Chapter 2: Backstory (1/2)
Gray Caliber was his birth name. It still puzzled him, what was the true reason people entered this world in the first place? Based on everything he had experienced, suffering seemed to be the logical conclusion, since it was all he had experienced.
Unfortunate, this was the word which suited Gray the most. He lost both of his parents in a car accident at a young age. They were gone, but Gray wasn't alone. He still had his younger sister, whom he adored. Ria Caliber.
While they were siblings, they had completely different characteristics. Ria had long black hair, with different colored green and yellow eyes. She had a special condition known as heterochromia. Gray however, had short gray hair and eyes. These features were nothing like their parents who both had brown hair and eyes.
After becoming foster children, they grew up in an orphanage for most of their childhood. Like baby birds hatchlings, they stuck together to stay safe. They were in an unfamiliar environment and lived in a different way. Initially, it was difficult to adapt.
Because of her eyes, the other foster kids would often make fun of Ria, and Gray, who could not tolerate it, would end up getting into fights. Most of the times, he'd lose. It was true he was on his own, but the other group would also suffer considerable damage. Enough to back off and leave the two alone.
Despite having lost both of their parents, the two still had each other and that was all they needed.
On Gray's tenth birthday, however. Ria was adopted. A couple in their thirties was looking for a young girl kid, and Ria alone was what they wanted.
In the event, she cried and whined and the two tried everything to prevent separation, but the foster care system wasn't so kind. She was gone.
Gray was also adopted after she was adopted. A man in his forties. Aside from looking nice enough in a suit, he also seemed to take decent care of himself enough to handle a kid.
However, it was all on the outside; after having been adopted by the man, Gray's life was a living hell. Alcohol and gambling emptied the man's bank account of the money he was making from having adopted Gray. They lived in a dirty, somewhat dilapidated house. Gray did the chores every day upon arrival.
He would abuse Gray physically and mentally after making a loss.
As a consequence of all these events, Gray had developed trust issues and felt insecure. In addition, the man told Gray to stay away from any other families or people so they wouldn't see the bruising that he caused underneath Gray's shirt.
Gray became antisocial as a result and was quite literally the quiet kid in class. He struggled deeply to communicate with people because he was afraid of angering the grown man. Growing up, he was seen as weird by his classmates and became a social outcast. Bullies took advantage of this. There was far worse pain at home, so he didn't bother fighting.
Nevertheless, he handled it well. As long as it was him handling it instead of his sister. It was fine. Despite no longer being in touch with her, it was fine. The people who adopted her were just like your everyday honeymoon couple, so everything with fine.
It wasn't.
On one certain night, Gray had it. He had his first mental breakdown. Why? Why was it him going through all this suffering? Why did it have to be him? Why did the man treat him like dog shit? Why was everyone always trying to get on his case? The questions flashed through his mind as he grabbed a kitchen knife and made his way into the drunkard's room.