Broken Power (Prinxiety) [Complete]

Chapter 16

(Not sure what the plummeting in numbers is for but I kinda feel like crying... not gonna lie)

If you said that Virgil was going through hell that wouldn't be an over exaggeration in the slightest!

Okay... maybe a little bit. But still, with his father constantly beating the shit out of him and still dealing with his best friends death, it felt like he was a prisoner in his own right. And the cold reality of depression filling his shoes, it wasn't exactly heaven either.

So... "almost hell" would be a good way to put it? Feeling the flames licking and laughing at you but never really falling into the pits. It wasn't a whole lot better, the flames roasting felt like he was being made into a smore.

And it wasn't getting any better.

First year of high school; a place where your kind are a burden to the seniors without doing anything and teaches treating you like vermin was a newly discovered basement to Virgil's pain. Being an emo, mcr loving twiggy boy he was thrown to the kids like being tossed at a pack of wolves. And they tore him to shreds, bullied him to there was nothing left to make fun of.

But Virgil stopped caring. He didn't stop anything; the insults, the shoving, the fighting. It was something that he deserved. He deserved it for hurting his family, for hurting Patton.

He was deflating like a balloon; draining like the blood that constantly painted his wrists, killing what little spirit that was still remaining.

All the pain was a decent distraction. Something that was DESPERATELY needed, to help distract the focus from his own head, and his own abnormalities.

And without Patton, Virgil didn't even see the point anymore. What WAS the point? Why should he be pulling himself through life anymore? The only thing that stopped him from joining Patton was his cowardness. He was afraid, and it SUCKED. Not being able to let go due to stupid emotions was just another burden that Virgil had to carry on his shoulders like a bag of sand.

Students chartered ifly, making their way to the lunchroom. A few sent a side glance his way, voices dropping as they passed. He dipped his head so that his bangs fell right into his face. He decided that they were a good way to hide his eyes and emotions from everyone. It was a new topic of teasing but that was the only thing that Virgil actually didn't mind.

Virgil knew that he was the only one that walked alone, outside a pair or cluster of close people or friends. But once again, he just simply didn't care, it was his fault in the first place. He promised not to make more friends. Not drag anyone else down with him and his crap life. Too dangerous. For him, and for anyone else.

Virgil slowed his pace, on the days where he would decide to eat, he would be in the cafeteria like anyone else. But mostly it was to wander the halls and linger in bathroom or empty classrooms. It was a large school, so he enjoyed wandering; making him almost feel like a kid again. Getting into mischief with Patton.

Virgil took his usual detor and away from the lunchroom. But no one noticed his absence, walking away from the happy crowds. Of course students weren't really allowed places during lunch without a pass. So Virgil realised that he would have to be healthy if he were to avoid any teachers in this time.

Luckily wearing purple and black in crappily lit hallways was almost like camouflage.

Lunch was always 40 minutes long. So that meant 40 minutes of blissful peace. He walked down a hall that he hadn't seen before. It was quite far from the lunchroom, so it got progressively quieter the closer he got to the doors. There were just walls and dim lights surrounding it. Virgil loved it.

Once he got to the end, it was just a large pair of double doors. It peaked his curiosity of why this place was so quiet, so isolated from the rest of the school. He pressed his ear against the door, wanting to hear something.

Nothing. Absolutely no sounds came from the room.

Virgil took a step back, anticipation bubbling in his gut. He traced the door, wood and metal combined. It was old, but not overly old. The doorknobs were handles and were a rusted red color. The actual door was silver with oak rims around it.

"This is so stupid." Virgil muttered, after a longer than necessary time was spent staring. Virgil stepped forward, pushing the doors with determination (you are filled with it. Sorry, couldn't help it!) the doors gave way, and Virgil almost stumbled inside.

Looking around, it was a library. (Our school calls it a "media center" like NO it's a damn library! Fuckin pricks...)

There were shelves upon shelves filled top to bottom with books. They were lined in domino formation around the room, squaring in different places. There were some bean bags and tables placed around the room and the carpet had a swirled pattern to it.

It was deserted. Or that's what Virgil believed until someone cleared their throat next to him. Virgil jumped, looking at the person with an expression of a deer caught in headlight. "May I help you, young man?" it was an old lady, she smiled at him. She had long blond hair that was currently pulled into a tight bun and she was peeking through half moon spectacles. (me and the references! Someone stop me! I'm too powerful!) from what Virgil could tell she was wearing a purple blouse and probably a skirt of some sort underneath.

"Uh- hi," Virgil's voice was full of awkwardness and he was silently hoping that he wouldn't get in trouble for being out of lunch without a pass. "I was just uh... exploring."

She smiled, slightly amused, "Ninth grade, yes?" Virgil nodded. "You aren't the first to come here. You lot always searching for new places to cause trouble." She tsked. Virgil didn't bother telling her he wasn't looking for trouble, he just tried to give her a smile. "I'm the librarian. Have you got a pass? It's lunch time if I'm not mistaken."

Virgil swallowed, preparing himself for a scolding. "Um no, i don't have a pass and yes it's lunch."

The librarian gave him a judging look for a moment, "well, you came all this way. It'll be our little secret." She winked at Virgil who nodded and slowly walked away. She didn't look back up at him as he did so.

Virgil was both relieved and amazed that he didn't get in trouble at all. He decided that it was worth it to look around the library after coming all this way. He trailed through bookshelves and corners, rows and rows of book. He was reading an old novel when something caught his eye.

It was in the corner of the library. A small couch almost completely closed off. And the only way in was a small gap between the nonfiction. Which, no one liked anyways. Virgil checked the time, 15 minutes left. Ahh, plenty of time to sit and maybe close his eyes. He flopped on the couch and it sunk like a sponge under him. He pulled his headphones over his ears and pressed play on his evanescence playlist. The soft piano intro to one of his favorite songs flowed through his ears.

Virgil sighed, closing his eyes. He knew that he'd never need to go exploring again, not after finding this diamond in the rough. For the first time in such a long one, he was able to find some peace. Forget about his worries, just for a little bit.

(I'll see you in the next chapter

guys, gals, and non-binary pals

peace out.)