Chapter 2

         5 years ago

   "Hey little guy... Are you ok?," the older boy asked, kneeling down to my level with an outstretched hand. I clench my teary eyes shut and slap his hand away sobbing.

     "They took her away from me... I'm all alone now... Whyd they take her away from me?," I whispered, clenching my fists shut. I look up at the beautiful sky, and I can remember the hatred I felt towards its beauty in that moment.

    "DAMMIT WHY DID EVERYONE LEAVE ME!!," I roared to the unknown above me, before sobbing once more into my tiny arms. I must've  been about 8 at that time. I didnt understand any of it. Mother was always hitting me. She never told me why, and I never asked. Eventually it became normal.

     "Hey... Its ok. I saw what she was doing to you. It was for the better kid," He tried to say to me in reassurance. I stood angrily, pushing him away from me in Hope's to create distance. I could feel my heart breaking in that moment. Is that what they all think?

     "No! She wasnt doing anything wrong!! Whatever she was doing that was so bad i probably deserved it," I cried, attempting to wipe my tears away. I just want this pain gone. It's like a constant knife in my throat, preventing me from breathing.

    "That's not true... My name is Magnus... What's yours?," I stop, looking at him, truly looking at him. And in that moment i saw someone I could look up to.

     "I-Im Lionel... You can call me Lio if you want.... " I reply earnestly, avoiding eye contact. I twiddle my fingers, embarrassed that this guy caught me crying. I wiped my eyes, and look down.

      "Well Lio... If it makes you feel better, My father wasnt the best either.. He did some bad things... I coped with this.., "he turns and grabs a ball from the ground and kicks it to me. I leap backwards, watching it sail past me with awe and fear. What was that?

     "Its a soccer ball. You've never really been out much, have you?," he asks. I shake my head, looking back at him in awe, my eyes wide with admiration.

      "Here, I'll teach you to play,"

      "LIO!!!," a familiar angry voice roars. I clench my fist and turn, glaring at None other than Magnus. He must've followed me out the men's locker room. I cross my arms, staring him down as he gets closer.

     "Magnus. What do you want,?" I demand.  All of a sudden he slams me into a locker, the impact making the air escape my lungs. I clutch his wrist, distinctly twisting it. He yelps as I shove him back.

    "You damn nerd!! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!," he roars, punching the locker next to my head, getting awfully close to me. The look in his eyes, remind me that of my mother, in those final days that she tortured me.

     "I dont know what you're talking about, I didnt do a damn thing to you," I replied, clenching my fists again.  Pain shoots through my arms,  reminding me I already pierced my palms once today.

       "Where the hell did you learn to run like that!," he exclaims. I sneer, taking a step closer, watching him stumble back in shock.

      "I've always been able to. What are you jealous? Or are you scared that I'm going to beat you at that competition? You must be so pissed that your special protege is going to beat your ass I to the dirt where you belong!" I chuckle angrily. He glares, standing face to face with me.

     "Lio...," his eyes darken considerably,  which is surprising I havent seen that look on his face in years. I smile and tap his shoulder, leaning in.

     "I'm going to rip you to pieces out there... Now I'm done with this conversation. Get out of my way," I shove past him, my eyes shooting to the floor. He pisses me off beyond all reason.  That bastard... I clench my fists looking down.

    Oh look its poor defenseless lio. Mommys little pet.

    I bite my inner cheek to keep from yelling. How dare he say those things to me! I ought to have ripped his throat out his disgusting mouth for that.

    "Lio,!" Someone yells. I ignore them. Not another confrontation in this damn hallway. I tuck my shoulders in even more.

    Shut up shut up shut up DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT!!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!

"Lionel, Stop," The voice cried, sounding more desperate than before. I stopped and turned, scowling at the source of the voice.

"I dont know who you are or what you want, but if you're going to start something, don't," I warned, clenching my fists. Magnus's words still hanging deep on my mind, I glared at the figure. It was a young boy, extremely pale, and lanky. But what caught my attention the most, were his eyes.

I recognized that look in his eyes, I used to have it when I looked at Magnus. It's the look of a fanboy. Someone inspired by another.

"I-I dont want to start anything... Its just... I saw you in gym today, and the way you stood up to Magnus... and well," His cheeks turned pink as he looked down embarrassed.

"I'm not the strongest person out there... and I'm almost entirely alone in this hell of a school. I was hoping you could teach me... to be more like you!," He finished off strong, clenching his fists. Without realizing it, I smiled and patted his head, causing the kid to look up at me with wide eyes. He smiled wildly, Like a baby who just got candy.

" You'll do ok kid... Just keep that smile on your face, keep your head held high and show all these high school rejects you're not to be messed with," I ruffled his hair.

"I'll catch you later kid," I turned and walked off, ignoring the surprised gazes following me. Were they watching that whole charade?!

Damn... There goes my Ice cold facade. I look at my fingers. It's times like this that I miss the feeling of the piano under my fingers, the soft thuds of the keys pressing down and the wonderful music it makes. I tap my fingers in a rhythmic fashion as I walk to my next class.

I think back to the kid I just left behind me. What in gods name has happened to that kid that he looks up to me of all people... No body looks up to me. Or really even at me. What's so different about him?

As I enter my last class of the day, I cant help but wonder. Did I say the right thing to that poor kid?

I walk out the school gates, scrolling through the music on my phone, impatiently trying to find a good song to listen to. I just want to get out of my own head.

As I turn the corner, I hear scuffling sounds. I stop and put my phone in my pocket, looking around me. Off to my right, a luminous alleyway hides. Is it in there? what's going on?

I stalk towards it, peeking into the alleyway.

"Stop!!! Leave me alone!! Somebody help me," I stop, feeling my blood go cold. It's the kid. I step further into the alley, seeing Three male figures holding him up by the throat.

"HEY DROP HIM NOW!," I roar. They stop suddenly, turning to me.

"Oh... Look who it is...," Suddenly a roar of orange flames ignites through the alleyway, shooting straight towards me. I plunge to the left, coming up into a kneel.

Magnus.

"Magnus... Why are you picking on him...," I demand, taking several steps forward. He walks away from the boy, his hands igniting with hellfire, his smirk widening as he glares.

"You've done nothing but make a fool out of me all day!" he yells, stomping forward. The fire on his palms roared, burning even hotter than before. From this distance I could feel my body sweating because of the heat.

"IM GOING TO BREAK YOU, YOU DAMN NERD,!" He exclaims, launching at me top speed. Before I knew what was happening, he had me pinned to the wall, his scorching hands burning through the shoulder pads in my jacket.

"Listen to me, Because I'm only gonna say it once," He sneers, His smirk widening. The anger in his dark eyes glow even brighter up close.

"You may be faster, and less of a cry baby then you used to be... BUT DON'T MISTAKE THAT FOR STRENGTH YOU DAMN WEAKLING!!," He crows maniacally, the fire on his fists burning hotter. I wince, biting the inside of my cheeks. I should fight back. Why aren't I.

"I'm going to beat your ass into the dirt and snatch that little prize all for myself next week, you got it! You'll never be anything more than the abused puppet of the psycho mommy!!! You hear me LIO!,' He roars. I look down, ignoring his gaze. Theres those words again. Why does he keep saying it...

I look up, staring into his eyes as calmly as possible.

"Get your damn hands off me, and leave the boy alone. Otherwise," I grab his wrist and twist, yanking him closer with the most gruesome smile I can muster.

"I'll end you," I shove him back, watching the anger in his eyes flare up even more. I clench my fists once more. Control my anger. Hes not worth it.

"Let's go guys, We're done here...," Magnus ordered to his lapdogs. They come closer and ai can easily recognize them. Tyler and Ryan. Magnus's so called friends since kindergarten. However everyone else knows Magnus only sees them as his minions, and nothing more. They act like his minions too.

I watch as the three disappear out the alley before running to the kids side. I kneel down, observing the bruising around his jaw and throat.

"Hey, I never caught your name," I started, as I checked for any more injuries. I could hear his chuckle.

"My name is Lyon... And I'm fine. You're worse than my mom," He complained. I step back, offering him a hand up. Why was Magnus picking on him. Did he hear about me being nice to the kid earlier and hope I showed up to see him roughing up Lyon? Either way I would've found out, and he would've gotten just what he wanted. A chance to break my morale.

"Ok Lyon. Here's what I want you to do... You have a phone?," I inquired. He nods and hands it to me. I take his phone shakily. Is he a friend? I guess at this point we're friends, right?

"Now, if you ever need anything just text me, call me, whatever. Also, if you ever need a friend, I guess you got me, Ok?," I inform him, locking eyes with him. He nods, taking his phone back

"Yeah Yeah, Let's get going already. I'll see you later,!" He calls before running off, his ears turning pink as he ran away. I scratched the back of my neck. He sure does blush alot around me doesn't he? Oh well. I look down, plugging my earbuds in before heading home.

"Hey Lio- Oh my god what happened to your shirt!!," Were the first words out of Michelle's mouth when I got home. I glanced down at my shoulders where Magnus grabbed me, Noting the way my shirt is barely hanging onto my torso by a thread. My face burned as I hide my face in my hands. I walked around in public like this!

"Yeah.. A kid from school was roughing up an underclassman. I stood up for them and they kinda burn my shirt.," I turn away, taking off my charred shirt and tossing it in the trash.

"I'm gonna go get a new shirt, I'll be right back!," I called to her, before walking upstairs. I glance at my shoulders, seeing the pinkness from my burns. They havent set in yet, But they'll be a pain in the morning.

Magnus... I really ruffled his feathers today, didnt I? I stop at my closet, pulling on a polo shirt with ease, Not even taking time to glance at myself in the mirror before jogging back down the stairs, only thinking of that arguement with Magnus. He promised he would beat me. I'd like to see him try. I sit down at the table, where Michelles been sitting, sipping on her weird Tea herbs concoction shes made herself.

"So you got into a fight today,? " She demanded, giving me a disappointed glance. I look down once more, the image of my mother's furious eyes hiding behind my eyelids.

"No, I wouldn't call it that," I replied honestly.

"At the very least look me in the eyes when we're speaking young man!!!!!," She scolded. I flinched, looking up with embarrassment.

"Yes Ma'am, sorry Ma'am.," I yelped. She laughed at me, clutching her chest hysterically as she practically rolls on the floor in laughter.

"Oh I'm giving you a hard time. But seriously, I dont want you in any more fights, Got it?," She orders. I nod my head.

"Now, Let's go get dinner. I dont want to cook tonight," She cheers. I smile and stand, following her out the door. Maybe this world isnt so bad after all.