I am Dust

Chapter IV

Clyde Lynx

Let's fast forward through the day to the point where we're all in the ballroom getting ready for tomorrow. The only reason I'm skipping so far ahead is because this is where things start to get interesting. And by interesting, I mean that this is how I know where things are about to go to shit in my time at Beacon.

I roll out a sleeping bag for me to lay down on far off from others, plopping a pillow at the end where I'll lay my head, and make myself comfortable. I looked up at the people mingling, trying to get to know each other and tell their stories.

It might be from me being a loner all the time or just me being paranoid, but I realized how fake people can really be. Let me give you an example: I'm watching these two girls talk to each other so buddy-like. They say their names, shake their hands, and tell them where they're from. It looked like they were bribed to do it as a first-day-of-school activity. Then they start pulling out a bunch of clichés, like "Oh my gosh, I love your skirt!" "I love what you did to your hair!" "Oh my gosh, we're going to be best friends!" and do their little giggle and sigh. Did they get this from a movie? Because it looked so acted out that I seriously believed they were hired to encourage students to talk to new people. They finally moved on to the next person, and the cycle continues. I doubt they'll ever talk to each other again. I can only roll my eyes at these half-assed attempts to try to make friends.

And just when I thought I would be left alone, I was once again proved wrong. People after people walked up to me, obviously not caring that I wanted to be left alone. Eventually they get the message and leave me alone, sometimes whispering, "Weirdo," to themselves or their friend, who usually giggles or chuckles. I didn't care though. I'd let them have their chuckle.

I continued to stare at the ceiling, letting my mind wander away. This is the point where things start to get tough.

"Hey you!" I heard a voice boom at me, followed by a couple of footsteps moving to me.

"Ah shit…" I softly grumble to myself as I get up, adjusting my pajama pants. I turn my head to the voice and met a view that was too memorable.

A group of four guys made their way towards me, that same cynical and mischievous grin that all bullies put on before they start picking on a kid. Some of the people talking stopped and moved out-of-the-way, watching as the goons made their way towards me. Those who weren't so cautious were shoved or bumped. Soon half of the people are watching the scene unfolding. They know this will be good.

The tallest of the guys stepped forward, right in front of me. He had burnt orange hair, combed back with a peak at the front. He had blue eyes and a permanent smirk on his face. He was taller than me, but not by much. He definitely looked like the one who'd torture little rabbits, along with the punks he's grouped with. They all give me dirty looks and snickered like their IQ were below 50. He started opening his mouth again.

"Well look at this. I heard you're the guy who's dissing everybody, right?"

I didn't respond, only rolling my eyes. His expression turned sour and he shoved me back. Being someone who's been picked on a lot, I knew that would happen, taking a step back and planting it down, keeping myself from moving.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" He snapped at me, a toothy smirk growing on his face. His friends cackled as they watch their leader pick on me. "You deaf or stupid?!"

Is this guy serious? What the fuck is his deal!? I looked around at the stares of everyone, all filled with curiosity. They're just dying to see what'll happen next. I then took a quick glance down. He's standing on my sleeping bag. I felt my little devil cackle in my head and a smirk growing on my face.

I crouched down and gripped my sleeping bag. With a sharp tug back, I pulled it right from under from his feet, my pillow snapping back and skidding across the floor. The bully did this cartoon-style slip where he fell back, kicking a leg up in the air and flailing his arms. He let out a sound I can only compare to a cow mooing, but more guttural and high-pitched. He went down with a thud, arms out and legs sticking up in the air. The sound of his back hitting the ground was followed by an uproar of laughter, even one of his friends chuckling a bit. With a satisfied grin, I rolled up my sleeping bag and tucked it under my arm, walking over him and past his goons, who stare at me with wide eyes, taking a quick step back as they thought I was coming for them next. I was actually going to my pillow. I snatched it up and started moving away from them, finding a quieter spot to be at.

My little victory walk was cut short. I felt a strong force hit me in my spine, along with two arms wrapping around my body as I feel someone tackle me with strength that nearly snapped me in half. My sleeping bag and pillow went flying out my arm and my hand as I head for the wooden floor, my arms barely breaking my fall. When I hit the ground, I heard the crowd gasp when I let out a pained grunt. A heavy weight shifted on my back and pinned me down. Before I could try to get up, I get flipped on my back, my eyes readjusting to the lights shining down on me and the silhouette.

I couldn't see the first fist plummet down and strike me right under my eye, the force of the punch slamming my head down on the ground hard. I squinted my eyes in pain, letting out a sharp grunt as the pain under my eyes start to grow. I kept my head down, the back of my head growing sore. Before I could respond more, another fist came down and hit me in the left side of my jawbone, snapping my head to the right, my eyes refocusing at the feet of the people stand around me, too shocked and entertained to know what to do. Well, they finally made a choice on what to do. They decided to make this like a sport game, cheering and hollering at us, picking sides on who would win, screaming and demanding me to fight back.

Well, the people cheering for me are going to be utterly disappointed. Allowing this to happen to someone is by far the worst thing you could do in a situation like this. I understand that people love to watch other people fight. I am guilty of that too, especially when they're doing it as a sport. But this? This is not a sport or a fight. I just wanted to get away, but he won't let me, shouting, "Fight me, puss! Fight back! C'mon!"

No. No, I'm not fighting back. The last time I did, I got carried away. I don't care if he mashes me into a bloody pulp; I can't let "it" back out again.

So I'll just lay here until it's all over. I can wait.

Yang Xiao Long

Alright! So I'm guessing it's my turn to tell the story. This should be fun!

So after bickering with ice queen back and forth, we all stopped to look over at the crazed people standing around in the center of the ballroom. Ruby, my adorable little sister, started making her way over to the crowd.

"What's going on over there?" I heard her ask herself as she started to blend in with the crowd.

"Looks like a fight!" I've seen enough of this in movies and sometimes at school to know what's going on. And let me tell you, these are the most exciting things that happen in a school. If you were sick from school and you missed a fight, it'd be the only thing you would hear everyone else talk about and you'd have no idea what they're talking about. The thrill of watching other people getting the snot beaten out of each other is just incredible!

I quickly moved to the crowd, seeing my little sis' head up at the front. I felt my lips stretch as I grin, slipping right next to Ruby and standing in the front of the crowd. Perfect front row seats for the brawl!

It was exactly what I thought it'd be. I instantly recognized one of the fighters: Cardin Winchester, the "school bully" as everyone would've labeled him as. Big strong bad boy who'd do anything to get what he wanted. I heard that he's been blackmailing people to do his homework and all other favors for him. Anyways, there he was, holding the other fighter by his head and repeatedly kneeing the poor sap in the chest before flipping the guy on his side. He didn't have a single scratch on him.

Now the other guy was someone I didn't recognize. He had black spiky hair that reminds me of a porcupine, sticking out from every direction in big spikes. He had blood-red irises, pointy ears and a sharp chin. He looked like a fighter, but he wasn't really proving my point. He had a deep gash under his left eye, blood running down his cheek and his chin. His face was bruised and cut up; his bottom lip had a nice cut on it too. He looked pissed, but all he did was get back up, wipe the blood from his lip and looked at him straight in Cardin's eyes.

"I'm not… fighting you!" He said this in a hostile tone, gritting his teeth.

My grin faded away along with Ruby's. The dude obviously didn't want to fight, and he wasn't going to even try to protect himself. But why? His eyes grew tired and he stumbled back a bit, almost falling on to the crowd, who blindly tossed him back on his feet, launching him forward into Cardin. Cardin took that into advantage, and spun backwards, delivering a hard kick right into the guy's stomach. The guy let out a loud pained grunt and he fell on his back. The crowd goes "Oooh…" that one where you knew it hurt. I cringed as I watched his head slam on the ground and bounce, knowing he got the wind knocked out of him.

I watched Cardin crouch on one knee over him, grabbing his shirt collar and cocking his fist back, ready to finish the punch.

"C'mon, I'll even give you a free swing!" He said it in a proud tone, waiting for me to make his move.

If I was that guy, I would've shot my knee right into his wedding bells and end the fight from there. But instead, he looked up at him with a furious glare and spat blood in Cardin's eye.

"I won't… fight…" He grunted it out with sore jaws, bruised from the pounding they just endured.

Cardin didn't take that lightly. His face put on that fierce grin, that look he always had before he knew he was about to end it. "I don't even know why you're even here if you won't fight!"

Wait a minute… what am I doing!? Here I am just standing here knowing how wrong this situation is with Ruby, and just watching it like I can't do a thing about it! Someone has to stop it!

I dashed behind Cardin and wrapped my arms around his body, reaching up and grabbing the back of his head. I held him in that full nelson as I pulled him off and turned him away, carrying him away from the new guy.

"H-Hey!" He complained and started flailing around, people groaning and complaining as I carried him out from the crowd.

I finally let go and pushed him away, standing in front of the guy lying on the ground, my back turned from him.

"Really Cardin!? Just what are you trying to prove here!? Beating on someone who doesn't want to fight!" I scolded him before turning to look at the annoyed crowd.

"And you guys standing around like a bunch of vultures! Aren't we supposed to NOT let things like this happen!? Isn't that why we're here!?"

They looked away or down at their feet, the guilt finally getting to them. I just stood there, shaking my head disappointed at everyone. This shouldn't have even happened.

Ruby gave me a proud smile, chiming in. "Yang's right! Its things like that are the reason the world needs us!"

"Well said, baby sister!" I smiled at her proudly, redirecting my attention to the crowd. It looked like the message was getting to them, the crowd slowly dispersing away and going back to their business.

Alright, next thing to do is to get this guy somewhere…

Where is he?

Clyde Lynx

That's it! Fuck that guy who just beat me, fuck those people who were watching me, and fuck this school!

Usually, a walk through a garden at night is supposed to be pleasant, but when you have a bruised, bleeding, and throbbing face, you kind of forget about the scenery and start thinking about what just happened.

So this is the legendary Beacon! Just another broken promise for me! God, I can't believe I even let Ozpin talk me into this! Why didn't I run when I should have!? What reason do I have to be here!? Jail sounds a lot more promising than this place now!

I can't even think straight anymore! My mind is just me screaming at myself! "You shouldn't even be here!" "Why are you even here!?" "You don't even belong here!"

The drums are beating again. The fire is kicking back up and my body starts to ache. Maybe I should let it out. Let's teach them all a lesson…!

But then, she came into my head. That one girl who stepped in to help me. She doesn't deserve to face it.

I took deep breaths. I need to calm down... let my mind empty itself so I can think clearly again. The drumming died down and the fire ceased. I walked to find a nice stone bench and sat down. I looked up at the sky and took another deep breath. The moon is shining tonight. It's pretty.

Now I can think. First off, I did the right thing. If I fought back, I'd lose control. I wouldn't be able to stop it from coming out. Plus, I'd be giving him and everyone else what they wanted. I don't think they deserve a show like that. Besides, I can already feel my cut healing up. The pain will go away eventually.

Next, I got to plan out tomorrow. Tomorrow will be Initiation day. I don't know what initiation is, and I don't know what's going to happen, but if it consists of being in a group, then I have to be ready for that. I can understand that school activities will consist of being in groups and put you in situations you'll feel uncomfortable, but you have to just tough it up and work with it. I don't think it'll be a huge problem, as long as it isn't that guy. Just do it, get it done, and bam. No worries.

Finally... I have to ask myself this again: Is this the right thing? If I decided to run, would that be a better end for me? And if not, how does this become a better choice? This question continues to pop in my mind and I can't ever get a straight answer. Maybe Ozpin really can help me control myself. It's a long shot, but still... it's better than nothing. And if I control it, I can finally... be a part of this society. I don't have to run or hide myself from others in fear that I'll put them in danger. I don't think I'd want to be a hunter, but maybe I'll change my mind? And if I do decide to be one, I'll finally stop being so closed to everyone. I'll be able to be a normal me.

I'll be able to meet more people like that girl. If I somehow bump into her, I'll be sure to thank her.

But for now, I got to rest. I don't think I want to go back into that ballroom. I don't want all that attention. This bench will work. I've slept on worse things than this. So, I stretched my body and lay across on the bench, staring up at the broken moon. I always wondered what happened to it to be broken like that.

So for the rest of the night, I quietly hummed the tune of the birthday song to myself before falling asleep.

Happy birthday to me.