The Lost Heir Of Sargent

MOM, IS THAT YOU?

"I want that," Ivan’s eyes fixed towards the amulet around Christian's neck, "My girlfriend has been obsessed with finding one like that, and I hate to disappoint her, so just give it to me."

Instinctively Christian's fingers ran to the smooth edges of the silver amulet, a delicate piece with swirling patterns along with a rare blue gemstone at its center showing its uniqueness.

It was the only thing he had as a memory of his mother, she had given it to him just before she’d passed away, whispering to him, "it'll always protect you Chris!" 

Christian tightened his grip on the amulet, protectively, "Of course," he thought bitterly. "Anything that matters to me, will always be liked by Ivan, so that he can steal it from me," but he kept his voice calm. "I can't give this to you Ivan, it's something my mother left for me, so I can't let this go." 

"Do you think someone like you can say no to me?" Ivan crossed his arms with a sneer, Christian knows very well about his position in this house.

After the death of his mother, he became an orphan despite having a father, as his so-called father is so busy with his new wife, and their son Ivan.

Only after his mother's death, the affair of his father came into light making everyone to know that Mr. Morris Devroy has a secret wife and an illegitimate son for so long.

To Christian, life within his own home became a hell, but he accepted his fate, "I know I can't say no, but this belongs to my mom, so I can't give up!" 

"You think I care about your dead mom’s junk if not because of my girlfriend showing interest in it?" He scoffed, pressing on the amulet with his finger, "I ask you one last time Chris, are you going to give it or not?" 

"No," Christian shook his head firmly, holding the amulet tightly.

"Fine, keep it for now, but I have my ways to get what I want," He sneered, stepping back and casually glancing over his shoulder.

Then, without warning, he screamed loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Please don’t!" and flung himself back, falling down the stairs with dramatic, exaggerated groans, "ahhhh mom, dad!" 

Christian's eyes widened in shock as he watched Ivan fall down from the stairs.

"No, no, no…" Christian mumbled in fear and ran to the end of stairs, his heart racing rapidly out of nervousness, as he looked down to see Ivan lying unconscious, eyes closed and unmoving. "He… he can’t be serious," Christian thought, with a twisted feeling.

"Ivan!" Morris's voice echoed in the hallway, and Christian felt the ground under him stumble, as his father and Teresa, Ivan’s mother, appeared at the spot.

Morris’s face was full of anger noticing Ivan laying on the floor unconscious, he immediately thought Christian is the culprit, while Teresa’s hand flew to her mouth in exaggerated shock, "oh my God! Ivan, my baby!"

"What did you do to him?" Morris roared, his voice literally passed a shiver down Christian's spine, "you bastard what the hell you've done to my precious son?" 

Christian’s voice caught in his throat out of fear, "I...I didn’t do anything father, h...he wanted my amulet, and I said no, then he just," but his father didn't allow him to continue.

"Don’t lie to me! You disgusting rouge!" Morris’s face twisted in disgust, as slapped Christian hard across the face, sending a sharp sting through his cheek. Christian stepped back, as the harsh slap made his vision blurred and the corner of his lips started bleeding.

"Morris, what do we do?" Teresa cried, holding her son's unconscious body, pretending to cry in agony, "My poor Ivan, your son is trying to kill him out of jealousy, I and my son don't have any respect or safety in this damn house!” 

Christian shook his head with teary eyes, "no, I didn't do it, father," Morris slapped him once again, "shut up you rascal! I shouldn't have let you stay in this house after her death, you're a jinx, how dare you harm my son?" 

Christian stood silently holding back his tears, Teressa looked at him with venomous glare, "you should've died along with your mother, because of you my son is in this condition! If anything happens to my son, I'll kill you!"  

Morris turned to Christian, with a cold gaze, "You’re a disgrace to this house, I'm taking Ivan to the hospital, you’ll stay in the attic until I get back, you’d better think about what you’ve done and repent for your wrongdoings." 

"But, Father, please, I didn't," Christian tried to protest, but his father was unmoved, and just worried about Ivan, "butler, ask the driver to prepare the car immediately." 

Christian made one final attempt to say the truth, "father, I didn't do anyt," 

"Enough!" Morris shouted and grabbed Christian's arm roughly, dragged him up the stairs and through the narrow corridor to the attic. 

He pushed Christian inside without a second glance, slammed the door shut and locked it, Christian wanted to bang the door to shout that he is innocent as he was about to place his hand on the door, his father's words paused him, "until we are back, you're not allowed to eat or drink, unless we starve you, you'll never know your mistake." 

Christian heard the sound of his father's footsteps disappearing slowly, and filled with extreme silence.

He collapsed on the floor leaning to the door, with a throbbing cheek and heart, as he fought back with tears in his eyes. He knew no one would believe him, no one ever did. 

The hatred his father had for him felt more painful than the sting on his cheek, and the cold isolation of the attic seemed to press down on him from every direction.

"They’ll be back soon," he told to himself, clutching the amulet so tightly it cut into his palm. "They’ll see that Ivan is fine, and this will all be over." 

But the hours went on, day fading into night. 

He knocked on the door, calling out, "father.....father," but no one answered. 

The hunger suppressed everything, and his throat went dry, as he tried to make sense of the silence. 

One day passed, then another, light turning into darkness, while darkness rising into light, the faint hope in his chest growing smaller with each hour, "Mom, why did you leave me alone? You should've taken me along with you, she is right, I should've died along with you, at least in that way, I won't be left alone like this." 

The attic was cold, full of dust, with each creak and groan of the house in the darkness sounded like a whispered mockery.

By the third day, he was weak, barely able to move. His mind drifted between dreams and reality, as the thirst and hunger increased with a constant ache. 

His thoughts circled around his mother, her gentle hands, her beautiful smile, and the way she would hold him close after his father’s anger had been playing in front of him, as if she was with him.

The door creaked open slowly, and he blinked hard against the thin stream of light that filled the attic. A figure stepped inside, blurry and shadowed in his vision.

"Mom, is that you?" His voice was barely a whisper, cracked and broken. He reached out a hand, trembling. "Did you come… did you finally come for me?"