Drakonis

Freak

School was long and boring, I've always rather preffered to not attend and just stay home. But since Dr. Evan's been on base she believes education is our best strength and so my mother enforced all children to attend.

We were currently sitting in on a lecture when I heard a couple of chuckles beside me.

"Hey, freak! Still think you're one of us?" one kid sneered lowkey enough for me to hear. "You don't belong here."

Another chimed in, "Yeah, go back to where you came from. No one wants you here."

Their comments hit like physical blows, and I struggled to keep my composure. The insults burned, and I felt a surge of anger bubbling up.

Our teacher was too occupied on the lecture to even notice the torment happening in the back of the room.

"Do you guys just come to school to bother me?" I questioned as they glared at me.

Gunter heard that one and stared at me as he stood from his chair coming closer to my desk. "Freak all of a sudden has a voice" he sneered pushing my books to the floor. That caught the teachers attention as she turned to see what was happening.

"Gunter sit down now" she shouted.

The frustration I'd been holding back exploded. "Why don't you shut up, Gunter?" I snapped, shoving him back.

Gunter's eyes narrowed, and before I knew it, we were engaged in a heated scuffle. Our fists flew as the other kids watched, egging us on. I was caught in a whirlwind of adrenaline and anger, feeling a momentary release from the constant torment.

The fight didn't last long before staff members intervened, pulling us apart. Gunter was dragged away, while I was left standing, breathing heavily, my heart racing.

One of the staff members, Mr. Harris, gave me a stern look. "Loran, what's the meaning of this?"

I opened my mouth to explain, but Mr. Harris's glare silenced me. The gathering crowd, including Dr. Evans and my family, watched with concern. I realized with sinking dread that this was going to have serious consequences.

Mr. Harris led me to the side, his expression stern. "Fighting is not acceptable behavior, Loran. We'll need to have a talk with your parents about this."

I nodded, feeling a mix of shame and frustration. The relief from the fight was overshadowed by the impending trouble. As Mr. Harris took me to the administrative office, my heart sank further.

In the office, I was left waiting for my parents to arrive. I could hear murmurs of conversation outside, and the weight of what I had done pressed heavily on me. When Mom and Dad finally arrived, their faces were a blend of worry and disappointment.

"What happened?" Dad asked, his voice stern but concerned.

"I—" I started, but the words were hard to form. "Gunter and I got into a fight. He was making fun of me, and I just... lost it."

Mom sighed, her expression pained. "Loran..."

Dad gave me a dissappinted expression. "We'll have to discuss this further with the staff. You'll also need to make amends with Gunter."

I looked down, feeling a wave of guilt and anger. "No, I don't want to apologize to him!"

"Loran, honey," Mom interrupted gently. But I ignored her, shouting through my tears, "I wish I was never born! I'm a freak, and it's all your fault that— that I look like this. Your human genes!" Her face fell, hurt and confusion mixing in her eyes.

I stormed out of the room, my heart pounding and fists clenched tight. The bullies' taunts echoed in my mind, amplifying my frustration and self-loathing. My anger felt like a tidal wave, crashing through me and leaving me feeling powerless. I slammed the door behind me with a violent bang, the sound reverberating through the empty hallways.

As I raced down the corridor, Uhroh appeared in my path, his expression one of concern. "Loran, are you alright?" he asked.

"Get away from me!" I yelled, shoving past him and tearing out of the base. The cool night air hit my face as I fled, my feet pounding against the ground. I could hear Mom calling after me, her voice growing faint as I pushed deeper into the forest that bordered our base.

The trees loomed overhead, their branches twisting and tangling together like gnarled hands. I ran blindly through the underbrush, branches scratching at my arms and legs, but I didn't care. My rage and hurt propelled me forward, each step driven by a mix of anger and sadness. My breath came in harsh, ragged bursts as I stumbled through the dark, dense foliage.

The deeper I went, the quieter it became. The muffled sounds of the base and Mom's calls faded into the distance, replaced by the eerie silence of the forest. I found a small clearing and collapsed onto the damp ground, my breath coming in short, uneven gasps. The cool earth beneath me was a stark contrast to the burning anger that still roiled inside me.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. I lay there, shivering and trying to calm the storm inside me. The darkness around me seemed to close in, amplifying my feelings of isolation. It was in this silence that I heard the faint crackling of footsteps approaching.

Mom's voice, though distant and muffled, reached my ears. "Loran, please. I'm not going to stop looking for you. Just—just tell me where you are."

I barely moved, my anger momentarily giving way to a deep sense of vulnerability. I could hear her calling my name, her voice tinged with desperation and worry. The thought of her searching for me in the dark forest tugged at the edges of my anger, making me feel a bit of the guilt I had tried to push away.

Her footsteps grew closer, and through my haze of emotions, I saw a faint light piercing through the darkness. Mom emerged from the trees, her face illuminated by the soft glow of a lantern she carried. Her eyes were red and filled with concern as she scanned the clearing. When she saw me, she dropped to her knees beside me, her expression a mixture of relief and sorrow.

"Loran," she said softly, reaching out to gently touch my shoulder.

I looked up at her, my tears finally flowing freely, mixing with the dirt on my cheeks. Her presence, though it had once seemed like another part of my pain, now felt like a lifeline. I allowed myself to be held by her, the fierce anger melting into quiet sobs as I clung to her, feeling the weight of my emotions finally start to lift.

"I'm sorry for saying those mean words to you," I cried, my voice breaking as she reached out to understand.

"I remember when you were younger and the kids were bullying you," she struggled to speak, her voice heavy with emotion.

"I cried for days to your father because I was so worried it would never end. I—I wish I could have made it stop," she said, gently pushing my hair back as her eyes, filled with sadness, met mine.

"I just wish they would leave me alone, that I was normal like Uhroh," I mumbled, my voice barely audible as she shook her head.

"You are normal, and you are perfect, Loran," she reassured, her voice warm and comforting, causing a small smile to form on my lips.

Suddenly, we noticed movement among the trees, and my father appeared, concern etched on his face. "Are you two alright?" he asked, his voice filled with worry. We nodded in response.

He rushed over and enveloped us in a tight hug, his embrace trembling. "Loran, don't ever run off like that again," he pleaded, his eyes brimming with tears. It was the first time I'd seen him cry, and it was both strange and heart-wrenching.

Just as we were about to stand, my mother paused, her gaze drifting into the distance. She was silent for a moment before birds began to scatter into the sky. Her face turned pale, and she whispered urgently, "Climb."