[STORY] THE X-FAMILY (Season 02 Episode 35)

Episode 35.

Octavia felt her heart splitting apart as he said those words to her, holding her tight like his life was pinned to hers.

He was having a terrible breakdown – she could feel it. And if it wasn’t for his status and the kind of person he was, she was pretty sure he’d have bursted into tears already.

“Master…” Her voice was weak and almost shaky.
His hands holding her were almost too strong and hurting her, but she endured because she didn’t want to hurt him in anyway. He was far too hurt already.

He stiffened on her shoulders, the blood dripping and staining her dress, but she didn’t really care.

Shortly, he released her from the hug and stepped away.

“Kh….Master” she stuttered, moving closer to him.
She couldn’t tell why she was getting so addictive to his name.

He left her and walked to a bench closeby which was under a tree, and there he sat on it. Octavia hesitated a little before going to join him.

The heat was too much; she could tell this guy was going through a whole lot.

She thought of holding his hand, but felt scared to. What if he gets mad at her?

Khalid dipped his hand into his jacket pocket and brought out a pack of cigarette and lighter. He took out a stick, lit it and stuff it in his mouth.

“My father was a man I could say was worst than a devil” he began suddenly, taking a drag from his cigarette and Octavia looked at him.

“He was someone who loves competitions because he always wanted to win and prove to others he was the best.

“My mother… she was in love with someone else – my father’s the rival. And being the kind of person he was, he decided to split them apart”.

He paused and took another drag from his cigarette. The smoke made Octavia uncomfortable, but at that moment, she didn’t care.

“He abducted her and forced her to stay with him” he continued. ”
“He raped her continuously until she got pregnant with me.

“She was being maltreated, treated like a dog, my father was too powerful, she couldn’t use her powers on him. And when she gave birth to me, she had nothing but pure hate for me and my father.

“There was a day she had betrayed my father – almost killed him. I was just 6 then. Unfortunately, my father survived and when he did, he almost killed her. His hatred for her increased and this time around, he had her locked up in what looked like a cell and tied her up in chains. Most times, he’d force me to train on her- use my powers on her, not minding the fact that she was getting hurt.”.

He paused and took another drag from his cigarette.

“My mother eventually escaped from him, and she went into hiding since then. But she left with so much hatred in her heart and only saw me as a product of an evil man who’d tormented her for 16 years – the son of the man she wants so much to get revenge on. It’s been so many years already and I never thought she’d still want to hunt me – not until few days ago”.

Silence descended as the story was getting digested.

“But… that isn’t enough reason to make a mother hate her son” Octavia found something to say.
The shock was just too much for her

“You don’t know what she went through” Khalid scoffed. “But I know I can never get her forgiveness.

“Before she escaped, while she was still being held by my father, she made a promise that she was going to destroy everything he worked hard for, and everything that belonged to him. That includes me, and the clan”.

Something struck right at Octavia’s chest.

Although, she had experienced so much hatred from her father, but Master Khalid’s own was completely different. How could someone have such a terrible past?

The light from his cigarette had burnt out completely and threw the stick on the floor, smashing it with his leg.

“I’m not gonna make it, his cold eyes on the floor
“It’s taking the life out of me already, and it’s only a matter of time before it drains me completely. But if there’s one thing I could wish for, I’d wish to win the elections and know I achieved the top rank in the X-family – at least, before I go”.

Octavia’s brows furrowed in confusion.

“M…Master?” She called fraily. “What’re you… What’re you talking about?”

Khalid exhaled deeply and stood up.

“Come on,it’s late. We need to head back to camp” he said with his hands in his jacket pocket, but Octavia remained sitting.
What’s the meaning of what he just said? He wasn’t gonna make it? How?

“Octavia…”
She stood up immediately.

“There…There has to be a way” her eyes were glistening already.
“I mean…somehow, there must be a solution”.

For the first time, Khalid was noticing the concern in his eyes – the concern he’s never gotten from anyone before.

He smiled and lifted his hand to her hair, brushing the front part aside.

“There is no solution, Octavia” he stated ruefully, and as she lowered her eyes to the floor, a tear came dropping from it.
“It’s eating me up and I fear… I might not last upto 72 hours”.

Octavia’s lips were shaking as she forced herself not to cry out, but she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing.

Khalid held her chin and lifted her face so she could look at him.

“When it’s time” he cooed. “You should go far away from here – to a place that’ll be convenient for you. I’ll sign half of my savings to you, they should be able to sustain you for so many years.

“Take care of the baby, and make sure he’s nothing like his father”.

“Khalid…” She couldn’t hold the whimpers anymore as she bursted into full tears.

“Please… just stop it”.

He chuckled and let go of her chin.

“Come on, Octavia. We need to go now”. He held her hand, but she wouldn’t move.

“Urgh” he sighed. “This isn’t a good memory, you know? Could you just stop it for me?”

“I can’t…” She whimpered.

She looked up at him and pulled him a tight hug.

“I just don’t want you to leave. Please…”

Khalid pulled away from the hug.

“Fine. I’m not leaving, I’m still here. But you wouldn’t want me to spend my last few hours, watching you in tears, right? Just pretend like… everything’s still normal”. He cooed.

She tried, but couldn’t stop whimpering. She sniffed repeatedly and dabbed her tears, her heart aching heavily.

“Can we go now?” He asked and she just nodded tearfully, still whimpering like a baby.
Then, he held her hand and started walking out of the scene with her.

Covering a little distance, he noticed the difficulty she had in walking and he stopped.

“Did I hurt you?” He asked, looking at her legs. “should I take you on?”

“I’m… I’m fine” she sniffed, her teary eyes dancing on the floor.

But Khalid went to stand in front of her, crouching a little and giving her his back.

“Come on”

“N..No. I’m fine, please” she stuttered.

“Octavia…Don’t make me carry you on my head” he rolled his eyes and her heart lessened up a bit.

Then, she chuckled and got on his back, and he continued walking with her, not minding the weight.
To Be Continued… . . .