Chapter 1: Banquets
A/N Hey readers! How are you doing? Well, thank you for going on reading my story. Sorry about the prologue, I know it was very short, too short for my liking. Fortunately, the first chapter is much longer, so I hope you'll really get into the story this time. Enjoy!
Coriolanus Snow was sitting alone at a table. He wished he could leave, but his adoptive parents forced him to attend all the parties they hosted. It was the third of the week, and the boy had to write an essay due the next morning. If only I could get away from all this noise, he thought. What a waste of time. Having nothing else to do, Coriolanus recalled the conversation he had with his adoptive mother earlier:
"Mother, do I really have to come to the party?" asked the boy. "I have this very important paper to hand in tomorrow, and-"
"I will most certainly not have you doing your homework while we are holding a banquet," cut his mother.
"But Mother-" started Coriolanus.
"No buts, Coriolanus," said the eldest. "You shall not even open a book until the last of our guests leave."
It was one in the morning, and the youngster still hadn't started writing his theme. "I suppose I won't get much sleep tonight", he muttered to himself, in a sarcastic tone. Finally, an hour later, people realized it was getting late and started to leave. Coriolanus's parents bid all the guests good night, and turned their attention, for the first time since the beginning of the party, on their son:
"Well, it seems you just remembered my existence," said the boy, angry at his parents for ignoring him all night long.
"Don't you dare-" started the father.
"Dare what? Tell you to pay attention sometimes? To consider my needs? Sure, that would be way too much to ask."
"Do not address us this way, young boy! Have some respect. Remember we gave you food and shelter for thirteen years, when no one was there for you."
"But you chose to take me in after my biological parents died for me. Why did you do that if it was so inconvenient, then?" spat Coriolanus at his adoptive parents.
The teenager stood up as he felt a stinging pain to his cheek and dropped to the floor. His father had just hit him. Shocked, Coriolanus left the house, slamming the door shut behind him. He didn't care about what would happen when he came back. If he came back. He just needed to get as far from there as possible. The boy sprinted in downtown streets, running away from his adoptive parents, from the manor, and - even if it was only for a few peaceful moments - from a life he never asked for.
A/N That's it for today, Tributes! I thought about combining chapters 2 and 3, but I think it would be too long. So, wait for chapter 3 for some explanations about the prologue. I'll try to update soon. Until then, good day!