Family

The start of another hell

PAST || SEVEN YEARS AGO

A muffled sob escapes my lips as I hold another tissue to my face, already soaked in blood. The newly formed scar burns, it burns like hell.

"Your hands are soaked in blood." Matteo mumbles, eyes wide with fear as he sits next to me in the SUV.

How could Papa hit me so hardly? He must really hate me. He's never hit anyone before but he's changed. Everyone has changed, ever since mama died.

A throat clears and I snap my head up to look in the mirror, meeting a pair of cold eyes. Carlos, our head of security driving us to the airport hasn't spoken a word to me ever since we started driving but I can feel him glancing back every now and then, concern flickering in his eyes but it's gone as soon as it arrives.

"It hurts." I whisper, my voice cracking in the silence.

Carlos watches me in silence before speaking up, "We're here sir." 

He doesn't wait for my reply, shutting the driver's door before walking over calmly to my side of the car, opening the door with practiced ease and waiting for me to step out.

The private jet towers over us as we approach the entrance, two flight attendants in red attire standing tall and patient, their faces expressionless but as we walk closer I can practically smell their hatred towards me.

"This way." A lady with blonde hair slicked back into a bun snaps, her tone clipped. She turns around without waiting for a response, strutting into the jet.

"This is where I leave you sir." Carlos says from behind me, his expression wavering, "Be careful over there, keep your head down."

I nod slowly, raising my left hand to wave goodbye but his next words stop me in my tracks, "You wouldn't want to cause any more trouble to your family."

He suddenly turns, leaving without another word and with me standing broken, my body and mind a mess but oh, this was nothing compared for what was to come.

"Come on Teo." My left hand reaches for his and I almost flinch from how cold his skin feels against mine.

*

The taxi drives off as soon as we step out of the car, steel gates well over ten feet towering over us as we walk towards the entrance.

The school itself is a very old structure, almost like an ancient castle with its horse fountain, carved out of marble, beautiful Greek symbols swirling at the bottom, the water flowing in a steady rhythm. It reminds me of the water fountain we have at home.

Home.

My heart tugs painfully in my chest, I don't want to be here. I want to be with them, I want to fix everything.

Birds fly high in packs, the sunlight streams down on the stone pathways leading up to the large, double doors. Matteo squeezes my hand reassuringly as we walk further inside, our suitcases trailing along the crimson carpet laid out in front of us.

"You must be Leonardo Jones." A woman's voice, coated in a sneer comes from behind me and I swirl around in surprise.

A tall woman, hair tied back into a neat bun, round glasses perched on a bumpy nose, lips pressed into a thin line stands before me, her dress dark and fitted, a clipboard in hand, "You're late.

"I-I'm not Leonardo Jones-"

She raises a hand, silencing me with a hard look, "You'll be referred to as Leonardo Jones during your stay here, it's your father's wish." Her grey eyes narrow on my face for a moment before she sighs, "Take a visit to the infirmary and then we will get you situated in your dorm. Classes will begin tomorrow at nine o'clock sharp. Tardiness will not be accepted."