Kiss the Stranger

What happened?
For a moment I was confused, then I pulled myself together and examined the cage. Turning around, I gasped. The thick iron bars were completely bent. Someone must have twisted them and escaped. And that someone had to be Kamar. The lingering sweet scent was proof above all else.

Relief washed over me at the thought that Kamar was free—but another worry sprang up. It would be better if he had run off alone. I just hoped he wasn’t wandering the manor looking for me.
Impatience churned inside me. Clutching Rikal, I turned to go. This wasn’t the time to stand here. I had to find Kamar. I dashed up the stairs but misstepped and fell. With a thud my head spun—but there was no time to pause. I hauled myself up and hurried onward.
Kamar.

I reached for the doorknob and opened the basement door. Bright light flooded my view.
“…!”
Temporarily blinded, I shielded my eyes. The glare was dizzying. As I faltered, a voice sounded.

“Where are you rushing off to?”
The gentle tone was familiar. It was Uncle. Slowly lowering my hand, I made out his shape in the haze. I swallowed dryly.
“…Uncle.”
With a grin, he reached out. A crack echoed and stars exploded in my vision. I hit the floor before I realized I’d been slapped. Only then did I ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ notice I’d dropped Rikal—but that wasn’t all. As I sat stunned, Uncle knelt in front of me, grabbed me by the collar, and hauled me upright. Crack—another slap to the other cheek. He held me by the collar and slapped me again and again.

“Ugh, ah.”
Blood spurted as my lip split. Only then did he stop, tossing me to the floor as if discarding a rag.
“…ugh…”

I could only moan. Uncle crouched over me.
“Why are you skulking around someone else’s house like a rat, huh?”
Someone else’s house.

His words lodged in my mind before the pain. Uncle flicked my forehead with his middle finger, sending my head reeling, then flicked it again, over and over. When he finally steadied my head, he spoke.
“Hey.”
He looked down at me with contempt.

“I’ve cared for you for seven years—don’t you owe me something? You could have stayed put and done as you were told. Why go wandering around and making trouble?”
I couldn’t speak; I just stared. He clicked his tongue and said,
“You’re too dull to understand, huh.”

Then he rose and kicked me in the head.
“…!”
He kicked my shoulder, chest, and stomach without mercy. Each blow stole my breath. Pain and flashes of light filled my mind, leaving me with only two thoughts: how much it hurt and begging him to stop. I clasped my hands and gasped out a plea.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I won’t do it again, ah!”
While I begged, he booted me in the gut and I bit my tongue. Flesh and blood filled my mouth. Tears welled as I panted—but suddenly Uncle screamed.
“Argh, what the—!”

I lifted my head enough to see Rikal lunging at him. The cat’s claws raked his face, and Rikal sprang at him again.
“No, Rikal!”
I shouted, but Uncle’s expression twisted with fury.
“You damn cat!”

He slapped Rikal away with his hand. I screamed,
“Rikal!”
The cat let out a small yowl as he hit the wall. Uncle raised his foot to strike again, so I grabbed his leg and begged.

“I’m sorry, please forgive me, Uncle. I’ll do whatever you say. Please don’t hit Rikal… please!”
“That brat won’t let go? Still not in his right mind!”
My pleas infuriated Uncle further. He kicked me again.

“Fine, die, you useless thing. How dare you block my path. You should’ve died with your brother. I kept you alive out of pity, and this is how you repay me? You and that damn cat can go meet your mother and father together!”
The beating blurred my consciousness. I wanted to tell Rikal to run, but I couldn’t speak. As darkness crept in, I saw Rikal slipping away. Thank God… I thought—and lost consciousness.
Crack. My skull rang and my ears drummed. I realized Uncle was slapping me to wake me after several more blows.

“Well, you—”
I managed a groan. Uncle loomed over me, shaking with anger.
“If you wander off again or disobey me, don’t think it’ll end with this. I’ll beat those ears off your head until they’re gone. Understand?”

Terrified, I could only nod frantically. He raised his hand again. I swallowed and covered my head. Trembling, I begged on the floor, and at last he paused. I peeked up; he lowered his hand and spoke.
“All right. I’ll let you off this once. But from now on you will not leave this room, got it?”
I was shocked but too afraid to ask what he meant. Remembering the blow that would follow, I couldn’t breathe or speak. Shaking, I nodded again. Uncle raised his hand once more.

“Answer me, you—”
“Yes, yes! I won’t leave. I’ll do whatever you say… please, don’t hit me… please.”
I screamed, curling into a ball. From above me, Uncle said,
“You should’ve said that sooner. Try stalling and you’ll see I don’t stop with a few slaps.”

“Yes, yes.”
I answered quickly. I felt him turn away. When I dared to look up, I saw his retreating back—and Aunt’s beside him. As they walked, she said,
“You hit him that badly? The inspector’s coming tomorrow. What will he think when he sees him like this?”

Uncle ground his teeth and glanced back at me. Seeing my terrified face, he spat an insult and turned away. I huddled face-down, trembling, as they left. I heard the door close and the key turn in the lock. They had shut me inside. Silence descended. Only then did I manage to sit up.
…Ah.
Dizziness hit again and I sank to the floor. The beating and lingering vertigo left my head in a whirl. Leaning against the wall, I caught my breath—and the pain began to throb where I had been struck.

What about Kamar?
I was curious but dared not ask Uncle. If Kamar had escaped safely, it was better I not seek him out. It was for the best. I told him to leave. If only Kamar was safe. And Rikal—was he all right? I pictured the cat tossed against the wall and felt tears sting my eyes. Pain flared in my side, silencing me.
Ha…

I sighed in despair. Then I thought I heard footsteps in the hallway. My blurred vision heightened my hearing; I caught each sound clearly. I froze and pricked my ears. The footsteps approached—at least four people, not one. My spine chilled as they stopped at the door. The lock rattled and the door opened.
“Well, looks like you painted the place red, huh.”
Salman sneered as he entered, followed by several men. One of them peered at me huddled against the wall.

“So this is the omega you mentioned?”
Salman smirked and nodded.
“Yeah. What a waste—he was a pretty one, but he annoyed my father….”

He leveled a calm smile at me.
“But since his hole’s intact, who cares.”