12

Zicko's POV

I crack my eyes open to see everyone else is up. I'm always last to get up but that is ok. I like sleep. It's the only place where I can escape my memories. You still like me though right. You never say it enough to make me feel secure about our partnership. We are supposed to be brothers but I only feel like an acquaintance. I love you like a brother it's just that I have a hard time with showing my feelings. You know that. He purrs at my comment. I feel an incoming memory and try to escape from it but it doesn't allow me to.

FLASHBACK

My head whips backwards. My face receives the pain just like any other day. I look back at the bullies. They beat me everyday and try to get me to react but I remain emotionless. They think it's ok to beat a six year old who is going to bond with their brother before they do. I spit blood in one of their faces. I smile a bloody smile and show no fear. My father instilled in me a sense of honor to never let others see inside when I was hurting. So far I have kept it up and don't let anyone in. My parents died when I was two and I have lived in the woods away from anyone. I just couldn't let the people in my village see my pain and aggression. I loved them both and they died before I could even know them better. However in my village I am considered savage and wild by all the children but the adults know why I am like this and give me sad pitying looks. I hate it. I have built an impressive fort in the trees and only come out for small errands. But now I am in the village to bond with my dragon in front of everyone. My egg hasn't hatched yet but will soon. I'm nocked out of my memories by a viscous punch to my stomach. I cough blood and sink to my knees.

"Bastard. I don't want your savage blood to contaminate me."

I laugh and think that he is the contaminated one and not me. He knees me in the face and I drop like a rock to the ground. The other two kick my sides while laughing. This is my reality. I curl inwards and hope they stop soon. My anger boils but if I release it then I know I won't stop until they are all dead. I know of only one way to get out of this situation. I let lose a scream and they stop and run away. That always gets them. But I wonder how much longer it will be before they find a way to silence me. The elder runs to me. He gently uncovers my face and sucks in a breath at my wounds.

"Why won't you tell me who does this to you. I can protect you."

I say nothing and he sighs.

"Are you ready?"

I nod and go to pick up the egg I had hidden before. It was broken and in the middle stood my brother. Hi! So good to meet you Zicko. My name is Opirien. Hi. I walk away and he follows behind me. That's all you want to say? Yep. I enter the circle and look at Opirien. He smiles and it looks sadistic.

"Zicko Ozaka, and dragon Opirien, please start the bonding process."

My eyes close and I reach out my mind. That connects easily and he bonds our souls which works out well. I reach my power out to his when I feel immense pain in my heart and I start to get warmer. I bond my power to his and open my eyes. I look at my chest to see red expanding along my shirt. I bring my hand up and feel a hole there. I look up and see the adults are crying and have shock all over their faces. I continue to look around to see who did it when my legs give out. I see a kid in a tree a couple feet away with a bb gun in his hands. He had a look of horror on his face for what he did. I am sitting now with wide eyes on the same kid who I spit on earlier.  I point to him and everyone turns. His parents look furious. They roughly pull him down and shove him in front of the elder. He is seething and I fall forwards losing my remaining strength. I struggle to keep my eyes open. I will not miss this even if I am dying. He has peed his pants and is shaking in fear. I laugh and he flinches.

"For the endangerment of a harmless child, you Rae James will be whipped by Zicko Ozaka until you faint. I will say that you deserve more but this will scare you enough."

The kid was only twelve years old and he is being held at an adult punishment. I feel my strength returning. I have saved you brother. Everything is ok. I am relieved even though existence is bleak but at least I'm not dead at six. Two enforcers grab the boy and drag him to the public humiliation stand. The elder comes to me. He checks to make sure I am ok. I brush him aside and walk up to the boy. My anger has me now and nothing will detour me from my goal. This will make sure he never touches me again. The adults in the crowd look at me with pride in their eyes. They see that I will finally repay my abusers. Rea's parents turn their backs on him. They know that their son did wrong. I look him in the eyes.

"Anata wa anata no chi de shiharau to shite imasu. Watashi wa anata sukoshi tawagoto o gaman shimasen'node, anata ga osoroshī to kanjiru negatte imasu."

(you are going to pay with your blood. I hope you feel horrible because I will not hold back you little shit.)

I grab the whip and smile evilly. I bring my hand back. For being only six I still have very strong muscles since I have to survive in the wilderness. I show nothing on my face as I bring down the whip. I hear the kid's screams but try not to smile. It takes about ten whips before Rea passes out. I throw down the whip and walk off the stage. I do not look at anyone and continue into the woods. As I pass I hear one of his friends call out to me.

"Filthy little animal. You deserve to be up there."

I turn to him and smile. I walk closer and he stands tall. I let my fist fly right into his ribs and know that everyone had heard some of the break. He wheezes and crumples to the floor.

"I deserve to be left alone. I never did anything to you and yet you persisted to attack me. Now you know what it feels like." I turn and walk back to my fort. No one will ever touch me again.

END OF FLASHBACK

It still haunts me that I made those choices but there was no other way. I think about how dark and desolate my life has been. But that changed when I met others like me. I know that I wasn't the worst bond survivor but my life wasn't the best either. Another memory pushes in and I welcome it since it always brings peace to me.

MEMORY

I hear laughing and it is like music. My body wants to follow to the origin of the sound. But there is no need when they walk through and into the clearing. I know what everyone else is feeling because I feel it myself. My heart expands and takes in her scent and face. She smells of water and soap. It intoxicates me and makes me fake deeper breaths. I stumble a bit and reclaim my balance. Her face is tinted red from laughter. She has brown gold hair that curls wildly around her face. She isn't very tall but she is not the shortest either. She has blue eyes with blue square frames. I hear one of the other girls say her name. Kalli. She dresses like a boy but that suits her better in my opinion. Her eyes finally see me before looking at the other guys. My brother growls and wants her to look at only us. I know my eyes have started to glow but I regain control fast. Don't do anything stupid. I don't want to scare her off Opirien. Sorry it's just my instincts. She is so beautiful. You should talk to her. My heart picks up in fear. I can't move and my body shakes. I haven't spoken to a girl before so I have no idea what to say. She seems shy as well but that doesn't help me. I bring my hands up to my hair and run them through a couple times. The other guys are talking with them while I stand off to the side looking stupid. Say something you idiot! I yell at myself. I look at her again and see she is watching me. I want to smile but am completely frozen. She smiles slightly like she is not sure of me. My heart pings and flips rapidly. What will I do?

END OF MEMORY

I smile and think of what she is doing right now. I want to be with her all the time. Even when I get awkward around her. It will take some time before I can truly be comfortable with her but it seems like she is the same way. I go eat breakfast and get ready for our flight later.