Original - With Wrath, the Fall

Lane - Chapter 8: When Darkness Fell (Part 2)

I sighed. "I was thirteen when the darkness fell...." I stared off in the distance, sending my mind back.

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When I was ten years old my family decided to ship me off to this here university in exchange for money. Yes. I was picked up, tore from my family, then dropped here. Not a single person bat their eyes. It's not like I actually cared though. I hated my family. They treated me like some sort of... thing. Most days I spent locked up in a room surrounded by nothing but darkness. At first my family actually seemed to care, from what I remember. It all changed though on my seventh birthday.

"He's not like the rest of us, Sharon!" I held my ear close to the door. My father was shouting at my mother. "It's been seven years and he still doesn't doesn't have any magic potential! He's nothing but a waste of our money! It's all your fault too! I told you to ship him off when he was a babe! Send him away! I can't believe I let you talk me into keepin' him!"

My mom's voice cracked. "I know... But he's our son!"

"Our son!? That... thing is no son of mine! You know what I think... I think you slept around!"

My mom did nothing but cry.

"You did, didn't you!?" I heard rustling followed by the thump of something falling.

"I didn't... I swear to you..."

"Bullshit! He doesn't even look like me! Not even his hair matches!"

"I promise he's your's..."

"You lying bitch!" There was a slap. My mom started wailing. "He's goes! Today!"

From my side of the door I heard footsteps move away. Concerned I opened my door to peer outside.

"Mommy?" My mother was laying on the ground her hands over her face. "Are you okay?"

She looked at me. Her eyes were blood-shot. Her face was pale and wet from tears that ran down in cascades, one side swelling up.

"Go back in there!"

Her tone made me jump.

"Did I tell you to come out!?"

I was completely frozen. Tears welled in my own eyes.

"You're nothing but a mistake! A mistake of nature!"

"But mommy..." I sniffled.

"Don't mommy you little brat! I'm not your mom!"

She got up and was storming my way. Being the stupid kid, I was I just stood there as she came toward me.

"Now! Go back inside!" She shoved me back into my room causing me to fall.

The door slammed.

I didn't move. I did nothing but cry. There were a few slams on my door followed by someone shouting "Shut up!" I couldn't though. I just cried and cried.

In complete darkness there was no way of me knowing if time was passing. The only sense of time I had was the light that shone from under my door. I knew lights on meant people were about. When they were turned off I knew that everybody had become still. I did know the difference between long and short though. For a long time, there was nothing except for that occasional knock and shout. Suddenly I heard my door opening. I peered up from my lap, no doubt looking pathetic.

A man's silhouette peered down upon me, "This is him then?"

"Yes." The voice I had come to recognize as my father assured him.