Snippet #2262952

The black gates of Yamaku stood parallel to the bright blue sky. They were not just the entrance to a school, they were the passage to a whole new life. A life of pain, joy, love, and loss. Once you passed through the wrought iron gates, you will never be society’s standard of normal again. As long as you wear that uniform, you’re forever branded as different. For some, this is their sanctuary. A place of respite from the opinions and influence of the outside world. For others, it’s a constant reminder of why they are there in the first place.

Zeal looked over his drawing and scoffed. The gate was skewed slightly to the left, the designs in the center weren’t symmetrical, and the walls surrounding it looked like tacky carpet. With a flick of his wrist, the paper bounced off the edge of the trashcan and plopped onto the floor. “Dammit.” The black haired youth mumbled as he got off his chair to pick up the stubborn drawing. Because he arrived a day early, Zeal wasn’t even sure there were other students here yet. The silence was both comforting and unnerving at the same time.

Instinctively, he reached down to pick up the paper with his right arm only to find he would never be able to reach it, let alone grasp it. The stump slid back to its place under the boy’s jacket as the paper was thrown in the trash. Instead of returning to his seat and beginning again, Zeal walked to the window. Puffy clouds dotted the crystal clear skies with an abundance of whimsy, being carried wherever they feel like going. Zeal envied the clouds, not for their freedom but for the fact that they were never alone.

He returned to his drawings with an almost reluctant pace. Once again, he tried to concentrate on the gates of Yamaku in his mind. The swirls of the metal. The texture of the stone surrounding it, every detail was placed perfectly in his mind. With new determination, the pencil struck the paper, ready to make a masterpiece.

*SNAP*

The tip of lead landed on the soft white paper, creating a startling contrast. With an audible sigh, Zeal scooped the drawing utensils into his bag and left the library. As expected, the hallways were deserted. The clack of shoes on tile floor echoed through the school, giving a more it a more ominous feel even though it was early morning. Walking outside, the sound of engines filled the parking lot. ‘Looks like the buses are here. That means the initiation assembly starts in...33 minutes.’ Zeal watched curiously as the first years stood at the gate. They were having the same thoughts he had two years ago. They had reached the ledge of no return and were deciding whether or not to jump off. It was actually a little depressing to watch.

Ducking into the dorms, Zeal coasted down the hallway to his room. With ease, the door opened and he stepped inside. The walls were covered in posters and drawings of Mechs. The giant robots each held a weapon, be it a gun or sword, and were always posed in a badass position. Along the western wall rested his prize video game collection. Games ranging from the original Mario for NES to the brand-new Bioshock: Ultimate Rapture Edition are sorted alphabetically and kept in pristine condition. “I wonder who my roommates going to be this year?” The thought of roommates brought a tear to his eye. His last roommate, Chojin, had passed away from stomach cancer over the summer. He was one of the only people who Zeal actually socialized with. You could even go as far as to call them best friends. Now he was alone again.

Throwing the art bag into his bed, Zeal journeyed back outside. The room list was posted in the office, which was clogged with students. He shuddered at the thought. So many eyes, so many people. He unconsciously pulled his jacket farther down his side, covering his stump, and made his way through the throng of disabled students.