****************

*drip* *drip*

water dripped inside a room that looked still in time while the raging storm continued outside plattering on the window and leaking through the cracks of the ceiling .

The room had an eerie feeling to it, as its only source of light came from the window, which was quite dark because of the outpouring rain . the walls were mossy and damped by the rain that leaked through overtime.

 It was painted in an almost fading shade of grey. Its space couldn't be considered large as the only thing it occupied was a small mattress, and a desk that was used to hold clothes and other necessities rather than its original purpose.

On the small mattress laid a tall figure that looked around the age of 17. He laid on his back and stared at the ceiling in front, his grey eyes distant has if he was lost in thoughts

*thump* *thump*

a thumping sound could be heard downstairs as well as rattling. Damien knew fully well that it was his uncle off to start his morning ritual, which consisted of cleaning the traces of what he did the night before and, of course, making Damien's morning sour.

"Damien!" shouted his uncle. No reply or movement from Damien's side as he just continued to stare at the ceiling

"Damien!!" he yelled louder this time and again, no response, then it all went quiet.

*bang*

The door flew open and stood there was a man that looked to be in his late thirties or older because of how unkempt he appeared.

"Do you want to see the worst of me?" his uncle said with gritted teeth while staring at Damien, looking livid

"Sorry, just got up," Damien mumbled with a hoarse voice while slowly getting up to meet his still angry looking uncle at the door

"I know that's a lie, but since yesterday was fruitful, I'm going to let you go" Then he got closer and grabbed Damien's arms roughly "but let this be the last time" he said through clenched teeth while looking at Damien for a response but got none only a cold glare from his dark grey eyes, and that seems to be enough to make Lucas snap, He shoved Damien on the chest not enough to make him fall but enough to make him stumble.

"You and your shitty attitude will be the end of you, trust me on that," he said as he glared at the boy only a head taller than him

"God knows what I would have done to you if it wasn't for your mother's will keeping you alive . you're nothing but a disappointment, a mere free loader, " he said, each word filled with a venomous tone and at a deliberate pace.

"So don't make me do what we are both begging to do," he said, and finally, a smile played on his lips. " we both know how much you're begging to be killed." he's gaze lingered on Damien's with calculative eyes and a smirk as he seems to remember his reason for calling Damien

"Downstairs, I've already laid down the drugs. On your way to school, you get them delivered. Don't forget to make us a good deal. You will make your uncle proud, won't you?" he voiced then abruptly let out a manic laugh that played out more than necessary.

"You always make me say the worst shit don't you ?" he asked no one in particular as Damien hasn't said anything throughout the entire conversation .

He seemed to have gotten his sadistic satisfaction, so he stepped aside and headed for the door but not without stopping to face Damien "have a great day" he said as a smile crept up his face, and then he turned and took his leave leaving the room to it's usually eerie quietness.

'He was awfully quite nice today, wondered what he did last night to get himself in that state,' Damien thought to himself as him walked himself into the bathroom just across his room.

It was like this every morning or worse, his uncle using him as his personal amusement or a way to vent, but he always got the better end of it as he wasn't dead like his cousins, but he wasn't sure that was a good thing anymore.

Damien leisurely strolled down the stairs, not forgetting to take the drugs that had been laid down on the dining table it was neatly packed in small polythene bags by Lucas He was about to take his leave when a sudden thought popped up.'Where was his aunt ?'.

Normally, she would have been in the kitchen stirring up some type of soup that looked way too weird to be soup.

He guessed the death of her own children caused by no one other than her psychopathic husband flipped a switch in her brain because after the incident, she became so cold and lifeless, but at least it's safes him from being treated as some houseboy of some sorts .

Seeing that she was not in her usual spot, he quickly connected the dots and figured out she must be the reason for his uncle's good mood after all he had been getting really violent with her with his sadistic nature like rape, and beatings till she fell unconscious and numbed .It was only fair that he finished the job himself before she died 'naturally' and killed his fun

He could only pray for the day when he would get he's own revival, the only reason he hasn't killed himself yet is because of the haunting memory of seeing his mom on her death sicken bed trying to be strong for him but resulting fruitless as she still died a miserable and undeserving death and a promise he made to her.

The raging strom outside had simmered down and turned to a light drizzle,On that note, he left the house to begin the lonely journey to school, the way he liked it.

...****************...

Damien arrives at school slightly drenched as the rain was still drizzling. He shivered and continued the long walk through the hallways. Normally, the hallways would have been crowded by many students, but since he was late for school, he was spared the torture of having to meet their gaze and hear the rumours about him.

His uncle's orders were to drop off the drugs first, but he didn't want to face those nasty drug dealers first thing in the morning, so he decided to drop it off on his way back home

He had chemistry first period, so he detoured his way to the chemistry class. On his way there, he couldn't help but be grateful that this was his final year; after this, he could leave this shithole and then... he didn't know what was next.

On that note, he arrived at the classroom and braced himself before stepping in.

"Mr Ashbourne, so lovely of you to join us", Mrs Smith, the chemistry teacher, said to Damien as he made his way to the back of the class, seemingly to be the only seat available. Damien didn't have a favourite seating position as he was fine with anything

Once he got seated, Mrs Smith continued with the lectures; she only let him go on the account that he was a top student, and he didn't have a record for coming late, and the weather would have been a contributing factor too. Normally, students took the bus, or their parents gave them a ride, but she was sure Damien walked since he was drenched, and she must have a word with him after the lectures

The class went on as usual. Damien took notes and paid close attention to his surroundings. The rain had stopped for a while now, and the pupils in the classroom all had one thing in common. Some paid close attention while others couldn't care less

As he surveyed the classroom, his gaze met with the school's golden boy; he had it all: money, good grades, and captain of the soccer team. He was almost an icon, but underneath all that was a deadly soul that craved sorrowful cries, painful groans, and bloody tears.

 'Lucien Crowe' was his name.

Lucien turned to look away as soon as he saw Damien, he didn't like the way Damien looked at him, it was as though he knew his darkest secrets, and he didn't like that at all

After the lecture, Mrs Smith called Damien as he was about to leave the classroom. "Mr Ashbourne, we have a lot to discuss." Damien turned to gaze at Mrs Smith, "And what might it be about ?" he asked

"Oh, nothing too serious, I just wanted to check in on you", she said with a motherly gaze as she knew Damien's situation of being an orphan and living with his quite problematic uncle and aunt, who she could swear were abusive from their past interactions.

"The final exams are coming up soon. Have you made your decision on which university you want to apply to? If not, it's no problem, but I hope you do, " she paused."That will be bout everything. You can leave, " she continued, knowing Damien didn't speak much she didn't know why she cared for the boy, but she did

With that, Damien nodded and left for his next class. School after that went like a flash, and it was finally time to go home

Damien grabbed his school bag and began his journey to deliver the drugs he couldn't help but notice the glares as he walked by

'I heard he's part of a cult'

'he can hear you'

'Let him, don't he look like one '

'Shut up, let's get going '

Damien didn't pay them any attention as he didn't care. The walk to the dealers was rather short

As soon as Damien arrived, he knew something was off. The dealer's gaze was more stern than usual he could only pray he didn't break him to the point he needed a hospital.

"You got the goods?" the dealer asked in a profound voice, and with a hardened gaze

"Yeah," Damien replied hoarsely. "See, I don't have any business with the old man. I deliver the goods." Damien started only to be met with a blow to his gut

"You people think you can get away with fooling us?!" the dealer asked angrily." The old man must want you dead for him to send you here," he gritted out "listen punk!" he growled and pulled on hard at Damien's hair and spat on his face." I need compensation for the loss you two put me to. I know you are not the one who calls the shot, but if you love your life, get your old man to pay me nicely. " he grinned, then shoved the drugs into Damien's mouth, then turned around to leave

After the drug dealer left, Damien pulled the drug, which was smashed up in the polythene bag, out of his mouth, then spat out and sat on the floor while breathing heavily. The punch to the gut really did a number on him.

Damien sat still there as those were the few moments in his life he had peace, his gaze was distant as he felt the pain in his gut numbing already

He sat on the paved walkway and his back to the wall of the building behind him.

With a sigh, Damien leaned into the peace of this moment, wondering why he felt so peaceful, reminiscing about the old days when he never felt peaceful. His only safe place died when he was just 6 years old.

A painful and cruel death was it for his mom she didn't deserve that he didn't deserve that to, but Damien didn't have time to feel sad for himself

'Damien run!'

'Runnn!'

'Mom! Mommy !'

'No, leave her!, mom!!'

Damien held himself tightly and shivered he could still remember that day vividly, so vividly

' You killed her you know this '

'No! Not this voice. Damien's eyes widened, and for the first time in a long while, he felt fear, an emotion he thought he couldn't feel again.

'You let her die!!'

"No I didn't. No, I didn't." Damien gripped his hair as he spoke out loud

He couldn't believe this was happening again. The voices, this voice, he thought he was done with this; they were done with him.

He had been hearing these voices since he was little. His mom, his safe place, always comforted him. After her death, it got worse until it stopped.

This voice, like a growl in his ears and an echo in the room, was associated with massive anxiety .