Season of Summer, Day 53, 497 AV
The cast iron gate rattled into it's sockets, and Nameless looked around the courtyard, shadowed by his long chaotic dark hair, the orphanage building and the old stone wall, towering high over the boy. Dust seemed to cling to him, hanging in the air, itching in his eyes and weighing him down with the heat, and the weight of the kids' stares, bearing down upon the stranger. Time seemed to pass slowly. Nameless clenched his hands, the small pain from his black nails entering his palms sending him moving towards the shadow of a nearby tree, offering cool and refuge. He never made it that far.
Nameless bumped into something hard, that wasn't there a second ago. Looking up, cruel, demanding eyes stared down upon him, an older boy in his way, as well as another, with expecting eyes and motions just behind and to the left. Nameless stepped backwards, something gripping his heart and stopping his breath, a shiver seeming to coil it's way up his spine. He cowered, unwillingly.
"What is someone like -you- doing here...?" The boy's voice cracked, he smelled of sweat and salt, and stepped closer.
Fiery eyes looked up from below, but Nameless didn't reply, his tongue seemed to wrap itself back, along with his feet and the rest of his cowering body.
"Hah! It can't even speak! What a freak!" Suddenly, hands struck Nameless, but instead of a fall or laughter, a howl erupted across the courtyard, as Nameless immediately grabbed onto the arm with black-nailed hands, and buried his teeth in his assailants arm instinctively.
It tasted salt.
He let go and struck the boys face viciously from the left, tearing his long nails across his nose and forehead, and then jumping into his chest, causing him to topple backwards -- Black spots suddenly danced before his eyes as the world turned, the sky was a white-blue screen as the light blinded his eyes, and Nameless felt himself flying backwards. He hit the ground, which seemed cruelly intent on drawing out every single bit of air in him. He rolled quickly, and somehow managed to get onto his feet in time to see the two approaching, eyes filled with anger, hatred and what may even have been fear. Nameless crouched low, breathing in a hiss and staring at them with feral eyes, which twisted from side to side seeking a chance of escape or vengeance. |
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