Proem

Chapter 2

"Oi, new kid!" A gruff voice snickered at a black-haired boy.

Z jolted, the voice yanking him out of his thoughts.

He squeezed his eyes shut, swallowing hard as he tried to push that stupid memory to the back of his mind. The boy grimaced in disappointment. Wallowing over events that transpired ten years ago was fruitless. He had expected better from himself.

A sharp shoulder jabbed into the small of Z's back, making him stumble forward and forget about his previous worries.

Anger bubbled up within him, but he chose to ignore the other boy, vouching instead to walk forward unblinkingly. The kid didn't take kindly to being ignored.

"Hey, shit face." A firm tug on his collar sent Z keeling back. Without warning, a fugly face was pressed into his, and a foul stench made its way into his nose from the other boy's mouth. Z narrowed his eyes at him.

The boy chuckled evilly. "Don't ignore me, you brat." He paused and then smirked at Z. "I heard you were an Ash. Is it true?"

Z didn't spare him a glance. He directed his blank stare towards the rotting ceiling above them.

"Your breath stinks," he monotoned, dragging his eyes down to meet the other boy's gaze. Ugly Face scowled at Z, his eyes flashing with mirth.

Sneering, he opened his mouth to retort. A short, chubby kid walked up behind him to discreetly sniff at his breath before pulling back abruptly as the other whipped around with a glare.

Z rolled his eyes and turned away, intending to simply walk off.

Just his luck. The boy from before grabbed the collar of his shirt again, this time with his fist reeling back for a punch. The last thing Z could register was greasy red hair before a blooming pain in his face stopped him in his tracks.

Z's head whipped to the side from the force. He took a slow, shaky breath. A familiar anger bubbled up within him again, and he chuckled, slowly turning his head to finally get a good look at Ugly Face.

Z cocked his head to the right, widening his eyes to adopt a crazed look.

The boy from before looked taken aback. He stepped away from Z almost unconsciously. Z licked his lips at the taste of his emerging fear. "You're a noble, yes? Of House Floa?"

Despite his tenseness, Ugly Face managed to twist his lips into a sneer. "I am. You should bow down, peasant." He spat the last word out, droplets of saliva landing on Z's face.

House Floa. He remembered that one. That day, Lady Floa had snickered behind a feathery blue fan. She had glanced impassively at them as if she were gazing down on insignificant bugs.

Z smiled sweetly.

Ugly Face saw nothing but a blur. Before he knew it, he was facing the ground as Z gripped the back of his neck tightly, using his other hand to yank fiercely at his hair.

Z chuckled, "Well Mister Floa, allow me to serve you like the peasant I am. Would you like some water?"

Before the boy could respond, Z dragged him towards the nearest bathroom by the hair on his head. Ugly Face flailed around in his grasp, but Z's gloved hands did not budge. Passersby stared in shock as the boy cried for help. None were brave enough to step in.

Z kicked open the stall of the closest restroom, ignoring the girls' shrieks of surprise. He let go of Ugly Face's hair, pressing down on his nape and shoving his face into the toilet bowl.

The water in the bowl filled with bubbles as the boy struggled to breathe. The water muffled his yells, so he kicked out his arms and legs, grabbing at Z desperately.