(12 years ago)

"Samuel! Pay attention!" The teacher yelled, slamming his hand on Sam's desk. Sam sat up immediately, eyes wide.

"Whu-uh-huh?"

"Falling asleep during my class is completely unacceptable! I will be calling your parents!"

Everyone laughed and Sam froze. He did NOT want them to find out.

As the teacher walked back to the front, Sam just stared at the desk in shock-before his expression shifts to fear.

When he walked out of the classroom once the class had ended, he was jumped on.

"Pete, get off!" He complained, shoving his little brother off. A look of rejection appeared on pete's face, and sans felt guilt.

"S-sorry bro, I'm just on edge. I got in trouble and they're gonna call mum and dad"

Pete looked confused. "Why is that so bad"

Sam paused. No, he couldn't tell Pete. Pete was too young, and Sam was gonna shelter his brother as much as possible.

"W-well they yell a lot, so I uh, don't wanna see them yell?" His tone came out as more questionable than factual, but Pete accepted it anyway.

So after school, Sam walked with pete home. There they were, in the living room.

Sam felt his body tense and he gave Pete a big smile. "Hey Pete, go upstairs for a bit"

"Is it so I can't hear the yelling?"

".....yeah" well, it wasn't completely a lie!

"Uh, OK. I'll see you upstairs!" And pete was gone.
------
Sam tried to protest, but they wouldn't stop. He could feel tears streaming down his face. Then, the last sentence before they finally stopped.

"I wish you would die already"

His blood felt like it had frozen. Even the bruise on his cheek didn't hurt as much as that comment.

Something snapped. If they wanted him gone, so be.

He ran upstairs, grabbing everything he had and shoving it into his backpack. His crappy phone, a pen and a bar of chocolate.

....yes, that was basically everything of value he owned.

Chuckling bitterly, he flung his brothers door open. His brother jumped, eyes widened as he took in the state of his older brother.

Sam picked up his little brother and ran. His brother protested, asked what was going on, why he was hurt.

Eventually Sam stopped running. He gently put his brother down, who tugged at his sleeve.

"Brother, what's going on?"

Sam paused and said sadly "We aren't going back Pete. Mum and dad aren't the best of parents, and I don't want you to get hurt.... We're leaving

"W-where are we going?!"

"Mount ebott."