Malum Sanguinem (Bad Blood)

Chapter One

Scarlette R. Vernon:

The persistent rain splattered the rocky pavement and small puddles formed on the streets. It was always a depressing weather in London and the first ray of sunshine, after weeks of rain, was the only thing that I enjoyed.

The school bell rang twice, at half past one, signaling the fresh batch of schoolchildren for recess. The door flung open and they ran out with their colorful raincoats and boots, covering well past their knees. The sight of rain was nothing unusual, but they always seized any opportunity of freedom they received. The gym teacher, Mr. Hubert, was strict like all others in Nichols Academy but the fact was unknown by the principal. He hated the mirth the innocent schoolchildren exuded and his goal was set onto diminishing any small hope they carried in their first year of Academy one.

Mr. Hubert had a chiseled beard and an unshaven moustache, but he would be best described as a promiscuous person. He flirted with all, from high school girls to women in their forties. It was a grotesque sight, indeed, but no one snitched him off. Although they hated it and saw how he overused his power for dirty pleasures, they knew he would get away with almost anything. They also knew he had better connections inside the district than the headmistress herself. At Academy, he wore his clingy green track outfit and running shoes. It was funny though to see how he never ran, unless of course it was to run after a child to beat him to death.

The first and only mistake the schoolchildren made was jumping into the biggest puddle, splashing water not only on themselves but also on Mr. Hubert. They were too carefree to notice the ire expression on his face and continued jumping in and out of the puddles. Their tiny little fists pumped into the air as they screeched joyfully. Their raincoats flapped opened at the bottom, soaking their knees.

They were hardly six years old, but Mr. Hubert didn't care. He angrily picked up his golden whistle, which was hanging from his neck, and blew into it. The shrill sound startled the younger kids and they froze in fear. Mr. Hubert stomped up to a child and grabbed him by the back of his neck. The young boy's hood fell back and his already bruised face was in view for all to see.

It proceeded to rain, elongating his thickened lashes with the weight of the raindrops and plastering his hair to his head. The boy shivered in the exposed cold but never wavered from fright. His eyes boldly looked in the face of punishment and I knew that this wasn't his first time being abused. Mr. Hubert roughly picked him and carried him to the side of the school door. He suspiciously looked up at the school camera but when he saw that no one could see in the shadows, an evil glint shone in his eyes.

The children begged Mr. Hubert to refrain himself, but he hated leaving something unfinished. From behind his belt he took out a paddle. It was illegal nowadays to use it but he was ruthless. The little child squared his shoulder but fear was evident in the depths of his dull gray eyes. Mr. Hubert pulled his hand back and swung the paddle hard at his buttocks. Once. Twice. Thrice. He rolled on until the bell rang again beckoning them inside. Mr. Hubert threw the child to the ground who then fell with his arms stretched out to break his hard fall. The muddy ground didn't pity the child and his hand slipped, face planting him into the dirty slime. Mr. Hubert roared in amusement and ushered the other children inside. He slammed the school door behind him and left the child outside to rot. The dam of tears he was holding back in front of his peers and the strong facade he had, crumbled.

***

I looked away from my windowless pane and brushed the lone tear that had escaped with the back of my hand. The rain was dying away and came to a slow drizzle. A ray of sunlight made its way through the dark Nimbostratus cloud and a shone at the shadows where the child was balled up.