Dragon Seekers

Chapter 1

"Jamie, are you sure that you're alright?

Jamie Jones looked up at his teacher as the class started to leave. He could feel like he was trembling without even meaning to. He quite often liked the teachers at his school. There wasn't one that he felt like was not friendly towards him. Not many of his classmates even acknowledged his existence, so it was difficult for him to get along with any of them. Even in group tasks, no one would even look at him, let alone hear what he has to say.

"I'm fine. Why?" Jamie answered hastily, shoving his school books into his bag.

"Dear, there's a bruise on your neck. Are you sure you're alright?" The teacher repeated her question. Jamie sighed heavily. He briefly readjusted his scarf to try to hide the dark blue mark that stained his skin.

"I'm fine. I just fell down the stairs at home." He said, feeling like a broken record player. His life felt like one too. Wake up, eat, go to school, get asked relentless questions, get bullied, go home, do homework, eat again, sleep. That's pretty much how his life went. Or, it would've been if HE wasn't there.

"You say that Jamie, but this is really starting to make us worry. Your ankle was broken three months ago and you had to be in hospital because of a concussion last week. Is there something going on at home?" The teacher continued with her questions.

"No. Excuse me, Miss. I need to get home. Mum will worry." Jamie hastily replied, his body shuddering. The twelve year old zipped up his beaten up rack sack and slung it onto his shoulders. The movement was so rapid that he almost fell sideways. He ran out of the classroom, ignoring the teacher teacher calling out to him. He can't respond to that. Weaving in and out of the sea of students, Jamie couldn't pray more than he already began with to get home. He can't be late, he just can't. His heart is pounding so much that anyone could've mistaken it for a drum. His head was reeling too much for him to focus on anything else. His feet hit the pavement so hard and fast that a part of him thought that the ground would split open and swallow him whole. He would've loved that to happen. It'll be much better than going home.

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By time Jamie got home, he looked like he had run the London Marathon. His sweat drenched skin covered him from head to toe. His white shirt was creased and stuck to his chest and back like glue. His black school shoes were dirty and wet (it had been raining earlier, so he had to run through puddles). His school blazer was so untidy that it seemed to be slipping off of one shoulder, along with one strap of his rucksack. His back felt sore too because as he was running, his bag had been thumping down on it harshly. His face was beetroot red from running. His lamp black hair was messy and his fringe was stuck to his forehead thanks to his sweating forehead. He truly looked like he was in a right state.

Jamie took a few deep breathes to try to replenish his constricted lungs. He looked up at the house that stood in front of him. Once upon a time, he loved this house when it was just him and his mum. It feels like an eternity ago since those days. And Jamie loathed that reality.

Jamie inhaled deeply, trying hard not to think about anything that'll make him run away. No matter how badly he wants to. Exhaling slowly, he rested his hands on the door handle and turned it silently. Just as silently, he entered the hallway. It felt just as cold and bitter as it was when he left for school. It wasn't even winter, it was the middle of spring. It shouldn't feel this cold. Jamie tried his best to shake it off furiously. He didn't want to feel like this right now. He gently closed the door. As he did so, he could smell something warm and wholesome. He could feel like an ocean was filling his mouth. It felt so refreshing to smell proper home cooked food than the dull food that was served at school. It made Jamie forget the coldness that he felt. It made him feel peaceful despite the dread that he felt earlier. He slipped off his shoes, placing them calmly onto the shoe rack. He slipped off his rucksack and rummaged through it. Out of an unwanted habit, he pulled out his maths book and pencil case. He didn't want to do homework after a long day at school. He wanted to at least have a break, especially from all the running he did. He didn't want to think about what would happen if he didn't however. He closed up his school bag and placed it on a hook inside the cupboard under the stairs. It fit snugly amount the summer coats and handbags. Jamie removed his scarf and hung it along with the rucksack. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up instantly, reacting to the brutal to the brutal coldness that he felt earlier. He ignored it, closing the cupboard and stepped into the kitchen.