Housing and Murder

I woke up, sweat pouring from my body, my face encased in tears. The morning sun was shining through my window, berating my eyes with a natural wake up call, like a bombardment. The light showered a luminescent fleet of bombs into my eyes. Despite the hellish range of light I stayed still, the sadness consuming me, like a trap in the woods. Bonds and ties holding me down.

I'm pathetic.

I'm useless.

I'm nothing.

So why do I feel like this, why do I always feel like this?

I pushed off my bed and pulled on the loose school clothes. Then pushed against my door, taking one last look at the game, I pushed forward.

"Lee!!"

"Heya Ellie."

"We have a test today!!"

"Ooooh good luck."

I walked over to the fridge and pulled a bottle of my favourite energy drink, then walked over to the table.

Ellie finished her breakfast and walked out of the door, her hair shining in the new light. Her bag rattled as she stepped.

"Finals are coming next week."

"I know."

"Find somewhere for you and Ellie to stay."

"How long?"

"A week, maybe two."

Damn, it's sooner than I remember, I guess I can't finish the event. I need money so I need a job.

.

Shit.

What a pain. But it's a necessary sacrifice.

.

I picked up my drink and walked out of the door, the cold breeze hitting my face like a dagger, slicing into my flesh. I traveled to school in the pale morning light, the streets awash with a hollow blue glow.

"Hey Lee!!"

"Hey Psye,"

"You look somber, didn't you beat the event?"

"Yeah but I can't finish it,"

"What!! Why not???"

"Don't worry about it, just win for me, yeah?"

"Oh I was always going to win, I'm curious why you aren't going to play so… t-e-ll m-e!"

"It doesn't matter."

"Why are you acting so weird? Is this to do with why you sleep on benches?"

"Kind of."

"How can you be so secretive? Such a cruel person"

"Aah fine, I have to find a place for me and my sister to live for a couple of weeks so I need to work for a bit, Happy?"

"I suppose. You could always stay with me..."

"Wh… what!!"

"Well? I have a spare bed."

"Uuum… thanks." What the hell??? How can she be so casual??? How is this happening??

"Cool, then you can play in the event."

"Hmmm you sure, now you definitely won't win."

"Oh just you wait and see."

"Oh and one more thing, 'S.I Rene'. will you be on my first stream?"

"Why of course, 'ItsAssassin'."

"Hahaha." We both laughed on our way into school. Passing the gates and walking into the cold building.

The day seemed to slip by, the events of this morning making my head race, my heart beat like a drum whenever I thought of it. I almost died. The shock and strain of even the thought burning a hole through my chest. In the end I always come back to one question.

Why?

I felt like I was drowning so why, why did she bother to rescue me. Why would she stop her ship to pick up a piece of driftwood like me? What am I to her? Is it like she said? Am I just a replacement for her old friends? Am I a new friend? A way of getting more powerful? What am I? Who is she? Come to think of it, I know very little about her…

"Mister Lee, are you paying attention?!?"

"Uuuuh yeah,"

"What is X then?"

I stared at the board, the white plastic scrawled with equations and graphs.

"Well?"

"We're supposed to find Y which is 32 but X is 14 so take your pick"

"Um, well that's right I suppose, just try to look more awake next time."

I slumped back into my arm, my head sinking into the soft fabric.

"How do you do that?" Psye whispered, keeping her head close to the desks.

"Hmmm, if you win I'll tell you."

"Meanie."

"Hehe"

The rest of the day was quick. The lessons were boring as usual but sleeping helped, and it kept my mind off everything else. I should just focus on the event.

'Mom:

Pick up Ellie today.

You:

Ok'

I walked out of the school tucking my phone into my pocket and stowing my hands from the cold. As I was about to place the headphones in my ears and walk home I heard shouting and clatter. Books tumbling to the ground. The clumsy sign of someone tripping over.

I looked backwards, her hair spilling onto the ground and spreading over the concrete as she kneeled. Her face wobbled with worry.

I walked over, bending over and picking up the first book, placing it in a pile.

"Ah dammit."

"You tripped?"

"Yeah."

It was Psye her hands grabbing onto some books.

"I saw you going the wrong way so I tried to warn you."

"I'm not going the wrong way, I have to pick up my sister."

"Ah damn I was hoping for some quality teasing."

"Like you tripping over like an idiot?"

"Shut it and help me with these books."

"Sure. you hurt?"

"Nothing other than my image."

"Don't worry I think just as little of you now as before"

"Why thank… hey!!!!!!"

"Hahahah" I almost keeled over laughing but after a minute she clenched her fist and punched me driving her fist into my shoulder. After packing up the books I walked on following the road to a fast food place. Then picking out a burger I walked to her school, only three minutes late.

Good Job Lee!!!

I passed through the gates and stood in the sea of children, mothers staring at me with disgust. But she wasn't there… Ellie isn't here. I ran out of the gates and walked up and down the street shouting out her name. Then I saw it…

The darkness of the shadows

The outline of three children. Even in the darkness the crimson shined so brightly. The rage boiled in me. Burning and rising up. Everything hurts. My hands turned white as I walked over. My face is pale.

"Freak."

"Just die"

"Why are you still alive?"

I walked into the ally looming over the children. My figure towering over them pure rage spilling from my body.

"Hey you three, what do you think you're doing?"

"Just fuck off dude this ain't your business"

"Heh heh, Shut up and leave before I murder all of you."

"Uh guys let's leave this freak alone he's starting to creep me out."

"Uh yeah we should head home."

I turned my attention back to my sister's broken figure, blood dripping from her fingertips. I wrapped my arms around her so tight. Tears started to roll down my cheeks.

The rage I felt, it's so strange. I've never felt that before. There has never been a moment like that, a moment where I lost control.

"Thank you… big brother lee."