A/N: so, Chapter 3. This one was finished faster than expected, normally my process of editing takes much longer but, low and behold, it is here. like the last chapter, i do not own anything mentioned in this story, no characters, no products only the idea of the story itself.
Chapter 3
In my unconsciousness I dreamt of an abhorred black vista, like oil, surrounding me, the shapeless mass bubbling and folding over itself as if it was alive but with no thought, no glowing red stone path, no snarling, disgusting creature chasing me, only a strangely calming liquid. Like the other nightmare though I couldn't utter a single noise, only complete silence was my companion, my body felt weightless as if it wasn't there, but looking down I saw my thin form.
Looking around I tried to move but my body wouldn't respond, all I could do was look in front of me but all I saw was an empty land, lacking... everything. it seemed like hours had passed until something caught my attention, in the distance I saw a figure, the same as the one I had seen in my previous nightmare but it seemed slightly clearer, still draped in darkness but I could see some more obvious features that weren't present in the other nightmare, I could tell it was male and was taller than me, but that was about it, nothing spectacular, its shadowy form walked towards me, as if still on the red stone pathway and not on the oil like liquid that consumed this fictional landscape. closer and closer it moved towards me, I could feel a unusual excitement brewing inside me at the prospect of seeing the person, to see if this dream had any meaning or was just a oddity created by my mind, but just before the figure came close enough to barely see skin, I woke.
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.
The alarms of my phone screaming like a church bell next to my ears and I fumbled trying to turn off the unpleasant sound. Once that was done, I lazed with closed eyes on the sofa, contemplating my bizarre dream, had it meant anything or was it some anomaly created from my mind after a restless day.
My eyes opening, they stung and tried to force themselves closed as I adjusted to the bright light that I had originally turned away from. Slowly the blur left my eyes I and vision had graced me once again, the TV was on, the main menu, for whichever season I was on was looping with the same music that quickly got on my nerves, and with dirty plates and glasses on the floor. the tune going on and on, becoming exponentially annoying, getting up I turned off the TV and sweet silence graced me, I moved to clean up the food that had began to look dry having not being touched for a few hours, the smell filled the room, making me feel a little sick.
As I rose from the sofa, my muscles ached and complained in a sore whine. I should have guessed that this would have happened, the weeks strenuous activity had taken its toll on my weak muscles. With a wobbled stature I raised my body, the twinge in my legs presenting themselves.
Looking out of the window I scrutinised the sun, that held its burning form high in the center of the blue sky, it was past mid day and seeing that there was nothing better to do I chose to spend the day freshening up the place. Considering that I was the sole person that had to look after the flat and due to that, I was a bit obsessive when it came to cleaning, the task wasn't very daunting, if anything it was simple. All I really had to do was wash the dishes and clothes but that was all.
Before I did anything though I looked at my body to pay a closer inspection to any damage than I did the other day, the freezing cold surprisingly didn't affect the marks left on my body by Eric.
The task itself took around two hours, it would have taken less but I decided to polish virtually every possible surface, simply to be certain that not a single speck of dust was left in the house. I eventually found myself sitting in my 'reading area' stuck into Great Expectations yet again. I let my worn out muscles relax and melt like an ice cube on a boiling summers day when I sat, my only movement being the turning of page after page after page I read. For hours upon hours I read the book, hell, I finished it, before moving onto another title. Captivated by the hundreds and hundreds of words, time left me, as if it had never existed in the first place and for nonexistent hours I read, only ever stopping once to eat before being sucked back the realm of fantasy that seemed so much better than my own reality. It wasn't until I had noticed something odd, looking up from one of the latter pages of the current story I saw a small seam of bright light trailing from underneath the blinds covering my windows, 'but it was night but a few moments ago' I thought, before realising how much I had lost track of time.
Reaching for my phone to check the time, I was shocked to find it was eight am 'oh bugger, half an hour, I have half an hour and it's goddamned Monday... I'm screwed' panicking I dropped the book and sprinted to my bedroom. Changing into my usual attire I dashed out of my house, grabbing my red coat, pulling over the coat stand with the force of my tug, and my backpack as I ran. Locking the door behind me I sprinted down the steps, nearly tripping on them a countless amount of times to reach the door.
I wouldn't be able to make it to the bus stop in time, I couldn't, it should have already left, it normally arrived there at ten to seven, and I had missed it 'Damn.'
As I ran through cramped alleyways (I had decided that running through the crowded main streets would be too slow and I knew the quickest way to school was to abuse the alleyways). panicking I sprinted down the twists and turns, occasionally glancing at my phone to see the time, fifteen minutes left but it seemed lady luck was on my side as I ran out of the alleys on to a under populated street until I had reached the hill that rose towards the school building. My legs ached, having not fully recovered and the prospect of running up the hill to school was not enticing but I did not care about the pain or the steepness of the hill. I began running faster than I thought myself possible, my legs feeling as if they had been hit with a sledgehammer, every step was a whack to them. Once I arrived at the gates to the school, with only five minutes left, I could only stumble and limp, my body wore a coat of sweat and refused to stop heaving breath. Even through my exhaustion I was surprised at how quickly I both had made it to the building and at how quickly I had made it up the hill that led to the school. 'why do I even take the bus when I can get here in fifteen minutes?... guess I'm just a lazy git' I thought sitting on the wall outside the entrance to the school. The snow layered the entire area, par the cars and dilapidated bus. The entrance was empty, not a single soul on the outside, it looked like a scene in a horror movie, completely alone, exhausted leaving only the gentle breeze, silence and unending fields of white to smother me like a quilt.
Eventually I found myself inside the building, moving through the claustrophobic, all encompassing corridors. only around three pupils, outside of rooms, who had decided not to go into their class until the last minute. Fortunately for me my tutor room was barely a few corridors to the entrance, so it wasn't long until I found myself in my tutor room once again in my secluded corner. Sitting, still heaving in breath after breath, but recovering and after a minute or two my body had stopped its demand for oxygen, my red face had began to disappear as well as the sweat, thank god I kept deodorant in my backpack because otherwise I would have reeked.
I sat, my head rested on my right hand in boredom, when I saw walking through the door was a somewhat familiar face. He looked down at a piece of paper before clarifying with a small nod, then entered the room, gaining the rooms collective gaze. For a second he stood, before cautiously moving into view, showing his full form. He was taller than me, pale skin that made him look as if he was on the verge of an illness, deep eyes wore a piercing crimson colour that looked like swirling blood in-between the surrounding white. Pale lips, much like his skin, kept in a thin line, shaggy raven hair that went partially over his right eye, wearing dark trousers and a large messenger bag on his side. An unbuttoned black trench coat, the collar turned up, over relaxed shoulders, a plain black jumper underneath that. Resting on the jumper was what seemed to be a pendant, silver, in the shape of a upside-down pentagram with a goats head in the center that was coloured red 'a symbol of the devil... that's a bit unusual' the necklace seemed to force demonic imagery to my head, orgies of sacrifice and blood, chants praising a dark deity and other unexpected thoughts. He held an expression of curiosity on his face as he scanned the new room, the apathetic look still held on his face. He seemed like he was absorbing every detail about the place, from the depressingly dank looking brown walls to the slightest scribble on the desks, born from many a dull lesson.
the teacher got up from his seat and stood at the front of the class room, reaching out to pull the boy to his side "this is Damian Thorne, he's new so don't be bastards" the rest of the class looked at the new student then, without hesitation, continued their conversations, probably changing their conversations to talk about this 'Damian', looking at the other students I thought ' one day, one day and the fools at this school would have made some rumour about him that has no evidence to back it up'. The teacher lifted his arm and moved it across the room in a sweeping motion "sit where ever you like... I don't care" he muttered. I expected him to place himself on the nearest seat but I was surprised when he began moving in my direction, I was shocked even more when I found that he had sat next to me. Looking at him I saw something that caught my interest, on his neck was a tattooed symbol, three sixes surrounding a small circle, it was small but noticeable, the deep red standing out against his skin.
Turning his head to me he said "so... what's your name?", his voice was deep and smooth but I could hear the boredom in it, he spoke in a half formal manor that had a strange accent to it that I couldn't place.
"The names Phillip but everyone calls me pip... because they hate me" I said lowering my voice at the final part, I had wanted to get out of the conversation as quickly as possible. It would only amount to him throwing me to the unfeeling ground.
"Then pip it is" he stopped for a second then gave me a quizzical look as he heard the entire sentence "why would everyone hate you?"
Smiling sadly and glancing around the room I replied "it may sound silly but its because... because I'm English and therefore different and, well, I guess its just that virtually all of these redneck morons see difference as some form of, of weakness". I heard silence after that statement, then a small chuckle.
"Well I'm going to be seen as the weakest guy around if difference is considered that"
Turning towards him I saw a small smirk on his face pallid face "I'd presume this is because of your pendant and tattoo"
he smiled, a sarcastically wide smile, twisting the pendent in his thumb and middle finger while tracing the goats head with his index "very deductive my dear Watson" he said in a dry tone "yes it is those, but before I tell you the main reason... are you religious?"
I raised an eyebrow at him "my" I paused for a moment "my family was catholic but I am not myself"
"What do you mean by was?" he asked
"Oh..." I looked down in slight sorrow "my family is dead, to be frank"
"Sorry to hear that... but to what I was saying earlier, they will hate me because, my father and I, I guess, are Satanists" he stopped for a second before continuing "Although I don't really believe in it that much, I mostly do it to comfort my father". The bluntness of the statement shocked me, looking up I stared at him in his eyes in somewhat disbelief, the sadness replaced instantaneously by the shock, but it was gone quicker than it came, 'I guess it is a bit obvious, the imagery on his body and all'
"Fair 'nuff, haven't met a devil worshiper before, also I won't tell anyone, if that's a worry of yours, but I dare say that if that news were to break out that I'd suggest staying away from the over-sized kid currently in this room known as Eric Cartman and another person known as Trent Boyett out of all the students here they are the most sadistic psychopaths. They'd find any reason, or none at all, to rip on and or hurt or maim you, because they are insane."
He shrugged his shoulders "thanks" he said, "I'll keep that in mind, but it's not really a worry I don't really go around telling everyone like it's the most important thing on this godforsaken planet. To be honest I only told you because of the way you spoke about everyone else"
Pulling out my phone I checked how long it was until next lesson, then, looking back up at Damian, I said "We only have five minutes 'till next period, and the year has English first, so, I'll show you to the room, the core lessons are all in the tutor groups so we should be in the same lessons"
We waited in silence Damien looked on at the end of the room, he displayed an oddly fitting frown, he was thinking about... something, before he turned back to me.
"Listen, I was wondering, why wer-" he got out before the bell rang, ripping through the room like knife blade, to indicate the end of tutor. "Don't worry, I'll ask later" he muttered before beginning to stand, I reached and grabbed his arm singling him to sit back down. He looked down on me confused.
"I suggest we wait for the others to leave, than we shall go. If we go now there is a higher possibility that one of my tormentors will find a way to delay us with their imbecilic insults and probably attack me" I explained
he gave a small smile "don't worry Phillip, if anyone decides that you are game I'll ensure they won't lay a hand on you" it almost seemed as if there was some form of joy in the way he spoke those sentences
"Right-O, uh, I mean, If you say so, oh, and I don't mind you callin' me pip. It's a bit strange for someone to call me Philip" I said.
"No, if I'm gonna' hang around with you I want to call you something different than the regular assholes, anyway, let's go" then, cautiously and taking some 'less allowed' routs (circling the school as to not get caught in a crowd) I led Damien to the cafeteria/English building. The building, like most others in the school seemed almost immaculate, even painted a clean looking white to resemble the surrounding snow but at closer inspection it was littered with obvious filth, food and drink spilling in corners and sides of corridors, cracks on the wallpaper, spider webs and spiders in the most dingy of areas. The paint even began to look grey and aged, some of the paint had fallen and the orange interior was visible. It normally took less than a minute for students to take notice of the destruction that overcame this place, like a curse, Damien was no different.
"It's a real shithole here, isn't it?" I looked back at him as I turned another crowded corner.
"Agreed, and I don't see why the school doesn't just clean up a bit, it wouldn't take a million quid to make this place look presentable, guess they're just cheap" I shrugged as I turned and walked towards the door that was the entrance to my class but stooped as I felt something was off. I turned to Damien with a slightly surprised look "well... blow me, it's a surprise that you've been around me for more than ten minutes and you haven't mocked me because of my accent."
He gave me a curious look "why would I, out of all the people I have met in this town, so far you seem like one of the people in this school who isn't an insufferable dick. I'd rather deal with someone who isn't an asshole but not understand a few of the things he says then deal with an unreliable dick, and anyway I traveled through England for a few months so I understand at least a bit of what you're saying"
I stared at him in complete disbelief, normally anyone would have left me on my own and grouped with the other kids but Damien seemed like a completely different type of species with the way he regarded me. It normally only took a minute for anyone to see me as annoying and discard me.
"I... I truly don't know what to say... thanks, I guess" I paused for a bit "usually by now anyone would have seen me as strange and left me to myself... it's rare I meet anyone who can deal with me"
He laughed a deep, soul resonating and somewhat menacing laugh "you are hardly anything to deal with, anyway aren't you supposed to be taking me into the class or are we going to just stand outside it" he said with a cocked neck.
I jumped slightly than opened the door, holding it out for him to enter "oh, um, sorry 'bout that, anyway, welcome to English" I said with distain dripping of my tongue.
It wasn't that I hated the lesson, actually quite the opposite, it was just a majority of the students were morons. Imbecilic, indisputable morons.
Last term, when we were reading and analysing Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, most of the students consistently insisted we watch the film instead of analysing the book because 'they didn't want to read'. I don't really see what was gained by watching it, we had already gone through a majority of the play so we knew the characters, plot and such. All it truly gained was a loss of about two hours of learning and more pressure to revise and pick quotes and such for any upcoming tests. In brief, I'd enjoy this lesson and the others, if I wasn't in this town.
Me and Damien sat ourselves in my normal place, the corner, the room was painted a forest like green, the walls littered with laminated paper that held different vocabulary, definitions of nouns, adjectives and the like. It was set out with two tables at the back corners and a long row of tables leading to the teachers desk, behind that, a blackboard with old markings that showed its age and need of replacement, even the chalk needed replacement, it was barely the size of a fingernail.
The teacher himself, Mr. Hedgeson his name was, was a man of around forty-seven, dark hippie like brown hair that reached his upper back, the bottom in a plat, with some grey strands going over his forehead, wide green eyes that, even at his age, still seemed childlike, curious and with a glint of naive innocence. Out of all the teachers in this school he was the one with the most energy, most others just gave us a task, sat down and browsed the internet for an hour until the bell went, but Mr. Hedgeson, he would constantly move about asking anyone if they needed assistance and would help most all students inside or out of lesson, I knew he was one or the staff who worried about me, having more tormenters than most people had friends, it was obvious one of them would catch on, and he would keep me behind after lesson to ask if I needed any help or if something was wrong. I always answered the same, "no nothing is wrong, everything is fine, it's just I'm not the best at being social, that's all" I would always reply with something like that, if he interfered it would only get worse and more relentless. As well as that, Eric would probably kill him and I actually liked him.
As we sat down Mr Hedgeson rushed to our table, his eyes showing the cogs in his head turning like the mechanism of a clock tower. As he walked he looked at me and Damien in slight... glee, the shine in his emerald eyes seemed to indicate.
"Ah, you must be one Damien Thorn if I am correct" he said in his low soft voice.
He looked up at the teacher with uncaring eyes, "who else could I be" he replied.
Mr Hedgeson smiled widely " ya could have been the king of Sweden, anything's possible, anyway I am wondering, what is it your doing with Pip, normally the kids pick on him" he said, inching closer and closer to Damien, his emerald orbs still displaying curiosity.
"Well, I have no reason to do that, at least not right now, so lay off"
He stepped back and raised his hands in a 'back of' motion "okay, okay it's just I don't see him with many friends, it's good that he's getting some anyway. I'll grab you a work book and pip can catch you up on what we've been doing."
I explained that we were analysing 'Of Mice and Men' and were barely starting so there wasn't much to explain to him. We had barely gotten past the fifth chapter.
The lesson itself was alright, sir gave us the work, allowing us to converse with our friends, but we at least had to finish the work (most of the students par a few did this anyway so there was no real point in telling us but I think it was to let Damien know.)
"So how do you find South Park?" I asked
He looked up from his book at me "cold, dull and shit" he replied bluntly, "What about you?"
"It's not the most pleasant of places, at least for others, I hate it, but then again, could always be worse"
He gave me an expressionless look "I can already tell you are going to be almost irritatingly optimistic"
"-I can stop if you'd like" I said quickly.
He gave a confused look " no, don't, I don't mind," his eyes lifted and a smirk grew on his face "in fact it's a little adorable"
In surprise at his words I looked down back at my book wide eyed in embarrassment, I could feel my face redden, and it didn't help when I heard him nearly burst in laughter then remark "no, in fact your just adorable in general." I hid my head in my folded arms for most of the lesson, red faced, because of that. He still laughed although unlike the others, it wasn't to mock me and that raised my spirits a little.
It wasn't until the blush slowly crept off my face, like a snail down a wall, and the embarrassment left that I decided to spark more pointless, idle conversation.
"Why is it your eyes are coloured red? They're contacts, right, but why such a strange colour and why haven't the teachers had a go at you for it"
He looked at me, one eye brow raised, "umm, Philip, they're not contacts, that's my natural eye colour, I don't know why" he paused for a minute then turned his head to me and smile. "And threatened to, right after I got off of the bus, an older guy stopped me" he chuckled slightly "I actually have to keep a statement from the hospital I was born in so that I wouldn't be kicked out as soon as I got to this, or any, school"
I looked at him "that's your natural colour? How odd"
He smirked once again, it was strange, his smirk that is, it seemed more fitting than his smile. He peered down at me, his crimson irises slicing into my own "yes, yes it is... you know normally people call me out as a liar or a freak, or whatever, whenever I tell them some more personal information... but you're an odd one, you don't seem to give a damn, I wonder why, it's very confusing"
"You have not lived in this town as long as I have. You're lucky to have not. Believe me when I say that this town, at least when everyone was young, was mental, every day seemed stranger than the last, if it wasn't one of the other kids doing something to cause a riot or something in this town it was the adults causing about as much mischief. believe me everyone was and is stupid, after all the stupidity I've seen something as simple as you having red eyes or being a devil worshiper is nothing, but unfortunately that seems to be only with me, everyone else never seemed to be fazed by the psychotic madness that once ensued in this town" I reminisced, memories washing into my mind, horrible, unwelcome memories.
He looked at me with slight curiosity "does anything like that happen nowadays, because of how you talked about it, it seems like a spectacle to see"
I gave a sigh "luckily no, if it still happened to the same degree now, I'm sure you wouldn't be speaking to me, and instead I'd be six feet under"
I was prepared to change the subject before I was interrupted by the bell screaming that an hour had past and we could move to the next lesson, and move the other students did. the conglomeration of body's rifling and squirming past each other like a herd of startled zebra, constantly moving to get past the single painted red wooden door to the next lesson, probably in the mindset that the faster they got to the lesson the quicker school would end.
I waited for the tide of teenagers to pass through the door then led Damien to the math area of the school. It was a short walk, only a few corridors and turns to the math section (the school was split up in square like blocks for each subject with around three to four rooms for a subject.) much like the rest of the school there was an aura of uncleanness and non-care obvious in the filthy, apocalyptic halls.
