Chapter 1: The Cave

Tom stared out at all the other children from beneath the shade of the willow. None of the other children came near him, which was fine. This was how he liked it. He didn't want to be bothered with their drool conversations or their petty concerns. Tom didn't have friends… Well, not the traditional kind. The children his age were afraid of him and ever since the incident with the hamster would not come near him. The older children and himself were engaged in a sort of battle of wills, but that was going to end today.

Tom Riddle was an orphan, but not an ordinary orphan by any means. He had secrets. He had power. And someday soon the misery that was inflicted upon him would be paid back in full. Unlike most children his age, Tom was patient.

Darren Mills was just your run-of-the-mill bully. He was big and not very bright. However, that was okay, since he had muscle to back up his muscle. Darren didn't like Tom. Tom had a hard time doing what he was told, but that, Darren thought was going to stop today. Tom was going to learn his place. Darren looked down at his watch. Oh yes, it's time.

"Time to meet your maker, Riddle," Darren and his lackeys surrounded Tom under the willow.

Tom tried to look solemn, but he was giddy on the inside. He couldn't quite hide the slight smirk on his face or the gleam of anticipation in his eyes. Tom stood up. The older boys towered over him; then again kids his age towered over him, so it wasn't much of an accomplishment. Tom was 9, small with an almost delicate build. His black hair was a little long in the front and often fell into his eyes tangling with his black lashes.

"Riddle me this, Tom, where's your back-up?" Darren asked. His two lackeys laughed, they were both blond with large teeth and both of their names started with a P (Phil and Pete). Some people thought they were brothers, but no one actually knew.

"They're going to meet us in the cave," Tom answered matter-of-factly.

Darren and the 2Ps stared at Tom for a while. Everyone knew Tom didn't have any friends. "Bollocks," Darren finally said laughing.

"Well, we should head to the cave anyway. I imagine we'll need the privacy." Tom stated, heading off without waiting for a reply.

Darren felt uneasy. His stomach churned and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. However, he was only 11 years old and he had yet to learn to trust his instincts. So, he followed Tom and the 2Ps followed him. The walk to the cave was a bit of a hike and the further they headed the more uneasy Darren became, his fight or flight reflexes were beginning to kick in and he was ready to fly, but he couldn't run, not now. He'd never hear the end of it.

Finally they arrived at the cave. Tom walked in about 15 feet and then leaned against a wall. Darren relaxed. It was just a cave, nothing to worry about. He didn't know what he had expected. Something sinister perhaps? Looking into the cave and seeing nothing helped him regain his confidence. He walked into the cave with the 2Ps with the utmost confidence.

" Riddle, where are your friends?" Darren took an intimidating step towards Tom.

However, Tom did not answer him, at least not in a language that he could understand. Tom was hissing. Harsh sounds that he made in the back of his throat.

"What's he doing?" Phil asked frightened. "Shut him up! Shut him up!"

Darren punched Tom and he fell to the ground, but he did not stop. So, Darren jumped on top of him and grabbed his shoulders and began slamming Tom's small frame into the stone floor. He yelled for him to shut up, but Tom wouldn't.

Suddenly, Tom stopped and he began to laugh, but the hissing didn't stop. It seemed to have pierced into the very walls of the cave. Pete was the first to see them, but it was already too late. They were on them. Four large anacondas had slithered out of the darkness and slammed their large bodies into Darren and the 2Ps. The smallest anaconda lovingly caressed Tom's face. They began to converse and shove each other playfully. Tom, in those stolen moments in the cave looked exactly like what he was, a nine-year old boy. His carefree laughter made Darren's, Phil's, and Pete's flesh crawl.

"If you struggle they'll just hold you tighter," Tom started. "So don't. The point of today is not to kill you. Besides, they already ate, so it would be wasteful." Tom strokes the snake by his side. "Nagini hasn't eaten though. Would you like to see how they feed? It's really fascinating. Quite fascinating." Tom stared down at the smallest anaconda and seemed to have come to a decision. After hissing something to the snakes he got up and made his way to the entrance of the cave. Darren made a straggled cry that gave Tom pause. He looked at the three boys encircled by snakes. They looked truly terrified. This bothered Tom; he began to wonder if he gone too far. Then again, what was the use of having power if you never used it? Besides, if the situation was reversed…Tom did not doubt that he would be the encased in a snake if Darren had his abilities. The question of what he should do, however, remained. Should he let them go? If he let them go would his goals still be accomplished? What if they weren't?

At that moment Nagini slithered up to him and hissed, "You cannot show weakness. The only thing living beings understand is strength. It is the only thing that they respect. Show compassion and it will always be sensed in you." At Nagini's words Tom gained new resolve. What's the point of half doing anything, he reasoned.

Tom left the cave and came back with a gray rabbit with chocolate eyes. Tom cooed softly to the bunny in his arms until the animal slowly began to calm down. Then the rabbit caught sight of the large snakes and once again began to panic. He jumped frantically from Tom's arms to find himself suspended in midair. Darren, Phil, and Pete watched as the animal struggled against the invisible hold. Darren hoped to pass out, but he remained stubbornly conscious.

Tom did not realize that he was torturing Darren, Phil, and Pete at this moment. Whether it would have made a difference, I cannot tell you, but I can tell you that it was not his intention. He was still in the early stages of his development and he had yet to learn how to empathize with the feelings of others. Of course, when he did eventually learn empathy he would do everything in his power to destroy it. At this point, however, he did not fully understand the impact of watching an anaconda devour its food, while being wrapped in an anaconda.

The day passed leisurely for Tom. He and Nagini laughed, talked, and played word games (Nagini was too full to do anything else). It was the best day he had had in a while. And for him, it was over too soon. Tom looked out at the sky and knew he could not put it off any longer. It was time to go. He stood up and looked at his prisoners.

"Alright, it's time to go," Tom began. "But just so we are clear, you do what I say or the next time we meet like this you're going to get hurt. Don't tell anyone about my friends here or… well, you can use your imagination. Do you understand?"

Darren, Phil, and Pete nodded frantically; none of them trusted their voice enough to venture speaking. Tom hissed and they were released from the snakes' hold. Their muscles were sore and various body parts asleep, but they scrambled and stumbled as they tried to put as much distance between themselves and that cave as possible.

Tom laughed and lingered as he said goodbye to his friends. He hummed to himself as he made his way back to the main park area. One battle won.