Science Beyond Insanity

Prologue

      Father was angry again. His drunken yells bounced off of the stale drywall.

      "Dad, it's really nothing-"

      "Shut up! Get your goddam brother in this room right now!"

      Christopher trudged out of his bedroom, dark blue eyes sparkling with guilt.

      "Dad wants you." He grumbled shamefully, stomping past him.

      Tendrils of palpable fear wound around Walter's trembling heart. He didn't want to go in that room. He's rather do anything than go into that room.

      "WALTER!"

      He flinched and hesitantly entered Christopher's room, aggressively shaking.

      "Christopher tells me that you knocked his trophy over! The trophy he earned from football! You-" he belched grotesquely, his dark eyes going unfocused for a brief moment.

      "Look at it! Y-you ruined it! It's -it's on the fucking ground!"

      Walter's father whirled, locking eyes with his son.

      " And look at you! What have you earned? "

      "Dad-"

      "WHAT HAVE YOU EARNED? Nothing! Look at you, a disgrace!"

      Father's begrudging eyes focused on young Walter for a moment longer, than to the floor, than to the brown beer bottle clutched in his hand. Walter knew what was next.

      "Dad, please no!"

      The bottle was smashed over his back, the sharp brown shards scattering across the dingy carpet.

      " Now walk in place until I say otherwise! " he commands.

      Walter did as told, tears trickling from his icy blue eyes. Rosy blood bloomed at his feet.

      His mother entered the room.

      "Oh, Arthur, not again!" She commented, her voice concerned, yet Walter knew she wouldn't do anything about the situation.

      She was using that voice where she cared, but wasn't going to do anything about it.

      "Sh-shut the hell up and fetch the vacuum!" He snarled back.

     Walter was sent to bed early that evening, his feet unattended to, pulsing with hot pain.

      Walter was always told he wasn't special. Walter was always the lower one.

      He'd show them.

      He'd show them just how special he was.