[WHHHATTTT? TWO UPDATES IN ONE DAY? WOAH! THESE TWO PEOPLE ARE REALLY COOL AND DESERVE ALL THE COMMENTS AND LIKES! Seriously though. Most of this was ThatSquirrelGoat, So she rules, give her hugs, kittens and ice cream alright? Good.]

[slight spoilers for the game in here, I think for episode four specifically. or maybe the end of three.]

Nathan blinked open his eyes, he had somehow fallen asleep. From where he was lying he could see a paper had been forced under the door. He got up and read it,

Nathan,

I've told you to never call me using your phone, stick with the disposable ones I gave you. I don't want to hear you screaming out my name in a public place, which you have stupidly done before.

I haven't set this all up and shared my vast knowledge, just so you can fuck it up with your teen-rage. We can accomplish a lot together, but you have to let me guide you

Or you're on your own.

-Jeffreson.

Nathan glared at the message, after reading it he tore off the teacher's name, shredding it angrily in his hands and throwing those away. A jagged rip made it obvious he had torn it and he sighed, slamming the paper down on his desk. He sat down in the chair by the computer and quickly got on his email.

New message

Recipient: Victoria Chase.

Hey gorgeous

He paused after writing even the first sentence, then shook his head and kept going.

Let me know what you're wearing to the Vortex this week so I can wear something just as stylin' and expensive. I'm psyched about going and I'm picking up some serious pah-tay favors. I even told my dad to keep the pigs away from Blackwell so we can get wrecked without hassle. If we're going to have an End Of The World theme, then let's do it fucking on point. Right?

Send.

He leaned forwards in his chair, clicking the first-most unread E-mail.

From: Sean Prescott

To: Nathan Prescott

Nate, I know this has been a stressful week and your mother and I are here to talk if need be. Just make an appointment anytime.

Nathan frowned, they just made him sound like another client. He was their fucking son. He kept reading.

Your mother wants Doctor Bill to come out after his book tour, but for now lets just stick to the prescriptions.

He looked at the pills and bottle strewn on the floor with a scowl.

I need you calm and quiet while Pan Estates is being developed. I know it can be hard being a Prescott and I'll guide you into this room step by step as did my father. It was hard for me when my dad opened up my eyes to our destiny, but you'll thank me someday. Don't worry about Blackwell, this shithole town is about to get an enema [the jokes are strong with this one.] along with a fresh brand. I want you to be ready when the moment is right.

Don't fuck it up, son

Your Father.

Nathan clicked onto the next one as fast as he could.

From: Kristine Prescott

To: Nathan Prescott

His face split into a smile, he hadn't heard from his sister in, well, forever.

Tudo bem from Brazil, Little Brother! It's been too long since I've heard from you so please let me know what's going on in your exciting scholastic life at Blackwell. I brag to all my co-workers in the Peace Corps that my talented brother Nate got a full scholarship to one of the best art school in the world. Even though I can't always check my mail or phone, pleasepleaseplease send me some new photos of campus so I can live vicariously through your lens. I miss you and your pictures.

And yes, mother told me that you've been in trouble and father has been on your ass, but you have to either ignore him or stand up to him. You know I love Dad, Nate, but I am also in a jungle halfway across the world because of him. He's a bully who inherited power not wisdom and the only way to win against one is to fight back. Don't let him change you into one just for the family "legacy". End of lecture. You're at school, so I just wanted to make you feel at home :)

Back to the mangrove. Sending out good thoughts. Better write back or I'll have a jaguar shipped to your dorm!

xoxoxo

Kris

He chuckled, that was just like his sister. He looked at the brand new camera by the door. Maybe he'd take some pictures for her later. He half expected a jaguar to be shipped in the morning. But he put off responding for now and clicked on the next email.

From: Principal Wells

To: Nathan Prescott

It was an 'official' Blackwell E-mail.

Nathan, I'd like to apologize for the recent accusation. Your name and record speaks for itself -- sometimes students will use that to make their own name at Blackwell. I know your father was upset while I assured him you would never bring a weapon to school. I don't want you to be distracted from school and I'm certain this will be settled by the end of the week. If you have any questions, you know I'm always available to talk.

There were two E-mails after that, but he didn't even bother checking who sent them. Two other tabs were open in the background, but he ignored them, knowing that one of them was Kate's video, and the other was pills.

He stood up, kicking the gun's instruction manual to the side. He noticed the certificate of 'Best Son' hanging on the wall. He smiled softly, at least not all memories of his father were bad.

He sat down on his bed again, turning on the projector above his bed and it immediately began showing a slideshow of his photos. He flipped on the Mp3 player and low music started playing through the room. He lay his head against the headboard of his bed, staring at the ceiling as the blueish light washed over him.

His life was totally fucked up. He felt that it was time to face his demons but he constantly wondered why he couldn't just be a coward for a little longer. He needed a distraction from those emails and his mind immediately drifted towards the nerdy brunette. Him and his soft face and oh those lips! So perfect. While Nathan was daydreaming he somehow drifted into a somewhat peaceful slumber.

The entire room seemed tranquil as he slept. His chest made steady up and down motions, probably the only time his breathing was completely normal. He didn't have to worry about anything as he slept, instead he could just dream. No pressure on him, no one annoying him. Nothing.

There was just the slight whirring of the projector and a voice. Wait. That's not right. Someone was talking to him...? Nathan forced his eyes open from their rest and muttered a line of profanities towards whoever disturbed him. He wanted to fall back into that gorgeous abyss of nothingness. It was pitch black and quiet but in reality it was bright and loud. He picked a pillow beside him and threw it. He heard a muffled grunt and he smirked in victory. A whimper came from the person and he finally opened his eyes fully. He was welcomed with the sight of disheveled brown hair and a puppy-like pout. "...Warren?" he mumbled sleepily. Wow his voice wasn't like that when he went to sleep. He cleared his throat and tried again. His vision finally stopped swimming and he saw Warren still trying to talk to him.

Nathan blinked, honestly not believing the sight before him, "What the Hell are you doing here...?" He asked once the boy stopped speaking incomprehensibly. Warren blinked up at him, "What do you mean?" Nathan shook his head and snorted "I mean why the hell are you in my room?" Warren just started laughing like he went insane. But damn it if wasn't contagious. Before he knew it, Nathan was leaning forward, gasping for air.

But the universe hated him. Like despised him so it didn't come as much of a surprise when his father and Jefferfuck came busting in yelling at him for only God knows what. Nathan turned towards them and his dad was screaming at him but Nathan couldn't understand anything he was saying. He looked back at Warren only to see him gone. He did a full 360 and saw that everything else was gone and the only thing that remained was darkness but it wasn't the peaceful kind, no, it was terrible. He was alone and he felt the isolation creep into his bones and muscles. Nathan fell to his knees and sobs escaped his now bleeding lips. His being felt as if being torn apart from everything and it hurt. His eyes burned and his legs became weak. Collapsing, he gasped for air. He heard voices now and he felt them by his ear, whispering horrible things to him. A familiar pain erupted on his wrist and he glanced down. He hadn't done that for awhile so why was it there? Cuts ran along his arm and he tried to stop the bleeding. His eyelids felt as if there were weights on them and closed them.

His breathing was definitely no longer peaceful, instead he inhaled in jagged sharp breaths and breathing out was hard. There were too many voices in his head, all arguing for something else, they lapped over each other, making no sense. He couldn't take it anymore, "STOP!" Nathan shouted, clapping his hands over his ears. Everything got quiet except for one. His father's. Sean's voice rang out clearly, labelling him as useless, a freak, not one worthy of the Prescott name. And then everything ended. No voices, no wounds, he could breathe finally. Everything was black, and quiet. One of Nathan's eyes cracked open, and then the other until he could see again. He was in his dorm room, the slideshow was displaying a picture of him at about seven years old, making a sour face at his father, he was in a sailor suit and his father was smiling at the camera, ignoring him. It was the same picture he kept framed on his desk.

While he gazed at the pictures that flashed in front of him he noticed that the burn that erupted in his stomach never left. He blinked, once, twice, but to no avail. It was still there. He just looked on and relished in the happier memories of his manipulating father. The burn never left that day. It was a constant reminder of how that pain was real.

Oh it was real.