Chapter 1: Welcome host…

I once read a quote that said "You have to live through the worst parts of your life so you can never take the best parts for granted" but for me I have never experienced the so called "best parts" it has always been the "worst parts".

I have always been alone since as far back as I can remember. My parents left me at an orphanage when I was a baby, leaving me with nothing but the baby clothes they put on me and the name they gave me "Lucas Veridant". A common name just like myself with common black hair and brown eyes with an average face and a malnourished body due to my food and lunch money being taken away from bullies in both school and the orphanage.

So I can guess you can say that I was kind of an underdog. A person who can only be suppressed by the strength of others. Everyday I was treated as a punching bag for others and people who I once viewed as "friends" turned out to be people who wanted to use me to do things for them like stealing and being the the person to be played pranks on like when I was 10 I was "friends" with a boy named Josh.

He was quite popular and kind to everyone so when he said he wanted to be friends with me I was happy. I thought that I finally don't have to be alone any more and I can finally have a person to confide in and trust. However life wasn't so kind to me. Josh stole money from the teacher when she wasn't looking and blamed me for it. When I tried to defend my innocence and tried telling the teacher that it was Josh who stole it I was suspended for stealing and lying. Naturally who would believe the poor,bullied orphaned boy over the kind,popular boy. When I tried to confront Josh about it what he said broke something inside of me " Why would I be friends with someone like you? I only talked to you so people would keep thinking I'm a kind person. I mean who would want to be friends with someone like you. A poor orphan with no worth or friends. Face it you will always be alone and bullied no matter what you do." Ever since then my trust in people has never been the same and always doubt people intentions and this carried on until now.

Today was the same as always. School finished and I was walking back to the orphanage when I heard a familiar voice shouting behind me "Hey! Lucas my friend! I need some money can you give some."

Jacob, the guy who has been bullying me recently, surrounded by his gang. He always asks money from me because we are "friends" but if I don't give any he beats me with his mates. He is the reason as to why nearly everyday I come home with new bruises and wounds.

"I-I don't have any, you took all of my money yesterday." I was scared because I know the outcome of this even though I have experienced this countless times. It makes me wonder why can't I have the strength to fight back. Why must I be so weak! Even though I try to fight back I always lose either because I'm outnumbered or to weak due to my malnourished body.

"Huh? Don't lie to me! Or I will have to beat you up for wasting my time. And trust me this will hurt me more then you,my friend." Those words make me want to throw up "friend." What friend! Who beats up their friend!? As he and his friends slowly walk up to me I can smell the scent of alcohol on them which makes this situation worse.No wonder I didn't see them at school I wonder. They must have skipped to go have drinks.

I remember that whenever they get drunk they become more violent leaving me half dead at times.

One of Jacobs friends sneaked up behind me and dragged me up to a near by alleyway while covering my mouth as to not draw attention to myself by shouting, which wouldn't have mattered as barely any people come at this time and they always ignore me no matter how hard and loud I cry.

Then the beating began full of punches and kicks and I begin to despair. Why!? Why am I always treated like this I wonder for the millionth time since the day I was born. It's unfair! Why can't I be strong! Why can't I have friends who I can rely on and live a relaxing life with people who I love and them me. I want to become strong! I want to get rid of those who suppress me so I can live a life of freedom!

As the kicking and punches carried I fell on the floor and began to feel cold. My body slowly started to become numb and then I began to hear mumbles from my surroundings and the sounds of Jacob and his goons laughing became more distant.

Is this how I'm going to die?

In an alley by myself in the cold?

If so then I hope in my next life I live a different life!

A life where I'm the strongest where no one can bully me.

Where I rise to the top!

And I died.

I felt as though I was drifting among the endless void drowned by the surrounding darkness with no sound or light. I don't know how long I drifted maybe a few seconds or maybe years. It's as though the darkness surrounding cut off not only light but time as well but I heard a strange mechanical voice.

When I heard it I saw a light in the void and flew towards it like a moth to a flame and the words from the voice that would later change my life,said was [Welcome host].