I was a troll who lived in fantasy. Whenever any problem arose, I would check out into the recesses of my mind and live in the places I created. I found myself in those fantasies a lot more than usual as i grew up. I'm not going to pretend that it wasn't hard having to live in the real world, and it paled in comparison to being able to do anything my mind fathomed. I could soar through the sky, I could meet the love of my life, I could be a daring exciting hero, when in reality I'm just an underweight lonely nerd spacing out in the corner. But as long as I kept on going, I felt like I could do anything. I was in control of my own mind.

I found myself thinking about this for one brief second before my vision was cut off in a painful flash.

I felt my hands release the book, but couldn't see or hear it hitting the pavement in front of me. Surprisingly, my body remained sitting upright, with my head lolling in front of me. Slowly, my sight returns, dispensing the bright blooming rays of the sun into my eyes. As I look around, I see no one saw what happened, or at least if they did they're ignoring it like usual. This didn't last long though, as my vision quickly whited out again. I reach my hand up and feel the bump slowly rising on my temple, precisely in the spot where my horns used to be. It was slightly comforting to feel some level of texture there again, despite the burning pain.

I turn my head around slowly, and was once again met with the fiery gaze of Karkat. His trademark black sweatshirt was draped casually over his shoulder, his zodiac sign emblazoned on his long sleeve underneath. Once again, his eyes bore down on me, tearing down whatever walls i had left. The cherry blush was gone, replaced with the almost vampiric pale skin underneath. He's the only object I can accurately make out around me, as everything else gets lost in the haze.

He just...stands there...staring at me...as if he truly believes his glare alone could kill me, which it bloody well could at this point. After a few seconds of agonizing silence, he glances down at the spot beside me, then speaks with his scratchy, gruff, yet slightly nasally voice.

"HM...THOSE SURE LOOK DELICIOUS," he says slowly, "...THINK I MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE A TASTE THERE."

He starts to move towards my right side. I quickly look over and find my open pack of fruity mints, half spilled on the ground. Without thinking, i instinctively dart my hand over to it.

And that's when it hit the fan.

The next few minutes are a menagerie of flashing lights, brief images, and blinding pain. Fists colliding with my arm, me chasing after him, the ground being shoved into my tear streaked face and open mouth.

Me limping away...

Crying...

Screaming for help...

Spitting out dirt...

White...

The school's back door

My fists pounding on it, pleading for my life

One final strike...

Blood smearing on the window

Then

Nothing

After a period of time I cant describe nor have the ability to tell, I find myself standing on the familiar doorstep of Gamzee's very nice home, the faded red bricks and giant pine tree out front bringing memories of staying up all night playing games in his basement, occasionally dabbling in his sopor substitute (I never tried any of it, of course, I just enjoyed the spectacle of the familiar slurred lines and quiet contemplation my rail was famous for)

I tentatively knock on the door, already gearing up for the apology for getting knuckle blood on the dark brown varnish. To my surprise, it isn't Gam who opens the portal, but Roxy. Ever since the glitch, I just assumed she had been launched to another part of the world, but here she is. For a second, I think about the possibility that somehow we all ended up in the same city at the same time and are only now finding each other, but that thought quickly drifts away.

As usual, Roxy is somehow slurrier than Gamzee and can barely stand at the door without leaning on something. Rough day, I guess.

"Um... can i help you?" She asks, eyes half closed.

"oH,,, uM,,, iS,,, gAMZEE HOME?"

Her eyes close even more, this time out of suspicion. "Whyyyyyyyyyyyy?"

"uM,,, iM,,, hIS BEST, fRIEND, aND,,, uM,,, i JUST GOT,,, uM,,, bEAT UP,,, pRETTY BADLY,,, "

Immediately, she stands up straight, seeming to have cured her stupor almost instantly. She rushes me into the living room and runs to grab a warm sponge and a few bandages. I sit on the floor, too dazed and in shock to find the sofa. After a minute, she runs back and starts treating the wounds on my hands and face. My legs are screaming at me, my right one in particular, but I dont say anything. Ive had leg problems in the past and its pretty commonplace now.

After the bleeding stops and she cleans my residue off the door (I would find later that all humans saw troll blood as candy red, but past-trolls could still see their owner's original blood colour) and sits down in front of me, taking a long swig of a clear liquid in a fancy glass. I could smell the alcohol from back here. Eh...whatever calmed her down.

After telling her my story as best I could, she informs me that Gamzee was hanging out with some of his other friends at a study session, but that shell let him know what happened as soon as possible. I thank her and make my way to the house phone. I call my guardian and they take me back home.

That night, I couldn't sleep. I try my hardest, but I cant keep calm. My leg was on fire. I was so worried i would have to have yet another period of my life without the use of my legs...but I know deep down that it was a fleeting problem, it would get better really soon.

That night, i questioned how this all even started. Why was he so cruel to me when, in our previous life, he had been the one to help me, albeit in his usual sarcastic screaming fashion.

That night, all I could think about was what tomorrow had in store for me...would Karkat be back? Would he do the same? Or worse...finish the job? Would Gamzee be there to help, or would I have to spend another day alone...

That night, I cried myself to sleep.

Thank you so much for reading! Please leave a review if you hate or like it, and feel free to give any suggestions you feel you wanna see! I'll do my best!

Besos!

-Silver