Chapter One: DELIVERANCE

Disclaimer: This story contains graphic content, including sexual violence, blood and gore, swearing, and other forms of mature content.

With that said, enjoy the story.

Life sucked.

This school sucked.

The bullies sucked.

His family sucked.

This whole fucking world sucked.

"Move it, fuckhead!"

I felt myself shoved to the ground as Franklin, a 6'2" tall black guy, pushed me aside, seemingly chasing after some hoodlum that stole his AirPods.

"Fucking meathead." I muttered angrily, before getting back up again and continuing down the hallway.

This whole facility was something that only a politician could call a 'school'. The linoleum floor was lined with cracks, the paint on the walls were chipped and worn, and parts of the ceiling were filled with shit that people threw at it, from pencils and scissors to other sharp objects, as some stupid game. A few people had been injured by the materials that fell down from it, and often times the ambulance had to show up to deal with serious injuries.

It wasn't a far stretch to assume then that the teachers and students were just as crusty, corrupted and degenerative as the school they lived in, which they were. If any learning was accomplished at Raven High, it was understanding just how cruel life was, especially when considering that almost no one in this school went a day without some form of bullying, as if it was a damn hierarchy.

Of course, this wasn't particularly surprising for an inner-city school, especially in a place like Dallas. Between the Mexicans, Blacks and Whites that dominated the racial makeup, the whole place was just screaming for a racially-charged gang war at all times.

Whatever, I can leave at lunch, I thought morosely to myself. I had Early Release since I was a Senior at the high school, and D lunch meant that I could just slip right out the doors of this pathetic establishment and go home.

I couldn't help but sigh in relief. Finally, at home, I could be with them again.

Monika.

Sayori.

Natsuki.

Yuri.

I loved all four of those girls. I wasn't sure why or when I got such an addiction to them. Maybe it was their personalities, or their mannerisms. Something about them just gave me so much joy, so much...ease.

"Hey, Rye Bread, it's time for your payment, honey pie."

I felt dread crawl up his spine as he heard the flamboyant voice. I looked up to see Surly, an average-sized white male, making his way towards me with two henchmen following behind him. Aside from some rather regular clothing, he wore a green scarf around his wrist, a sign that he was in the Leafed Clovers gang.

I had a particular hatred and fear of Surly, and for one good reason.

"Come now, Rye..." He pushed me up against a locker, placing one hand on the lockers while using his other to trace his finger down my stomach towards my crotch. "...Or you'll have to pay in another way."

I was extremely discomforted by his sexual harassment, but I didn't dare try and do anything physical against him, as I would make a surefire enemy of the gang, and that would be a death wish.

"I-I have it, just please...stop." I muttered, looking to the side.

I felt Surly's hand reach into my pants and grab me inappropriately, and I wanted to scream for help and run away. Surly brought his face up to mine.

"Oh my, I think you've grown since last time we talked. Tell me, where's the payment, twink?"

I quickly took out my wallet and pulled out $20, handing it with shaky arms to Surly, who took it with an expression of disappointment.

"Aw, I really wanted to get a peek at your lovely shaft, Rye." He sighed as he stuffed the $20 in his pocket. "Oh well...maybe next time, huh?"

With that, he continued down the hallway, followed closely by his henchmen.

I didn't take another moment to fast walk to the exit of the building and make my way out into the cold, January air. With no one watching me, I began running towards the parking lot behind the school, trying to hide the few tears that were surfacing in my eyes.

Finally, home, I thought in relief. Another day away from that hellhole. It was only one more day until the weekend, in which I had two whole days to himself and my favorite group of people.

As I got off his bike, I made sure to chain it to the rail next to my apartment, stashing the key in my pocket. I began making my way up the steps of my apartment, before opening the door to my place.

"Goddamn it, you dumb bitch! I said wheat bread, not rye!"

I immediately felt a strong anger begin to build into my gut as I heard my stepfather's deep, scratchy voice fill the apartment. I rounded the corner to see him sitting at the small, wooden table in the kitchen, his hands rubbing his hair in frustration. In the corner, I witnessed my petite mother, watching my stepfather with that sad expression that she always had.

"I forgot. I'm sorry."

"You've been sorry for the last five times!" He groaned in frustration, getting up from his chair and walking over to the fridge, opening it and pulling out a beer. "Whatever, I'll go eat out again. Fucking hell."

Why don't you take your sorry ass with you? I thought in anger. Of course, I didn't dare voice this out loud. I remembered the consequences last time I said something like that.

Just as my stepfather was closing the fridge door, his black, beady eyes flickered towards me, and he grumbled.

"Speaking of rye..."

He twisted the cap of the cheap beer and took a swig before making his way over to me.

"How was school, kid?"

I wasn't fooled by his seemingly caring nature towards me. For some reason, he treated me with an actually decent level of respect, but his treatment of my mother was almost the opposite. I had no idea what made him treat me like an actual human being, but I couldn't dare call him anything but scum, considering the way he disregarded my mother's well-being.

Then again...

Whenever he got seriously drunk, he'd go off on a rampage, often beating both me and my mother as he screamed about some other family. It wasn't long after the first time that I had pieced together that he had a previous family. However, from what fragmented jumble came out of his mouth, it seemed like he had lost his son and wife in a car crash, and apparently had a strong love for his son.

Maybe he was trying to find that same source of a son in me, but it was sickening to think that I was some replacement to him. I couldn't believe my mom brought him to our apartment that one night. Of course, he did help contribute a fair amount of money to the household, but that didn't make his abuse and bitter nature any more reasonable.

"It was fine. Got a 95 on my Physics test."

I felt a hard smack on my back as my stepfather gave me a hard slap on the shoulders, and nearly keeled over from the hit.

"That's what I'm talkin' about, bud! See, Macy, this kid is smart! He's got the brains to be a wonderful engineer or some shit like that!"

My mother nodded, and for a moment I saw pride in her eyes, before it faded back to that same sad expression she wore constantly.

"Anyways, kid," My stepdad continued. "I'm gonna go out for a little bit. If I find a strip club along the way, I'll make sure to bring you some time as a reward!" He laughed raucously, though I found the joke to be in extremely poor taste, considering he was saying that in front of my mother.

With one more greasy smile towards me, he made his way out the door, beer in one hand and car keys in the other.

Doon.

As the door closed, I looked over at my mother, who was already taking up the sandwich and putting it in the fridge. Without a greeting, I made my way up the stairs to my bedroom.

Every day, I imagine-

I snapped awake to the sound of 'Your Reality' buzzing on my phone. I looked over at the time.

8:00

I sighed. Only two more hours to do whatever before I was to get to bed. I had taken a short nap, seemingly out of exhaustion, when I had gotten to my bed. Then again, there wasn't much else to do in my life. Usually, I browsed the Reddit section for DDLC, looked at memes, or played some Steam games on my PC.

I tapped the alarm button on my phone to stop the playing of the soundtrack and got up from my bed, looking out my window at the view of the streetside. A few people were making their way down the streets, and cars passed by, their tires muffled by my closed window. I grabbed the ledge of the window and pushed it up, as I always had the bustling city life as my 'white noise' for sleeping.

Of course, I wanted to do some stuff on my computer before I went to bed.

I bent down to press the power button for my PC, feeling a slight satisfaction from seeing the blue light glow from the inside. During Senior year, I had done one small task for the Crown Phoenix Gang in my school, delivering some drugs to one of their clerks, in exchange for some cash. I was baffled with the amount they had given me, and I decided to treat myself to buying a good gaming PC with the money. Of course, I made sure to not get involved in that business again, tempting as it was, as I knew that once I was in, there would be no escaping it.

I looked up at my monitor, and after a few minutes, I had gotten into the computer. I loaded up a drawing program I used, and came face to face with a half-finished picture of Monika, Sayori, Natsuki and Yuri, sitting around a table and looking at me with joy on their faces. I smiled at myself.

I had spent over two months trying to make the work. I had spent an egregious amount of time perfecting each and every little detail, from the shadows to the fizz of the foam that came out of the sodas on the table. Though it was only halfway done, I could already see the image in my head.

"Welp, it's time to get to work."

Beep, beep.

I looked over to see my digital clock going off. It was 10:00. I sighed, crossing my arms on the desk and placing my head on top, closing my eyes. I had worked hard this time round, and actually gotten some work done. The drawing still had a long way to go, but I thought that it achieved just a little more progress today.

I couldn't help but smile to myself. In this shitty world filled with shitty people, the only bright lights in my life were always with me.

...

...

...

Do you wish to see them?

I was at first confused by the sudden voice. It was almost like it wasn't speaking, but at the same time I could hear it. I felt that maybe I had fallen into some dream, so I decided to go along with it.

Yes, I thought.

In real life?

Yes. Absolutely.

Would you do...anything...to achieve that?

...Of course.

I shall grant you this one wish, in exchange...

I waited to hear what he had to say. I could feel my heart pumping out of my chest, which was odd for this very surreal dream.

...Let me in to your body, your SOUL, so that I may take over this world.

I almost couldn't help but laugh. This sounded so much like some B-rated movie villain. And yet, its metaphysical voice was so chilling and grating that I didn't even think about dissing it in any way.

Of course, this had to be a dream, so I figured, Why not?

Okay. I grant you permission.