Hi, So looking back at the last few chapters I realised I didn't like them all that much so I've deleted them and I'm going to re-write them. This one hasn't been re-written so if you've already read them feel free to skip and just read the end :)
~stayingstrong
Words have never hurt this much, In my head I'm giving up, Now I know to never trust What my heart tells me to love I gave you my all, how is it my fault you left You knocked me down but I'm not giving up You tried to drown me but I'm coming up for air Oh, you can rattle the cage but the animal stays Oh, I'll Stay Strong Oh, I'll Stay Strong
Riven cupped his hands in the clear stream and wetted his red and sweating face. He was in the woods, around 5 miles from his house. He tentatively touched the growing bruise on his face and winced when he pressed too hard. The young teen kicked of his shoes, lay back and let his feet paddle in the cool stream. Taking his time looking around the dense wood, listening to the birds and just breathing. Being calm, being free. He could be happy here. But he also knew he couldn't stay here and he knew he had to eventually return home, he had nowhere else to go. He took a breath and started to build a small fire. He could return home tomorrow.
-X-X-X
Riven woke with a crick in his neck and a twig stuck in his hair, he stood slowly and despite feeling like Nearly Headless Nick, he smiled for the first time in weeks. Taking in the fresh air and the openness. No fear just freedom and quiet. So much quiet. He took another lungful of air and after making sure his fire was defiantly out, he stood and made his way from the tree's.
Joe stirred from his armchair when he heard the front door close quietly.
"Riven?" He called his voice raspy
"What?" The boy snarled from the hall
"Come here"
"Please" The older man added
"No" Riven said firmly and made his way upstairs.
Joe sigh. He knew he'd run out of chances and the relationship between him and his son was unrepairable now. He had done too much damage. He didn't know how he had got to this place and he didn't know how to get out. With a deep sigh, Joe drank some more.
Riven listened to his dad moving around and wondered Why? How?
Why had his dad turned out like this?
Why had his mum left?
Why wouldn't his father stop drinking?
Wasn't Riven enough?
His child.
The teen couldn't imagine putting ever putting himself through it, drinking himself into oblivion everyday, being so angry all the time.
But you are angry Riven, You're always angry.
The voices in his head taunted him.
How had everything turned so bad?
Why did his parent's hate him so much?
Why did everything have to be so difficult?
He sat down at the small desk in his room and looked over the work he had yet to complete for school plus the essay for Red Fountain on why he wanted to become a Specialist. That was the one he was finding hard to write he had written and re-written it seven times already, he knew how much was riding on it. It meant either living with his father for the next four years, while his father drank and got angry. Riven knew he could possibly going the same way, or Riven could go to Magix and be useful, help people who couldn't help themselves. People like him.
Riven dragged his feet on his way to school, his face was still bruised and a little sore but it was healing. He and his father hadn't spoken in days and it hurt. Because deep down Riven didn't expect his relationship to ever get better with Joe. It had gone too far for things to ever be the way they were and it was horrible to finally come to that realization, but it was harder to keep pretending that things were fine because they weren't. He stopped outside the school gates and sigh.
Only a few more months
Only a few more months
A few more months
Few more months
He straightened his back and walked through the gates with his head held high, he wouldn't let his father get him down. Other people his age however..
"Hey Riven! Seen your mum lately?" One boy yelled sniggering
"Has your dad realized how useless you are yet?" His friend joined in
"Shut up" Riven snarled
He could feel his anger building, small embers getting ready to burn into an inferno.
"Ohhh. Now he's getting angry! Oh please don't hurt me Riven!" The boy sniggered
Riven turned around and started to walk away
Stay calm. You need to stay calm.
"What a freak" Someone muttered as he walked passed
"Can you blame him? With parents like his"
He didn't stay calm.
Riven couldn't stop himself. He paused, turned and then his fist was flying out in front of him
The next few minutes were a blur of fists, blood, shouting and people screaming. Hands trying to pull him off but they couldn't he was to strong. To angry. All the anger and hurt from the last few years just poured out and all Riven could see was red, he couldn't feel anything. Two sets of hands wedged themselves under his armpits and pulled him off but he struggled and snarled at the faces looking at him in fear. Then he looked down at the body on the floor, covered in bruises and blood.
Everything seemed to be passing in slow motion as the beaten boy was placed on a stretcher and into the back of an ambulance. His body ached now with bruises and scratches where the boy had attempted to fight him off but Riven had been training to get into Red Fountain. He was more bulked up than most his age and with his superior fighting skills, the boy hadn't stood a chance against him. Riven was vaguely aware of someone putting him in handcuffs but all he could see was the boy curled on the floor. Riven knew he wouldn't get into Red Fountain now, he would have a criminal record. It was a school for heroes, not people who beat people into unconsciousness. He tried to breath deeply but he knew it was all over. He wouldn't be going to RF now. He'd be going straight to a cell.
Riven stared at the ceiling of the dank little cell. He'd been in there for hours and because he wasn't sixteen for another month, he had to wait for his father to come and collect him. So far no one had appeared for him. He had been told that he would receive a call informing him of his fate. It depended on what the boy and his family wanted, whether they wanted him tried in court or to just receive community service. Riven had never been more scared in his life.
The door clicked and Riven sat up straight staring at the door. His mouth dropped open as a woman stepped through.
"Mother?" He croaked mouth dry
"Hello Riven"
