I clutched my arms close to my chest, my breathing heavy as I ran, my footsteps echoing off the walls around me. I run far to often, told I am a threat, but this time I am running for my life, things chasing me, wanting to do things to me, wanting me dead.

A scream echoed through the corridor, the voices getting closer and closer, the light at the end getting further and further away. Something reached out, grabbing my ankle and tugging me towards it, my breathing ragged as I landed on my back, jolts of agony stabbing through my body. "Help!" I shouted, a deep resonating laugh echoing back as a response. Shadows enveloped me, tugging on my clothing, tearing it in their desperation to declothe me. "Help me, please?" I pleaded, my eyes darting anywhere but the figure in front of me.

Someone's shadow flitted across the door frame, their eyes on me as I screamed, writhing under the touch of the figure above me. The light hit the new addition in such a way that hid their features, the only obvious marker being their tight black skinny jeans, the shadows taking over just above the knees, hiding everything from view. "Please." I begged, my voice little more than a whimper as the figure smothered me.

I jolted upright, my alarm screaming through my bedroom, sunlight streaming in through the curtains. I looked at my phone, groaning at the time.

6:00am.

One of the 'perks' of living in a care home. Even on the weekends you had to be up stupidly early to complete chores, and being seventeen didn't help either. It meant I got the ones the younger kids couldn't do. Things like washing the dishes or cleaning the ornaments.

I staggered from my bed, grabbed a clean towel from my dresser and ran to the bathroom, eager to shower before the younger kids got there. Once inside the bathroom, I locked the door, my eyes on my reflection in the full length mirror opposite me. I shuddered as I took in my skinny body, my ribs protruding from my chest. I shook my head and turned on the shower, waiting patiently for it to heat up before climbing in and letting the water rush over my body, my skin on fire as the water became scalding.

I quickly shampooed and rinsed my hair, wincing as my fingers touched the lump on my scalp. I pulled my fingers away, sighing with relief as the pain subsided before washing my body and climbing out, wrapping the towel around my waist and walking back towards my bedroom, ignoring all the eager cries of the younger children.

Once inside my room, I hid myself under the covers, warming myself up before grabbing a pair of boxers from my drawers and tugging them on, snapping the elastic against my hips before reaching for a t-shirt. A knock at my door startled me, my hands releasing the material they were holding as a figure let them self in. "What d'you want?" I asked as Mrs Jones walked in, a smile on her face.
"We have a potential family for you Frank." She beamed.
"Really?" I asked, cocking my eyebrow.
"Yes, the Carmichael's will be here at about eight so you are dismissed from your chores this morning, make sure that you clean yourself up and make yourself look smart."
"Sure." I replied, my eyes on Mrs Jones as she left the room. I groaned as my door clicked shut, bending down to pick up my shirt.

I seem to be doing a lot of that lately, groaning. Maybe it's the lack of a good night sleep, nightmares haunting me every time I closed my eyes. Maybe it was the fact I was seventeen, had six lots of prospective parents in the past two years and everyone had rejected me. Whatever it was it was starting to get to me, making me feel down all the time and it was starting to hurt.

---

I walked into the office, my eyes searching out Mrs Jones desk, a familiar sense of dread settling over me. I knew that this wouldn't be the last time I walked down here, preparing myself to meet more prospective parents.

"I'm ready." I said to Mrs Thomas, the then secretary.
"Good." She said, beaming down at a me. I was wearing my 16th birthday badge, the only color in my otherwise dark appearance, my hazel eyes standing out against the black eyeliner I hid behind. "Well, let us go and meet them then!" She said, a lot more optimistic than I felt.

Inside the small meeting room was a family. A mother and a father with a little girl clutching their hands. The minute I stepped into the room, she shied away, hiding her face from sight. "Hi, I'm Frank Iero." I said, following protocol, extending my hand towards the father.
"Hello, I am Jonathon Smith, this is my wife, Magdalena, and our little girl, Bethany. Nice to meet you." The father said, smiling.
"Nice to meet you too." I replied, still not sure how this was going to go. Most people, you could tell from the beginning, the looks of disgust on their face as they took in my appearance. These? They were different, more reserved.
"So Frank, as it's your birthday, and I know we aren't your family yet, but we decided to bring you a present. Bethany, sweetie, do you want to give it to him?" The little girl nodded, extending her hands with a small wrapped package. Inside was a box of plectrums, each with different horror movie characters on them. "I spoke to Mrs Thomas, she said you play the guitar."
"Thank you." I muttered, absentmindedly rolling my sleeves up, realizing what I had done when gasps of horror met my ears. Magdalena covered Bethany's eyes, picked her up and left the room, Jonathon following soon after.

I stayed in the room, my heart pounding as I looked upon my scarred wrists, Jonathon's voice reaching me from the office. "I'm sorry, but we can't take him. You didn't tell us he was 'damaged'. We can't have someone who is mentally unstable around Bethany." The front door slammed soon after, another family leaving me behind.

I shook my head, wiping my thumb under my eyes as I took the last few steps towards Mrs Jones desk. "I'm ready." I muttered.
"This time Frank. I promise." She responded, taking in my teary face. I nodded as she led me towards the meeting room, giving me what was supposed to be a supportive look before opening the door and leaving me with the people within. "Hi, I'm Frank Iero." I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"I'm John Carmichael, this is my partner, James. We are, uh, looking for someone to adopt."
"Someone just like you!" Interrupted James, a smile on his face. I raised an eyebrow, curious as to why they were so happy.
"Thanks, I'm honored, but I'm damaged, you don't want anyone like me." I muttered, my voice low.
"Oh, I'm sure you're not damaged, I mean, look at you!" James beamed. "I'm going to go and get the forms!"" He said joyfully. I sighed and rolled my eyes, slightly jealous that they had something to be so happy over.
"We can come and pick you up tomorrow, I mean, we would take you home today, but we both have work and that would just be so mean to take you home without actually being there." John rambled, signing the papers that James pushed under his nose. "Shit, I forgot to ask, do you have anything against gay people?"
"If I did, then I would hate myself." I replied bluntly, staring him down. John released an inhuman squeal before jumping to his feet and wrapping his arms around me.
"I can't wait to take you home!" He laughed before offering his hand for me to shake and leaving the room.

I stumbled into my room, still slightly euphoric. My mind still hadn't fully processed that I was finally getting adopted, finally getting somewhere to call home. I have been waiting for this day to come for the past three years, and now it was finally happening. I was finally getting a family. I grabbed down my suitcase from the top of my cupboard, choking as I inhaled dust.

After catching my breath, I opened my drawers, tipping my belongings in, frowning when I realized how little stuff I actually had. Once my guitar was zipped into it's case and all my school stuff was in my bag, I would be packed, sadly. I zipped the bag and dropped it onto the floor, crashing onto my bed in a heap. I sighed and raised my hand to my faced, confused why my hand was covered in tears when I pulled it away. I mean, I wouldn't miss this place, would I?

"Fwankie!" A little voice called from my doorway, an impatient knocking getting my attention. "Fwankie!" I rolled over, my eyes landing on Tim, a little boy who had looked up to me since I got here.
"Yeah Tim?" I asked, sitting up and allowing him to take a seat next to me.
"Is it twue your leaving?" He asked, his blue eyes big as he looked up at me, his bottom lip trembling.
"Yeah." I replied, my heart breaking ever so slightly when he started to cry. "Hey, Tim, it's okay, I'll come back to visit, promise."
"Weally?" He asked, his eyes still filled with tears.
"Yeah, in fact, let's go and play ball for a bit, then I'll read you a bed time story." I said smiling when he grabbed my hand and lead my from my room.

Notes

Sooooo..... Uh, let me know what you think and if I should carry on with it :P

~Elise-Iero~