AN: Soo I've received absolutely no feedback from the prologue so I'm just going to continue on with the story... I hope you enjoy!
~ Chapter 1 ~
Closing the door delicately, Daniel turned towards his room and slid down the door frame until he was sitting on his lush carpeted floor. He listened to the paced footsteps outside the door until he couldn't hear them anymore. Finally he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The fear that had overwhelmed him before flushed out of his body and let in a wave of relief.
He was in the one place he felt safe in. His room.
He looked down at his hands, the ones stained with bright green ectoplasm. They were trembling, something that always happened after. The lemony scent from the green substance tickled his nose, making his stomach churn. It was a smell that made him sick, even if he was accustomed to it all his life.
Fumbling to stand up, the boy walked over to his private bathroom. He gripped the granite sink, turning his knuckles white with frustration. He needed a moment to think, a moment to calm down. After a minute, he looked at himself in the mirror, sky blue eyes hypnotized in its own appearance. His clothes were stained here and there with the sickening green liquid. He knew it would take multiple washes to rid himself of the matter.
He began to peel of his clothes one by one. First his dark blue blazer, then his white collar shirt, matching dark blue pants, and finally his boxers. Kicking his clothes aside, he stepped into the shower and turned the water to maximum heat.
He loved it when he could wash himself of his actions. The water ran smooth across his skin, relaxing his tense muscles. He scrubbed himself with his red loofa, cleansing himself of the dirt. The shower was the only place he felt tranquil. Where his mind was free of jumbled thoughts.
He turned the water off and grabbed his towel, wrapping it around his waist. The mirror was now foggy from the condensation of steam. That's the way he favored his mirrors, ambiguous and obscure. This way, he didn't have to see himself. He didn't have to face reality head on.
He walked back into his room and towards his dark brown dresser. Shuffling through the neatly folded clothes, he picked out a pair of maroon pants and a navy collared shirt. He found a matching maroon blazer in his closet and threw it over.
His room was decorated in a space themed look including constellation blankets, solar system curtains, and plastic little glow-in-the-dark stars that scattered the ceiling. The plastic stars were the closest thing he got to being outside. In one corner of his room sat a dresser and closet, while the other had a four-post bed and a desk. In front of the room was a sofa that provided a broad view of the outside through a window. Across from the seating area was his own bathroom.
He sat at the edge of his bed debating whether or not to go downstairs. He knew his father would be waiting for him. His father was always obsessed with eating meals as a family, although there really was no 'family' to eat with. His father wanted to look presentable towards the staff, otherwise if they weren't there, he wouldn't give a damn to eat with his son.
Daniel put on his black crew socks and dress shoes. He reluctantly stood up and exited the safe confines of his room, only to be filled with the familiar feeling of anxiety. His jet black bangs sat upon his forehead, covering his right eye from view. He walked through the halls alone. The only noise from his shoes contacting the gray-stoned floor. He took a left and walked down the stairs. He headed towards the dining hall and sat down in his chair at one end of the table.
The room was large, complete with light blue painted walls, huge windows, a long table, a couple of drawers filled with dishes, and other standard items in a dining hall. The room was decorated with one large family portrait, although he always wondered who two of the figures were.
"Hello Daniel, how are you doing?" a sweet feminine voice said. He recognized it as Lucy, the maid who prepared their meals. He always appreciated her kind tone and motherly grace, something that was absent in his life.
He mumbled back a 'good' without turning to look at her. His father had not entered the kitchen yet, so Daniel would have to wait for him. Lucy began to set the cutlery on the table and added a vase full of vibrant roses at the center. The lone boy stared at his hands in his lap. They began to shake lightly.
Please not here…
He placed his hands under his legs to stop them from being noticed. His father entered the room with a cheery 'good morning' towards Lucy. His silvery, gray hair was combed neatly into a little ponytail. His black suit was ironed to perfection, no creases or wrinkles as usual. In his hand he held a manilla envelope which he tucked under his chair as he sat down. Daniel kept his head low, eyes set on his lap.
Lucy brought out their breakfast on white ceramic plates. Today they were having scrambled eggs and bacon, however, it wasn't Daniel's favorite meal - it was his father's. Daniel enjoyed eating fruitloops, although rarely was he ever given the option to do so. His father always said they were unhealthy, but he relished in their fruitful flavors, instead of the bland foods his father liked.
Once Daniel heard his father pick up his fork and knife, he followed suit. He ate without glancing up for he didn't want to look at the man. He knew the consequences all to well, nightmares especially. Lucy left into the kitchen to grab their beverages, and his father took this as an opportunity to speak.
"Not even a 'good morning father, how are you'?" came the low voice of his father. Daniel could tell his father was smiling all the while as he chewed on his eggs. "Well then, I have your next assignment." Daniel paused chewing and glanced up at the folder his father had slid across the table towards him. He hated this part of the day. He took the envelope and placed it on the floor, not wanting to look at the contents it held.
"I'll start it tomorrow." his voice came out quavering. His fragile tone was that of a small child, filled with dread. His eyes met with his fathers and he already regretted his statement.
"No." his father interjected in his bold manner and suddenly stood up "You will begin today. This one is more difficult than the last. You will need all the time you can get. Once you finish your food you will go and complete that. Understood?" he said pointing to the envelope all the while his mouth was twisted into a grimace.
"Yes father." His hands began to tremble even more as he hurried to finish his food. His father sat down just as Lucy entered the room and gave them each a glass of orange juice, exiting once again. Deciding it was better to leave it half finished, Daniel stood up, pushed in his chair, and grabbed the envelope.
"Daniel…" a stern voice from behind him echoed. He stopped walking and stood still, awaiting his father's voice to ring once again. "Come here."
He turned back and walked towards his father without making eye contact. He stopped right in front of his father who was now standing. His father raised his arm and swung at Daniel, contacting him with a smack on the cheek. The impact caused him to fall to his left and let loose of the envelope. The papers from within the envelope scattered across the floor, diverging in every direction. He was now sitting on the floor, his hand rubbing his red cheek. His father bent down and grabbed him by his collar. Daniel could feel his hot breath on his face, as he hesitated to not writhe in his father's grasp.
"How many times did I tell you to comb your hair?" His father let lose of his grip on his son's shirt and averted his eyes back to his food. Daniel fell back a bit, taken aback by the sudden show of dominance. How could he forget?! His father constantly berated him for his appearance, yet he forgot to comb his hair after his shower, which was spiked in random directions.
"Sorry... I forgot." He managed to squeak as he picked up the papers from the envelope.
"You can't even look the slightest bit presentable! What kind of a damn son are you?..." His father said as he sat down and grumbled under his breath. Daniel decided not to reply as he continued collecting the documents. He paused on a small sheet of paper, one that was laminated. A photograph.
N-no. It can't be…
He couldn't believe his eyes. He couldn't do this. He glanced up at his father, who was preoccupied with finishing his breakfast and then glanced back at the photo. Daniel sighed and finished collecting all the papers, stuffing them back into the manilla envelope.
The boy stood up and walked out of the dining hall. His cheek was still throbbing from his father's hand. Once he was out of hearing distance from his father, he raced up the stairs and into his room, slamming the door behind him.
He threw the envelope at his desk and hopped onto his bed. Reaching into his pocket he grabbed the photograph and brought it out. His crystal blue eyes scrutinized the entire thing, memorizing every single detail. Tears sprung at his eyes and threatened to fall, but he held back. Finally he sat up and placed his head in his hands, hoping that his situation was just a dream and it would all be fine by the time he looked back up.
Everything was not fine when he looked up.
In fact, everything felt worse.
AN: Thanks for reading! Please leave feedback so I know if I should continue or not. Criticism is always appreciated!
