Chapter One:

Young Tom

My name is Tom Riddle. I live in an orphanage. I have lived here all my life. All I really know about my life is that my mother died when she gave birth to me. They said I was born here and my mum hadn't lived. I know nothing about my dad except that he and I share the same name. I'm different. I'm special. I know that. I can feel that.

He told me so.

I don't know much about him. He's smart. He tells me things. He's been there since forever, according to him. I can remember faintly all the whispering when I was two years old. I was too young to make any sense of it. I can understand now.

He tells me that he can help me. Everything he's told me has gotten me scolded. I don't have friends. I like it better this way. It's better this way. He tells me more especially when I'm alone.

…

"Tom Marvolo Riddle!"

Tom bounded down the stairs of the orphanage. He was being called like always. As he reached the bottom of the steps, he sighed. Four years ago, he had been born here. His mother had died here. He was left alone here.

Tom was a quiet kid. Any of the workers at the orphanage would confirm that. He didn't talk to the other kids much but, when he did, he was quite cunning. Even at his young age, he could convince the other children to do things for him. If they didn't comply, he would get angry and they'd feel his pain. They'd writhe until they gave in and they would be afraid of him.

Even some of the older children would cower when he was near or run and hide. They were petrified of him and those that worked there could tell. He stuck fear into the children at the orphanage.

But, it wasn't his fault. He did everything that the one within his mind told him to do. He said what this person said but he never spoke aloud of his 'friend'. He was told that they would take him away from each other if he told and Tom would be alone, all by himself. Tom didn't want that. He didn't want to be left alone. After all, his mother had left him. She had left him because he wasn't the son that she wanted.

That's what 'he' had said.

"What is it?" Tom asked the one who had called him.

His voice was soft and polite but it was sharp and lingering.

"Tom, Missy told me that you stole Tyler's toy train," She said. "Is that correct."

"I didn't do it!" Tom stamped angrily. "I don't have Tyler's toy!"

She sighed. "Very well, Tom. And just to let you know, we will be having a young girl stay here for a while. Be on your best behavior!"

Her words made Tom angry but he nodded and went back up the stairs to his room. He sat down on the bed.

"Tom, how many times do I have to tell you," 'he' said as Tom glared at the wall. "These people don't understand."

"I know," Tom whispered quietly. "But I don't like how they treat me. They treat me like I'm bad."

"There is no bad or good," 'he' said softly. "There's only power."

"I think you told me that once," Tom whispered quietly.

"So," 'he' said to change the subject. "There's going to be a new girl here."

Tom sighed. There were always new people and these new people all ended up like the rest. They'd be afraid of him within weeks. 'He' said it was good that the others feared him. He would gain respect through fear. Tom believed him.

…

I was a fool, as a young boy. I soaked in everything that he said. I thought it was the truth. It had to be. What other truth was there? I always wondered why I could make the other's hurt when I wanted them to. I always wondered why things happened.

Was this because of me or him?

I would later find out that I was a wizard. But for now, I was too young to understand. I just wanted people to fear me because I was told that I would gain respect from it. I wasn't gaining any respect. I was just scaring people into insanity.

They never told on me. They were too afraid that I'd do whatever I did to them, before, again. I figured that I would never get in trouble for this. Once I found out that Tyler had told on me for taking his toy train, which I had locked away in my dresser, I went to him.

…

"Be calm!" 'He' him say softly and soothingly to Tom. "That way, he won't expect what's coming."

Tyler was a boy with red hair and mud brown eyes. Tom was trying to be calm as he approached the sweet and innocent little boy who was playing with Michael and Lucas.

"Hi," Tom said slowly and sharply.

Tyler looked up and him and backed away slowly.

"I just told the truth," Tyler knew why Tom was there to see him.

"You leave Tyler alone!" Michael yelled. "He just did what he could to get his toy back."

Tom took a deep breath. He was surging with childish fury. Michael fell to the ground and began writhing in pain. Tom was looking at Tyler.

"You don't tell on me!" He glared.

Tyler fell to the ground in pain. Tom hadn't even touched either boy as they shook in pain. Their shouts were muffled. They were too afraid to scream out in pain. Both had tears streaming down their faces.

Tom turned his attention to the only boy still standing. Lucas had backed himself in the corner. He got down on his knees when he noticed that Tom was looking at him.

"Please!" He begged. "I didn't do anything. Don't hurt me."

"Spare him!" 'He' instructed. "We can show mercy to those to beg for it."

Tom nodded slowly and turned away from all three boys. Tyler and Michael were no longer shaking in pain. They were too afraid to move.

Tom felt a bit bad that he had done that.

"Don't Feel Bad!" 'He' whispered sharply and sounding angry. "They deserved it!"

Tom nodded again. "Next time," he directed to Tyler. "We don't tell."

Tom stormed off to his room leaving the three frightened boys too afraid to do anything. The door down the stairs had closed and a small female voice was heard.

The new girl had arrived.

…

Nobody was expecting what was going to happen next. I wasn't expecting it. It wasn't supposed to happen. I was afraid too, as a child. I was afraid of being left alone. This new girl threatened to make my fear come true.

That's what he had told me then.

I wasn't going to let that happen. I vowed that I would keep him and I together. That's what I was going to do.

I was becoming a monster for him. I was the monsterous child who liked to hurt other kids, torture them. What was I? Was I crazy? Was I something not human?

No!

Not yet!

I was just afraid. We do stupid things for several reasons and emotions: For love (something I cannot do), for happiness, for grief, and for fearfulness. I would only find out later in life that I was something that wasn't right. What I was doing wasn't right. What I was becoming wasn't…

…

AN: We wanted the first chapter up quickly we got really impatient after writing the prologue so we wrote the next one. Please tell us what you think.

~Ted Theodore Logan and Bill S. Preston Esquire