Out of Time

On the Bullhead

I finished the last sentence of 1984 again when I was approached by a tall man with orange hair and a mace. He must be a brute. Slow, stupid, and all round, not a tactician. I looked down at me, then at my ears, then my tail, and then smirked. I knew exactly what he was going to do I had seen that expression before on many other faces in situations similar to this one. He was going to hurt me. Just like my adoptive family... especially Ruby and Yang. They were probably the worst of the lot of them. Even worse than Taiyang.

Yang would beat me within an inch of my life, that is, until I lost consciousness. Sometimes, she would get some smelling salts to wake me up again, then pelt me with various moves until I couldn't stay awake. Blood loss does tat to people you know... she called it "physical education" or "training". Whatever I was trying for I had no idea, but I now knew a lot about the human body. I knew exactly where, when, and how to hurt someone for any given situation. Torture is good too. Torture is the most creative one of the lot. I enjoy sketching new and more gruesome ways to hurt people, but keep them alive...

Ruby, on the other hand, would do the other half of beating me. The mental beating. She would call me names at first, then move on to telling me that I'm worthless. That I'm a waste of space. That I was not wanted there. She would then tell me to kill myself. Over and over again, she would tell me one thing. "Just die already." Unfortunately for her, after apathy and listlessness set in, there was no effect. I was mentally crushed. Dead inside of sorts. At least she didn't make up a silly name to cover up the true nature of her activities. This too taught me some valuable skills. She taught me how to read people down to every twitch of a muscle in the face, over to the different habits to different situations. I know when you lie. I know what you feel. I just don't know why.

But I digress. This large mace fellow was planning on hurting me. Nothing hidden there. Just pure spite, hatred, and superiority. He felt superior and was prideful of it. What a lovely person he was...

"Oi! Freak! Get out of my seat!" He announced, making a show, and a fool of himself. I humoured him, got up, and left to another corner. Apparently, he was not expecting a calm, reasonable response to his threat. So he followed me.

"You think I'm a funny guy?! I will crush you!" He spat at me. Obviously not a very passive person. Very "macho". Always looking to assert his dominance over others, making sure they are all beneath him... lovely...

"N-n-no s-s-sir..." I answered. Still the stutter I see. Never mind. There isn't much point in changing it.

"Aww! Is wickle bitty kitty shy?!" He asked mockingly. Of course he would be like that. I stand corrected. There is one reason for removing the stutter. Oh who cares anyway...

He then punched me to the floor. One blow to the side of my cranium was enough to make me very dizzy. A slight concussion then... great...

"Pathetic..." he hissed, the walked off. I got up and sat in the corner again. I started to read about the "principles of Newspeak". He was very doubleplusgoodthinkful... very orthodox... very... racist... never mind. Nobody else cares anyway...

A hologram appeared some distance off, giving us formalities, telling us to behave, that we were hunter entering Beacon Academy, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

I finished the "principles of Newspeak" and looked out the window at the world passing us. Down underneath us was the metropolis of Vale and past the residential district... Beacon Academy... in all of its... peculiar architectural glory...

After a few more minutes, we got closer, and I could see more nuances, people, and general details I could not notice from afar. Too many people. All packed together like sardines in a tin, waiting for the arrival of the "newbies" I assumed. I looked around and spotted Ruby and Yang chatting away as they usually did. Yang was giddy with excitement. Ruby was too, but she was too embarrassed by her sister. Quite normal really. Them bickering. Thank goodness they couldn't take it out on me at the moment... being in public and all...

The next moment, the bullhead landed.

"(Y/N)! Come here! We're getting off!" Called Ruby.

I obediently got up and followed them out into the school grounds...