A Dragon's Crimson Cry
By: Tippi
Ch 36 Unhappy Home
The building was very plain and depressing. I was like a gray rectangle with a few windows and a door. It had a black iron fence around the small yard. In front of the walkway to the front door the fence was an arch. From what he could see the building was four stories high. The top three floors had five windows going across and last floor only had four windows as the front door took up the space the middle window would have been.
Jake had planted his feet on the sidewalk outside the arch looking at the building. He shifted his weight one foot then the other and pulled a little on the straps of his backpack, grip tightening on the handles of his other bag. He was reluctant to go inside but Lee and Katie were giving him a gentle push. And by gentle push it meant each one gripping a shoulder and pushing him forward.
Inside the building boy's of multiple ages were everywhere. They didn't seem to pay any mind to the three new comers entering the facility.
Jake was next lead to one of the three office's in building left of the entrance. They were the only rooms on the ground floor with doors.
"The only officer's allowed in here are those that have a case with one of the kids and since you no longer working Jake's case…" Katie said as they reached to office door.
"But" Lee wanted to object.
"You shouldn't have gone past the front door you should go now before a worker sees you and has you forced out" Katie informed him.
Lee gave a sigh and said "Maybe I'll see you later Jake." Then Lee left.
Once Lee was out of sight he and Katie entered the office.
Jake's file was handed over to the head director of the home (introduced as Mr. Lakes) and Katie left.
The director led Jake to the dorms on the second floor.
"This is your bed," the director said pointing to one of the many beds.
The dorms had beds lined up on opposite sides of the long room and at the end of each bed was a chest.
"The bathroom is down the hall, breakfast is at 6, lunch at noon and dinner at 6 in the evening" the director went on explaining the rules. "If you're late to a meal you get left overs and if there's no left overs then you have to wait till next meal. First floor is the commons, second floor is only for ages 8-12, third floor is for ages 13-17, and forth floor is storage. So stay out of the offices, kitchen, and the third and fourth floor. Lights out at 10 and here" Mr. Lakes finished giving Jake a combination lock. "Lock your chest up things tend to get stolen if you don't."
With that Mr. Lakes left the room.
"I can't think of a word to describe how I feel now" Jake said out load to no one.
Jake just dropped his two bags in the chest at the end of his bed and locked it. With nothing else to do Jake went down to the commons.
The commons had multiple chairs, tables, and couches, one TV and one stereo. It had shelves with books and board games.
There where 24 boys, including Jake, living there currently. All were waiting on a foster home placement. There were various situations that lead all the boys here. Some had abusive or neglectful parents, many of which were connected to drugs or alcohol. A few were runaways who didn't give an address when found, having their own reasons for not wanting to return home.
Jake was the only kid there with (for sure) dead parents and a relative that wanted to take him in, even it that relative wasn't currently able to say so.
Most of the boys didn't know or care if their parents were still alive and none had a relative to take them in. They were now in the system till they were adopted or 18.
Jake was trying to keep his distance from the other kids but one wasn't going stay away from him.
Jake was sitting on one of the old couches his arms folded behind his head when a boy about 16 came over.
"Okay newbie lets just set down some ground rules," the 16 year old with military cut blonde hair with a bandana said folding his arms in front of him and held an air of superiority. "I'm called Ice and I'm in charge so do what I tell you and we'll get along."
Jake merely brought his arms down and folded in front of him much like the older kid. Currently the two were sizing each other up. This game usually ended in one backing down or a fight breaking out.
"Nice necklace give it to me" Ice demanded and reached out to grab it.
Now there were two things you never do one is stop Jake from skate boarding and two never even so much as touch his necklace without his permission. And Ice just broke number two.
The moment Ice's hand made contact with the silver surface Jake's foot made contact with the teen's stomach. Ice pulled his hand back so he could warp both arms around his stomach as he doubled over in pain.
The whole commons went silent as everyone wanted to see what would happen. No one had stood up to Ice except for any kid bigger than him.
Jake grabbed the front of Ice's shirt and brought Ice's face up to his.
"No one touches MY necklace" Jake said then released the shirt.
Once that was said a bell rang signaling the kids to dinner.
The meal was tense as Jake was sitting across from Ice on the long dinning table. The two kept shooting daggers at each other. Ice was a sore loser and he was going to do something drastic.
It was an hour to 10 and Jake was alone in the bathroom showering. Since the bathrooms had to accommodate multiple boys at once it was set up quite differently than one may think.
On one side was like the showers you find in the locker rooms. On the opposite wall were stalls like in a public bathroom for the toilets and between the two on the wall opposite the door was a line of sinks.
Jake was showering with his necklace on not wanting to give any one the chance to try and take it again. He had just finished his shower and was wrapping a towel around his waist when some one entered.
~Just minutes ago~
"This is a bad idea" a boy with dyed black hair said to Ice.
"He's right who knows what he'll do if he finds you doing this" another boy with blonde spiked hair added.
"We're begging you to reconsider" the dyed hair boy tried on last time.
But Ice wasn't about to listen. He disregarded his two lackey's pleas and proceeded with his plan.
Ice flung the door to the bathroom open. Ice saw Jake standing alone in the bathroom with nothing but his necklace and a towel on.
"Payback" Ice said.
Ice advanced on Jake backing him into the sinks. They were only four feet apart when Mr. Lakes walked in.
"Christopher I've told you a thousand times to stay off the second floor" Mr. Lakes practically yelled at him.
"I told you I changed my name to Ice" Ice muttered.
"I don't care if you changed your name to Betty I'm calling you by your legal name and if you don't start following the rules and stop picking fights I'll send you to the home for troubled boys. And that's just one step away from Juvy" Mr. Lakes informed him.
With that Ice reluctantly sulked back to the third floor leaving Jake in peace.
Jake tossed and turned in his bed as a strange dream plagued his sleep.
Jake was standing on the roof top of the shop; covering most of the roof was Jake's deceased relatives. One was hanging in front of all of them looking down at Jake with a displeased look on. Jake recognized him as his great uncle Shin.
"Why'd you stop me, why didn't you kill him" Shin yelled.
"I didn't want to I'm not a murderer… wait you" Jake said suddenly realizing his uncle's words.
"I was so close but you had to go and get all righteous on me and break my control" his uncle accused.
"Well it's not your choice" Jake's 2nd cousin Samantha said coming up to stand next to Shin.
"And it wasn't my choice to die either" Shin yelled at her. "I'm going to take my revenge on that bastard anyway I have to."
"By taking control of Jake" Jake mother came to stand behind Sam facing Shin.
"If I can get my revenge" Shin responded.
"You let your anger take over and used it to control some one, that's despicable" Susan snapped.
Jake was feeling rather ignored but his mother seemed rather angry and he didn't want to make her any angrier so he decided best to keep quiet.
"We're here to protect and give advice not use him to exact our revenge" Sam explained.
A number of relatives gathered around Shin but more were behind Sam and Sue.
"It seems we have more support" Sue said.
"Majority rules" Sam added.
"Maybe but our anger for our murder and need for revenge far out weigh the number of those behind you" Shin said. "And we will get a second chance."
After that Shin and all those behind him disappeared like dust in the wind.
"So now what" Jake asked.
"Nothing really just do as you did you know right from wrong and could take back control on your own" Sam said.
"Just stay that way" his mother said as she and the rest of the family left the same way.
Jake awoke from his dream. He looked around the bare room at all the other sleeping boys; they all looked comfortable in their beds.
Jake laid back down, wrapped him self in his blanket, and tired his hardest to make sense of the dream and sleep once again.
A/N This may get confusing later on if it isn't already so any questions just ask. Review