Chapter 2

"BYE YINDI I WISH YOU LUCK," yells Billy as Yindi hops onto a train. Tiger waves giving off a small smile. Then the train starts to disappear in the morning mist.

"You're a nice guy, anybodys lucky to have you by their side." Compliments Billy, leaving the train station. "Come on hurry up we're gonna be late for school." "I have never been to school, is it nice?" asks Tiger. "It depends really, you know those boys we encountered in the forest go to our school right." Billy warns. "I'm not scared, they're just a bunch of clueless boys who use money to keep a passing grade." Tiger says as they walk past the township.

Arriving at the school, Tiger and Billy place their bottles of milk down at the pond. "Well-well look who we got here, the hero and the sidekick." A voice comes from behind him. "Sorry I don't speak brat, may you repeat that please." Tiger fires back. "Hoohoo, you just got burned." says another voice. "Shut up Dick." Says the first boy, to just turn around to see Tiger and Billy to be gone.

Writing on the board is the teacher, wearing a mustache and fancying a weave. "Class, settle down." The room grows quiet, "I am your teacher for the rest of the year, you can call me Mr.Fitch, we are going to go around the room introducing your name and two things about you other.I'll start My name is Mr.Fitch as said, and I am a teacher and I have three cats, you lady in the blond pigtails, go." A girl wearing a baby blue dress stands and starts to speak. "My name is Lolita Elizabeth White, I have two sisters and an older brother." Then the next girl, until it was Tigers turn to speak. He stands up, there's an awkward silence for a minute. "Uh, m-my name is Tiger Maxwell." Small giggles from the back squeaks out. "Tiger, what kind of name is that?" One of the boys whispers. "I like to read and….I like to climb trees." Tiger finishes. "Alright it was nice to meet you all, it is break time now, after the break we will review what we are going to be learning throughout the semester." Says Mr.Fitch.

"Come" Whispers Tiger to Billy. They head out to the back, Tiger climbs up the tree to the very top. "How the hell did you do that?" Billy looks for a way to get on the tree. Tiger pulls out a hand "Here grab my han--" "Tiger Maxwell, what kind of name is that?" Yelps out the boy from before named Greg. "Did mommy and daddy just run out of names for you or somethin." "I think it's an awesome name,'' says Lolita. "Hey don't talk about his parents like that." Defends Billy, "Or what, you're gonna knock out my tooth too? Oh wait, you're just the sidekick." Shoots Greg, "For your information, I am not a sidekick, I am a gentleman who will win over girls quicker then a flame can burn down a house." Fires back Billy.

Greg - "You can't win anything if you can't even choose a side."

Billy - "A side?"

Greg - "You're either white or a disgusting snob, you can't be both, it's impossible."

Tiger - "Yet he is mixed, what makes you think that just because he is of both races that he's any different from you? Or are you just jealous that he has more freedom than you do. Now skedaddle, I don't want your filth stinking up our area."

Astounded, Greg and his friends leave. "Hey, I am hosting a tea party, I was wondering if you two would like to come." Lolita asks. "I should be home before Mr.Smith gets mad." Declines Tiger, "I'll gladly go." Smiles Billy.

On the way home, Tiger stumbles upon an old tree in the forest. He climbs on to the very top and takes out the book he picked up at the library. "What's that you're reading." A strange voice of a man echos around the forest. "I know who you are Tiger there is no need to hide." Suspicious Tiger doesn't squeak a word. "Oh come on, I was waiting so long to just meet you, ever since you fell from the stars." Silence, "Come on down kitty, you can trust me, I know you're listening. Tiger climbs on down the tree, where a tall man in a black suit and golden blond hair waits. "Look who's came out of hiding, you are quite the hider." says the man, "My name is Lucifer Morningstar, a pleasure meeting you." He says holding out his hand for a shake. Tiger goes in for the shake, but whips his hand away. "Still shy I see, well I have work to do, I'll see you at your darkest moments." Lucifer says, and disappears.

Walking through the doors of the Smith's, it seems as if Mr.Smith has unwelcoming guests. "Tiger, boys this is the orphan we adopted." Mr.Smith greets, "How much did they pay you?" one of the men asks. "One grand, can't you believe it, it's like a jackpot." Mr.Smith says, waving his cigare. Attempting to go upstairs, Tiger gets stopped. "Where do you think you're going boy, come have a sip." says another man. "He's underaged, he will not be drinking," Mrs.Smith comes in folding a towel. A relief fills up Tiger to see Mrs.Smith, she reminds him a lot of his mother. "Ms.Smith!" Tiger excitedly hugged Mr.Smith. "Oh what's this?" Mrs.Smith was surprised. "The boy is soft, you got a teddy Herald," One of the men says while drinking his likure. "Don't you worry Kaleb, I'll teach some sense into him." Mr.Smith defends his choice. "Come on, go get washed up Tiger, I'd like some help in the garden." Mrs.Smith whispers.

As the stars showed up in the sky, Tiger sits at his bed thinking, what Mr.Smith ment in teaching some sense to him. Thoughts start to boil in his head, his hair starts to smoke. Before thinking, he shoots out a claw and cuts his arm. Starring at what he has done, a wave of satisfaction floods his mind.

Suddenly Tiger hears people screaming, wondering where that noise came from. There are heavy smoke clouds coming from the distance. Determined to check out the problem, Tiger jumps out the window and lands on his feet. He runs to the smoke, the closer he gets the clearer it is that a house is on fire. Without thinking, Tiger springs to action. "MY BABY, SHE'S STILL UP THERE!" A lady yells. "Where are you going Tiger, it's too dangerous!" Lollita stops Tiger from going inside, ignoring the danger. Tiger rushes into the burning building, wood falls behind him closing the exit. He finds the baby in the upstairs bedroom, but the roof crashes blocking the exit yet again. The only way of escape is the window. There's two cats hiding in the closet, meowing in fear. Tiger grabs the two cats onto his head. Holding the crying baby from the smoke, Tiger smashes through the window falling on his back. The two cats jump and run away, but the baby is alive is all that matters to Tiger at the moment. "MY BABY!" A lady comes running to snatch the baby out of Tiger's arm. "TIGER ARE YOU INSANE!" Lollita yells hurrying to help Tiger up. "I'm fine, really." Tiger says standing up as if nothing happened.

Weeks pass by, everyday is normal; wake up, eat, go to school, work the farm, eat, sleep. October 19, it's Tigers birthday, four years since he witnessed the passing of his parents. Knock, knock. "Come in." says Tiger, "Happy birthday Tiger, you're finally 9, I brought you a special breakfast." Mrs.Smith carries in a tray of food carrying a warm smile. "I'm not hungry." Tiger falls back on his side, "Well you must eat, I rarely see you eat, come on just a bite." Mrs.Smith argues, silence. Mrs.Smith sighs and leaves the tray at his nightstand. "You know you'll have to open up at some point." Mrs.Smith leaves. Tiger grabs a bag and stuffs it with the breakfast Mrs.Smith has made him. He's bringing it to the Geralds. They have been struggling with money lately, making it not so easy to get food. "I'm going to Billys!" Yells Tiger as he leaves through the door.

"Hey Tiger, whatcha got there?" Billy asks looking in the bag. "I wasn't hungry this morning, so I brought you my breakfast." Tiger gives the bag to Billy. Sniffing the breakfast in joy, Billy runs in to start eating.

Tiger - "Hey wanna do something awesome today."

Billy - "Sure."

Tiger - "Come on, eat up, we gotta catch the train to Toronto."

Billy - "Toronto?! Are you insane, we have school."

Tiger - "There's something I gotta get from the orphanage"

Billy - "Hm, can we stop by Lolita's on the way."

Tiger nods, as soon as Billy finished eating, the boys were on their way to the train. Stopping at Lolita's, surprised by the plan, she decides to come along. Since they don't have money for the train, Tiger tells them to jump into one of the wagons. "HA, this is so cool, mother would be so mad if she knew I skipped school, but this is so worth it." Lolita chuckles. "Hey isn't it your birthday?" Billy askes. Silence, leaning back in the cart, Tiger ignores the question. "Well happy birthday." Sighs Billy as the train comes to a stop. The kids quickly jumped off the train and snuck around the police into the city. "The orphanage isn��t too far from here." Tiger says walking up the street. "Hey after you get the thing, can we go explore the city?" Billy asks keeping close to Lolita. Tiger nods as they come up to the orphanage.

"Stay out here, I'll be quick." Tiger orders them a block away. Sneaking up behind the orphanage, Tiger runs up, leaping ten feet in the air, grabbing onto a window sill. He pulls himself up. The floor starts creaking, Tiger freezes too hear the distance of the footsteps, seems like it's coming from behind the door. Quickly, Tiger climbs on top of the window. He yet got a lot of climbing to do. As soon as the footsteps were gone. Tiger swings himself onto the balcony and onto another windowsill. He comes to the window of the room where he once was. Pausing, Tiger listens for footsteps and proceeds to his bed. Hurrying, Tiger finds what he was looking for from underneath his bed. It's a beaded pearl necklace that his mother once wore. The door starts to creak open, Tiger quickly drags himself under the bed. A group of children come running in. Tiger rushes to the window. "Tiger?" A familiar wicked voice comes from the end of the room. Without looking back, Tiger jumps out the window. "COME BACK HERE YOU SCUM." The lady screams. Tiger falls on his feet from 80 feet. He puts on the necklace and runs back to his friends.

"That was quick." Billy said, "What's that?" He says pointing to the necklace. "It was my mother's." Tiger explains. "Come on, we gotta run." The kids start running until the orphanage was out of sight. They stop by a cafe, hungry Billy pulls Tiger inside. "Good day sir, how may I serve you today?" The barista says, "It's actually my friend's birthday today." Billy smiles excitedly. "Oh really, well then cakes on the house." The barista smiles, going to get a cake. He brings out a chocolate cake, decorated beautifully with white icing. The place starts to sing happy birthday. Anxiety starts rushing into Tigers head, hair and eyes starting to smoke, until a hand touches his shoulder. "Hey, calm down, it's just a song." Billy whispers under his breath. The kids sit at a table and start gobbling up the cake, though Tiger doesn't eat a single bite. "Aren't you gonna eat that?" Lolita asks, pointing her fork at the cake. Tiger slowly picks up his fork and takes a small bite. "Here you can have it." Tiger pushes the plate towards Lolita. Billy and Lolita both look at each other, then at Tiger. He forcefully stands up, "We should head home before your parents get mad."

Taking a breath as Tiger walks through the door. "Where have you been?! I was so god damn worried." Mrs.Smith runs hugging Tiger tightly. "Why are you wearing such a necklace, you look like a faggot." Mr.Smith says, going in to grab the necklace. Tiger stops the arm, pulling it down, eyes start to smoke again. "Touch my necklace and I'll burn you alive." He threatens digging his claws into the arm, giving a terrifying stare. "Don't be a fool, take--." "I don't think you heard me right the first time, touch my necklace and you're done for." Tiger cuts off Mr.Smith pushing him back as he tumbles onto the couch. Tiger looks at Mrs.Smith who's in shock and stomps away to his room.