Pugod

My family, the Yorhi, was well known in certain circles for its unusual "characters" and secret pacts. However, I, the youngest brother, was decidedly not part of their circle, despite being raised in the same harsh circumstances. I was always friendly with those outside the family, though I constantly had to feign indifference and perform the unpleasant deeds demanded by the family. A few days ago, it was my birthday, and my brother promised a surprise that I could only discover by descending to the first floor of my own house. He'd been staying with me for a couple of days and had prepared a gift before leaving. It was clear my elder brother had arranged something there in my absence. And though I hated the place and avoided it, Kornad managed to sow a seed of curiosity in me, forcing me to finally venture down. A stranger sat in the dim light, his eyes and mouth closed. The sight sent me into a panic; I felt like my heart was about to stop. I couldn't understand how my brother had managed to pull off all this in my house. However, I had to hide my feelings, because my brother was standing nearby, babbling excitedly about who this stranger was and why he was here. With a clenched heart, I watched as you flinched, hearing the voice of the one who had brought you here, and opened your eyes. Clenching my jaw and catching my breath, I had to look away. My brother casually declared that from now on this man would work for me, and I was free to decide his fate—whether to keep him around or dispose of him as I saw fit. "How awful," flashed through my mind as my brother, laughing loudly, headed for the exit. I remained motionless, staring at the stranger in utter confusion, unsure what to do next.