Dark Horse

In Hell's Grasp

Winston glanced at the building before him. 23 Stories of Hell in a Gothic disguise. He sighed and took a few steps forward. Starting tomorrow his life began here. Faith Hills High School. As of today, his life wasn't controlled by the FHHS freaks.

He glanced down at his phone, though it had been only hours since him and Gracie had broken up he still expected her to text him. After all, he broke up with her. That had to mean something. He scrolled up and reviewed the conversation.

Winston: Hey, Babe. I need to talk to you...

Gracie: Yeah? What's up? :)

Winston: if I wouldn't have moved last week I'd be saying this in person, but I don't think this long distance thing is going to work.. Please don't be angry?

Gracie: OH! WELL THAT'S JUST FANTASTIC!! YA KNOW WHAT? I COULD DO BILLIONS OF TIMES BETTER THAN YOU ANYWAY YOU FAGGOT!! STAY OUT OF MY LIFE FOREVER!!!

A chill went through him, along with a wave of relief. He was single at his new high school, what were the odds he'd go more than a week without getting a new girlfriend? He grinned to himself and left the courtyard where Faith Hills was. His life was pretty good before moving, but he didn't miss it. It was time for a new start anyway. No one knew who he was or where he came from. The kids at his other school had known too much. Way too much and he wasn't sure what he would do about it, so he proposed moving to his single mother and she bought it.

He twisted he key through the lock of his front door and stepped inside. The house smelled of cigarette smoke, pot, and desperation. His least favorite things.

"Mom?" he called. He heard a moan and realized she was "working." That's how his mother liked to call her prostitution that paid all of their expenses. Living in New York, she was able to get millions of dollars, but she also got a son she didn't want and doesn't love. To her he's just another night of work. Another mistake. She doesn't let him forget it either.

Her bedroom door slid open and her head popped out. "Winston!" Her white robe revealed the amount of scars and hickeys that covered her body. Not to mention the blood. He could smell the urine from the other side of their apartment and tried not to gag. Her normally gorgeous blonde hair was ratted up in the back and her eyes had a glassy filter. "I didn't think you'd be home yet." She held up a finger and shut the door.

"Laurie!" a gruff voice called. "I paid double for right now, and you ain't here! My wife-" Winston heard the sound of a crack and a whimper. "-should be home soon and is expecting me to be there! I paid-"

"Then I'll refund you!" The desperation in his mother's voice was shocking. "Or you can come back another time and-" Winston walked to his room and put his headphones on. The last thing he wanted to hear was his mother giving the guy a ticket for a free "fun time." He slammed himself onto his bed and closed his eyes.

He faintly heard the front door slam, then his mother appeared at his door. He opened his eyes and what he saw before him was no longer human. A thing with two eyes almost swollen shut and a nose the size of a baseball stared back at him. Her blood dripped onto his floor, but she managed a smile. A tear slipped from her eye and she flinched from the pain of salt in her wounds.

"I'm so sorry you were here for that-" she started. Winston held up his hand and shook his head.

"Mom, it's your line of work, it's fine. I'm sure other kids walk in on their parents working, too. Really, it's no big deal." She leaned against the door frame and sighed.

"Winston, baby. You deserve better than this and I'm so sorry. This is why I'm sending you to Faith Hills. A year away from your slutty mother could do you some good." She trudged over and he could clearly see her running mascara and eyeliner. Her foundation smudged in a few places and no longer covered anywhere around her mouth indicating how much kissing was involved. "Baby," he could hear the sadness in her voice. "promise me you won't be like these men who come to me when you grow up?"