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Petting my chicken as she layed in my lap, I looked at the pictures hung on the walls. They were pictures of my family, Daddy and Papa. Daddy was part enderman and part something else. He’s never told me nor Papa what his other part was, but he promised to tell when he was comfortable. His second part has skin as white as snow and an eye as red as blood. His enderman part was exactly what an enderman looked like, black skin that got irritated when touched by water with a lime green eye. Papa had brown, fluffy hair with little goat horns coming out. He says he’s a ram, but Daddy says he’s a goat. Little, fluffy goat ears replaced human ears on the side of his head. He also had a short tail that was the same color as his hair and was also very fluffy. Daddy and Papa were the best dads in the world, and I couldn’t ask for better.
But there was something that I didn’t like. They kept me locked in the top room of their house. I never got to go outside, but I always looked out the window at the snow-covered lands. They told me it was because the world was a dangerous place, and if I ever left the house I would get hurt. I believe them. Daddy always comes to my room, but he never looks “okay.” He always looks worried or he has wounds on him in various places. Papa is always very tired but makes time to come and see me. He slept next to me when he tried to put me to bed once, and Daddy had to come and get him. The world seems very cruel, so I stay in the room like I’m told.
My chicken didn’t have a name, so I just call her Chicken. He is my only company when Daddy and Papa aren’t here. My golden sword layed next to me on the rocking chair. Papa gave it to me despite Daddy’s protests and concerns. I was told to only use it when I was in trouble or in danger. I would practice swinging my sword and attacking in my free time, which was all day. I’ve gotten pretty good at sword fighting, Daddy tells me so when we train together. I haven’t had to defend myself, but Papa tells me it’s always good to be prepared.
I got up from the chair, Chicken in my arms. It was getting late, and Daddy would be here soon to tuck me in bed. I continued to pet Chicken as I made my way to the bed. When I was about halfway there, I heard the trap door open. I turned around and saw Daddy! I ran over to him to hug him, but when I looked at his eyes, they were different. Instead of the red and green eyes, they were both purple. They also had purple goo coming out at the sides. It scared me, so I backed away. Chicken was wriggling violently in my arms, trying to escape. I didn’t want to let her go.
When I backed away, I noticed that Daddy also had his netherite axe at his side. He was gripping it like at any moment it would disappear. When visiting me, he never brought out any weapons except his wooden sword to play-fight. Daddy climbed up further until he was standing in my room. He looked even taller and more intimidated than he usually was. He was tilted at an angle as he stood, almost as if in a trance. He moved closer to me, step by step. I moved as far as I could until I hit the wall. I held Chicken in my arms as hard as I could without killing her. She was clucking loudly and trying to run away. I felt tears fall down my face as Daddy inched closer to me. I was shaking, and my brain told me to run away, but my legs didn’t move.
Daddy was face to face with me. The axe he had brought held in his hands. He looked at me and smiled. The smile wasn’t the calm, loving, and reassuring smile he always wore. It was cynical and untrustworthy. I wanted to move further away from him, but he blocked my every path.
His axe lifted slowly, first above my head then his. Everything about Daddy was threatening, especially the way he looked at me. His eyes were a blank purple, his smile not the same. The axe stayed still, high in the air. Then, in almost a flash of light, Daddy let the axe fall. I coward and hugged my chicken close to my chest. I lowered my head and closed my eyes shut.
But I never felt the axe hit my head. I opened my eyes, hesitantly, and looked up at Daddy. His smile changed into a frown, and the axe stopped just above my head. His eyes, once purple and overflowing with goo, were fading in and out to his original eye coloration. I could just barely see the red and green eyes. Then I looked at his torso. It was covered with red liquid which I identified as blood. I saw the glint of a blue point in the middle of the blood. It was a diamond sword. Daddy’s eyes changed fully to red and green, and they were clouded with pain. He looked at me and moved the axe away from my head. His eyes were surprised. He moved his mouth, and a pained whisper came out.
“I’m sorry, Michael… I love you.”
He then fell to the ground. Behind him stood Papa, eyes covered in tears and his arm in the end result of throwing something. His lips were quivering. I ran up to him, Chicken still in my arms, and hugged him tightly. He picked me up and held me close. I could hear the sobs coming from his mouth.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He repeated in between sobs. All I could do was hug him even more and cry with him. Daddy had almost killed me… Daddy was gone…