Rise of the Brave Tangled Dragons

Chapter 9

Jack's POV

I wake up when I hear the girls laughing really hard. I wonder why?

But I'm glad Rapunzel has found a friend. I know she doesn't often speak to anyone else then me. I open my eyes and see Hiccup sitting straight in his bed with his head in his knees. At first I think he is asleep but then I see his hand slightly playing with the cover. I'm going to say something to him, but I yawn and fall back to a deep sleep.

I wake up again in the morning looking up. The light from the small window is in my eyes. I rub them and look at Hiccup. He is in the exact same position as he were in the middle of the night.

"Good morning." I say and stretch my back out. I had sleept so good, without sharing a small and sheep wood bed with my sister, but I could clearly see Hiccup hadn't. He had deep purple circles under his eyes.

"Good morning" he answered and smiles. I can tell it is a real one.

We talk a little about the happenings of yesterday and what we might be capable to do later on. We both get dressed and I stop myself from my I-could-probably-make-tons-of-ice-cream-with my powers fantasy and I see in the back of my eye. Hiccup's back. I turn around and gasp. Except for the ribs and spine really sticking out he was covered all in bruises, scars, cuts and even a big burn mark down his side. He turn around when I'm silent and notice me staring.

"What?" He says and quickly pull down his long sleaved, green sweater.

At first I don't know what to answer. Had the school bullies done all that! How could someone be so cruel? If I had known I would have reported it immidatly. He notice me looking at his waist and I think he understands. "What in the name of Lord happend to your back?!" I ask slighty panicked without knowing why.

I see Hiccup drag down his sweater even lower and he looks down at his feet. "I don't know what you're talking about." He half whispers. Without me having a chance to answere he walks out of the room.

I look after him not sure what to do.

I shift to a blue hooded sweatshirt North put out for me and walks down to breakfast. I see Merida and Rapunzel sitting at the table talking fast with each other. I snap up words like "three brothers", "only child" and "I love to paint". I look around the room whitout seeing Hiccup anywhere. As if she'd read my mind Rapunzel asks "Good morning Jack! Where have you got Hiccup?"

The both girls look up at me and I don't know what to answer. Clearly Hiccup had hidden something and I decided to confront him. But it felt wrong to tell the girls about what had happened so I just nonchalant say "He's still asleep."

Merida gave me a it's so obvious you're lying look but she didn't say anything either. We kept on talking and eating but Hiccup didn't show up. Later Sandy comes in the room, showing the four elements and an arrow pointing to the training room above his head. The three of us nods and we follow him.

Hiccup's POV

If you should summary my thoughts it would basically be "Oh no. No, no, no, NO! Oh gods, no!" I walked quickly down the hall and found an empty room. I entered and sat down a corner. I knew Jack had seen my scars, how could I've ever been so stupid. I punch the back of my head against the wall three times. How was he going to react? If he knew my father abuses me maybe he'll call the police. If he did my father would be so angry at me for letting anyone know and I would probably not survive the a night with him. He might even hurt Jack.

And if he would be guilty for child abuse and go to jail... I don't love my father but he's the only family I've got. My mother died in canser years ago and except for my cousin Snoutlout I don't have any other relatives. But Jack had already seen. The friendship I thought was built between us is probably shattered now when he has seen what a freak I am. Malnourished and broken to the bones. A hopeless pathetic Hiccup. I burry my head in my hands and try to breath normally.

It doesn't work out so good. I sit there for about an hour until I realize Jack might tell North, or Tooth, or Rapunzel, or... I stop myself. Or Merida.  I jump on to my feet and immediately feel dissy with lack of sleep. I turn around and in the darkness I accidently knock down some kind of a big bowl.  It rattles a lot while falling to the ground. I hear the door opens and I blink at the sudden light. In the door opening stands Tooth looking relived, worried and confused:all at the same time.

She throws her arms around me in a hug and I feel how every scar and bruise screams in panic but I almost don't want her to let go. I can't even remember last time I got a hug. Probably before my mother had died. But she let go of me and look me in the eyes "Where on the earths have you been Hiccup! Practise started for hours ago, you can't just disappear like that when Pitch's around, I was worried about you!"

"Em... Well I was just here." he answers, not sure what to say or if Jack had told her.

"Are you alright then?" She says and I see she looks at the circles under neath my eyes.

"Yeah, just forgot about the time a bit" I say nervously which isn't entirely a lie. Had I really been here for hours?

"Okay. Now let's get you to practise." She says not looking to convinced.

I nod slightly looking down at my feet. We walk through the corridor in silent. I notice how Tooth sends glares at me but I ceep on looking down. She opens the heavy door to the training room but we both freezes in our steps.

Infront of Merida, Jack, Rapunzel, Bunny, Sandy and North stands a man in a black coat. He is pale with an evil grin over his face all the way to his dark eyes.

I just needed one look at him to know who he was. He turns straight to me and looks me in the eyes. I can't even react when I see him aim a black arrow to my chest.