章節 2: Don't Leave

A/N - Trigger warning

*****

"Bye Mom!" I yell before leaving through the front door with a very torn-up white dress.

"Lucy! make sure to come back before dinner! I know how you always come back late!" I hear mom yell back.

Our house is tiny and rickety but it was more than enough for me and my mother to live in. My dad died when I was born, mom told me that it was from overworking.

The slums were a very thin layer on the outside of New York while the center was bustling with rich families and skyscrapers.

I couldn't afford the bus ride to school so I walked like always. The scenery of the slums was something that granted me comfort but discomfort at the same time. It made me aware of my situation but it was also the place that my mom raised me… and I loved her. I couldn't ask her for more.

As I continued to walk down the dirt road, we suddenly hit a smooth sidewalk with houses that looked very modern. Slick, smooth, and organized designs clearly showed the difference between the rich and poor.

I held onto the straps of my backpack while looking around frantically. I was prepared to run as fast as my legs could take me once I see somebody approach me with ill intent.

Tump tump tump

I heard somebody walking behind me which causing me to shake uncontrollably. I tried to run but my legs wouldn't move.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I braced myself to be punched or kicked…

And then… nothing happened. Opening my eyes, I saw another student walk by me while looking at me like I was crazy.

*sigh*

I let out a long sigh of relief and muttered before getting cut off.

"I thought that was a bully-"

"Oh, what is the little mouse doing, walking in front of me? Do I need to teach you a lesson?" I hear come from behind me.

It was a boy about 6 feet in height with brown hair that was slickly combed back. He was well built and most would've thought he was hot if it weren't for his disgusting personality.

It was James.

The main bully of my school and would always pick on me when he had the chance. His arrogant and abusive nature was due to him being part of a rich family that practically owned the school which was called the Write family.

Nobody knows much about the family besides that they are stupidly rich.

Because James was part of this family, he could get away with anything he wanted. I even heard a rumor where he raped a girl in front of her class. Her life was pretty much destroyed at that point which was probably the reason why we had an announcement of her committing suicide the next day.

Then the school went along its day as if nothing happened after the announcement.

"N-no, I'll move," I whisper in fear.

"What? I can't hear you little mouse… can you say that again," James says with a smug face, and his two lackeys surrounding me.

I was frozen in fear, unable to move at all or repeat what he ordered. It wasn't a simple request, he ordered me to say it again.

His face soon turned into an expression of rage.

"YOU BITCH! HOW DARE YOU IGNORE MY ORDER!" He yells, punching me in the face.

I was going to be sent flying to the ground, but his lackeys caught me while he continued to punch me. His fists were covered in a thin and invisible layer of rocks due to his ability where he could manipulate the earth.

Tears streamed down my pale white face as I was continually punched in the gut and chest. My small and frail body about 5'5, with blondish white hair, was beaten like this every day.

…

10 minutes passed as James got bored with me and then moved onto another victim. I dropped to the ground crying profusely with bruises all over my body.

"Mom… I'm sorry for lying," I mutter before closing my eyes.

…

I slowly open my eyes to see a bright light right above me. It was the same sight that I have seen every day.

The infirmary at our school.

I was laying on a hospital bed and felt refreshed instead of beaten and bruised.

"Now that you're awake, go back to class," said a woman's voice.

I looked up to see the nurse who had gray long hair with a young body and glasses. Her figure was that of what you would call an hourglass figure. She wore a lab coat while reading a book, not even batting an eye towards me.

I don't even know her name, in fact, nobody knows her name beside the Write family. Her ability is related to healing and she can create small green particles that can slowly heal injuries ranging from, paper cuts to regrowing fingers.

I moved my small body out of the hospital bed and said nothing before exiting the infirmary.

I looked at the clock and saw that it was just barely 9:28 and sighed because first period had already started.

As I walked through the hallway many high-ranking students that skipped class, looked at me like I was prey. Everybody in the school knew who I was, somebody who was easy to bully and pick on. I was a loser who had no friends.

The school I attended was near the middle of New York. It was bigger than you're average school since it was owned by a wealthy family. Anybody could attend since there is no entrance fee which made it one of the more popular schools in New York.

I'm in 9th grade right now so I just started high school but my weak reputation from elementary and middle carried over to high school.

I thought I could have a new start but it was just the same, if not worse since using abilities on school grounds was allowed in high school.

"I-I'm sorry for being late. I have no excuse," I mutter after entering my classroom.

The teacher ignored me and continued on with the lesson. It was about the history of dungeons but I already knew about it.

Since I had no ability to practice, I focused on education and studying in order to become as smart as possible. I wanted to make my mother proud since she works all day and night rarely coming home.

The reason why she stayed home today was that she finally got a break. Mom even considered still going to work in order to pay for our pitiful house but I told mom that she would end up like dad if she continued.

*sigh*

I placed my chin on the desk while trying to ignore the scornful glares I received.

First period passed, and then second, and then third, and then fourth, and then fifth, sixth, seventh. Strangely James never came to pick on me after the morning "routine". I was happy until some other kids beat me, eventually sending me to the infirmary again.

It was currently late in the afternoon and I just left the infirmary. I was on my way home when I heard footsteps from behind me. My body tensed up once again while I waited for another beating.

"Hey is your mom doing alright at home?" I hear a familiar voice come from behind me.

I turned around to see James once again with 5 lackeys this time. They slowly surrounded me while I tried to shrink back but the lackeys grabbed me by my shoulders.

James leaned towards me, to the point where I could feel his hot breath against my face.

"I heard she was taking a break from her job. Doesn't she need that job to pay for your survival? She has been coming every day to my dad's company for the past 2 years but now she decides to skip work?" James says.

"S-she just needed a break. I saw dark circles under her eyes. It was even her break day today," I stutter.

"Well it's alright," James says.

"I-it is,"

"It's alright because she can take a permanent break from now on," James says.

My heart dropped like a stone in a pond. The ripples on the water turned into emotions of anger and sadness that you couldn't stop. No matter how hard you tried to push back the waves it would continue forward.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN!?" I yell out completely forgetting about my position.

"What I'm trying to say is that your mom doesn't have a job anymore, you should watch over her in case she tries to commit suicide. Perhaps she might not be able to face you anymore due to her disappointing actions," James says with a smile.

Hearing his words, I thrashed around to get out of the lackey's grip and somehow managed to free myself.

...

"Boss, are you sure we should let her go like that?" said one of the lackeys.

"Of course, it's all part of the plan. I just can't wait to see her face of despair," James says.

…

Without turning back, I ran as fast as my legs could take me until I reached home. Slamming open the door I expected my mom to scold me for it but I heard nothing. Dead silence.

I entered the small bedroom that contained one singular bed where I and my mom always slept together in. Whenever I couldn't hide my emotions from the bullying, mom would always hug me while until I fell asleep. She didn't even know why I was crying but she still gave me all of her love and comfort.

A rope was attached to the ceiling and at the end of it was a beautiful woman about 5'8. She had long, blonde-white hair that flowed to her waist. Her normally pale skin was now dead pale because…

She was now hanging from the ceiling with a rope tied around her neck.

"M-mom… n-no… MOM! MOM! WAKE UP, MOM! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! PLEASE, MOM!" I burst out into tears while trying to take down the noose that was attached to the ceiling.

I wasn't tall enough to reach the ceiling so I got a chair from the living room and finally took her down. A lifeless body that used to be mom was now slumped in my arms.

I looked around frantically to try and find something that could possibly help her because I was desperate. Even though I knew she was dead I still tried. I didn't want to left alone. I loved mom too much.

While frantically looking around, I saw a piece of paper on the nightstand. I read it out loud and my heart started to sink even farther.

"My daughter. I've never loved you. The only reason I made sure to raise you was that I hooked up with a rich man and said that if I had a kid then he would come to get me,"

Mom would never write this. This isn't even her handwriting! It has to be that bastard's fault!

"How do you like our little present?" I hear James's voice come from behind me.

"YOU BASTARD-"

I was quickly cut off and dragged out of my house and into an alleyway. They beat me and cut me until I knew that I was going to die. This was the end and the last thing I was going to see was the satisfied smile of James.

Suddenly a black box with green text appeared in front of me. It was like a panel from the VR games that I learned of which was from 300 years ago.

[Would you like to become an Ancient Being?]