The Hatchling- Part 2
The years that followed the attack on my city were the most prolonged and agonizing experiences. Even from that young age the gears in my mind were meticulously turning, already formulating the ultimate scheme to crush the Ravens. The plan was simple, I would find a way to obtain my own AC, no matter how great the cost of purchasing a unit would be when I got old enough. If I was lucky enough, I could get the financial backing of one of those big time corporations if I proved myself a competent enough operator. The initial unit, the "Default Model" as they call it, would be a piece of shit, but in time I could definitely upgrade it to a fierce piece of combat machinery. Then, with me at the helm of my mighty AC crushing Core, I will unleash hell onto the Raven Fold. Only this will be enough to avenge my family's deaths and ease my suffering...
However, none of this could be accomplished while I was still in the PROGTECH corporation city. After my parents were murdered, I was placed into the care of one of my father's closest friends, a certain Elan Cubis. Cubis was a good hearted man, but due to the many assassination attempts on his life, we both agreed that in the best interests of my safety, he couldn't take me under his wing and guarantee my well being. He had no choice but put me in a group home, which is just a polite way to of saying orphanage. It might have been coincidence, or maybe fate, but it sure was ironic that both our trouble was started with the appearance of the same red and black AC. I learned his name, the name of my tormenter, and I put him on the top of my hit list. Hustler 1, piloting the undefeated Core Nineball. All that have attempted to stand in his way, or even go as far as to challenge him personally in a duel, were met with a crushing defeat, of which few have survived. I planned to change that very soon, but first I had to get out of that hellhole they dared to keep children in. The place was as dank and corrupt as the staff that worked there. Amazing how such a prestigious city treated the disadvantaged and homeless youths that lived there. I literally shared my bed with at least four types of vermin. It wasn't exactly decreasing my disposition. The only thing that got me through those long, sleepless nights was a friend I made while on the lunch line one day.
Waiting to receive our usual portion of liquid crap, he was there. He had made the lewdest comment about the food, which incited something rarely heard in the confines of the group home, laughter. Even from me, probably the most grim, miserable child in that institution. I guess he noticed it too, because he took a particular interest in my squeaky little laugh. Even as the deans dragged him away to be disciplined, we couldn't keep our eyes off of each other. It was love at first sight, so what if we were young? His name was Alex, though he loved to play around with it and call himself Axle, because of his interest in machines. I tried to hang around with Alex every chance I got, and for a little while my life didn't seem so empty and cold. No matter what mood I was in, he could always find a way to put a smile on my face. His predicament was a tenuous one at best; his father had left when he was little to pursue a career as a Raven, never to be seen again. His mother passed on soon after, leaving him with no where to go except straight into this penitentiary for children. I don't know how he did it, but he never seemed to be without a cute lop-sided smirk on his face and a joke on his lips. There were many things I could've learned from this incredibly brave boy, but all I was worried about was getting out of math instruction and for a few minutes forget my past with Alex. That was bliss.
Even on my darkest days when I just couldn't get the horrifying images of my early childhood out of my head, Alex was there to listen with an open mind and comfort me till I felt better. Somehow he could listen to what I said and understood completely, and I loved him for that. There was one thing I couldn't tell him though, for fear of driving him away, and that was what I planned to do to the Ravens when I got old enough. I realized some time later that I should have, maybe we could have stayed together longer. But I was a fool, because it was that reluctance that drove me away.
It was one afternoon, when we were laying out in the sun, well away from the history class we were supposed to be in, I was the foolish one that brought up our plans for the future. Right there he said the most painful words that would stay in my mind for many years to come. Alex told me he wanted to become a Raven, to go and find his father. As I listened on in horror, he told me that unlike his father, he planned to help the less fortunate and always come to the aid of his fellow man. I could feel the lump in the back of my throat growing as I tried not to scream. Alex saw that something was wrong, and asked if I was okay.
"Me?", I replied, "No I- I'm...I don't feel so good. I gotta go!"
I left him there, as I ran back to my room. I buried my face in my pillow and just started to cry, hoping that my muffled cries of agony wouldn't be heard by any of the staff. Why? Why did he have to say that? Didn't he get how much pain those mercenary nightmares had caused us already? No, I guess he couldn't, because I had never fully revealed my past to him. I could only berate myself so much as my tears permeated the fabric on my pillowcase. New pillowcases... Only a minute improvement to the still disgusting environment of the group home. It didn't matter anymore. Nothing else mattered anymore. I realized that I couldn't stay there anymore, I couldn't hurt Alex with my heartless intentions. I was getting out that night. I went to the rest of my classes as usual, silent as death. The same story at dinner. I avoided Alex, I couldn't see him or it might ruin my plan to get escape. I went to bed at the regular time, but sleep was a luxury I couldn't afford at the moment. It was midnight, and I could here the headmistress coming in to check on the girls. She poked her scrawny buzzard neck in, acting as if she actually cared about the children she was appointed to watch. After she left, I threw the covers off, tied them into a bundle with the rest of my few possessions. It hit me at that moment that I had been a real ass to Alex, especially since none of this was his fault. I crept over to the boy's dorm, and snuck in through the door. I tried to remember where he slept... I had been in here once before. Let's just say it wasn't to get homework help from Alex. I found him sleeping, and considered waking him up to apologize. But seeing him sleeping there, so handsome and innocent, I couldn't bear to disturb him. Suddenly he started to toss and turn, obviously in the throes of one of his own nightmares. I bent down, and planted a kiss on his lips, and all of sudden he stopped turning and settled down. That was my last gift to him. I put my bundle on my shoulder and turned to leave, hoping I didn't wake him. I made my way to the headmistress's quarters, and while she slept I helped myself to her personal stash of credits. With the money and my belongings, I left the home, never to return.
As I boarded the skimmer-bus with my ticket in hand, I looked back at Isaac City one last time, swearing I would never come back. I was ushered to my seat and planted myself down heavily, tired from the long trek to the station. I was alone for the second time in my life, but this time it was on my own terms. Good-bye Alex. Maybe some day we will find a way into each other's arms again, but not now. No time to beat myself up about it now, I had more important things to think about now.
Like how I was going to get my hands on an AC...
(END CHAPTER TWO)
That was a hard chapter to write. Hopefully it's because it's good, and not because I was being lazy ; That will be up to you to decide. Please R&R! Still waiting for a response...
NOTE- If you haven't gotten it by now, I am writing from a female vantage point. No, it's not because there's anything wrong with me, but because I wanted to try something different in my writing. And don't worry... Hopefully future chapters won't be this sappy...
I also apoligize if the story comes out looking like a solid block of letters. That's just something that happens to me when I upload them from my Wordpad Format. I'll try and find a way to fix it, but until then don't let the appearance deter you from enjoying the story.
