Chapter 1
"Welcome Home General." Greets our butler.
Hearing the soft footsteps echoing in our quiet house, I take a peek from my doorway wanting to see who arrived. There I see at the entrance the black haired man I have learned to despise.
"He's home." I sigh, as fear envelops my being.
I have been forced to call that man "Father" ever since I was 4. I used to enjoy calling said man with that label, but after the great tragedy in our home, I now have nothing but resentment for the man. I wanted nothing but to spite him & throw curses at him for ruining all that I have come to believe, but I also know deep inside that I have no choice but to swallow my pride to be able to survive.
"Where is the boy?" speaks Father.
"He's in his room sir." Our butler answers hesitantly.
Hearing nothing more than the continuous echoing of footsteps. I quietly close my door and crawls onto my bed. Pulling the covers over my body, I pretend it is a shield that can protect me from the monsters that lingers around; I close my eyes waiting for the dreamless sleep to come.
I used to be a heavy sleeper, but now, even the slightest movement can wake me up, so when I heard my door creaking slowly, alertness overcomes me. I knew immediately that no one would dare enter this room at this time in the night except for that man. I curl myself into a ball, hoping that the person entering my room will see how small I am and simply leave. Yet I know deep inside that this is nothing but wishful thinking. I sense a presence hovering over me, and before I can react, I was pulled from the comfort of my sheets forcefully. Feeling a stinging sensation on my left cheek, I dare not to look at the cause. Stinking of alcohol, the monster brought his face close to mine,
"Pack your things in 5 minutes or your dead." He orders, dropping me without care on the wooden floor.
Hastily grabbing my suitcase while ignoring the thin sheet of blood from my cheek, I pack my clothes with the things that are important to me. Within the time limit, I finish the instruction he gave. He eyes me with contempt as I lower my head.
"From this day on, you will no longer be living in this house. You are to transfer in the dormitory of Magnolia University. There you will do nothing but study everything they are to teach you until the day you graduate. Hopefully, you will be more useful than this useless being you now call self at the end of their program." Father instructs giving me one hard shove, and then he leaves the room.
Slowly, I release the breath I'm unaware of holding, and very quietly I sit on my bed. Ignoring any mild pain my physical body is emitting, I scan my room searching for anything I might have missed packing in haste. As if seeing my room for the first time, I see how plain and lonely this room looks like. The paint on the wall is chipped, the ceiling has yellow stains, and the furniture is old & shedding. There are no decorations of any kind in the room, not even a single wall clock is present. One would think an old man owns this room, instead of a teenager. The only indication of life is the small shelf filled with books I rarely read, the small closet containing clothes, a wooden side table that has nothing but a single picture frame.
"Damn it!" my mind curses.
How could I forget the two most important things in this room? I open the drawer of my side table; there before my eyes is my white scarf. Gently, I take it, feeling its soft fabric in my hands; I allow my mind to recall a good memory, as a small smile creeps upon my face. But before my mind can wander any further, I was pulled away from my musings by small footsteps echoing behind my doorway. I quickly fold the scarf, and together with the picture frame I place them in my suitcase. The door opens revealing the butler, he motions for me to follow him, and silently I comply.
Stepping out of the house I lived in for 14 years, I embrace the cold breeze. The butler opens for me the passenger door of a black Mercedes Benz. Stepping inside the vehicle, I hear the engine roar,
"It's time to leave" the driver notifies.
With one last look, I peek at the house I once called home. To many this place will look like an extravagant mansion that only a few privileged people can acquire. Some will even envy anyone living in a palace-like house expecting nothing but good things inside. But to me, that house has been nothing but a giant cell, filled with scary memories better left forgotten.
My Name is Natsu Dragneel and that is the only thing everyone is allowed to know. Closing my eyes, I let sleep overtake me knowing that once I wake up, nothing will ever be the same again.
"You must be Mr. Dragneel. It is a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to Magnolia University's Boys Dormitory." The dorm patron greets, offering a handshake.
I accept his welcome and handshake, but keeps my head low.
"Here are the keys to your room, and the dormitory booklet. This book contains the rules & regulations in this dorm and we require everyone staying here to memorize them." He continues seeing no further reaction from me.
"Your Father, requested a single room for you to ensure that you will have no distractions while studying but you will have neighbors. In case any of them becomes a bother, kindly report them to me, and we will immediately solve the problem. Freshmen Assembly will start tomorrow, first thing in the morning. I have already talked to your father, and he made me aware of your condition, despite this, we hope that you will choose to be yourself & have fun." He finishes with a smile.
I nod in acknowledgement to what he said, but I keep my mouth shut. I can see his eyes examining me, so I gave him one last bow then takes my things for a leave.
"Condition? Oh yeah… Father informs necessary people about my existence. He 'informs' them that I'm half mad." I smile at my thoughts.
"401, 402..." I count the door-numbers in the 4th floor hallway. "Ah! Here it is, 407" my mind declares. Inserting the key to unlock my room door, I hear shouting coming from the stairs.
"What the hell Gajeel?! How stupid can you be? School hasn't even started yet and you're telling me you lost our damn room key?!"
"The fuck you blaming me for?! It's not my fault you were in a hurry to leave!"
I see two heads climbing up the stairs. One of them, a man with black hair & piercings on his face turns to me, but before I can fully see him, I hurriedly turn the doorknob entering my room.
New room, new place, new home, new me. These things encircles my thoughts, no one in this place must know who I am or where I came from. Sure, the Father I have come to know is a famous man, but unlike him, I'm nobody, and that fact is what I appreciate more than anything.
"If these people finds out the truth about me, I'm doomed." I say. "Try to hide the truth." My mind continues.
Unpacking my things, I hear loud shouting from the room next to mine. It was the same set of voices I heard earlier in hallway. Stopping at what I'm doing, I try to listen to what the clamor is all about. Yet I cower in fear when the loud banging noise from the other room resounded. Jumping on the bed in haste while grabbing its blanket, I cover myself trying to hide in it. My hands went on to cover my ears as I force my breathing to even out.
"This is not home… you are away from Him." I chant, trying to calm my nerves out.
More shouting came from the other room, more banging, and then a loud door shutting.
Tears fell from my eyes.
"I am hopeless." I tell myself. "I will never change… It is impossible to start fresh… I am already chained with that life."
With my things left forgotten and my surroundings ignored, I lull myself to sleep without drying a single tear.
Hi! Its been a long time since I have written anything, so I am extremely rusty. Please forgive me for any mistakes. I hope to improve myself in the next chapters. Feel free to review, but i hope that you will be kind with the criticisms. :) Thank you for choosing this fic to read! Will try to post the next chapters ASAP. :D
