《Behind the mask》We aren't friends
Advertisement
Honestly, Hiccup wouldn't have been more astonished if Astrid had claimed to be a chicken. Were his ears working properly or was he still concussed after the beating he'd taken? He really didn't know.
It wasn't as if today could get much worse, to be frank. Alvin had barred him from his home, his go-to person was almost homeless due to a flood at his apartment and Hiccup's so-called friends had just kicked the crap out of him...including Dagur. He stilled, breathing hard: that had actually been truly scary because 'angry' Dagur was without any boundaries. And despite every protestation, Dagur still insisted that it had to be Hiccup who had rolled on him and he had taken a lot of delight in beating up the suspected 'traitor'.
He blinked. At best, he was facing a very cold night in the garage with Toothless...but he felt his spirits plummet at the thought. He really really wanted to go home, to curl in his bed and sleep...and that wasn't happening. He was homeless.
The thought hit him hard. He had endured so much to stay with his Mom: slaps and beatings and a constant drip-drip of insults that made him finally realise he was worthless and unwanted...maybe even by his only parent. But Valka needed warmth and food and security. She needed the lack of stress that even Alvin provided compared to the desperate straits they had been in before. And if Hiccup was the price she paid... He swallowed and closed his eyes.
"Well?" Astrid asked him, a little impatiently. He rested his hand on the locker.
"Why?" he asked her directly, his voice very wary. "I mean, we aren't friends..." She looked at him and sighed.
"That's true," she admitted, "but I do owe you. Probably more than one."
"But won't your parents um worry?" he asked with a shrug. "I mean, I am probably public enemy number one. If word gets out...well, social suicide would be putting it mildly..."
Why was she doing it? By making the offer, she had surprised herself. He was someone she tried to avoid because he really represented everything she hated: contempt for authority, contempt for hard work, rudeness, lateness, rebellion...
...but he looked...unhappy. Not the kind of minor-annoyance-broken-a-pen sort of unhappy but more an underlying uncared-for-nowhere-to-go unhappy. And he wasn't all bad...because it all came back to those horrific moments in Ruff's house, pinned and helpless when he kicked the door open and hit her attacker with a chair. She went back to his words now...
Advertisement
"You may be a smart-ass but you are a person as well," she admitted. "And some of this was because you rescued me, wasn't it?" He nodded dumbly. "So I owe you..."
"Um...kinda thought your parents would freak at having a boy over," he reminded her. "Spawn of the devil or something? Would it mess up your schedule? Affect your focus? Stop you becoming a hot shot lawyer..?" She gave a small smile.
"That wouldn't really be a biggie," she admitted. He painfully dragged his hood up over his head and gave a grimace.
"Yeah...just another thing I'll be blamed for," he mumbled. She sighed.
"Cmon, Mom's picking me up," she said and turned to the door. He stared after her, eyes very wary.
"Didn't say I was coming with you," he reminded her. She paused and then nodded.
"Suit yourself," she said softly. "The-the offer's still there, I mean..." He nodded.
"Thanks," he murmured as she walked away...then stopped. She turned back to him and beckoned.
"Phone!" she snapped. He frowned but warily complied. She stared at the basic model and rolled her eyes, then input her number in his contacts and texted herself. Then she handed it back. "I'm under 'Miss Perfect'," she told him dryly and then turned away, flipping her braid over one shoulder as she strode away. He stared at the phone and shook his head, stuffing it in his pocket and slowly, he headed after her.
She had vanished round the corner as he slowly limped along, head down and heart in his boots. He was kicking himself because a huge part of him wanted to go with her...but reality had bitten him hard as he looked at her and realised her parents would send him off like the unwanted wretch he was. I mean why would the most popular girl in class want to take bad boy Hiccup home, right? He shook his head. It had to be some sort of joke, some way she could make fun of him to the popular kids and just make his life worse. He slowly trailed to the door and stared out, taking a slow breath...until a huge hand grabbed his shoulder. He hissed and craned his neck...to meet Alvin's unpleasant leer.
Advertisement
The Principal dragged the boy straight down the couple of steps and onto the car park in front of the school. The he shoved Hiccup back and the boy stumbled, biting his lip against a groan. Just now, he really didn't have the energy to face Alvin.
"Get out!" Alvin sneered. "Yer can't stay 'ere, 'Iccup!" Emerald eyes flicked up.
"Like I'd want to, Al," he shot back and the man clenched his fist.
"You got someone ter stay, boy?" Alvin taunted him.
"I've...had offers," Hiccup told him, backing up a pace. "Just considering my options..." Alvin advanced on him and grabbed at his hood, dragging it down. His big face widened into a nasty smile.
"Oh dearie me," he scoffed. "It don't look like yer friends are too 'appy at yer..." Hiccup tried to pull away.
"At least I have friends," he retorted. Alvin smiled triumphantly.
"I don't need friends 'coz I got me wife!" he said smugly. "Who 'ave yer got?" Hiccup stared at him, breathing hard and lifting his chin.
"My Mom!" he spat. Alvin grabbed his hair and forced his head back, leaning close.
"Yer know, I think I'll tell 'er that yer just told me yer were stayin' out and didn't even bother ter tell 'er!" he threatened. "'Ow do yer think she'll feel, boy?"
"She knows I love her," he said tightly. "I'm her son, for Thor's sake! And you can't ever replace me in her life!" Alvin slapped him hard.
"I see yer ain't learned a lesson ye, boy-that mouth is gonna get yer inter trouble!" Alvin sneered. Hiccup stared up into his face, wary. The car park was empty and cold: dusk was already falling. "Don't see no one 'ere ter pick yer up, boy..."
"I can find my own way," Hiccup shot back, earning himself another slap. "Really, Al? Is that all you've got? No snappy come-back?"
The next slap snapped his head round and he blinked, his vision smeared with stars. "Don't come by tomorrow neither!" Alvin snapped. "Yer ain't learned, boy. My rules or the street! Yer seems ter enjoy the street."
"Oh joy," Hiccup deadpanned. "Yeah, I'm a man with a plan. Don't worry 'bout me, Al!" The Principal slapped him again because of the smirk that lifted his bruised lips.
"You must really enjoy this!" Alvin growled. Hiccup stared into the dark eyes and allowed the smirk to widen.
"By the way, Al, How was your chair? Any...problems?" The Principal glared at him, then lifted his hand and properly hit him-hard. They were out of school and no one was around...so the man didn't bother to hold back. The blow echoed as it slammed the boy the the floor, remaining still for a long moment before slowly lifting his head to stare up at him.
"That was yer?" Alvin sneered. Hiccup gave a small smile from behind his dishevelled bangs.
"It sounded painful," he smirked. Alvin kicked him.
"Don't come 'ome the day after tomorrow neither!" he snapped. "Yer come to the door and I will set Screamer on yer!"
"It must've been so lucky you found a dog better looking than you!" Hiccup sniped. "And old Screamer likes me anyway..." Alvin lurched towards him.
"I really 'ope yer got somewhere warm, boy-that's another night yer not allowed in!" Then he turned away. Slowly, painfully, Hiccup levered himself to a pair of shaky legs, his cheek scarlet with the slaps on top of his other developing bruises. He heard Alvin's Toyota growl into life and pull away as he dragged his hood up again and slowly began to walk down the road.
Watching him slowly limp away, Astrid emerged from behind the big oak at the side of the car park. It was where she usually waited for her Mom because it was very close to the road...and she had seen the confrontation. And while she hadn't picked up all the words, the louder parts had made it very clear: Alvin knew Hiccup...and it was personal.
Advertisement
Supremacy Games
Welcome to Supremacy Games! The greatest entertainment platform in the universe that was created specifically to entertain and ease the boredom of the commoners all around the universe. The platform was made out of tens of formats, each containing hundreds of deadly games that allowed the use of elemental abilities.
8 1617Truck-kun Gets Sacrificed
Driscoll is my own version of a world with a game-like "system" of endless possibilities. MC has his own status, classes, skills, magic, and a living greatswordstaff in a world of monsters, demi-humans of all kinds, and even the supernatural. Sound good? Well, at first for Tru, it was a dream come true(I'm sorry). At least until reality hits him again and again. His quest from God is vague and must be discovered by him along the way. Hopefully, he can figure that out someday but for now, this new world's threats and his potential for power are motivation aplenty. With His new partner by his side, he's ready to embark on his mission of infinite sacrifice, however many lives it takes. The setting is pretty standard for fantasy, with my beginner attempts at writing. Litrpg elements are definitely involved here but It'll calm down as the story progresses and the world's foundation is laid. Judeo/Christian themes and principles take a major role and will be a backbone for much of the story. The fights will paint a picture in the mind rather than just be a bunch of number crunching. While he is meant to be a sacrifice to save all of Driscoll, he needs to gain enough power and influence to be a worthwhile sacrifice, or so he thinks. And so carnage will ensue as he avoids death as best he can while at the same time sacking himself for others. Truck Coon is your average determined, jiu-jitsu practitioner, tax associate that just started his new career. He dies to save kids from a semi-truck(Truck Coon got truck-kun'd, making him Truck-kun) and is transported to another world rather conventionally by God. Upon his arrival, he is quickly confronted with his first conflicts in the wild. Give it a shot and let me know what you think. Chapters are currently between 2300 and 4000 words and I try to post weekly, but also deal with severe limitations that cause late posts often. I have zero actual experience with writing stories and only recently started reading web novels in 2020. If you end up hating it, let me know your thoughts in a detailed comment or review, especially if you love it though :D I want to get better and welcome the feedback, so expect changes to be made with any flaws that y'all point out which I don't already have plans to address in future chapters. That being said, keep it constructive in nature, please. I have no Idea how the formatting and such will go, so if you like or dislike some techniques I try, give me that well-appreciated feedback! Thank you for reading.
8 544Steam's Shadow
In a world where humanity hasn't advanced beyond the technological use of steam and gas, a young detective together with his partner travel to make sure that noone missuses this simple source of power.Due to this they get their hands on information on some things better left unturned. -------------This is an Ongoing story of mine, which will receive a new Chapter every month for now. Depending on the input of you readers the number may be increased. http://i3asil.tumblr.com/ https://www.wattpad.com/user/I3asil These are the other places where you can follow me and read my stories too. Thank you for reading!
8 188Project from December 2019
Starting chapters are heavily invested in psychology and philosophy. A story about John Keene exploring a different world. This project is similar to 'Ex Legacy' and 'Aidan Alastair'; they follow similar plots. Ex Legacy has more of a completed feel so far - it's debatable, but you are free to read both of them: Aidan Alastair: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/31409/aidan-alastair-volume-1 Ex Legacy: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/48422/ex-legacy
8 182Al-Mos... Qui-t-o Live A Second Life
I was once a bad person who died after misfortune and found myself in another world, with a seemingly.. unusual body. I don't have arms and just legs, I don't have ears but I can hear using those two long antennas and most importantly, I can fly. It seems that I don't have a body of a human... So.. what's the point of continuing living with such a disgusting and terrible form? No... Wait.. it seems I have an ability, shapeshifting! That's means I can still go back into human forms, don't I? But everything has consequences, so it was also true with this ability. I should be able to defeat the form I want to mimic first before I can use them. So, will I be able to continue to live in this another world, or will I just die as well? Note: You can also view this story in another site; Webnovel.com and ScribbleHub.com If you want to read my book in advance.. you can do it by being a member in https://www.patreon.com/zhowen_xialin. I'll post a week chapters there.
8 98The boy who wished he hadn't lived
To everyone else Harry Potter's life is perfect. He's happy, he has plenty of friends, everyone practically worships him, and his family loves him. Or at least that's what they thought... The truth is that none of that is true, he's depressed, all of his friends are fake, he hates the fact that everyone loves him for something he can barely even remember, and his 'family' hates his guts and have abused him since he was 2 years old. What will happen when in 5th year Harry's rival ,Malfoy, catches Harry trying to end his life? Will they put their differences aside and become friends? Or maybe even more...? (Hi so this is my first story and i tried my best on it so please don't hate me if it's not good!) WARNING THIS STORY CONTAINS abuse, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and LOTS OF GAAAAAAAY!!!
8 176