The Lie Within Us

CHAPTER 1: "I Can Feel It"

Lightning cracked and thunder roared as a figure ran through the mud, refusing to stop. "What did I do?" Panic was etched on the young boy's face as memories of blood flooded his mind.

"It was a mistake; I didn't mean..." Thunder resounded once more as images of a body on the floor, stained with blood, flashed before his eyes. He ran continuously, with rain pouring down on him relentlessly.

He tripped on a rock and fell straight into the mud. Sobbing, "Mum, please, I am sorry. Please come back. I promise to be a good boy." Tiger, a 6-year-old kid, raised his head to see flashlights approaching.

"I can't let them get to me," he panicked, trying to crawl away. But the mud shook his footing, and he found himself face-first in the mud. "Why, why, why, why, why?" he yelled. "Why didn't I listen?"

He picked himself up and ran deep into the forest. "Young master, come back!" a butler yelled, while bodyguards chased after him in the rain. "Leave me alone; I'm going to meet my mother!" Tiger yelled back, tears streaming down his face as memories of his mother flooded his mind – her smile, until it vanished into the scene of his mother on the floor, covered in blood.

Tiger ran until there was nowhere left to run. Without a second thought, he decided to jump, imagining his mum catching him. He smiled, tears filling his eyes.

******

In a different part of town, a small girl named Ruby witnessed a disturbing scene. The sounds of pleasure filled the room, and Ruby, 6 years old, covered her ears in the corner. She was afraid of the horrors she believed her mother was going through with a man she didn't recognize as her father.

"Be gentle, pls," her mother's voice was soothing. "Oh, I will," the man said, smiling intensely. The bed began to shake violently, making Ruby's mum moan. Ruby closed her eyes, fearful of the scene unfolding before her.

Her mother's eyes met hers, and Pheona cried, looking at her daughter. "I am sorry, my child," she muttered, tears streaming down her face. "Mother," Ruby whispered, watching in horror. She shut the cupboard door, blocking out the sight, and cried away into the night.

Chapter 2: Past traumas, Future scars

Years later

Tiger breathed in the crisp morning air, his red hair standing out amidst the crowd of students. "It's a cold morning, isn't it?" he murmured to himself, his eyes scanning the prestigious Emperor's High School.

"So, Emperor's High, huh? Causing trouble here is going to be fun," Tiger said with a sly smile, his arms casually slung in his pockets. Ladies passing by couldn't help but glance at him, drawn to his charismatic presence.

As he walked, a chilled wind blew across his face, carrying the scent of a girl's hair. Tiger's eyes locked onto the girl, her black hair dancing in the wind. Without warning, he reached out and grabbed her hair, pulling her to a stop.

"Ahhh, let go of my hair, you creep!" she shrieked, her distress echoing through the crowd.

Tiger's gaze swept the area, his eyes locking onto a muscular guy charging toward him. "Oh, I see what's going on here," Tiger said, a hint of amusement in his voice. He pulled the girl closer, his whisper sending shivers down her spine. "If you don't want your boyfriend to get broken bones, tell him to stop."

The girl struggled, slapping Tiger across the face. He released her, his hand rising to his cheek as the girl rushed to her boyfriend's side.

The bully stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger. "Yeah, you! What did you try to do with my girlfriend?"

Tiger's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Ahh, this is going to be fun. I haven't broken someone's jaw in a while."

The bully sneered, his arm swinging toward Tiger. "Hey, shithead!"

Tiger pushed the arm away, his eyes never leaving the bully's face. "You shouldn't touch people, anyway."

The bully lunged, but Tiger stood unfazed, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "This ought to be interesting."

Just as the bully's fist was about to connect, a girl with braided hair rushed in, taking the hit. Tiger's eyes widened, drawn to her intriguing figure.

"Who the hell is this, taking my fun away?" Tiger muttered, his gaze locked on the girl's falling form.

The bully turned to the girl, who was now sitting on the floor. "Student council president, what are you doing?"

The girl looked up, her eyes flashing with authority. "If you first-years fight now, it'll be a straight-up explosion. Head to your classes now."

The crowd dispersed, leaving Tiger standing alone, his eyes fixed on the girl searching for her glasses.

"No one's going to pick you up," Tiger said, noticing her glasses and kicking them toward her.

The girl, Ruby, looked up, her eyes narrowing. "I didn't ask for your help, either."

Chapter 3: Classroom clash

Tiger walks back to his class, lost in thought. He bumps shoulders with someone, and his instincts kick in. "Watch it," he says, turning to face a dark-haired guy around his height and just as muscular.

"I am very, very sorry," the guy says, bowing his head repeatedly in respect. "My name is Benjamin. I just moved from Nigeria, and I'm lost. Can't find my way to my classroom..." Benjamin's words fall on deaf ears as Tiger sticks his fingers in his ear and cleans it.

"How's that my problem?" Tiger says, beginning to leave. Benjamin intercepts him, begging even harder, but adds an insult under his breath. "I am very sorry," he says out loud. "Who be this crazy man like this? If not because I wan avoid problem, I for don put you on the floor," he says to himself, smiling devilishly.

Tiger feels uncomfortable, his anger rising. "I'm pretty sure he said something bad in his mind just now," Tiger whispers to himself. "Out of my way."

Tiger leaves, heading into his class while Benjamin heads in the opposite direction, smiling and jumping, making people in the hall laugh. Tiger takes the last seat at the corner of the class, gazing outside the window at the city's beauty. "How disgusting," he says out loud.

A familiar feminine voice responds, "You can't just open your mouth and say brainless stuff from it." Tiger turns to see Ruby seated beside him. "Of course, I get to sit down beside a four-eyed monster. How scary."

Tiger replies, "You can't speak to ladies like that, come on." Benjamin jumps into their conversation, taking a seat in front of Tiger. "Oh great, a stray dog came in. This is going to be a tough morning."

Tiger's comment annoys Benjamin, but Ruby adjusts her glasses as their teacher enters the class. "Good morning, Student Council President Ruby," Benjamin says, blushing.

Ruby replies calmly, "Good morning." Benjamin's heart skips a beat, and he starts blushing uncontrollably. "Hey, you! Did you get love disease?" someone yells, pointing at Benjamin, and the class erupts in laughter. Benjamin giggles, embarrassed.

Tiger places his head on his desk, ready to sleep. "This is going to be annoying."

to be continue.