BeyShadows
Chapter One: The Beginning
I yawned as I clambered out of my musty bed. I sighed, looking at the disaster that was my room. "Time for another laundry day soon…" I mumbled quietly to myself. My room was filled with dust, the stench of dirty old clothes, littered with garbage and clutter. I grabbed my beyblade and quickly retreated from my room, avoiding masses of junk scattered throughout my parent's house. This isn't really 'my' place. I just sleep here sometimes. My parents always run around like maniacs, going from job to job. Nobody in my family has time for me. I don't really care anyhow, I have my own home. It's been like this for a long time now, ever since I was five. As soon as I was able to take care of myself, my parents stopped looking after me. It's not bad though. It's a good thing. Parents who care about you are annoying, and are always too obsessed with where you go or what you do. My parents were going to visit my sister for Christmas. 'Oh joy.' It's not like Christmas was different from any other day of the year. I'd be out with my gang, stay out as long as I wanted, and heat up some leftovers for a 'wonderful' Christmas supper.
"Oh shit! I'm gonna be late!" I yelled, looking at my watch. I grabbed my jacket and sprinted out the door. I made it just barely. I panted as I climbed into the bus. I was covered in snow already! I didn't even get bombarded from everybody with snowballs yet! I really do hate snow…especially when everybody throws it at me. Six against one aren't exactly the most favourable odds.
The bus finally pulled into the chaos that is downtown Toronto. I sniffed the air. It reeked of freshly used spray paint, and I smelled the stench of the dead fish coming off the harbour. I looked around me – smashed windows, spray painted buildings, and garbage covered streets. 'Yup, this is my place!' I thought joyfully to myself. It's not like I didn't blend in there either. I wore a dark green shirt; which was mainly hidden by my unbuttoned, black leather jacket. The sleeves were frayed off, exposing the skin on my thin arms to the bitter winter chill. I also wore baggy jeans that were WAY too big for me. I fixed that problem by fastening a black belt with a silver chain hanging off it around them. I had black leather gloves with little silver spikes on them, and spiked bangles on each wrist to match my jacket. I tied my scruffy black hair back in a low, loose ponytail. I'm not nearly as bulky and muscular as most of the people that hang out here…I looked skinny, and pale. My emerald green eyes glinted as I grinned and walked towards the docks.
Peracks and the others were already there, waiting on me, as usual. Peracks loves to state the obvious. "You're late." He chirped. His unusually high, perky voice seemed to ring throughout the docks. "Yup, sorry about that." I replied. I greeted all of my fellow friends; Zack, Talen, Chris, Matt, Laritt, and of course Peracks, the undisputable leader of the group. Peracks wore a long blood red jacket that stretched down to his knees; his hair was long and untidy, like mine, only he always braided it. He had creepy, piercing, crystal blue eyes. He had muscular arms, but was thin, like me. He was wearing an ebony turtleneck under his jacket, and wore skin tight black jeans. He had a crimson bandana wrapped around his head, probably to keep his bushy bangs out of the way. The others dressed much more plainly; blue jeans, dark coloured sweatshirts, and gloves or bandanas. Most of them were fit and muscular, and had scars and scraps from getting into various fights.
I wondered silently why they didn't all bombard me with snowballs; usually I'd be on the ground suffering an icy assault by now. Peracks's devious grin told me he had different plans for me today. "What?" I asked in a somewhat nervous tone. I scanned the snickering group for any answers or clues to what was going on. "Well…." Peracks began. "What!" I repeated angrily. They're just trying to get on my nerves! Sheesh, you'd think they'd spit it out already! I thought to myself. "You haven't won a single match since you started beyblading! You're pathetic!" Zack cried, howling in laughter. I felt my anger rising as I stared at the laughing group. I sighed, and then shrugged, "The truth hurts." I said dramatically, putting my arm over my forehead. My anger disintegrated as I continued my melodramatic performance. "Alas, I haven't a single victory yet…but fear not my truant team mates! For I promise thee, I swear to thee, that in my next battle I will triumph over my opponent and obliterate him into ashes! For as long as I have all my loyal company by my side, nothing can prevent me from glory!"
Peracks chuckled; I could see he was amused by my performance. Smiling, I bowed as dramatically as possible; and THEN was hit about seven snowballs. I immediately fell down. Now the annual snowball fight of the day was coming. I wouldn't give up, and it'd end in me either going unconscious, being pushed into the icy water, being caught and held down until I was forced to surrender.
"Have at thee, traitors!" I yelled at the six of them. They all laughed and pitched snowballs at me. I achieved my daily goal of beaning Peracks in the face; then was quickly pinned down by him. "I will never surrender! My honour is at stake!" I cried out. "Yeah yeah, cut the act, Shakespeare." Peracks said with a grin. I winked at him, "Yes, your highness, I mean, kingliness." I smirked. Peracks smiled and helped me up. "Gonna recite poetry for us now, Romeo?" Zack called.
"You are unworthy of hearing it, young Zackery." I taunted him.
"DON'T call me THAT!" Zack yelled in anger.
"As you wish….Zackery" I grinned, but that instantly turned to a scream as he started to chase me.
"All right! He's had enough for now, Zack!" Peracks shouted.
Zack looked at me reluctantly, sighed deeply, and turned away towards the others.
"Go on ahead! We'll catch up." Peracks instructed to the five. They nodded and went towards the warehouse, the place where we all hang out. I had a feeling that this little talk between me and him wasn't going to be a good thing.
"Well, I'll get to the point." He said immediately. I gulped.
"You really haven't won a single match, ever since you started blading. I like having you here and all. You've got guts, and a great spirit. But, you're embarrassing us by lose' in all the time! We're gonna to become a laughing stock soon. Nuthin' but a joke."
"Sorry, I can't really help it..." I stared down at my blade. The white blade had an odd nail chipped into it here and there. The metal was cracked. The beyblade was totalled. Peracks sighed. "You've gotta fix your blade! I've told ya million times!" He shouted.
"I've been trying! It ain't really my thing…fixing things. Come on! You can't kick me out Peracks!" I begged.
"I don't wanna kick you out Alex! I can't help you fix it, ya gotta learn! Even if I offered, you wouldn't take my help, would ya?"
"Nope" I answered with a smile.
Surprisingly, he smiled back. "That's why I like you – guts and determination!"
I grinned, "I'll try and fix it now!"
"Alright, I'll give you some time. You've surprised me before, and I hope ya surprise me again."
"Got it!" I said with confidence.
I watched him run back to the warehouse. I sighed, my confidence vanished. I knew all too well I couldn't fix my blade. I decided to see if last nights repairs worked. I took my beaten up launcher and launched my blade. "So far so good…" I said to myself. It launched without breaking. It was slow – even the most inexperienced bladers could beat me. I cringed as the slight wind knocked my blade down. Tears filled my eyes, "It's hopeless!" I cried. I sat there in utter misery, tears trickling down my face.
That's when it happened, that's when I received the darkest possession ever. It would change my life. I heard I strange voice behind me. "You blade?" I leapt up and whirled around. I saw a dark figure; he was wearing tattered black clothes. His skin was pale and had a hot black glow coming from it. I gasped in utter horror. I could feel the heat radiating from his skin. I swayed, and suddenly felt warm and feverish. I stared into his eyes; they were a deep crimson red; it almost looked like his eyes were bleeding from all the traces of various lines etched across them. I was locked in a fiery gaze. I tried to turn and run, but it was if some force was holding me there, staring into those blood shot eyes that seemed to dance and sparkle as utter madness shone through them. My throat became dry and scratchy. I began to sweat and tremble. I opened my mouth in a feeble attempt to say something, but no sound came out. A wide grin of insanity spread across the dark man's face. He reached his hand out and grabbed my arm. I cringed. The heat from his arm was incredible; it couldn't be humanly possible for anybody to be this hot. If they were, they would be dead. I cried out as I felt his grip tighten. The dark heat spread throughout my entire body, like some sort of unimaginable disease. I was helpless as he pried my hand open effortlessly and placed a beyblade and launcher in it. Then he released me. I broke my gaze and glanced at the blade and launched in everlasting confusion. I looked upon the person once more. His grin widened, then without warning, he tore off down the street, laughing like a lunatic. He staggered, gripping his hair, but continually moving away from me. "Hey, um, wait!" I hollered as I bolted after him. The strange man whipped around and smirked as he retreated into an alleyway. As
soon as I looked down the alleyway, it was a dead end. I gaped at the beyblade I had received. "What the hell..?"
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