Escaping Polygamy ~Muke

(1)

This will most likely be all in Luke's Pov unless I say different

~~~~~

I wake up to the familiar screams of my brothers and sisters. It's always like this, but I guess that's what you get when you share a house with ten other siblings. Not to mention our 'house'- more like apartment- is super tiny.

I groan as I roll off my bunk onto the floor, and just lay there. I would have stayed there all day if my brother, Calum hadn't came running into our room screaming at me to get up. I roll my eyes as I get up. I head to my closet first knowing that the bathroom is most likely occupied. I mean one bathroom, 5 girls, 45 minutes. Us boys, don't get a chance to even glance at a mirror anymore. We throw on clothes and leave for school.

I throw an old band tee, ripped jeans, and my beat up converse on. I smooth out my hair before heading out the room with Calum by my side. Calum was the closest brother I had. We did everything together.
I walk to the kitchen where my mother made old leftovers for breakfast. We usually never had good food. Our father never sent us money, and he doesn't want my mother working, so we are left poor. I wasn't bothered by this anymore. I was grown up like this, I've never lived anything different.

Calum and I grab a piece of stale bread before walking outside. The air was crisp on our bare skin. By now we've grown use to cold temperatures considering we can't afford cots for everyone. The older kids always sacrificed the warmness for the younger ones. They were more reliable to get sick quicker.

"You know what Calum?" I ask as we walk to school. It was close by at least, so we didn't have to walk to far.

"What Luke?" he asks.

"We're turning 18 soon..." I say trailing off.

"Don't remind me."

"What do you think will happen though?" I ask chewing on my lip harshly.

"You heard what dad said. If he can't find any gay guys in The Legacy than we'll have to marry a woman," Calum explained.

"I don't wanna marry girl," I whine softly.

"Too bad. Dad's the leader. What he says goes, and that's final," Calum states ending the conversation. The rest of the walk was quiet, either of us afraid of talking first.

We split ways as we get into the school. I head towards my table of friends, who are all talking about something. I watch as all the girls smile up at me. You're probably wondering why they are all girls. Well ever since my father found out I was gay, he forbidden me to befriend any guys in fear of me dating them.

I sit in between Maggie and Elana and listen as they talk about the new kid. Michael's his name, and he was from Perth but moved here. The girls talked about inviting him to sit with us, but I wasn't sure if it was a good idea. I mean if my dad found out about me breaking a rule, I wouldn't live another day.

Amy convinced me I would be okay, so I eventually gave in and agreed. That day during lunch the new kid sat next to us. His bright blue hair caught everyone's attention, and his green eyes were hypnotizing.

I didn't say much during lunch period, still afraid of what my dad would do to me if he found out. As soon as the lunch bell rang, I ran to my next class. I sat in the front like usual, mostly because I was blind and we couldn't afford glasses. As I waited for everyone else to settle down in their seats I drew in a sketch pad Calum gave me for my birthday.
I was finishing the last details of the wings of an angel when someone started me, "That's amazing."

Quickly I close the pad blocking the view of the picture, I turn my head to see the familiar blue haired boy. He gave me a welcoming smile as he stared into my eyes. I blink rapidly trying to get his eyes off me. I turn away from him. He tries talking to me, "You're Luke right?"

I hesitate before nodding. He smiles again. He held his hand out at me. Reluctantly, I take it and shake it lightly, "I'm Michael."

The teacher walks in that moment giving me an excuse to stop interacting with the mysterious boy. The rest of the school day was a blur. After the final bell, I run to where me and Calum always meet after school. We meet up, and make our way back home. We talk about our days. I tell him everything that happened today, well, everything but the new kid. I didn't want him to get hurt by keeping my secret.

As we step foot in the door we are bombarded by my little siblings. Calum, my older brother Jacob, my older sisters Ashley and Alyssa, and I are the only ones old enough to go to the school in our household.

When my oldest sibling were young they went to school like normal kids at a normal age, but as the years progressed, the ages changed. Now you have to be the age 16 to start and you'll go till you are 19 or married off.

I toss my book bag, that's full of holes and rips to the side as I grab Brooklyn in my arms and carry her to the couch. Brooklyn was the baby of the house. She's 5. Then there's Chase who's 10, and from there it's Matthew,11, then Skylar, age 12. After that is Nick who's 14, then Hadley, she's 15, then there's me, I'm 16 (almost 17), Calum's 17, the twins Ashley and Alyssa who are 18, then the oldest is Jacob at 19.

Then there's my oldest siblings who have been married off by my father. Youngest is Leah who's 20, then Zoey who's 21, and my oldest brothers Jack and Ben at 21 and 22. My oldest brothers both have high ratings. Last I heard Jack was 21 and Ben was 25, meaning they will someday rule over our religion and be the men on the tower like my dad. Just the thought makes me shudder.

With Brooklyn in my arms and Chase running right behind us, I throw Brook on the couch. She bounces up and is soon back on her feet again begging me to throw her again. I throw her again then Chase. By the time I've threw them at least ten times each, I'm tired as hell.

I fall to the floor panting acting like I'm totally worn out. They crawl all over me, laughing like the little maniacs they are. I can't help but laugh with them. I take Brook by her arms and lift her up as If she was an airplane causing her to giggle. I let her down, and huff, "I'm tired, Brookey!"

"Me too Lukey," she giggles with a huff. She lays down on my stomach with her arms out stretched revealing her belly. I start patting her as if she was a drum causing her to laugh even more.

"Guys, dinner," my mom tells us. I nod at her. I pick both Brooke and Chase into my arms hanging them upside down as I walk to the kitchen. I set Brooke in her high chair as Chase goes to his seat.

I sit at an empty place as my other siblings fill in all the other empty seats. Our mom sets food in front of us, but none of us touch it quite yet. We do a quick prayer to the man on the tower who looks over us, and we then eat. I try not to cringe as I eat the nasty food in front of us trying to set a good example for the younger kids.

I try not to think about how our mom had to rummage through the garbage to get this because we can't afford real food. I choke it down anyways, excuse myself, and to my room. There, I do homework quickly, and then lay in bed. I just stare at the ripped band posters I found in the trash long ago. They layered my half of the wall. Bands like My Chemical Romance, All Time Low, Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and Maggie's all time favorite, 1D. I haven't heard many songs from the bands, but the songs I have heard have given me hope.

Songs just leave a mark on me. I hear a song and I'll learn something out of it. Music is basically forbidden in The Legacy. One time my dad caught me humming some songs from a band, and for that I was 'put in place'. As in beaten by my father in hope I'll learn my lesson. That's how The Legacy controlled problems. Always by violence. They made you so scared that you wouldn't even think about defying them. It worked to say in the least. Everyone was scared, they'll never admit it but it's completely true.

Calum walks in our room. He undresses to his underwear before climbing to the top bunk, and getting settled. He asks in a hushed whisper, "what's up Luke?"

"Just thinking," I answer truthfully.

"Well you should get to sleep. It's almost nine," he states, "night."

"Night."

And with that I turn off the light and fall asleep, and strangely, I dream of the blue haired boy.

~~~~~~
Anyone like this?