Chapter Text
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Children screaming, machine guns firing, the overpowering scent of blood and the stink of coyotes. Fighting was dirty and loud, yet Caine hadn’t given up hope of finally killing his brother.
The heat of battle died down suddenly, everything around him turned slow, much slower than humans should be.
Caine Soren looked around, wide-eyed, as the world around him went dark, and his mother - his biological mother - appeared before his very eyes.
The same warm smile she always had at Coates, her fair curly hair wasn’t in a tight bun like normal, instead it was free, but unnaturally stale.
She had opened her arms, calling her boys home, and instinctively Caine had approached, craving her touch, desperate to be someone’s son. He felt a hand firmly grip his arm, he looked back at his brother with a scowl.
Sam, it always had to be Sam ruining something for him. Caine hardly processed the words that came out of his mouth, before his mother, his beautiful mother, turned into a terrifying monster.
It threatened them both, Caine raised his hands up, but before he could do anything the darkness faded, the world returned to normal around him, and all he was left with was humiliation.
Of course his mother didn’t want him.
She never has.
She never will.
-
Caine Soren woke up in a cold sweat, his shorts and t-shirt sticking to his body, he was shaking, panting. His eyes darted all over the room, he looked down at a bed that was not his own, at walls decorated with posters of bands he hadn’t heard of.
Caine could tell it was after noon, just based off of the light that seeped in through his blinds. He anxiously looked around, and his eyes fell upon a digital clock.
14:37 it read.
Almost 3pm? Had Caine been asleep for that long? Had he been asleep at all?
Caine sat up, his body still weak, and now he furrowed his brows.
He couldn’t remember climbing into a bed, or walking into any random house, and he certainly couldn’t remember putting on an outfit this ill-fitting to go to sleep.
Caine swung his legs over the side of the small bed, and stood up, shaking as if he’d forgotten how to walk.
He managed to make it to the door, and leaned against it, pressing all his weight into it, he took a few moments to rest there, heart racing, thoughts incomprehensible. Then he held the doorknob and twisted it, pulling the door inwards before stepping out of the room.
The exterior was that of a normal suburban home, it looked straight out of a 90s sitcom, how bland it was, it gave him no hint as to where he might be, or how he had ended up here.
Caine spotted a staircase, but before he walked to it he heard a soft ring coming from downstairs, the front door, someone was out there waiting for him.
He heard the front door opening, and two voices chatting, two women, he wasn’t close enough to hear either too well or make out what they were saying.
Caine made his way to the stairs and used the railing to support his weight as he practically slid down, he knew he looked like a mess, but for once his appearance didn’t matter to him.
He was more scared than he could ever remember being.
The staircase ended near the front door, and now he could see who was there, and he stared in disbelief.
This had to be a dream.
Nurse Temple looked back at him, smiling, “Morning, sleepyhead.”
His gaze diverted to the girl at the door, she looked him up and down, but didn’t greet him.
“Diana?” Caine croaked.
Upstairs, Caine heard a door swing open and slam shut, then rapid footsteps through the hallway, down the stairs, and right behind him.
“Babe!” Sam exclaimed, rushing past Caine and out the door.
He looked at nurse Temple, a little infuriated, and muttered, “Alright, I’ve got it.”
Nurse Temple planted a kiss on her embarrassed son’s cheek, “Have fun you two.” she told them.
A sudden surge of adrenaline is what knocked Caine out of his pathetic state, he stood up a little straighter, let go of the railing, and held both hands up, palms aimed at Sam.
“Stay away from her!” he roared.
Nurse Temple flinched at the sudden boom of his voice, stumbling back and almost falling. Sam and Diana seemed shocked too, but neither felt as much fear as they normally would’ve.
Sam should’ve been sent soaring through the air, instead he stared at Caine, visibly concerned, before asking, “Dude, are you alright?”
Caine made a slamming motion with his hands, slamming forwards, still at Sam, maybe that would get it to work, but nothing.
No power, had Caine lost his power?
“You!” Caine shouted, furious, “Is this you!? Are you doing this!?”
He angrily stomped towards Sam, even if his power wasn’t cooperating right now, that didn’t mean Caine wasn’t stronger than his brother. He punched him in the face, and what was intended as a powerful blow to the bottom half of his cheek, ended up lighter than a slap.
Still, Sam whined and pressed a hand to his cheek.
“Ow!” he frowned, “What’s wrong with you!?”
Both women got involved now, Diana gently placing a hand on Sam’s own, and smiling up at him, whispering soothing words to him. Nurse Temple gently pulled Caine back before shutting the front door, she looked more worried than upset.
She pressed her hand against Caine’s forehead, looking confused, then she slowly shook her head, “Honey, are you feeling okay?” she asked.
Honey? And why was she touching him?
Caine shoved her off, scoffing as he did, he didn’t answer her question, instead he marched back up the steps, and into the same room he had woken up in.
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