Dream: Volt's not coming home.
Yumeí: He's too smart! Every time I get on the phone to tell him to get back here, he hangs up!
Lync: Maybe he threw his phone in the trash.
Dream: I'll text him a review flood when it comes. Anyway, Volt is nine.
Shadow: And he keeps getting beat up.
Volt landed on the training mat, flat on his back, with a loud "thump!" He was left gasping for air, helplessly stranded.
"If this was a real fight, you'd be dead now," his Uncle snarled. "You're hopeless!"
Volt was too busy trying to breathe to give a snappish response. He could already feel himself bruising. One of his cousins was pointing and laughing. That's what he was, the laughingstock.
Angry and frustrated, Volt stood up and took his position at the edge of the mat again. His laughing cousin, Terrik, eagerly stood opposite him. They both readied their stances and waited. When their uncle gave the signal, they began to circle each other.
Terrik was still trying to control his snickers, very similar to the way that Volt was barely able to control his rage. As he struggled to master the emotion, Terrik slowly advanced, taunting him.
The barrier broke.
With a roar of rage, Volt flew at his cousin and began to administer a beating. Terrik had no chance to prepare, and curled into a ball on the floor to reduce the area that could be hit. But there was no escape.
His uncle seized his fist to stop him, but to no avail. Volt just turned on his mentor.
"Enough!"
Volt froze.
His father strode over and looked down at him, disapproval written in every plane of his face. Volt all but shrank. His father was very rarely angry.
His uncle immediately began to try explaining, but his elder brother refused to hear it. He looked at his youngest son, watching as Volt wilted under his gaze. He walked over and struck Volt across the face.
It didn't hurt, but it was a sign of his father's disappointment. Volt willed himself to disappear, but he remained fully intact.
"Repeat the Code."
"I am born into the Luster clan," Volt recited. "I will live by the standards of my fathers. They are this: Deny none who seek sanctuary, uphold the honor of yourself and name, fight for truth, do not abuse your power-"
"You made the break there," his father interrupted. "Correct it and do not break the code again."
Turning on his heel, the head of the family returned to his other duties. Volt felt upset, both with his father and himself. His uncle didn't allow him to spar for the rest of the day. Volt's disappointment with himself rose. Once allowed to leave, he fled the training compound. He climbed the side of a building effortlessly, then settled into his favorite spot.
As he watched the clouds, he seethed with rage and shame simultaneously.
It wasn't his fault, not entirely: his growth spurt wasn't up to him. He'd gone from being the smallest member of the family, to being one of the largest children, even surpassing several of his older cousins. Anyone would've been uncoordinated after growing that fast, yet-once again-he was the one to suffer. Physical tasks were much easier, but there was no room for him to make mistakes anymore.
He stayed on the roof until the sun disappeared. Only then did he heed the call of his brother, summoning him inside. Their father needed a word with him.
Yumeí: This took long time.
Dream: *YAWN*
Lync: *runs into room* Volt responds to texts!
Dream: Zzzzzz...
Mylene: Text him when the fans want him back.
Yumeí: EVERYBODY WHO READS THIS! PLEASE SEND IN REVIEWS! THEN VOLT (MAYBE) COMES BACK!
Lync: Let's hope Dream is awake when they come.