His name is Kieran

The Next Day

Daylight poured in through the narrow kitchen window. The room was split by light and shadows. The air smelled of coffee and fresh bread lying on a cutting board. Outside, the sounds of the street were audible. Cars were passing by, and somewhere in the distance, a tram could be heard.

Soft rock music played in the background in the apartment, and occasionally the clang of metal on porcelain emanated from the kitchen.

Nox sat at the table. A bowl of cereal sat in front of him, beginning to soften in the milk. He glanced at it as he took another bite. One of the few things that still gave him a moment of respite in all this. A familiar action. A familiar taste.

Remir sat down at the table across from his son. The silence between them seemed heavy. After a moment, however, Remir coughed and looked at Nox, who looked up.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked, breaking the silence. The boy shrugged. “I’ve been better.”

“Are you ready for your first day at a new school?”

With those words, Nox’s spoon froze halfway to his mouth. Milk dripped back into his bowl.

“I think you meant first day in a new hell,” he muttered, looking down.

———————

Later on the way to school

Nox walked along the sidewalk with his backpack slung over his shoulder and his guitar case in his other hand. He had headphones on, playing music. Just soft enough so he could hear what was happening around him. Every step seemed to echo, almost as if he were walking through a tunnel. Nox swallowed hard, feeling like everyone was watching him, judging him. Nox pulled the sleeve of his sweatshirt tighter, covering his mechanical prosthetic limb. The boy lowered his head, staring at the stone tiles of the sidewalk.

“Hey!” A sudden voice beside him snapped him out of his thoughts. “You newbie?”

Nox looked up and a boy was walking right next to him. He was his age, maybe a year older. The boy had dark skin and short, curly, dark brown hair, and surprisingly intense blue eyes. A wide smile played across his lips.

“You know, I ask because you look lost. Almost as if someone had forced you here.”

Nox shrugged. He was already mentally planning to quicken his pace, though the chances were good the boy would catch up. He could change his route, but he would likely get lost anyway.

“Because I might be here against my will,” he finally growled. Perhaps that would drive the boy away. The boy, however, didn’t seem to mind his tone.

“Hmm. I’m Kieran, and you are?”

“Nox.” He replied briefly, hesitantly, looking at Kieran suspiciously.

“Why doesn’t he leave?”

“Nox. Cool name, you know, sounds like some band.” Kieran laughed shortly. “You know, I think we’ll get along.”

“Why?”

The boy smiled wider and pointed at Nox’s guitar case.

“Because you carry a guitar.” He replied, “And I bet you don’t play classical. I bet you play rock. Maybe even metal.”

Nox quickened his pace, just as he expected. Kieran easily adjusted to his tempo. He walked beside Nox as if they’d known each other for years.

“I guessed right? You know, you have that vibe. Rock at six feet.”

“Maybe… Who cares anyway?” Nox muttered, and Kieran laughed.

“You’re not the talkative type, are you? You know, since we’re going to go to the same school anyway, you can skip playing the mysterious shadow, because I’ll figure you out anyway.”

Nox looked at him sideways. He wanted to push Kieran away and run, but he didn’t. He didn’t know what was stopping him. But Kieran gave him a strange feeling of trust.

They both walked in silence, broken by the clatter of their shoes on the cobblestones.

“You know? I had to change schools once too,” Kieran said.

Nox looked at him silently. He merely adjusted his case.

“I know you probably think they’ll whisper and stare at you, but when they see you’re not bothered, they’ll quickly let go.”

“Easy for you to say.”

Kieran glared at Nox, then lifted his face to the sky.

“You know, the very thought that everyone has their own life will quickly make you realize that others don’t care about you anyway… Unless you’re too hard on yourself.”

Nox closed his eyes, feeling his breathing begin to quicken.

“Easy, Nox…Don’t worry about him…He’s just…Well, he doesn’t know who…What you really are…Don’t think like that, idiot…Come on…You’re just an ordinary teenager…An ordinary boy…”

Kieran saw Nox clench his fists. Then he noticed it, his prosthetic. He looked at him like that for a moment, but he didn’t say anything. Only when Nox opened his eyes did the boy quickly look away.

“Tell me, Kieran, you’re not going to go away, are you?” The boy’s voice sounded tired.

Kieran smiled and shook his head.

“No, Nox, and I advise you to get used to it, because I’ll be on your side for the entire school year and beyond. My new buddy.”

Nox rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide his smile any longer.

“So newbie, are you ready for a day in hell together?”

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