Pain. The type of pain that hurt and made you cry and scream and beg and beg and beg and beg and beg even though there's no sympathy shown to you. That was what Matthew was feeling- that was what I was feeling.
"Never doubt me," Alfred said. He said it over and over, repeating the same line as if I could ever forget it. I pleaded and promised that I would not, but he wouldn't stop. He just continued, only pausing the switch his weapon of choice. Anything that would cause pain, he would use; whips, crops, his fists- he never ran out. It was only when I hit that sweet oblivion that I let out a smile. The cuts, bruises and hurt would go away. Even then though, I could still hear his words echoing.
I won't.
My eyelashes fluttered in surprise at the voice calling my name. "-attie? Mattie? Bro, you there?," I heard.
"Brother?" It couldn't be anyone else. He's the only one that would care enough to be by my side when I wake up; the only person willing.
"You're awake? Great! I've got a surprise for you, but first, let's get you ready for the day."
After that, my normal routine began, and I found myself eating in almost a blink of an eye. I waited patiently for Alfred to speak even though I was bursting inside. Alfred eyed me carefully before resting his chin on his hands.
"I can tell you really want to hear what I'm going to say." I nodded, hoping he would continue quickly. "Your birthday is today, so I've decided to take you outside for your present. I need to know if I can trust you though. Can I? Will you be good?"
I couldn't nod fast enough, the only things falling from my mouth being 'thank you' and 'you're the best big brother ever!'
I finished my breakfast in utter silence, still in a happy blankness from the good news. I never thought the day would come. I thought I'd forever be locked inside- not that it'd be bad or anything.
Once my plates were taken (when did I finish?), I was taken back to my room and dressed. But like everything else today, things were different.
I wasn't dressed by my brother, but by a strange lady in white pants and top. Like my brother's casual wear, but less... extravagant. She helped me don my play clothing. It was clothing I never used, and yet it had this strange, almost unnoticeable mark on it. A fingerprint?
When I came out of the bathroom my brother was standing there. He was out of his normal clothing and into an outfit similar to mine. I was held, carried down corridor after corridor and through door after door until we made it to a large white oak door. Alfred pushed it open, shifting me slightly when I almost fell off from my wriggling.
"Brother? Don't you remember what you promised me?" Alfred asked. I lowered my eyes, a small blush forming on my cheeks as I mumbled my apology. With a playful tap on my nose, Alfred continued on his journey of opening the door and walked outside. My eyes went large as I took it all in.
There were people. Lots of people. People who bowed to my brother and asked if they could assist with anything. And there were children. They were older than me and looked happy, just as children should be. I waved some of them, but I kept getting these pitying looks, so I stopped after the 5th time. I didn't tell my brother though. I wisely kept my mouth shut; something about telling my brother how they made me feel made me uncomfortable. It was all forgotten though when I thought about all the sweets I got to taste and toys I got to play with. I didn't see anyone my age, but it was okay; I still had lots of fun.
The day came to an end much too quickly for my liking and I was brought in. I gave my brother a large hug to thank him for the best birthday ever when he asked me a very strange question.
"Mattie?" This morning came flashing back to me when he said that, and I started feeling my body tense.
"Yes?" His eyes lit up with a strange light. I had seen it before, yet for some reason, I never understood what it meant.
"You'll always be by my side, right?" My response was short and sweet.
"Forever," I said. Forever, he repeated, a smug look appearing on his face.