Child of Devastation

Something within Kenaka snapped.

Within moments, the greatest physical burden he had ever experienced, piled atop his soul, causing pressure, agony, building greater and greater. Then, as visceral as a bone breaking, or skin torn from flesh, that weight came crashing down.

Before the resulting anguish overcame Kenaka, however, a wave of tranquility washed over him and he witnessed his life.

All of it, as if in a dream. The details blended together, highlighting what Kenaka valued above all else.

Family. Kenaka's life had revolved around family. Both that of his parents, siblings, and the wonderful dream that he might start his own one day. Even through his adolescent years, he dreamed of creating his own family. Of finding a woman he could love. Who in turn loved him and desired as he did. Together, their love would result in beautiful children whom they would raise with charity and compassion. Family.

And by the holy waters above, that dream had become reality.

Kenaka would protect that living dream above all else.

They were his and he was theirs. And he would protect them for as long as ...

He would protect them ... wouldn't he?

Kenaka would protect his children. His wife. He was supposed to protect them. He was supposed to keep them from harm. He was supposed to stand between them and anyone who threatened their safety.

He ... he had ...

Failed.

Absolute devastation swept through Kenaka. The greatest anguish he had ever experienced overwhelmed him. Grueling serpents of pain weaved through his body, twisting and turning, tearing through his muscles, organs, flesh, searching out and subsequently attacking his heart and mind with crippling embraces.

Though his mouth was dry—save blood—tears streamed from his eyes. The salty drops lit up his open wounds with burning agony, mixing with his blood and dripping off the edge of his chin.

The anguish fully enveloped his mind's eye and he experienced true devastation.

As it had always been described.

And so, so much worse. So indescribably terrible.

He saw the void. The depths. The deepest, darkest abyss of all existence. It was more than blackest night. It was infinity. Eternity. More than everything, and yet devoid of anything. No light. No matter. No life.

Nothingness.

Pure, absolute, nothingness.

Abysm itself.

Kenaka screamed as the vision became too much; incomprehensible. He pleaded with every fiber of his being to the Light of Water itself that he might rend his mind and soul inside out and simply vanish from existence.

He clawed at the anguish in his chest, tearing into his own flesh, ripping up skin, fat, and muscle. Warm blood gushed from the wounds, pooling in his chest. It dripped down his body, staining his fingers and what little clothing still remained on his body.

Suddenly, adrenaline rushed through his veins, like boiling acid. His body felt as if it had been engulfed in flames. Violent, fiery energy filled his tired, withered form.

His body changed.

Kenaka's mind erupted with utter rage. His vision fogged, his senses heightened, muddling one another.

His family, huddled before him, became nothing more than a mass of trembling motion, and shrieking cries.

From those quivering, sobbing forms, covered in patches of bright red, Kenaka could smell salty tears, terror, blood. Each scent only served to inflame his burning rage.

Across Kenaka's entire body, his muscles tensed, expanding, skin stretching until his open wounds tore further, across nearly his entire body, blood dripping from every gash, tear, and cut. He clenched his teeth until they began to crack under the pressure.

Suddenly, Kenaka became aware of pain across his torso, wrists and legs, burning and enraging him. He screamed, thrashing, attacking the pain until he destroyed it.

His senses once again directed him toward those sounds. That color. Those smells. They fanned the fiery wrath within him, consuming him. It raged within, a violent, malicious storm. It bade him; destroy. Destroy. Destroy. His power churned like bubbling, overflowing magma. He became the malice, the spite. He became rage incarnate.

Kenaka gloried in it. It fulfilled him. Satisfied him.

He surrendered himself fully, acting upon his rage, even as tears continued to form in his eyes, like tiny, glittering crystals, destined to shatter.

*Authors note: This is a rough draft—if you happen to read, I'd appreciate any criticism, critique, and/or comments.