Artemis Breaker Chp. 1

 Hi everyone, it’s been a long time since I last posted, hasn’t it??

Here’s a story, that I don’t remember if I already mentioned, but anyways here it is. It’s not finished, though…I didn’t get bored of it, I just lost where I was going with it. 

Hope you don’t think it’s dumb!

The  A D V E N T U R E S of 

A R T E M I S   B R E A K E R 

Fate Unfolded

1764

A R TE M I S  gasped. Two men stood by his  mother. They seemed to be questioning her.

“I promise, I don’t know. Please! I promise! He just disappeared! I don’t know where he went!”

A man slid out his knife and held it up to her neck.

Sweat trickled down Mother’s forehead. “I won’t say anything! No one will know you came! Please! I swear!”

Artemis watched from the fogged window and saw his own breath, out in the winter air. What did Mother do? He didn’t understand. But he was scared. Very scared.

“Please!” Mother pleaded.

The tall man put his face so close to her, she felt his reeking breath on her face. He narrowed his eyes and whispered, “You won’t say anything.”

Mother nodded. “Not a word. Not as long as my soul endures.”

The man’s eyes were fiery with hatred. “You won’t be able to talk when I kill you.”

Mother screamed. “I have children! They need me!”

“Well, that’s just too bad.” The killer got close.

Artemis buried his face in his hands. He swore to himself he would never forget that scream. Not if he lived forever. That scream would haunt him the rest of his days and follow him into his grave.

There was a thump. Mother’s lifeless body collapsed to the wood floor and the man heaved her onto his shoulder, his assistant trailing close behind. The younger man looked both ways and then blew out the candle. They walked down the steps and passed where Artemis was lurking in the bushes.

Artemis saw the once smiling and beautiful mother, now cold and still on the backs of those killers. He felt he should have stopped them. But he knew they would have killed him also. And then his little sister and brother would have no one to take care of them.

What would happen to them, Artemis didn’t know. They had been a quite strange family, that most people stayed away from. The girls were taught everything the boys were taught in school. And Mother had been so smart—and an artist. People thought she was some kind of a witch.

Artemis felt his chin. The cold truth would plague him until his death. He was an orphan. And now both his parents were murdered. His father disappeared nearly a decade ago. When someone came to his door, only a few years ago and bore the dreadful news of him being food poisoned, Artemis had ignored him. Not Father. Father was too strong for that. He had just wandered from home and lost his way. But he was coming back. And he was searching for Artemis and his family.

The boy, now fourteen, was smart and capable. He was quiet and had an interest in seeing how things work, along with reading and studying them. He didn’t have real friends, only the ones in books. But he didn’t care. He never did. But now, his life seemed to just fall apart and fate unfolded before his very eyes.

His siblings would be coming home from the preacher’s house any moment. Mother had been feeling ill and her paintings weren’t as bright and vivid as they once were. Artemis stayed home and took care of her, while the children stayed from the way.

Artemis went inside. There was a faint bloodstain. The men must’ve tried to clean it, but failed to do so. That haunting blood stain would stay there until the house withered away. How would he explain when Athena would question it?

“Artie…”

Artemis sat on the rocking chair by the glowing hearth. He didn’t even notice his sister come in.

“Artemis.”

He looked up. His sister stood before him, books in hand.

“What?”

She looked to the floor. “Where is Mother?” Her voice was concerned and serious. 

The expression on her brother’s face and the grief in his eyes explained it all.

“What? Why?” She dropped her books onto the floor. “She didn’t do anything. They just…killed her?”

Artemis looked into the fire.

Athena sighed with depression. “What do I tell Armand?” Her shaky voice trembled and tears dared to escape her eyes. But she held strong. She would be strong for her brother as long as she needed to be.

“Don’t.” Artemis never once looked away from the fire.

“Will you look at me?” Athena wiped her tears on her coat. 

“Tell him,” he began, “tell him Mother went on a trip. She’ll won’t be back for awhile.”

“You can’t do that to him. It will just hurt the more when he finds out the truth.”

“Just—” Artemis looked at her with desperation lingering in his eyes,“tell him.”

Athena sighed and nodded her head. “Do you know where they took her?”

Artemis scowled at her. “If I knew where she was buried, I would be there. Go get Armand. Ready him for sleep.” His tone was harsh.

Athena left suddenly and when she opened the door, the cold air blew in. 

Artemis looked through the small window and saw the snow falling gracefully. He wouldn’t cry. Not now, not ever. He needed to stay strong. He knew people disliked him and his family. He knew it would be hard. But he didn’t need anyone. He didn’t depend on anyone. And if he needed a job done, the first person he would go to would be himself.

Life had just gotten a lot harder and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Except Artemis Breaker himself. And himself was all he needed.