Chapter 10 Tenth Chapter

Once someone's hurt you, it's harder to relax around them, harder to think of them as safe to love. But it doesn't stop you from wanting them. - Holy Black

"You should take better care of yourself son," Mr Rubis said as he continued to stroke his hair.

It felt so good that he wished that the older man continued to do that for more minutes or even hours if possible. He loved what the man was doing and he would be lying if he said that he wasn't enjoying what the man was doing.

He was just a ten year old in need of love. He needed affection and attention too just like any other kid around the world.

"You know I love you just the same way I love my own son James," Mr Rubis confessed, Korna tried to smile but miserably failed though the older man didn't notice it.

Through his peripherals, he could see the way Mrs Rubis was looking at him. Her face was contorted in anger and bitterness. She was obviously furious because of the way her husband was being affectionate to him. She was furious of the way he was warming up to her husband. She didn't want any of this to happen. She despised the boy so much that she felt disgusted in him and she so Mich wanted for him to die.

She had thought that turning the boy to a slave, denying him food, beating him up and treating him in malice would fasten up the process of getting rid of the boy but she was wrong.

This boy seemed to have nine lives just a cat. It wasn't easy to get rid of him so she had to come up with another plan of how to get rid of him.

There was no way that she was going to support her husband in loving this boy.

Korna did not deserve to be shown any bit of love nor kindness, that was according to her.

"We'll I'll go take your meds as I pay the bills," Mr Rubis announced as he stood up but leaned forward to press a kiss on Korna's forehead.

What the?

What had the man just done?

Had he just kissed his forehead? Hadn't the man felt disgusted by doing so? Why was this man showing him so much affection? He didn't deserve it! Mrs Rubis had made it sure that he didn't deserve it and she had succeeded in doing so.

Mr Rubis straightened up and walked out of the room without even acknowledging his wife. Were they okay? Or was he over thinking?

Korna did not want to wish any bad luck upon her but truth be told, he would be delighted if Mr Rubis divorced her. She did not deserve such a kind hearted man like Mr Rubis. She deserved no kindness because of the torture she made him go through.

Perhaps Mrs Rubis deserved to be tortured too and she would turn to being good? But there was no need to waste one's energy because some people would never change no matter what.

Whether you show them kindness or misery, they'll be the same people with no change.

"You!" Mrs Rubis exclaimed as she pointed at him with her perfectly manicured finger.

"What do you think you were doing?" She questioned as she quickly walked towards him.

What was he doing? He had nothing at all!

"You think you can pull a little stunt like this one and break free from my claws? I thought you knew better. I'll crush you in a way you won't like Korna. I'll crush you to dust and no one will even recognize if it's you," she threatened. "Trust you me, you won't like it but don't worry, no one will miss you," she spoke through gritted teeth.

Tears stung his eyes. Did she hate him that much that she wanted him dead? Well, he was aware of the fact that she hated him but he never knew the intensity of her negative feelings towards him.

"You think you can fake such an act to get away from the house chores? You're so wrong. I'll teach you a lesson that you'll never forget you imbecile!" She exclaimed as she pinched his cheek hard before releasing it causing him to

"Let this be a warning, don't you dare tell my husband about this. Don't you tell him about you performing the house chores nor me beating you. If you do, I'll kill you!" She snarled.

A heavy lump formed in his throat that it made it hard for him to swallow the saliva in his mouth. He felt as if the air in his lungs was burning his insides. He couldn't breath well too... Was it anxiety? Was it fear? He wasn't certain about it but he didn't like the feeling at all.

"I'm I clear?" She inquired.

He quickly nodded so that she'd get her face away from his. It was as if she was the one making it hard for him to breathe. He wanted her away from him, even if she dropped down dead he would be glad and happy about it.

"Good, now act up according to plan or else, you know what's up the sleeve for you," she whispered.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Riska asked as she walled in the room with James. She was holding a brown teddy bear under her arm as she looked at her mother with her big brown bambi eyes.

Mrs Rubis straightened up and looked at her, managing a pinched smile, "Nothing sweetie. Nothing is wrong,"

"Are you sure mommy?" she questioned.

"Yes honey. Mommy was just wishing Korna a quick recovery," Mrs Rubis replied before walking towards James.

James sized Korna up and down with his eyes before clicking the tongue in his mouth. He hated Korna the most and he would be lying if he said that he didn't want Korna dead.

"You teddy girl, stay here and wait for daddy," James instructed and walked out of the room followed by his mother.