The chains around his neck had all but rubbed the skin raw, despite the wound constantly trying to heal itself. His hands were chained in a similar fashion, the same blisters circled his wrists. But the really pain radiated from his mouth, finger tips, and toes. His teeth and claws had begun to grow back during the night, but that fact didn’t bring eleven year old Victor much relief. The day would pass like it normally did and then when dusk came his father would return to rip the demon claws and fangs from his hands. There was no relief, the pain was almost constant but slowly Victor was becoming numb to it.
His mother had been sick for some time now, consumption ravaging her body, but still she managed to find the strength to bring him food and water while his father was out for the day. Her face, the way she looked as he made her watch, was etched in his mind. She always apologized after every time ‘ I am sorry, I am not strong enough to stop him, Victor.’ His response was always of the sort, ‘ Don’t worry about me mama. I’m fine.” Because he was, even when his father’s pliers grabbed a tooth and yanked it out, even as the blood pooled in his mouth. Victor would be fine, Victor would survive.