Chapter 1

On a chilly August morning a tall man with crew-cut blonde hair and piercing blue eyes drug his 10 year old son across the large well-kept lawn to a huge white box like building.

"I don't wanna go here daddy!" the small blonde boy yelled as he tried to free his wrist from his father's vice-like grip.

His father stopped walking and turned slightly to glare at his boy. The sound of a hand hitting flesh permeated the air. "Dammit Mihael! Just shut your damn mouth! You will stay here until you can learn to behave!" An intimidating aura radiated from the man as he glared down at his son.

Mihael hung his head so that his hair covered his eyes. He held a hand to his reddening cheek. "Screw you..." he muttered.

Mihael's father simply scoffed and started dragging him along again. The two reach a large black wrought iron gate. A high brick wall surrounded the premises. On the left brick pillar a bronze slate read "Wammy's Child Help Center." A speaker and call button was on the right pillar. The man pressed the button.

"Hello, please state your business." came the reply. It was a woman's voice, and she sounded rather bubbly for working in a place like this, in mihael's opinion.

"I have an appointment with Dr. Ortiz in regards to my son."

"Names please."

"Anton Kheel, and my son Mihael Kheel."

"Alrighty..." there was a short pause. "Ah here ya'll are! You're his 11 o'clock. Just a sec and I'll buzz ya'll in."

A low buzz was heard and the gates swung open. "Come on Mihael." The blonde boy followed mutely behind his father. As they reached the large white double doors leading into the building, they opened to reveal a smiling young woman of medium height with her black hair pulled into a ponytail high on her head. She was dressed in light green scrubs with tiger all over them. Mihael guessed she was around 27ish. She smiled pleasantly, hugging her clipboard to her chest. "Hello my name is Casey!" She looked at mihael, "It's nice to meet you Mihael. Now if you'll both follow me I'll take you to Dr. Ortiz's office." Casey turned and led them into the building.

"Now," Casey began as they walked, "we'll be crossing through the patients' common room, but don't worry, they won't bother you."

Soon they reach the common room Casey mentioned. There were a handful of children in the room. The room was spacious with and octagonal shaped skylight filling the space with lots of natural light. Shelves lined with puzzles and various books were along the right wall. Some bean bags, large pillows, and a 12 seater couch sat in the middle of the room in front of a flat screen tv surrounded by a thick plastic case. None of the kids in the room looked over 11, and the youngest looked to be around 7.

Anton looked at the kids with disgust. "How old are the children you work with?"

Casey thought for a minute. "We work with all ages up till 18. I believe the youngest we have at the moment are 7."

Mihael kept his eyes locked on the floor. A blue of red flashes across the corner of his vision.

"CAAAAASEY!"

Mihael looked up to see a small boy with bright red hair clinging to Casey's waist.

She laughed and ruffled the boys hair. "Good morning Matt! Did you like the Gameboy Games i got you?""

"YES! They were great!"

Anton cleared his throat. "Can we move along now? I don't have all day."

Matt pulled away from Casey a little. His bright green eyes landed on mihael and he rushed over to the blonde smiling brightly. "Hi I'm Matt! What's your name?! Are you gunna be staying here?!"

"That's none of your business..." Mihael mumbled softly.

"Why don't you run along now Matt?" Casey suggested.

"Mkay!" The red head ran off.

Anton growled softly. "Let's go!"

Casey rolled her eyes and led them out of the room and through multiple hallyways until they arrived at a bright blue door. She knocked.

"Yes, who is it?" A man's voice said.

"Your 11 o'clock is here sir."

"Alright you may enter."

Casey opened the door. "Have fun you two!" She smiled at Mihael before walking away.

Anton shoved Mihael into the room and followed in behind him.

The room had one window looking out onto the grounds. A few pictures hung on the wall showing the doctor and his family and him and multiple children. There was a beige colored couch in front of the window paired with a small oak coffee table housing a lap beside the couch. Two plush beige armchairs were positioned in front of a large and cluttered oak desk. Sitting at the desk was a middle-aged man with brown hair cut close to his head. He looked up from his computer screen and pushed his glasses up on his nose. "Hello I'm Dr. Ortiz. And you must be Anton and Mihael. Please have a seat." He gestured to the two chairs in front of his desk. The two sat.

The doctor turned his chair so that he was fully facing them. "Now let's get down to business." He said looking to Anton. "On the phone you mentioned wanting to put Mihael in our care for a while. Why is that?"

Anton put on his 'I'm a super concered parent' face and responded, "I'm worried for Mihael's well-being. You see...well the best way to describe him is, he's a time bomb. Quite literally too. If tere is something that irratates him to a certain point he will snap and 'explode' so to speak."

Dr. Ortiz thought for a moment. "That is quite natural for a child his age. But if he is as bad as you say when he snaps, why not take him to a councelor?"

"Well, i have before. About a year ago. But, he wouldnt respond to her and she couldnt suggest any medication or doctors because she had never witnessed what happens when he 'snaps'. I worry about him...a few years ago when he was 7 there was a little girl in his first grade class that would pick on him, you know in the way little kids do..." Anton paused dramatically.

Mihael looked down at the floor remembering that day. He also remembered what had happened the day before, but knew his father wouldn't say anything about it.

"And Mihael got fed up with her teasing...they were doing an art project in class that day and had scissors. Mihael threw his scissors at her...and they impaled her left eye. She know has a glass eye at the age of 10."

Dr. Ortiz looked at Mihael. "Is all of that true?"

"Yes sir..." He said quietly.

"Hmm...well that does seen serious. But, i can't fully admit him into our care without seeing this myself...However to ease your mind a little about his safety I can hold him for 2 weeks for observation and some 1 on 1 counceling with our personel. Is that alright?"

Yes Dr. Ortiz. Thank you very much, ill be able to sleep much easier now knowing he is safe."

'Psh yea...keep up the good charade father...you don't care...' At that thought a memory resurfaced in Mihael's mind. Mihael at age 7 an down the stairs of his 2 story home. He was dressed in a new pair of jeans and a red tshirt with a blue dinosaur on it. A backpack filled with school supplies was on his back and new Nike sneakers were on his feet. His blonde hair hung to about the middle of his ears. "Daddy! I'm leaving for school now see ya later!"

Anton stopped him as he was about to go out the door.

"What's the matter?" Mihael asked seeing the scowl on his father's face. "Dadd-!" Mihael yelped and fell backwards as his father's fist collided with his cheek.

"You disgust me Mihael. You look just like that whore of a mother you had." Anton turned away from Mihael and walked back to the living room where he had been watching tv a few minutes earlier.

Mihael lay on the floor for a few minutes in shock and pain. This wasn't the first time his father had insulted him, but it was the first time he had ever hit him. Mihael went to school that day wondering what he had did wrong and decided he would fix it so he would never be hit again. He didn't know just how wrong he was. Things only escolated from there growing into things much more painful.

Tears slowly slid down Mihael's cheeks as painful memories flashed behind his eyes.

Dr. Ortiz was to involved with getting the papers filled out to notice the inner turmoil clearly painted on the young boys face.

Soon all the proper paperwork had been filled out, signed, and filed away. "Thank you so much doctor." Anton smiled. "I want a call every few days about how he's doing."

"Of course. That won't be a problem at all." Dr. Ortiz looked at Mihael who was sitting in his chair with his head down. His tears had stopped by then. "Don't be upset or scared Mihael, you'll like it here." He smiled kindly at the boy and stood up.

Anton followed suit, and Mihael did the same although a bit more hesitantly. "Can i have a few minutes to say goodbye?" He asked the doctor?

"Sure, I'll be back in a few minutes. Take your time."

Anton sneered down at Mihael. You better act crazy and stay here for a good long while. I don't want you back in my house ever again. Understand you little bitch?"

"Yes father..." Mihael said the title as if it was poison.

"Good." When Dr. Ortiz came back Anton hugged Mihael tightly "Rememner what i said." He said threateningly in Mihael's ear.

Dr. Ortiz and Mihael followed him to the door and watched him leave. The doctor then held a hand out for Mihael. "Ready to go see your new room?"