Nirvana

Chapter 1: Sunset hill

Michael Valantino, a young man who recently finished 9th grade. He grew up as any child should. He lived in the big city of Diamond Port. Went to a nice private school even. But times changed. A war just ended. Money was short. Family was strained. He had to leave his old, luxurious life behind and move into Newdeans. A dangerous, impoverished neighbourhood.

As much as he had everything he needed, he was ... bored. Curiosity would get the better of him. It simply wasn't enough.

"Michael are your bags packed?" his mother shouted. A 15-year-old about to ­­start his first day of grade 10 in a new school, though joining only in term 2 due to some troubles. His mom finishes up cooking, his dad reading the news. An eerie silence, only his excitement distracts him.

" Ezra you ready? We're going soon." He calls to his adoptive brother.

" I hope were in the same class." Ezra answers

" Yeah, I pray to god that our time there will go well. god never betrays."

Their mother puts them in the car. " Ezra, please keep Michael in check and make sure he doesn't befriend those delinquents. We don't want a repeat of Arthur."

_just a normal, happy family_

As the sun starts to hide from the world it reveals its sad cuts and wounds, its purple and blue veins, and its blood gushes staining the sky. Michael and Ezra wait In the backseat , fidgeting. His mother lecturing him, his father silent. He just stares trough the mirror. Detached. As if he lives a different life with a different wife.

A pink hue as we enter Newdean Highschool's tall arched gates. We are greeted by a fountain topped with a statue of an ethereal women that seems to watch over the parking lot, and by extension the school. Multiple 3 story dorms on the side. A 2-story glass front building Infront, the office. Behind, all the blocks and classrooms. The school looks almost... dilapidated. As we enter the office I see someone familiar looking out the tall window . the evening sun shines his face making me recognise it. He's Nick Heinemann, a friend of mine from primary school.

" Long time no see" I greet him.

"Yeah 3 years. How you been "

" Good. Hey why didn't you come to my middle school."

"I had stuff to do. Well I always do. You know me. Always working. That's why I'm here."

The principal is impressed by my report, and my parents are excited. But I can feel the disconnect, the fakeness. They are hiding something.

The red sky reflects on the fountain water. It too seems to gush blood.

" Red, death. Twilight, the start of the night, portal to the realm of the dark. The end of my free days." I sigh.

" Red, the colour of love. " Ezra mumbles to himself " maybe it won't be so different after all."

I get a dorm on the second floor, separate from Ezra. My roommate is Kayden naik. A charming guy. Slightly taller than me, thin, tan skin and a smile that will lift anyone's mood. We got along instantly. He tells me of a party celebrating the start of a new term. " Be here at 10" he leaves for class. This school is weird, it's from 2:30pm to 9pm, with 30 min breaks at 4:20pm and 6:40pm.

"don't go " Ezra tries to stop me." He looks friendly, but I suspect him. He's a little too friendly." I ignore Ezra.

At 10 we meet and stop at Victor D'Edgar's place. A tall guy with a scary face, but soft spoken like a mouse. He doesn't seem like a bad guy, albeit a little dumb.

" Oi victor don't bring your annoying bitches now" Kayden shouts.

" Can't help it, you know how women be"?

"Fuck, we actually agreed on something for once".