"

"R-Robert…" the woman sobbed, her voice shaking. "I don't have any money left. You already took all I had to the casino. I swear I'm not lying."

A sharp tug and her head snapped back painfully. Her face turned deathly pale as she winced loudly.

"Don't lie to me!" he roared. "Where is Jack's tuition money?! If you don't hurry up and bring it out, I'll beat you to death. Let's see who will save you!"

Her eyes hardened despite the pain.

"Robert, even if you kill me today, you won't get that money. I won't let you take the money I've been saving up for Jack's college. He's your son too!"

"Humph!" Robert snorted coldly. "If he's indeed my son, he will drop out of school and do menial jobs to bring money home for his father. Will you give me the money or not?"

"No! I won't—"

His expression twisted murderously. "Then die."

SMACK!

He slammed her head on the table once more and her body went limp for a second. The room spun around her. Darkness crept in.

A young boy of about twelve or thirteen years rushed forward, grabbing Robert's arm. Tears streamed down his face.

"Dad, please! Don't hit Mom again! Please... I'll find the money... just let her go please!"

"You little bastard!" Robert turned slowly and glowered at him. "When did you start to interfere in adult affairs? Get out of here!"

THWACK!

The kick landed hard.

Too hard.

The boy was only a child. How could his small body handle such brutality?

THUD!

His body lifted off the ground, and then crashed. His eyes rolled backwards and he slipped out of consciousness.

"…Jack?"

But there was no response.

"…Jack?!"

---

Jasmine's eyes widened and she screamed as she broke free. She crawled towards her son in panic.

Her hands trembled as she pulled him into her arms.

"Jack… wake up… please… wake up…"

But still, nothing.

---

"Robert," her voice broke. "I won't forgive you… I swear I won't forgive you if anything happens to him!"

She held the boy up and clutched his head tightly against her chest, wailing loudly. This boy was her rock of strength. The only one that has kept her going through these trying times.

She will never forgive Robert or herself if anything happens to him.

---

But the man behind her scoffed, completely unbothered about the state his son was in. Instead, he pointed a finger at his wife.

"Now you've learned to talk back, huh?" he sneered, rolling up his sleeves. "If they don't roll out your dead body from this house today, my name is not Robert!"

---

He stepped forward and raised his hand, prepared to strike her hard when he found out that he couldn't move his arm.

A shadow fell upon him and out of nowhere, someone had grabbed his hand.

The room fell silent and he frowned, stunned for a minute. He mustered courage and slowly turned to look.

He froze when he saw who it was. The tall figure stood behind him, still and unmoving. His grip was firm and unshakable.

"…You—" Robert's voice faltered and his pupils shrank. "…Veyron?"

Silence washed in as the name hung in the air like something forbidden.

"You… weren't you supposed to be—" His throat went dry. "Dead? When did you get out?"

Veyron didn't answer him.

---

His cold gaze shifted past the man to the woman on the floor. His eyes scrutinized the blood, her bruises and her shaking arms.

Then his icy green gaze darted to the boy in her arms, still and unconscious.

Something in his eyes changed. Not anger. Something colder.

Slowly, Veyron looked back at Robert. His gaze pinned the man in place.

"You don't seem pleased to see me."

A lump formed in Robert's throat. He suddenly found it difficult to breathe.

"If I didn't come here… would you have beaten my aunt to death?"

Robert instinctively stepped back. But his hand was still trapped.

"I—I didn't mean—"

---

Veyron's gaze dropped to his hand which was still gripping Jasmine's hair.

He went silent for a second.

Then—

"You used this hand…"

Robert froze.

"…to hit her?"

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

And before Robert could respond, he continued,

"Then you don't need it."

---

CRACK!

"AAAAAHHH!!!"

Robert's scream tore through the house.

---

His arm snapped like dry wood, and his knees slammed into the ground.

Veyron moved again.

THUD!

The kick landed clean and precise. Robert flew backwards and crashed hard against the wall.

Outside, the neighbors gasped. Some stumbling back in shock.

"What… what kind of strength is that?!"

Inside, Robert coughed violently, his body curling in pain. He tumbled over and—

"Urgh!!!"

"Ewww!" The neighbors shuddered from disgust as he puked his guts out.