Generation 1: Chapter 1

 

Marrick has been living a lonely, uneventful life for the past 7 years, keeping to himself and only traveling to the city when he needed essential groceries. He made money by catching fish for markets and selling them at high prices, only catching the best that he could find and the rarest of fish brought him the most money. He woke up one morning to his every day routine; getting up around six in the morning and making breakfast, giving his dog, Archor, breakfast as well and eating it quietly within his eerily silent home. Archor had been his only friend for the past 5 years, finding him when he was a puppy and taking him in to care for him. Archor adored Marrick, watching him do everything at any time within the day, always following him around the house.

As Marrick made his breakfast, a small fire had started and he simply watched as it consumed his food. It soon burnt all the contents within the pan and he continued to stare at the flames, his face beginning to glisten with sweat as his face was warmed by the slowly growing fire before him. His expression was blank and it seemed as if his mind had been sent to a different time and place. Archor’s barks were quiet to his ears, but as he began to regain his composure, Archor’s barks were grew loud and he snapped out of his trace. His eyes widened in shock as flames began to consume his counter top and he yelled for Archor to run outside and he did so out the open back door. Marrick quickly went underneath the sink in his kitchen and grabbed the fire extinguisher, pointing it to the flames and calming them within a few minutes. He returned the extinguisher under the sink and stood there staring at his now burnt counter top, the smell of the burnt food filled the entire house and he let out a heavy sigh.

Marrick scrubbed the counter top and attempted to clean the frying pan as well as he could, but not before opening every window and door within the house to get the lingering burnt smell out of the air. Archor stayed outside, hating the smell and Marrick had given up on cooking, caving in to preparing a simple bowl of cereal instead. When he had finished his breakfast, he remained within his chair and stared at the bowl now filled with nothing but milk and he scooped it up within his spoon then letting it dribble off from it and back within the bowl repeatedly. He did this for a long minute before snapping out of yet another trance and bringing his bowl to the sink, washing it, drying it and putting it back within the cupboard. He looked around as he stood within the kitchen, seeing no one, hearing nothing but the faint sounds of Archor playing in the backyard, somewhat wishing that something, anything would fill this void in his home, but, he soon kicked these thoughts from his mind, reminding himself why he chose to live alone and making his way out the back door where Archor was.

Archor was the only thing Marrick had spoken more than a few words to ever since he was 11, they were best friends and Marrick took him everywhere that he could. He decided to take a day to himself and Archor, playing with him the rest of the day and giving him all of his attention. Marrick believed that animals were easier to talk to than people; they hardly talked back or gave you a hard time, they were always sorry for the bad things they had done, they were trustworthy.. Archor had never let him down, never killed someone, never judged him or held any ill-will towards him. He was a good dog, his only family now.

Marrick had always been a boy of few words and he stayed that way throughout his whole life as he became a man. He was popular with girls when he was forced into school by the orphanage, but he never gave them the time of day that they all had so badly wanted whenever they approached him. He never grew close to anyone, refusing them the chance to learn who he was and what fucked up family he was a part of. 

Marrick loved living right on the river for his means to make money, but he hated that the city was so close. At the time, he wasn’t able to afford the home he had originally wanted in the forest a few more miles away from the city, but it also wasn’t close to a source of water like this home was, so his decision wasn’t too hard to make. He often thought about saving his money better to move, both him and Archor were light sleepers and there were many times were he or Archor would be awoken by the noise pollution the city gave off at night. He looked over to the city as the sounds filled his ears, waiting for Archor to bring back the stick he had retrieved, scowling at the sounds of cars beeping and the squealing of impatient citizens tires.

The day went on as Marrick and Archor spent time together, playing fetch and many rounds of tug-of-war before Marrick soon grew tired and exhausted from the day finally catching up to him. He watched as Archor paced around the backyard, sniffing for treasures to find and possibly chew on or maybe even bring inside as a souvenir from his long and exciting day with his master. The only time that Marrick ever showed a single hint of a smirk was only towards Archor and Marrick still found it hard to muster the rare smirks he that often eluded him; he never found a reason to smile before, he simply never felt the need or want to do so.

Marrick called Archor to come inside and he gave Archor food for dinner, then made himself dinner as well. He often looked across the table at the empty chair that stared back at him, biting the inside of his bottom lip and he began to feel his loneliness creeping up to greet him again like it did every single night when he ate dinner. Marrick finished his meal and sat at the table, losing track of time as he stared at the chair, his eyes pleading in a way for anyone to suddenly appear before him and fill the void. He then felt Archor resting his chin upon his leg and Marrick looked down, snapping him back to reality and he patted Archor on the top of his head and rubbed just behind his ear, giving Marrick the comfort that he seemingly always unconsciously felt desperate for. He stood from the chair and walked to the sink, rinsing his plate and cleaning it, putting the dishes away into the cupboard and wanting to get rest now.

Marrick walked away from the cupboard and his steps soon slowed, eventually coming to a stop as he stared into the silent, vacant living room. His mind began to wander and he thought of his two little sisters, imagining them playing on the ground in front of the television as his mother sat on the couch; everyone seemed so happy.. His littlest sister, Cindy, stood up and ran around the living room, circling the kitchen table in front of Marrick as he watched her play.

“Chase me, Marrick!” Her eerie, echoing voice called out to him as she continued to run around the room and soon hiding behind the back of the couch.

Marrick’s heart sank as she said his name, bringing his hand up and messaging the bridge of his nose as he shut his eyes and got rid of the haunting thoughts of his family’s past. He soon heard nothing again, the room falling silent and he opened his eyes, looking to the once again vacant living room and hearing Archor barking from his bedroom, calling him to bed. He let out a gentle sigh and shut the lights off and made his way towards his room.

Marrick entered his bedroom and shut the door, walking to his dresser and changing into his sleep wear  before heading to the bed.

“Where you sleepin’?” He asked Archor with his stern, deep voice, watching as Archor stared at him for a few moments before making a decision and crawling underneath the bed.

Marrick let out more of a scoff than a chuckle without even a smirk, his expression still never changing once throughout the entire day and he made his way towards his bed to sit. He looked around the room, hating how his bedroom had more of harsh silence than the rest of the house and his gaze soon fell upon the empty side of the bed next to him. He let out a gentle sigh, soon ignoring his lonesome thoughts and leaning towards his light to shut it off, laying down after his room had fell into darkness and he eventually drifted off to sleep.

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Original chapter written and posted on February 21, 2013