Atlas POV
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“Alright everyone, dinner is over. Whoever is on the roster tonight, please go and wash up. Everyone else, feel free to do whatever you would like.”
Magnus’s cheerful voice rang out, and I raised my head from my plate. I watched as the others slowly got up, picking up their plates, and scraping the leftovers into a small container.
I guess I should be doing the same. I could feel Magnus eyeing me as I got up. He was studying me. I continued over with my plate and tipped it into the container. “You’re not hungry?” there was a deep voice beside me.
I looked over, it was the black haired boy. Colten, I think his name was. I shook my head. “Mhm” He raised his head slightly, and his eyes trailed all over me.
Shivering, I stepped away from the counter, leaving him the container. Keeping my eyes on him, I watched as a smirk formed on his face. I backed away towards the stairs, wanting to leave as soon as possible.
“Hey,” Ah no. Not another. I turned to face Magnus, who was standing beside the base of the stairs. “You alright? You didn’t eat anything…” I looked up at him.
“No- I’m-I’m fine. I’m not… hungry.” I mumbled, and he leant down to catch my words.
“You sure you can’t eat anything? Could you have some fruit or something from the fridge?”
There was something bubbling in my chest, I could feel it. I didn’t know what it was, but I did know that he was playing a dangerous game. I didn’t enjoy it when people interrupted my personal situations.
He was currently doing so now. I felt his arm rest on top of mine. “…get off me.” I told him, voice low from the thoughts currently running through my head. I narrowed my eyes at him, ripping my arm away, and he stared at me with wide eyes.
“Hey- ” he began, placing his arm onto my shoulder.
My fist flew out. I hated it when people touched me. He could see right through me. Shit. My mind went into overdrive, I couldn’t think straight.
I couldn’t hear what I was saying. All I knew was that my fist collided with any form I could feel, and that the blood on my knuckles was most definitely not mine. My legs and arms flew out, my reaction time perfected over the years.
I punched him relentlessly, before I felt an arm around my wait.
Get the fuck off. That’s all I could think. I threw my head back, hearing someone groan in pain. I knew I wouldn’t hurt them. I was weak. I had been told so.
I could never compare my strength to that of the brother or father. I ducked my head up and down, avoiding any contact as I held my fists up high. There was still someone’s hands on me.
Fuck. I had told them. I told that man to get his hands fucking off me. He probably won’t even be hurt by this. I kneed the person in front me in the chest, spinning around to then knock another off my back.
They didn’t stop coming. But each time they came towards me, none delivered any blow as I flexed my body around them, striking at every vulnerable point.
My vision was hazy and I began to see clearly, but everything was still blurry. I began to make out more of the shapes I was beating up. I slowed, for just a second, to observe what was around me.
Shit. That’s all it fucking took. That fucking second I stopped. I was fucking told. Every. Single. Time. Don’t fucking stop. Don’t fuck it up. And here I am. Fucking it up. Of course, I did. Its pathetic.
I knew I could never compete with the father and brother. I knew I was no where near. And this is where it got me. Arms had wrapped around me, dragging me to the ground. Shit. Thoughts racing, I shoved every part of me backwards, trying to escape. It didn’t work. It didn’t work at home, it didn’t work now.
My vision got blurry once more. All I could think of was when my brother held me like this. When he fucking held me as my father screwed my life over. Every time.
He didn’t care. None of them cared. I was fucking pathetic. A face looked over to me. It was the same person that was holding me. My brother. Nobody else would bring me down like that. I shielded my face, bracing for the impact of the father.
It never came. I didn’t dare look up. I knew my brother was still holding me. If my father didn’t do anything, my brother word. I felt the arms on my loosen. I stayed. It was always worse when I tried to escape.
“What? He’s not trying to leave…?”
The voices around me started to come into focus. Shit. No way had my father brought friends. I couldn’t stay. I couldn’t go through that. Two people was enough.
The grip on me only loosened further, and I took my chance. I leapt out, barely dodging the arms that reached out to grab me. I missed the hands that took hold of my shoulders, grip strong.
Hands shaking, I glanced up at the person who had grabbed me. I could feel the tears staining my eyes. The hair was brushed out of my face, and I rose my eyes towards my captor.
Shit. As I looked into those light green eyes, I knew I had messed up. The world started coming into focus.
I watched I began to see the blood and bruises the traced over Magnus’s face. As I looked around the stairwell, Colten, who was on the floor looked up at me arms held out, Riftyn beside him. Arlo was standing at the base at the stairwell. Each one had blood stained into their skin.
Shit. They looked very beat up. But- they wouldn’t have been hurting each other. So…. Double shit. That was me. I caused this.
But- I can’t. I shouldn’t have- I couldn’t have- “Shh shh you’re okay.” Magnus whispered. I felt my hands shake as I looked up at him. This couldn’t be real. They said I was weak. That I was pathetic, useless.
That I couldn’t hurt a mouse. It was true right…? I couldn’t have caused this. No way was I strong enough to do all this. “I- did- did I do… this?” My voice came out in barely a whisper. Magnus levelled his eyes with me, looking away as he did so.
“No- I- I couldn’t have. He- they said I was weak. I- I couldn’t have-” There was a scuffle at the door. We all rose our heads to see the other four standing there.
There was fear in their eyes. Then it hit me. I hurt them. I fucking hurt them. I don’t know how the fuck I did that but I caused pain to them. They didn’t even fight or hit back.
I had no bruises, at least no more than I came with. “Shit- I- I- I’m so sorry” I choked out. “I didn’t think that- that I could do that. I’m so so sorry. I hurt you all. I’m so sorry.”
Colten spoke up. “Don’t worry about it. You sure put up a fight though. I don’t think we’ve ever had anyone as strong as you.” I watched as Magnus sent him a glare, before turning back to me.
“Its alright. Things happen. Do you think once we’re all cleaned up we can have a talk about how to prevent it? You mentioned someone too,” He spoke softly, I could feel my tense body relax into his arms.
“No- I can’t- Just don’t … Don’t touch me for a- a bit if uh if that’s ok….? Can I just get to know you guys a bit more first? Of course, you- you don’t have to if you don’t want to. That’s okay. Its my fault anyways. I’m still so so sorry. I’ll- I’ll make it up to you somehow- I promise.”
Colten chuckled. It was a nice sound. It was warm, and as he spoke my fear slowly left me. “Its okay little one. We’ll make sure not to touch you, its not a problem. We shouldn’t have been so quick to be all buddies with you.” He smiled at me, and I blinked at him.
“Oh! Uh- okay, okay. Thanks…” My cheeked tinted red as I forced down a blush once more.
As we began to head up stairs, I heard Riftyn say something to Arlo as Arlo chuckled in agreement. Seemingly, Magnus heard too, as a smirk grew on his face, and his eyes darted everywhere but me.
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