When the Stars Fall Down

-Fourth degree Burn-

"All rise for the judge." A man with a deep voice groaned, everyone complied to the words the man spoke. An old Lady walks in from the left, wearing a silky black robe and golden earrings. She sits down behind the bench and straightens her posture, clearing her throat quietly "You may be seated." She spoke. Everyone sat back down and stayed quiet. "We are here for a case of First Degree Homicide. The defendants client is Prox, a young boy that is 10 years of age. He is being charged with Arson, assault, and manslaughter.." the old lady looks at the young boy, sitting next to the defendant "How do you plead?" She asked quietly. The boy smiled and responded in a calm, monotone voice "Guilty. On all charges."
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Prox woke up in his bed, his body still covered in bruises from the night before. He sighed and got up from his bed, his body ached with each step he took towards his desk. He pulls the rolling chair out and sits down, scooting his chair back in. He opened his textbook and started to study, taking many notes as he read through the book for his upcoming test, he had filled about two note books with paragraphs of valuable information he needed. He was determined to get the highest score, he might be the smartest kid in the class and taking middle school level classes, but the reason behind his motivation to be the best was much darker than anyone would've thought. He was interrupted with his father and mother yelling at eachother as always, he never thought much of the constant fighting cause he thought that it was normal for parents to beat eachother up and throw glass bottles at one another. However, he did seem to get.. upset when his father smacked Proxs mom for making the tiniest mistakes. But he was dwelling off on his thoughts and instantly snapped back to reality when he heard footsteps running up the stairs to his bedroom. He lived in the attic, it wasn't his idea to keep his room up there but his father told him that no one would want to see his disappointment of a son, so Prox gave in and lived up there for most of his childhood. The door opened and Proxs mother ran in, slamming the door behind her and locking the door. The loud footsteps coming up the stairs was most likely Proxs father since he was screaming for Proxs mother to cook him a meal before he went to work. 'He can cook his own damn meal.' Prox thought to himself. His mother cowered in the corner of Proxs bedroom, huffing. The father pounded on the door and eventually went away after he called Proxs mother a "Stupid cunt". Prox sighed quietly and looked at his mother, she sighed in relief and looks back at Prox, trying to hold back tears "How's my boy doing?" She smiled "I'm almost done studying." Prox responded, slightly smiling as he spoke. Proxs mom gently rubs her son's back gently "That's good.. maybe I'll order pizza to celebrate." She chuckled softly and looks out the window that was in front of Proxs desk. "You don't need to do that for me mom, I don't need any pizza just for completing my study." Prox chuckled a bit, his mom smiles "You've been working so hard, Prox. I'm really proud of you." Prox smiles warmly and looks back at his study book "I should get back to studying." He softly spoke and his mother nodded. She slowly makes her way out of his room, gently shutting the door behind herself. Proxs smile dissapeared as she left, sighing softly and returning his focus back onto the book.

Prox yawns as he closes the book in front of him, he looks at the clock and sighs. 11:03 PM. He got up from his desk and stretched, getting himself ready to do his Chores. He turns around and walks out of his room, tripping over himself in the process. He made it down to the luxurious kitchen the house had, it had 3 silver ovens with plenty of space to prepare a large meal. In the center of the was a table like structure but with counters, on it was a large flower vase with white and yellow roses, slowly wilting away. Prox sighed and walked over to the sink, piled with dishes that almost reached the wooden cabinets above it. 'Why do I have to do the dishes.. I barley eat.' He thought to himself as a small frown formed on his face, he began to do the dishes when he heard the backdoor open and looked. His mother stumbled in with her dress torn, her chest being almost exposed but is thankfully her shirt was still held up by her hand. Her hair was messy and she had a panicked look on her face, she looked at Prox and smiled "Finished already?" She asked. Prox sighed and nodded, knowing that his mother was probably just trying to change the subject since she was in a very compromising outfit. Proxs mom walks out of the kitchen and went into her room, Prox didn't really notice but he could hear her mother's soft sobbing from her room, which made him upset. Prox opened the fridge and looked, it was mostly filled with empty beer bottles and condiments that was rotting away in the fridge. Prox might live in a huge two story house, with a basement, attic and several housemaids to take care of him, but he was never fed by his father. He didn't bother fighting his dad about it, since his dad was most likely to use the "I've worked all day and you sat in your room" lecture he always gets. Prox closed the fridge door and walked over to the walk in pantry, opening the door and flicking the lights on. Everything in the pantry was labeled and organized properly, most of them had labels that said 'Not for Prox' and the food that didn't have that label on it was white rice or a variety of cookies, that had peanut oil in them, which Prox was allergic to. He grabs a bottle of water and turns the lights off, closing the door before he walks into the large living room. It had bookshelves piled with history and law books, 5 couches that were all a cream color, a coffee table that was made our of the finest woodpine there was and a large spacious fireplace with a TV hanging above it on the wall. Prox wasn't allowed to watch TV or read any of the books, instead he threw some wood into the fireplace and lit it. Watches the flames as they moved around, popping and cracking around like someone breaking their spine. Prox was fascinated with fire, he seemed more entertained with fire than anything else, he had a.. relationship with flames. He was able to touch the flames and not get burned, he was able to hold fire in his hand and only get burn mark on his fingers or palm, he could somehow bend fire to his will at any moment, but he'd rather watch the flames crackle and pop. He was lost in the red flames hypnotic movement, to realize that his father came in and was standing behind him. As the flames grew dimmer, Prox got lost interested and got up, turning around but immediately wishing he never did. His father was tall, about 5'11, so it was rather intimidating to see him with his usual scowl, glaring down at Prox "Are you done studying." The way he said that wasn't a question, more of a statement. Prox nodded "Yes sir." He made eye contact with his father for a split second and waited for his Father to smack him or yell. His father sighed and flicked his wrist at Prox "Go to your room." Prox nodded and walked back upstairs, surprised at his father's reaction. As Prox closed his bedroom door he walked over to his bed and knelt door, leaning over and sticking his hand under the bed. He latches onto something, he slowly pulled it out and smiled. It was a carving knife his grandfather gave him last year and it still had the engravings of his and Proxs name. Prox gently touched the blade with his finger, feeling every sharp edge and the small dents. He stood up and climbed onto his messy bed, laying down and hoping everything would go away.. he wanted everything to leave him alone.. it was all his father's fault after all.. Prox starts to gently cry "I-it's all his fault..." he hugged himself tightly as he curled up. He eventually fell asleep, tears still running down his cheeks.

Prox woke up and sat up from his bed, stretching his arms out as he yawns. He got up and went to his door, but before he got to the door it swung open and Proxs father stood in his doorway. Prox felt all the color from his face drain as he backs up "Prox. I saw your report card for school." Proxs fathers voice was stern and quite loud. He grabbed Proxs wrist "No son of mine is allowed to have failing grades. You need a punishment." Proxs heart fell to his stomach "N-No! Please father I'm sorry! Please let go!!" He struggled as hid Father dragged him down the stairs and towards the fire place, throwing Prox down onto the ground as he lit the logs. He grabbed a pair of rusty handcuffs and threw them in as Prox sat on the floor, trying to figure out what punishment his father had that involved handcuffs. After a few minutes, his father grabbed a long rod with a hook on the end, snagging the handcuffs, the metal was hot and red. Prox then realized what he was going to do "NO!!" he tries to scramble away but his father grabs him and puts the handcuffs on Proxs wrists. The metal hissed as it met Proxs skin as it slowly started to burn it. Prox screamed in pain as the handcuffs dug into his skin, tears started to roll down his face and his cries only grew louder. His father then took Prox by the throat and threw him back to the ground, Prox gasped as he heard a subtle crack from his hand. His father paid no attention as he took the metal rod and stuffed the hook end directly into the fire, he waited a few minutes before pulling it out and hit the side of Proxs head with it. Prox helped in pain as the hot metal hit his skull, he was knocked out.

~~~~To be continued.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
( 1814 word count)