Mental Pictures

Chapter Six

Regaining his composure, Jaden took a taxi home. Ever since Isabella and Sam had divorced, Isabella moved out of the house and bought a smaller but nice looking house. She had tried to persuade Sam to keep Jaden with him but he refused. Hence, she was stuck with him, as if Jaden liked it either. However, Jaden would choose Isabella over Sam as he was nastier than her. If Isabella was horrible enough, Sam would be ten times worse. Jaden shuddered while thinking of the times when Sam abused him. He had once hit Jaden so hard that he lost conscious for 12 hours. He was always alert when he was with Sam.

“Aunt Isabella, I’m home!” Jaden shouted.

The house was quiet. No one was home.

He closed the door and the first thing he saw was --- Bottles. Lots and lots of bottles. They were lying on the floor, emptied.

Jaden sighed.

When is Aunt Isabella even sober nowadays? I’m not surprised that she would die like this one day, I’m not gonna be sad either.

Jaden walked to the fridge and took out a can of soda. He drank and his thirst was quenched, feeling refreshed. He then opened the kitchen cabinet and took out his meds for Oneiro. He popped one into his mouth and swallowed it with the soda.

My illness hadn’t act up for 10 years. Thank God for the meds.

Little did he know ……

School was starting in a few minutes. With little time to spare, Jaden walked to his locker to get his things for his Maths lesson.

Jaden opened his locker and stuffed his Math textbook inside.

“Hey dork, how’s it living in Dorkville with all your dorky friends? Oh right, you don’t have one.”

Jaden turned around and saw that it was Jack, the school’s notorious bully.

“I’m sick of you not talking to me, Mute. Say something or you’ll get it.”

I’m not gonna let him tease me again.

Jaden used his tiny bit of bravery and said, “I’m not a mute and I’m not living in Dorkville, you are,”

Big mistake.

Jack’s face was burning red. His fist was clenched. He swung and it landed on Jaden’s face before he even knew it.

Jaden fell to the ground and bit his lips. His nose was bleeding, staining the floor.

People were staring and murmuring but none had the initiative to help him. They were afraid as much as Jaden.

“You know what, I’ve prefer that you don’t talk at all. Your voice irks me.” Jack smashed his foot onto Jaden’s ribs. His ribs still had the scar from the biscuit incident. It hurt whenever Jaden touched it.

“AH!” Pain coursed through his entire body, just like 10 years ago.

“Shut up, Orphan!” said Jack as he kicked his foot to the ribs again.

The action had reminded him of the incident and he began to cry from physical pain and as well as mental.

“Ring!” Jaden had been saved by a bell, again. Jack turned and walked away, not before spitting at him.

The rest of the school had gone to class, leaving the badly injured Jaden behind.

He hold the side of the locker with his left hand and slowly pulled himself up gently. He lifted up his shirt to reveal a purple blackish bruise, the size of a tennis ball.