SE: A Tainted Soul, A Pure Promise

Chapter 1: The Escape

As the doors to the Academy swung open, I knew that I was in my rightful place.

I knew I could finally be me.

I struck each key of the concert grand in precision, sending elegant notes floating through the air around me, but the thoughts that filled my mind weren't, don't miss a note; only one word came to me and replayed...over and over again- escape. I needed to escape from it all; this house, this family, these damn expectations and the shadow of my older brother...I needed to rid myself of all of this. I had to leave now...but first, I had to throw this stupid piano recital.

"What the hell were you thinking, boy?" Father spit out at me. "The concert was going so beautifully and you slipped up! Why can't you be like Wes over there, huh?" He said as he pointed towards the violinist seated in the sofa behind him. "Why are you such a DUNCE?"

I rolled my crimson eyes away from his gaze. "Hey, do you mind not getting your damn saliva all over my face?" Hands suddenly clawed and squeezed my throat and I was lifted off of the ground being pulled closer to a tomato-faced man; it was getting difficult to breathe.

"FATHER, STOP!" Wes rescued me from the hostile grasp of our perfectionist parental figure. "Soul, apologize to Father for your mistake in your recital."

Disgusted with this request, I grimaced while rubbing my attacked gullet, "NEVER! No way in Hell would I ever apologize to that man! He means nothing to me! His desires mean nothing to me! This music crap, this family, this life, it all means NOTHING to me!" I had lost my cool; I was panting, trying to regain my breath from my outburst. "This is so uncool..."

The man who was already furious with me had now reached an all-new level of animosity. "You stupid boy! You should be grateful for everything I had to give up for a snot-nosed little brat like you!" I could see a pulsing vein on his forehead that looked as though it was ready to blowout.

Then, a sobbing, fragile voice had come from the doorway of the loathe-soaked suite. "That's enough...Leave Soul alone..." It was Mother. Her habitually vibrant eyes were puffy and her flawless cheeks were tear-streaked.

Father's expression and tone softened when he caught a glimpse of his wife's depressed state. "But, Dear, he must be chastised for his neglect to play well!"

"NO! He mustn't! Soul, Darling, come here, get away from your father." She beckoned me into her embrace. "He's a 16 year old boy, but you're treating him like some misbehaving puppy! Now leave him be!" I could feel her warm tears on my shoulder. "I will accompany you to your sleeping chamber, My Dear."

I had my back turned to my father- the man who brimmed my heart with resentment when I set my eyes on his horrid face and when I heard his despicable, raspy voice; the cold-shoulder was also continued to Wes- the man who's musical talents I deeply respected, and who I loved as he was my brother...but he was also the man who condemned me to a life of humiliation and criticism. I retreated to my room with my beautiful, loving mother, where she held me as I drowned in the anguish of this foolish existence and eventually, as I fell into slumber.

I'm going to leave the name Evans behind me. It will dissipate into the depths of my memories and will be long forgotten. I will no longer be Soul Evans. I... will start anew. Dreams of freedom washed over my consciousness; I was free of the punctilious dictations and the troubles of tonight, which had now been consigned to oblivion, but just for the evening, only to be conjured up once more when the morning sun arrives.

Why's my neck hurting? Groggily, I propped myself onto my elbow and found that I had fallen asleep in a cramped position on Mother's lap. So, that's it? No wait... An overwhelming rush of the previous night's events invaded my brain and I instinctively reached up to my throat which my father had tried to ripped out. My impulsive reaction had woken my warm-hearted parent up.

"Soul, Dear?" she pet my snowy hair and sweetly smiled. "Go bathe. You didn't get a chance to last ni-" she cut herself off and frowned, recalling the violent actions her husband had performed towards me.

"Eh, don't worry about it, Mom. I'm okay." I slid off of my bed and heard a 'tap' on the hardwood flooring. It was so chaotic, I didn't get a chance to change my cloths or even remove my shoes...

I got a towel and headed off to the bathroom. I took a relieving, sweltering shower and let it wash away the grief that I let come to the surface.

I can't help but to make an effort to devise some kind of idea to get out of this pathetic lifestyle. Go to the other side of town? No, they'd snuff me out to easily...leave the city? No... I need something more drastic...I need to go further than just settling across the metropolis...Then, it hit me.

I have a plan... I'm going to need some of the money in the family safe and I'll need a plane ticket to the US from England. Tonight, I'm going to make a break for it...and I'm not coming back.

But I must keep this to myself. Dad definitely can't know...Wes will only try to talk me out of it...and Mom...though it breaks my heart to leave my wonderful caretaker here, I can't tell her that I'm departing, or she'll force me into a change of heart with her weeping.

I smirked as I dwelled on my intentions, but I had to conceal my excitement from everyone... I had to...or I'll never leave this Hell-hole. I can't blow my cover...I'm done with all this shit. I'm done with dad and the critiques...and I'm done with being Wes' damn understudy. I need to stay my nonchalant self. Then, when I'm on new grounds, I can start my new life. That is when I'll celebrate.

After I threw a polo and some regular blue jeans on, I went downstairs for breakfast. Mmm, smells good. I wonder what the house chef is making... I went into the kitchen to see what was cooking up but was astonished when I found the person who was preparing the delicacies that had such a lovely aroma. "Mom, when did you know how to cook?"

"I wasn't always rich, Soul. I had to make food for myself when I was younger." She gave a tender grin which was contagious. "Here, try it. My mother used to make these for breakfast for me all the time when I was little." She handed me a plate that swaddled a golden brown crepe which seemed to be filled with a variety of fruits drenched in a sugary syrup. "Everything is from scratch. No prepackaged mixes." I must've appeared confused because she went further into detail, "it's when all the dry ingredients are already mixed together and you just have to add the liquid." She chuckled slightly under her breath and pinched my cheek, "You spoiled little rich boy. You gotta know your commoners'food."

I liked it when she pinched my face like that. Her fingertips were so delicate and never hurt me. It reminded me of when I was an innocent little tot...those were the days... I took a giant chomp out of the thin pancake and it was like eating Heaven. The chefs had made crepes before, but not nearly as delicious as this! "Wow, that is...tasty." I couldn't help but to drool as I stuffed my face with the rest of the hotcake. Mom giggled at me and gave me another one.

"Eat as much as you'd like. There's plenty." She kissed me on the forehead and continued her business on the stovetop.

She should cook this more often...oh, no...wait... Seeing the predicament of me fleeing, I was saddened. This would be the first and last time I would ever get have a home-cooked meal by my own mother... I looked up at her. Our crimson eyes locked and I asked, "can I have the recipe to this...? Y-you know, just in case I want to try to cook this?"

"Sure, sweetheart. Let me go write it down." As she strolled off, her silky vanilla locks plumed behind her and the thoughts of living alone flooded my head...I'd be without my mother...I'd be without her guidance. Misery swept at me, but I had no choice but to try to pushed it away.

Snap out of it, dammit! You won't have mother to being your handicap through everything! I shook off the melancholy wave just as mom had returned with a slip of paper.

"This is the recipe. Follow exactly what it says, okay?" She pinched my cheek once more and seemed to speak to herself, "oh, my little grew up so fast...I'm gonna miss you, my young chap..."

She's gonna miss me? What's that supposed to mean? Was she on to me? Panic embedded itself into my veins and I quickly shook off her stare. I looked at the note. Okay, good, it's just the recipe... I flipped it over and my heart skipped a my eyes deceiving me? Did she really write this? Last step- come back to visit me when you're settled into a family. I don't know what to feel. Devastated that she knows what I'm up to, or should I be ecstatic that she's fine with me leaving? "Mom, I-"

"It's okay, sweety...I'll buy you a plane ticket to where ever you want to go. But do you mind staying one more night here at home? I'll get you a flight for early morning." I only answered with a nod. I couldn't speak with this huge lump in my throat.

I didn't realize I was sobbing until Mother came over to caress my trembling self. "I love you, Mom...thank you..." Now I realized, I can't despise the name Evans completely, because I don't hate all of the Evans...

Just before dawn had broken, I had arrived at the airport with mom alongside me. I had only packed two bags that I could carry on my person-that's really all I needed, and I held in my right hand my ticket out of this hectic life. Departing time was 5AM and it was four forty-five. I need to start boarding now, so I said my last goodbye to Mother, one of the only people who had loved me for me, giving her a kiss on the cheek and folding her in my arms as she did the same. I'll see you again...when I'm married and have kids of my own...and a beautiful wife...then I'll come to see you again, just as you want.

I'm turning over a new leaf. A new life is waiting for me. A place where no one knows who I am and where people will judge me by their own experience, not by comparison to my sibling.

I was on my way to the United States. I was on my way to Death City, Nevada.