Atonement

Prologue

Something was different this time; he could feel it – literally. He wasn’t lying on the freezing cold stone as usual, but braced up against the wall. How was he standing? Oh- he wasn’t. Chains locked securely around his wrists, neck, stomach, and ankles were holding him – pinning him, really – against the cement.

Kai groaned softly as he tried to arouse his mind from the fog of unconsciousness. His eyes opened just slightly to reveal pale blue irises as they stared ahead blankly. He didn’t know why he bothered; it wasn’t as if he could see anything anyway. That privilege had been stolen away months ago, like so many other things.

How stupid, how naïve he’d been that past August, before anything had happened. He’d been rid of them for years, under the protection of the government, so, naturally, he had believed himself to be home free. At seventeen, he had already started a new life, gone to three different high schools (the last of which he felt he really belonged), and was ready to graduate and live a happy life.

Then, the New Year came, filled with promised chaos and destruction. Destruction of his new life, of everything he had dreamed of and worked for.

So stupid! Kai thought angrily, tears of frustration coming to his eyes, threatening to spill over. He blinked them away, trying to focus on other things, like why he was chained now. Usually he was at least allowed to sleep on the floor.

For what very well could have been the thousandth time, he cursed his aunt to Hell and back. It wasn’t his fault his uncle had been accused of and arrested for murder! It was a complete and total accident! At least, he liked to believe it wasn’t his fault. True, he had been the one to set fire to the building, but no one was supposed to die! And he hadn’t counted on, after his uncle got thrown in jail, his aunt retaliating so harshly.

But here he was. In the cellar. No food, no water. Chained to the wall. And awaiting today’s punishment, as always.

Chapter One

“Is my little Kai awake yet?” a female voice crooned from somewhere above Kai DeLarousse, probably from the top of the stairs. Aunt Tabitha. She was crazy, and, though Kai knew it was true, she never admitted it. Who in that frame of mind would?

He didn’t answer, knowing very well that she would come down either way. And soon enough, small footfalls reached his ears as she came oh-so-happily down to him.

“There there, sweet boy. I’m sorry you had to be pinned like this, but I couldn’t have left the possibility of you escaping while I was gone stay open, now, could I?” Such a loving tone, Kai thought, his face the picture of disgust. Too bad it’s hiding fangs.

She was standing right in front of him now; he could tell, even if he couldn’t see her. Her breath was putrid as she continued to croon to him, and he fought the urge to turn away, knowing it would result in a harsh slap. The chain around his neck prevented even that movement, though, anyway.

“Leave me alone,” he tried for the hundredth time. Nope; that tactic still didn’t work.

“Leave you alone? Leave you alone?!” Crazy Aunt Tabitha repeated, her voice rising to a piercing note. “You wretched, ungrateful little pig! I have given you food, water, shelter from outside, a place to call home, and this is the thanks I get?!” she screamed, furious by this point. This time, he was expecting the harsh cuff that snapped his head to the right, and was very aware of stinging lines where her nails had marred his cheek.

It was always like this, so he let it happen without comment, retreating deep into his mind until he realized she was gone. He didn’t know how long she’d been gone, but slowly became aware of the fact that he was lying on the ground again, his chains now loose, and obviously attached only to him now, instead of the wall as well. His body ached all over, and when he breathed, knives stabbed into his chest. It wasn’t surprising that our dearest aunt broke a few ribs. It was nothing worse than what he was used to, though.

This is it, he suddenly decided. I can’t take it anymore.

Bearing that thought in mind, Kai forced his body to his feet, his eyes closing in a silent wince, and dragged the chains up carelessly. Then, he began searching, searching for the one weak spot in the walls. Any weak spot.

It had to be somewhere. Behind it? A water pipe. He could only hope.

“Come on…” the seventeen-year-old muttered to himself, his fingers running gently along the walls. There. Beneath his hand, cement crumbled away, and the smallest smile came to his dry lips. Finally. Finally, he would be free again, and not even Crazy Aunt Tabitha would be able to get him again. If this all worked, that is.

For a few seconds, he listened in silence, and soon enough, the steady snoring of his aunt reached his ears. He knew any sound might wake her up, but risks had to be taken.

Carving away at the crumbling wall with a sharp edge of chain, he worked, trying to go quickly and quietly. After no more than twenty minutes, his fingers began to dampen, and once again a smile flitted wanly across his face. He had been right: the wall was weakened by water.

Then he broke through, his hands slipping and touching slick, cold metal. One swift kick or punch and he could break it. But wouldn’t that wake Tabitha up? Kai faltered, thinking. There was also the possibility that the pipe didn’t hold enough water to spread quickly enough. No; he had to risk it.

Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself and pulled back his right arm before throwing his fist forward, wincing and nearly crying out as the rest of the hold in the wall broke away. So did the pipe.

Accompanying the loud clang was a blast of cold water, coming much faster and more forcefully than he’d expected. The spray knocked him off his feet, but he used tit to his advantage, not knowing how much time he had.

Immediately, Kai began searching for the two chain links bolted to the floor that he knew were there. Once he located both, he swiftly ran his own chains through them and trapped himself. He was lying on his back, one chain connected to each wrist and pulled tight through the makeshift locks on the floor. His arms were at his sides, but the chains ran over his torso very tightly, pinning him to the cement. The water was rising quickly; he didn’t want to be able to chicken out.

Kai lay there, his eyes still open, as the freezing water crept higher, soon reaching his jaw. It would cover his face any second.

“KAI!” an angry scream rose above the pouring water, bellowing his name. “What in god’s name are you doing?!” Aunt Tabitha continued yelling, but he couldn’t hear her; the water had risen above his ears. It was just about blocking his nose, the only passage for air.

There was tugging at his chains just as he closed his eyes and the icy liquid covered his face. Tabitha couldn’t free him easily; he’d made sure of that.

For a brief second, Kai panicked. It was an automatic reaction to being deprived of air. His lungs felt like they were on fire; his body wanted to convulse, but was held back by the tight metal. No, he told himself. You’ll finally be rid of her. That was the comforting thought he used. He was beginning to get lightheaded, his lungs still struggling for oxygen, but he wasn’t afraid any more. It didn’t even hurt as bad as it had. The thought that he was dying was like a sedative, calming him. You can’t get me any more, my dearest aunt. I’m gone. You lose. He lost consciousness.