Down Memory Lane - Voltron

Chapter 9 - Keith, Part 1

/* Hi, definitely need to split this in 2.  Thank you so much for keeping up with the story!  TW: Abuse, bullying, some homophobia, death */

Keith's POV

Keith knew his turn was next, but it didn't stop his stomach from fluttering with fear. He stumbles to the middle of the cavern, pushed by some invisible force when he tried to hide behind his friends. His past already haunts his nightmares; he doesn't want to have to relive his worst moments now, while the others are watching.

Keith looks to Lance, taking comfort from the paladin's bright blue eyes. He fell in love with Lance a long time ago, but he will never admit it to the boy. He doesn't look away from Lance and the others, if it means that he doesn't have to see anything going on behind him.

But an orange light blares behind him, and a second later he is hit with a scorching heat. His back burns uncomfortably under his suit, and Keith is forced to turn around.

Sitting in front of him is a two-story house. Burning. Fire spews from the windows and the doors; smoke rises from every crevice. Keith recognizes the house. His father took him to work because it was career day at school.

Keith sees firemen sprinting out of the house, three of them, each carrying a person. Keith doesn't remember moving, shocked into paralysis, but suddenly he's a lot closer than before. He can hear the three firemen talking to the victims they rescued.

"Please! My baby is still in there. He's on the second floor; I couldn't get to him. You have to save him please!" a woman cries, grasping desperately at one of the firemen. The men look at each other and at the house, knowing the quest would most likely be in vain.

But one man stares at the house a bit longer than the others.

"I'm going back in there. There's a chance the little boy is still alive," the man tells the others.

"No! That's suicide!" one of the men say, grabbing the hero's arm.

"There's a chance he's in there. I'm sorry, but I can't help but think: what if it were my son? I have to do this. Keep hosing the house," the man, Keith's dad, declares, leaving no room for argument.

The man sprints back to the house. That snaps Keith out of his shock.

"Dad! Stop! You'll die, don't leave me!" he screams, racing after the retreating figure of his father. The man doesn't hear him and disappears into the burning house. Keith gets closer; he's almost to the door when it happens.

The house explodes; a wave of hot air and glass throws him back, and he lands several feet away.

"Dad!!!" Keith screams himself hoarse. He lost his dad again. He had been too late again. Keith curls up on the ground and throws his fist into the hard earth repeatedly, embracing the pain.

When Keith looks back up, he's already in the first foster house. The insidious smile from the foster mother, with her bright lipstick, makes Keith sick. Wiping away his tears, he gets up intending on hiding in his room.

"What are you looking at?" the woman calls to him; he doesn't even bother to remember her name.

"Nothing," he mumbles.

"I heard you got suspended from school again for fighting with some of the kids. Pack your stuff; I'm requesting to move you," she says brightly, like this is just another day. Keith sighs, going to his room to pack.