THE HIDDEN TALENT

THE BEGINNING

KENAN

I couldn't hold in the anger as I washed the quaint bathroom of our house for the third time today. I grumble under my breath as I scrub the bathtub with enough force to create a dent in the body. I was pumping my whole anger into washing. My siblings can be so annoying. Keila and Jeima were always looking for ways to give me more work.

All day they have been taking mud and using it to dirty the whole house. I don't like punishing them but I've had enough for the day so I grounded them and sent them to their room. I wash quickly so I could go back to my other chores which if I'm not done with could lead to a worse day for me.

I was still scrubbing furiously when I heard the front door being slammed. At first I though it was my Mom and siblings but when I heard the voice my face lost all colour. I froze at the sound of my dad voice. Could my day get any worse? I guess it could then.

I rinse the remaining soap on the tub about to go out when I heard my name.

"KENAN!!!" was all I heard and I was running to the living room knowing I was in deep soup. I arrive at the parlour where he was fidgeting. My dad and I were around the same height with me being a little taller than him. We had the same curly dark hair and stark chocolatey brown skin colour that was tanned as hell. He had dark brown eyes while I took my mom's golden brown eyes. He was a very hefty man but I was fitter but the authority in his voice could make a whole city shiver.

"Yes Sir" I stutter visibly shaking and he glared me down.

"And why is the living room in this form and why isn't my meal served" he asks furious and I began explaining to him

"I I I... was get get getting to it sir, I was busy" I stutter and he didn't let me finish before landing a slap on my face.

"You were busy, what is your use in this house, you can't add any money to the house and the only chores you were given to do you can't even finish them. You worthless piece of s**t" He yells and continue hitting me. He picks up the cane and starts whipping me. I whimper in pain but I wouldn't give him the joy of seeing me cry or scream in pain. I bear the pain as he continues cursing me out. Shortly into it my mom comes in and enters our middle separating us.

"Mine please he will do whatever you want" she says pleading my dad.

"Woman haven't I warned you that whenever I'm correcting my children you shouldn't interfere" he snaps and hits her. I tried to block them and took a few beating before he pushes me out of the way and moves towards my mom. He hits her repeatedly until he gets tired then storms upstairs to his room grumbling under his breath. Hot pain pour round my body as I feel my clothe soaked with blood from an injury from the last beating that was reopened.

Mom was on the floor wailing and I help her up groaning since my own pain was with me. She gets up and wipes her tears ands walks away not sparing me a glance or listening to me. My siblings peek from behind the stairs and my heart breaks seeing the fear and pain in their eyes. I storm out the door to the shed behind the house and pick up my bows, arrows and throwing knifes. I run out the door into the forest behind my house and begin running for a while trying to ease the tension on me.

"I run as pain shoots round my body from the many injuries I have gotten over the years that have refused to heal and even when they heal another round of beating would reopen them. I finally arrive at the pasture and hide behind my tree. The pasture was always filled with different creatures. It was beautiful, close to a lake and full of lush flowers and grass that made the place to be the base of training for me.

I started hunting, sparring and fighting a few years ago as a means to let out my anger and I felt better. I was always in pain but I pushed through it and I became better over the years. I trained regularly with the village's army and I became better than them. The Captain of the army took a liken to me and he started training me separately to join the army when I was old enough.

I train in the woods for a while and it was fun because it helped me release more tension but I was still vexed. I used it to train my shooting practice. At first I start with the bow and arrow. Setting my target as a particular place on the trees, I practice my multiple arrows aim. I could do it but It needed perfection. I knock 4 arrows and aim. I take in a deep breath and let it out as I release the arrows. Time slows down as the arrows went through the air sounding like it was cutting the air with a whoosh as it hits it target. I jump in elation cause this was the first I was doing 4 arrows. I repeat it for a while until I am sure I could make it in succession.

I train my throwing knifes also as I go round picking up different fruits that I sell for money on my own. I hunt for meat whenever we needed it. I check my traps and few caught bush meat that I added to my bag. I put my bag over my shoulder and carry it all the way to my shed where I store my other fruits. I flail the bush meat and put the meat in the freezer there. I smoke the few I wanted to and by evening I was done. I arrange my fruits for sale tomorrow and pack the meat well before heading into the house.

I entered and the whole house was quiet. The living room was empty so I headed into the kitchen where my mom was cleaning. I walk up to the dishes snd start washing. She was deep in thought and didn't even notice me until I spoke.

"Hey mom" I greet and she snaps out of her thought, at first she was suprised to see me behind her but when she gets over her shock, she speaks.

"Where have you been, I've been so worried" she asks clearly worried.

"I just went to the woods to clear my head and check on my trap and I got carried away. I lost track of time and when I came back I was busy in the shed." I reply and she nods still not concentrating fully on me

"Your dinner is on the table, make sure to eat" she asks and I nod as she goes back to what she was doing and I continue washing the dishes. When I was done I sit at the end of the table and began eating. I eat in silence for a while before speaking up.

"Are we going to continue like this mom" I ask and she looks at me. Her cheeks were swollen and had a tint of purple to them. She had a black eye and i could see the pain visible in her expression. She gives me a fake smile and shakes her head.

"No love, it is just a phase your dad is going through. We will be fine" she replies and I was annoyed.

"That asshole of a man is not my father, and we have been in the phase since I was 7 and now I'm 18 and you still believe it is a phase. How ironic" I reply snappily and she flinches.

"Don't say that, I gave birth to all of you for him and he is your father. You remember we weren't like this before and I can't leave him because of this" she replies pushing back tears.

"When will you see past this and realise that there is no remedy to all he has done and though change is constant he can never change. You are so blinded by your self-righteousness that you can't leave a toxic and violent marriage because of your image and subject your child to regular abuse" I scream as my anger keeps boiling and I push my food away and storm up to me room.

I enter my room and quickly change into my nightwear before laying under my covers. Thoughts race through my mind as I close my eyes and the rise and fall of my brothers chest lulls me into the darkness of sleep. I fall asleep with only one thought in my head.

"My life needs change"