Axl: The Blood Prince (3)

It’s been weeks since Jann had left. I felt so sad; I finally felt liked—something I hadn’t felt in so long—the last time being, I remember, a girl named Monique saying she had a crush on me. That aside, Jann treated me like a son. And I liked it. My real mother was an ogre, kicking and punching me whenever. Screaming at my ear. She even tried to spoon my eyes out once when I was eight. I was white, she would say, together with my stepdad. Too white.

Riiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnng!!!!!!!!
"Finally!" I groaned. Lunch break.
Around me some guys were doing random stuff. Very few people were there, and I was watching them, not wanting to eat lunch as usual. I brought a pack of cookies I bought earlier on my way to school though, just in case I got hungry. Suddenly I felt ill at ease. A guy was staring at me. Ricard? I averted my gaze. I could feel him looking at me still, so I got up and walked away.
"Hey," he called, approaching me slowly. More guys drew nearer, grinning from ear to ear. I was surrounded. "Going somewhere, freak?"
"What do you want?" I asked, trying to mask the fear I felt inside. I knew it—two months of finally being left alone was too good to be true. "Just tell me what y—"
"Scream!!"
Something hit me in the stomach. A skateboard, I think. And it hurt like hell! I groaned and fell on my knees. Another blow, this time on my cheek. I screamed as I tumbled backwards, falling once again on the ground, feeling small as they laughed at my scrawniness.
Breaking the laughter, Ricard stepped forward and placed a foot on my throat. "What’s your name?"
"A-Axl…Avalon," I choked, not daring to push his foot away since he might just do the same; and if he does—Jesus, I’ll be damned!
"No, it’s von Avalon. I remember now." His expression remained firm, making it clear he was serious. "How are your parents?"
Parents? Wtf does this have to do with anything? I looked at him with a confused look. His face didn’t change.
"Dead?" he grinned, but his eyes showed certainty. "Heads ripped off," he whispered. "Right?"
My eyes widened; my heart stopped. A flashback of a certain evening. Two drained, headless bodies. Mysterious deaths and am inhumane murder. A secret only Jann and I knew.
So how was he able to? Jann? No—she wouldn’t have. She killed them. Hah…She saved me!
"You know what," he told me. "Nevermind that question. Can you sing?"
Now he’s talking about singing? Either he’s really random, or there’s something going on that I have no clue of.
"I don’t know," I told him. I’ve never tried it before, or at least, never tried it with people around to tell me how good or how bad my singing was.
He dragged me up and made me stand. "Sing," he ordered me. "Sing whatever song you know."
"Wait, wait, wait!" A guy interrupted as he took out his phone, laughing. "The others have got to see this!"
Not wanting another beating, I took a deep breath. My hands were shaking. Do it. You’ve got no one to lose anyway. I sighed, then started singing.
Suddenly I had an urge. I pushed back my glasses, grinned, dashed towards Ricard then punched him in the face. Seeing a gap in the circle and seizing the opportunity, I ran. I was laughing at that time. It felt so good doing what I did that my stomach started hurting again.
I sat somewhere more public. Alone I was, but at least there would be witnesses to my "murder" just in case. Besides, those guys had a good reputation and were known all through out. I’m sure they wouldn’t want that ruined. I pulled out my iPod and relaxed for a while, taking out my coo—
My cookies were missing! I groaned. My body was hurting all over, and there wasn’t much time left for me to go to the school canteen to get food. I drank water instead, hoping it would keep my tummy from rumbling.
"Hungry?" Someone from behind me offered me a popsicle. I took it, and he sat beside.
"Thanks," I told him. He looked familiar—long eyelashes, black hair, and very effeminate features. "How’d you know?"
"I was with those guys from earlier. I left though after Clark stole your cookies and hit you with the skateboard." He looked down. "I’m not a fan of violence."
I smiled. "Why are you here now? What if they see you hanging out with me?"
He gave me a puzzled look. "Why, what’s wrong with that?"
I shrugged. "I’m…me."
"So?" He laughed. "You think they hate you, don’t ya? No worries about that. They don’t. There’s a reason for the way they act, I’m sure."
"Yeah? Well, whatsit then?" I asked, doubting. Finishing at the same time my popsicle.
"I don’t know. But I know Rike, and he’s not like that. ‘Cept when there’s a reason to do so. And I’m certain this one’s pretty crucial." He was serious now.
The bell rang and he stood up. "The Seits have been linked to many bizarre crimes in the past. Including murder. And I hate the fact that Ricard wants you now. I like you, Axl.
"Beware."