Centuries Revenge (World Collisions) [#3]

The Mage and The Imposter

'Being human was not a privilege. / It was not an honor. / It wasn't even admirable to be human. / No one thought good of you. / No one helped you. / No, they all belittle you. / They bully you. / Being human was a burden.

I am a human. / All my life I knew nothing but pain. / Misery. / Grief. / Hardship. / Hunger. / Thirst. / I experienced those and so much more. / Because society has a standard. / A silent rule. / A silent dictatorship. / No one saw it. / But, I saw it. / It was cruel. / Unforgiving. / And it was vicious without mercy.

Children cry. / Mothers weep. / Fathers no know boundaries to grief and fear. / All are quaking in fear and stress. / Their knees are clinking together as they feverishly bite at their nails. / All are holding their breath. / Then, it happens. / Their fears.

Men wearing all black walk through the streets. / They are holding banners of blue, gold, and purple. / The banners have splotches of red as well. / All fall to their knees and let out a wail of a sob. / The men are victorious. / They are prideful. / It is their downfall.

They don't care who they stomp on or who they have to stomp on. / They walk with purpose. / Confidence. / They are suave. / Everyone is in tears. / All except the teens. / The teens died in a war they could not win. / They were sent to slaughter. / To murder.

A whole generation was killed.'

I let my fingers run the lines as I breathe out a satisfied breath and I close my eyes briefly as a smile crosses onto my face. It was a good poem and I couldn't understand why many of my classmates hated this book. It was a series of poems told by the same person and the evolution of our society. You could feel their pain, you could feel their raw emotions and it was all so beautiful.

"Annabelle, you reading once again, nerd?" I bite my lip as I turn around and find Clancy, the band nerd. I giggle at his antics and he huffs out a puff of air. "C'mon, can't you just act like you were a little intimidated by me?"

"No chance Clance." I laugh out loud as Clancy visible cringes at the nickname and I pat him on his shoulder. Many people use that nickname as a slander on Clancy and it just wasn't fair. What did Clancy ever do to warrant their hate? Being a band nerd? Being an amazing person and friend? Being an amazing brother? Nothing! He did nothing wrong.

"Ugh, stop using that stupid ass nickname. It reminds me of how much the student population hates me." He plops down onto one of the cushions that were scattered about the library and I take a seat next to him. He looks over to me and snatches the book right out of my hands and I let out a gasp. "Ah, your class is doing this book too?" I nod my head as I watch him skim through the book with lightning speed. "The poetry is good, but it's not really poetry, if you know what I mean. Also, the work is very bone dry and is lacking good writing." Clancy closes the book and gives it back to me and I stare at him with an agape mouth before I screw shut my mouth and I give him a glare.

"The book is amazing and the poetry has raw emotions in them! Bone dry my ass! You just don't know good literature when it kicks you in the nuts and burns down your house!" I all but scream and I grow red in the face when I hear the librarian tell me to shut up. I hold the book close to my chest and I look up to Clancy who has a fond smile on his lips as the corner of his eyes have a crinkle in them. I smile back as I put down the book.

"You're right, I don't know good literature." Clancy places his hand on my head as he ruffles my hair and I let out an annoyed huff. "I'm all about that clarinet." Clancy winks at me and I roll my eyes.

"If you're done, can we head home?" I ask as I stand up and Clancy joins me shortly after.

"Ok, but if you see Leonis then you have to tell me." Clancy does a quick look around as if mentioning the other boy's name would summon him. Once satisfied that the other boy wasn't around he grabs my hand and leads me away from the library.