Out of Time

Apathy and Listlessness are Gifts

It was my birthday. Yay... like anyone else knew, cared, or if they did, bothered to consider me in the slightest. I didn't care though. I cared for little nowadays. I had just turned 13, Ruby having had her birthday the month before, turning 16, and Yang a bit before that, turning 18. They had gotten massive parties, which I organised and did everything, and yet was not invited, and was instead locked in my room.

My room... I had painted everything black. From the bed to the window. I let no light through. I wanted nothing. No sight, no sound, the smell of paint wore off after a day or so, and I had nothing to taste due to starvation. The problem now was touch... and I had no way of getting rid of that! Never mind... besides, this was fine anyway.

By now, my "parents" and "aunt and uncle" have convinced Ruby and Yang that they were superior to me. That I was their possession, which I was, and that I could be used for anything they wanted. It started off as typical teasing, but then Taiyang became more open about the regular beatings, and the girls wanted in. They all beat me now... how nice...

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My countdown... yes... I'm down quite a fair bit... only 20 weeks, 5 days, 23 hours, 58 minutes, 33 seconds and counting... I have wanted to use it quite a fair few times, and every time, I forced myself not to, and every time, I was filled with guild, sorrow, and a little emptiness. Yes, emptiness. I've seen terrible things... things that the others haven't even thought about... ever... and now... now I can watch as a man with a knife murders all the children at an orphanage, and still not feel a thing. What's more, I have seen exactly that. And since then, I have felt only Apathy, and Listlessness. And i was right. Apathy and listlessness are truly a gift.

"(Y/N)! Get down here! Now!" Shouted Taiyang. I guess it was time for my beating. I wonder what he was going to do now? Last time, he ripped my fingernails off, broke half a dozen ribs, and poured salt water onto my eyes, almost drowning me in the process. I was better now though. I wondered if could think of anything better than that... hmm... dunno, we'll see either way!

I walked down the stairs to the living room where I saw the entire "family" sitting there, either on the sofa, in an armchair, but the general shape of the seating plan was a semi circle.

"Come stand here, in the middle." Said Summer, pointing to the middle of the semi circle. I nodded and did as I was told. "Ruby and Yang are going to Beacon. You know this already. You will be going with them." I nodded again.

I didn't ask a single question. I didn't bother. I didn't care. I was going to go to Beacon one way or another. I didn't have a choice in the matter. And at least I'm not completely pitiful in fighting... usually... sometimes... alright! I'm terrible at fighting! I'm much better at plotting anarchy, theft, murder, assassination, and various other things. I've plotted silently against my supposed family for years and years. I've gotten quite good at it too...

"... Do you want to know why?" Asked Qrow. I looked down. I had nothing to say. They were giving me mixed messages. On one hand, they beat me whenever I ask a question, but on the other, they are asking me a question which involves me being curious. I looked back up and shook my head. "... okay... suit yourself..." I kept standing there. I hadn't been dismissed, but there was nothing left to do. Except wait, that is.

After about five minutes, Taiyang looked at me and pointed to my room.

"Pack. Now." He ordered.

I obediently went to my room and started packing my belongings. It wasn't much, but I packed one spare set of clothes into a small backpack, along with a thick notebook, a pencil, a rubber, and a copy of 1984. 1984 was my favourite book, depicting a dystopian nightmare where the main character, Winston Smith, is utterly crushed by the government. It was written by George Orwell in 1948, but was published in 1949.

I was currently wearing my first set of clothes. A black, baggy shirt, with black skinny jeans, and black boots. All cheap, of course. I was given any change there was when I went shopping, which was on average £0.60 a week or so. And thus, this was all of my positions that I had earned over five years.

I then sat on my bed, or plank, and waited for further orders from Taiyang and friends. Speak of the devil...

"Oi! Sh*thead! Get down here! Now!" I heard a voice yell. I put my backpack on my shoulders and promptly did as I was told.

"Sweethearts! Don't forget your brother!" Reminded Summer. Ruby and Yang exasperatedly walked in and grabbed me, then picked me up and threw me into the back of the taxi to get to the bullhead. I let out a small cry of pain, but quickly stifled it, or I would get worse. Damn those people for beating me into shyness!

Then Ruby and Yang got in the back of the vehicle with me. They sat together on the left, while I was shunned to the far right. They were chatting away. Very sister-like. I just stayed quiet and thought about how best to assassinate General Ironwood. Not that I wanted to, but it was something to pass the time.

I had just gotten to asking myself which weapon to use— hands, no, guns, no, knifes, no, poison, no, water, no, garrotte wire— when we arrived at the bullhead landing site. I was pulled out by Yang and placed roughly on the ground next to her.

"On the bullhead with you." She ordered calmly. I got on the bullhead as ordered. I was followed by Yang and Ruby. "Go wherever, but do not leave the bullhead without us with you, got it? Otherwise..." she cracked her knuckles.

"Y-y-ye-yes m-mi-miss." I said quietly. I then went to a corner of the bullhead and started reading 1984 for the 247th time.

The doors to the bullhead shut, and we were off.