Solivigant

Oneirataxia

Oneirataxia:
the inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality

"You fucking-" Ely's brother cut himself off, sIamming Ely into the wall of the change rooms.

Ely winced, a brief flash of pain that flickered across his pale features, as cool metal pressed hard into the flesh of his bare back. The pink haired boy had been caught by surprise in the midst of changing into his PE uniform, his brother somehow locating him out of all the possible places he could have been. He glanced anxiously over at the door, just waiting for it to swing open and one of his male classmates to walk through and witness his moment of weakness.

"Where do you think you're looking!" Roughly, his brother grabbed Ely's chin, yanking his temporarily unmasked face to the side until they made eye contact.

Ely gave the older boy a frosty look.

Why was he being bothered so much today?

This morning and last night, his brother had beaten him until he could hardly stand. There was a strange fire in his brother's eyes, mixing with the normal sadistic sheen they take on whenever he beat Ely.

Perhaps...

"You're scared," He whispered, pink hair falling limply over his eyes, "You don't want me to overshine you, you want to humiliate me in front of the entire world."

Strong fingers curled into Ely's slim shoulder, nails digging into the muscle there with crushing force.

"You deserve it." His brother spat, doe brown eyes penetrating the smaller boy like a knife, "Someone like you doesn't deserve to be happy."

A fist buried itself in Ely's stomach and blows began to rain down on him again. Red heat seeped into his consciousness, fighting for control.

Fuck off, Arcane.

He pushed back the temperament, subduing it with coId force. Inside him, Arcane flared defiantly, surging back with such pressure that Ely felt his legs buckle. Images overflowed his mind, hands rising to his head and blocking his ears in an attempt to quieten down the internal argument. It hurt a lot, but Ely pushed the pain away, mentally dulling it like he would with the beatings and stood up. He bore into his elder brother's eyes showing no signs of fear. Neither would step down as that was just who they were. They knew where they stood in the messed up hierarchy of their family, but they weren't home and Ely was going to take advantage of that.

Just do it, Ely~

The voice just sang in his head, forcefully pushing itself forward until it was leaning down and whispering into his ear.

Step down and let me have my fun~

The chuckle that followed the statement transferred from being mental to it ringing out of the pink haired boy's mouth. A sinister grin now planted on his face and pale blue eyes gazed through the lashes.

This wasn't Ely.

Hands shot up and a fist carried upwards and towards the large nose. The jab landed and was followed by the sickening crack of cartilage and bone snapping under the force. As blood flowed out of the boy's nose along with a whimper and a hurried scream of pain and fear, El- this new persona laughed maniacally. Hysterical laughter caused by inflicting pain on another and watching them suffer and writhe in pain. Pure enjoyment rested on the pale boy's face and then he just walked away.

"I'm bored now..." were the words that left the crazed pink lips as the laughter died down.

A whimper. The boy looked back, eyes drawing over the pathetic mess of limbs that was his brother with such glee that the older male began to shrink away.