“Zack, please don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.”

Her voice was faint, it was like she was trying to tell me a secret. I was so used to her annoying yammering. It just didn't feel real, to hear her sound so dead.

It felt like I was lost in a dream. No, this was definitely a nightmare.

“Ppft! Me? Worried? As if I’m worried about some gnome like you. I’m just relishing in the fact I don’t have to hear that squeaky voice of yours anymore. This cold of yours must've been my Christmas gift!” I chuckled.

I moved my hand behind my back and balled my fist. The warm sensation of blood started to drip down my palm as my nails dug into my skin. I forced a smile onto my face and looked her over. While she just squinted her forest green eyes at me. Damn, even her eyes were starting to look dull.

“Zack, you know this isn’t just a cold, right?” She asked.

“The Hippie thinks she’s a doctor now?”

“Well, I just-”

“Look, I told you before, you have nothing to worry about.”

I walked over to her bed and grabbed her book.

“You promise?”

“Leave it to your big bro!”

I moved the cover over her body and gave her a big grin. She nodded and started to cough, and my heart nearly stopped. I saw drops of blood splattered onto her sheets.

“Zack..” She mumbled.

“Don’t worry, really. It’s just because your throats scratched up, it’s normal.”

“Zack, why are you bleeding?” She asked as she pointed at my hand.

That's where the blood came from..

“It’s just a papercut. Grabbed your book the wrong way.”

“Zack.” She said with some more base.

I ignored it though and just hurried out the room. It was weird, my whole body just felt heavy.

“I’ll be back!”

I quickly shut the door to her room as I left, and then leaned against it. What the hell was this? Is this a joke!? She’s gotten ten times worse. My jokes aren’t even working anymore. I wiped the blood off onto my pants and took a breath. The weight I was feeling a second ago slowly faded away. I'm all she’s got. I’m not gonna let her get worse. I moved my hand into my pocket and pulled it out. I looked over the old rusted kitchen knife and caught my reflection in the blade. I almost didn’t recognize myself. When did I start hating my own reflection?

A flash of that night came into my mind. My hands trembled just at the memory of it. The echoing of his body dropping on the ground played in my ears. It’s either eat or be eaten. I shouldn’t care about that lousy gang member. I bet he’s killed people, so why should I care? Right, I at least have a reason. I’m being a hero.

…

I watched as a mother and her son walked down the street. The flickering lights from the lamp posts barely illuminated their way. I slowly crept behind them and reached into my pocket. Perfect, I recognized the kid. I think I saw him at my school once, back when I was still going to school that is. She drove a pretty nice looking car if I recall. They definitely had money.

I got a little faster, moving my hood over my head. As we were coming up to the end of the street I stopped. This was it then.

“Hey!” I roared.

The women jumped a little but stopped. She slowly turned around with a look of fear in her eyes. She was tall with long black hair and blue eyes. Then her son immediately turned around and moved in front of her. And his eyes were different. They were blue, but they were intense. Like he was daring me to do something. Honestly, it made me tremble. And something about it, it just pissed me off.

“I want everything you got, or else,” I smirked and took a step forward.

I won't be punked by some thirteen year old. I'm the threat! I'm the one he should be afraid of here! The kid stepped forward as well. His confident stare not wavering. This kid..

“Stryder get back!” His mother called out to him.

As she reached out for him, the kid just darted at me. I admit I panicked a bit. The last guy who attacked me didn't look like this! I could see the fear in his eyes, but this kid. It was like he had no fear!

I bit my lip and charged at him. As I looked into his eyes, it was like I could see him. I could see the guy I stabbed! No, I won't weaver! I'm gonna move forward! If I stab his eyes out I'll do it. If I kill him nothing can stop me!

"Ahhh!" I roared as I ran at him with all my might.

Flashes of his face came into my mind. The blood that spilled from his body, the screams that plagued my dreams! I wanted it to stop! This war in my head!

I thrusted the knife at the kid as I got close. I glared into his eyes and he glared back into mine. Then, I felt him grab my wrist and force it down. I tried to pull back. But the last thing I could see was his eyes again. The man I killed was gone. And I was lost to the bottomless sea of his. Then he rammed his fist into my face, and I felt myself go airborne. Damn, I'm sorry Annual. Looks like we might not eat again.

….

Slowly the light started to come back to me. And instead of the sky or the roof of a police cruiser. I saw a light blue ceiling of a house. I stretched and it felt like I was on a couch. I groaned and slowly sat up.

“You’re awake! Thank goodness.” I heard a voice call out from the floor beside me.

I looked over, and there he was. The boy with blue eyes. He was wearing a blue jacket and jeans. And had this stupid grin on his face. I could see his unruly raven locks a lot better now. He looked like a dweeb.

“What’s, what’s going on? Where am I?” I grumbled.

“My house, I hit you pretty hard. We didn’t want to leave you in the streets.”

“How long have I been out?”

“Hhhmm, a few hours.”

Annuals gonna kill me…

“So, what? The cops on their way?” I asked.

“Let me ask you, why did you try and rob us?” The kid looked over at me.

His intense eyes again, it was like they could see my soul. Super intimidating…

“My sister.." I mumbled.

Suddenly the kid’s intensity faded. And moved to something much softer.

“You know, stealing is wrong, right?”

I growled.

“Like I care kid..”

"Who are you calling kid? We go to the same middle school."

"Whatever.." I grumbled and turned away.

Then he quickly got up and walked off. I sat up and watched him run off down the hallway somewhere. Then I looked around the place some more. I was in a living room. There was a couch across from me, and a fireplace on the wall. The shelf on there had some statues and trophies, plus a Christmas tree with some fancy ornaments. They looked like they might be worth something…

I quickly got up and grabbed everything that looked like it could sell. No way was I gonna sit here and wait to be jailed! As I was grabbing the last art piece, something flew into the room and slammed into my face. And I fell back onto the ground.

“Ah! What the hell!”

That's when I saw a basketball bouncing away from me. I looked up, and there he was. Standing in the hallway with his arms crossed. Giving me a very disappointed look.

“Do you seriously want me to hit you again?” He huffed.

….

I wondered if I died when he punched me earlier. Because this was starting to get really unreal. Not only did they take me to their home, but they gave me food. And then drove me home to check up on my sister. To think I tried to rob a doctor! I looked over at the blue-eyed kid. He was perfectly calm sitting on the filthy floor of my hallway. It felt wrong for him to be here. Like he was somehow just better than all this.

“You know, if you were to talk more instead of robbing. You might have gotten help sooner.” He blurted out.

I growled.

“Ya, like who? No one cares about us. Not even our parents.”

“So what? You give up and start attacking people?”

“What else could I do?”

“Everyone has a family, and everyone has a story. You’d be no better than your parents, ignoring people’s lives like this."

“Who the hell do you think you are!? I bet you had a cushy life! You got no idea what it’s like! So don’t talk like you understand anything!”

“But am I wrong? Can you honestly tell me what your doing is any better? Just because it benefits you?”

I felt the rage inside me slowly begin to fade. I had nothing. I couldn’t say anything to him. The memories of that man came into my mind. Watching his body drop. I never even thought he could be just like me. I could end up like that one day. But something else he said struck a chord with me. He said I was no better than my folks. And honestly, thinking about it. I was becoming just like my old man.

“Just because it’s the easy route, doesn’t mean it’s the best.”

Just who the hell was this kid? Talking like he was some old sage! I wonder he skipped a few grades or something.

“What’s your name?” I asked

“Stryder.” He hummed.

….

“I think he’s really cute.” Annual whispered.

“You think Venus flytraps are cute. I think your tastes are just weird.”

“So mean! Introduce me!” She huffed as she hit my arm.

We sat back on Stryders couch and enjoyed some nice cookies and milk. While Stryder and his angel sister cleaned the dinner table. They insisted we come over for Christmas, and I was skeptical. But his mom had been taking care of Annual for a week or two now. It was weird, these guys were really genuine. But I really only came over for his hot sister.

Stryder still pissed me off.

“Fine, fine.” I huffed.

I got up and walked over to him. That’s when I started to hear the screaming coming from down the hall. Their old man didn’t seem too thrilled about us being here. So I figured that must be him and his mom going at it.

“Is everything alright?” I asked as Stryder stacked up the dirty plates.

“Hhhmm? Oh, don’t worry about that, what’s up? Still hungry?”

“No, no my sister was curious. She saw your martial arts statue and had questions.”

I looked over and saw the beauty in the kitchen cleaning dishes. I smirked and grabbed the dishes from his hands.

“I can do this if you don’t mind talking to her.”

He blinked a few times and gave me a smile.

“Sure thing!”

Then he scurried off over to Annual. I watched as her eyes and smile grew wide. Then Stryder sat next to her and started talking. I could see a blush slowly rise onto her cheeks. I felt this warmth fill my body. It was like I was complete. This really was the best Christmas ever.

_______________

Happy holidays everyone! I hoped you enjoyed this prequel story! I just wanted to take this time to thank everyone for all the nice comments, and messages! I also posted two chapters of Holiday! And two chapters of Guardians. This is my gift to you all, and I hope you like it. (I lost sleep over this ridiculous goal lol).

So please, comment below what you think of the story! Whose your favorite character! That would be a great gift for me if your up for it. If not I still appreciate the gift of your viewership. It's really made my hard year worthwhile. And I can't thank you all enough! Happy holiday's!