Sky Full Of Stars: Ruby Redfort One Shots

Shadow Man

Hey guys. This chapter is continuing on from the last one except this time it's Hitch who is in trouble at school. I hope you like it. Idk if I need a trigger warning but if you are upset by wording and imagery that suggests child abuse then please do not read this chapter. It's not detailed at all nor is it graphic but I thought I would let people know just in case x

Hitchen Romero was a challenging student. Intelligent, yes. Witty, yes. Troubled, yes. Mischievous, definite yes. He never quite knew when to stop most of the time. The teachers at Twinford Junior High were often very nervous to upset the boy. Now there was no doubt that he was nothing like his father. He was never aggressive nor did he ever cause a scene with anyone else. It was the endangerment to his own life which was the problem. He was reckless. Often seen in parts of the school he shouldn't have been in. And unfortunately he often got himself into trouble outside of school too. Let's just say that there had been a few occasions where the Sheriff had taken a trip into the school to bring Hitch to the station. Now most of the time, Hitch wasn't actually doing anything too bad but he was often the first suspect when things did go wrong. For some teachers, he was the devil in human form. For others he was just misunderstood.

"Andrew Raze?" Called out Mrs Drisco as she took attendance for the day.
"Here Miss," said the boy.
"Hitchen Romero?" She said.
No answer.
Mrs Drisco looked up from her seat and rolled her eyes at the sight of Hitch's empty desk.
"Has anyone seen Mr Romero this morning?" She asked. The class stayed silent. They were scared of Hitch in a way. Why shouldn't they have been? They weren't so scared of Hitch's dad, the majority of them knowing how poor their relationship was, but they were scared of Hitch himself. He wasn't built like an ordinary fifteen year old. He was very tall and rugged. They knew that he could easily rip any of them apart if he tried.
Mrs Drisco sighed heavily.
"Right. Well that the third time he's been late this week and if I have to tell him one more time-"
I'm here Miss," said Hitch as he walked through the door. "Sorry I lost track of time,"
"Doing what?" said Mrs Drisco overly pronouncing her consonants.
"Homework?" Lied Hitch.
"Really?" Asked Mrs Drisco. "And did you get this doing homework?" She said, pointing the the fresh scarlet scratch in Hitch's cheek.
"Um-" Hitch's voice faulted.
"Did your 'homework' also tear the bottom of your shirt?" She asked, pointing this time to the tear in Hitch's t-shirt on his side.
"Well did it?" She asked impatiently.
She opened her mouth to speak again but it closed when she noticed the blood stains on the shirt around the tear and under Hitch's fingernails.
"Just what have you been up to Mr Romero?"
She assumed the Hitch had been caught in a brawl with his fellow students outside. Of course no one in the room knew the real reasons behind his injuries. They didn't know Hitch was an undercover agent for something called Spectrum that existed just below the city they lived in. They didn't know that he had several psychopaths trying to kill him. So what could he say?
"I got into a little accident Miss," Hitch lied skilfully. "Nothing to worry about really just a few scratches,"
Mrs Drisco eyed him suspiciously and sighed.
"Detention for being late Mr Romero," she growled.
Hitch groaned and walked to his seat. His friend who he sat next to, Seven Watts, gave him a smirk and Hitch returned it. Mrs Drisco continued with attendance, but it was only the start of a day of trouble for Hitch.

...

At lunch time, Hitch and a group of his friends were sitting under the bleachers, in order to hide from the prying eye of Mr Davenforth, when, as Hitch turned his head to the gates at the end of the yard, he saw a figure. A shadow of sorts. A man encased in dark clothing, his eyes shielded by big glasses he wore. Dark hair spilling out of the top of his hood, hiding his features from the cruel light of the sun. His skin was tanned and marked with many scars, some greater than others. There was a chill in the air as he stood still and out from underneath his rather large overcoat, Hitch saw a hint of orange. Yes, orange trousers and if he squinted he could just about make out the same orange peeking out of his sleeves. Hitch's eyesight being better than the average person, he knew immediately who he was. His father, Aiden Zachary. Escaped from maximum security custody and now here, looking for his blood. Blood to spill. Hitch knew that the bleachers would shield him from the view of his father, but he also didn't want to just let this raving lunatic out free onto the streets. He was stuck to the spot but his mind was willing him to move...

(This is the potentially triggering section btw x)

He was awoken from his trance by Leon, putting a hand onto Hitch's shoulder. Leon too had spotted the man and knew the risks his friend would be taking if he approached. Hitch had been ruined by his father, time and time again. And yet, he never once fought back. He couldn't find it within his loving, forgiving, charred heart to ever harm someone he cared for so deeply. Yes, he had been struck by his father, he had bled for him but he would never give him the satisfaction of knowing that he had changed the goodness within the boy with the faded eyes.

The bell rang just as Hitch turned to Leon bit when his gaze returned, the shadow man was gone.

For the rest of the day, Hitch's thoughts never strayed from the figure in the yard. Where had he gone? What was his plan? Was Hitch once again in danger? Was he putting others in danger just by attending school? These questions remained unanswered during school hours; no matter how little feeling remained in the soul of the shadow man, he wouldn't interrupt his sons life outside of Spectrum. To Aiden, this was less about Hitch, more about a new agent. A troublesome teen to the tail of which chaos clung. Hitch was an agent now. One of the good guys. And underneath the psychotic tendencies and the anger issues, Aiden was proud of his son. The boy in question seemed to be losing focus, worrying about a man who showed so little remorse after so many crimes. It was the curse that attached itself to Hitch's mind: he would always chose love over power. Chaos and misery came naturally to the boy but love burned in his veins for every living thing he knew.

So yes, Hitchen Romero was a troublemaker but he was a good kid and, that, no one could argue with.

I hope you enjoy this chapter. I know it's been so long since I updated you guys but I've had so many exams but I will try my best to upload for you. I'm really sorry if you found this triggering in any way. If you or someone out know is experiencing abuse of any kind please please seek help from someone and my messages are always open if you are ever in need of someone to talk to with no judgment. Thank you so much for reading and please be safe xxx