//------------------------------//
// Prologue 
// Story: An Epic Tale of Epic Proportions 
// by GamingWolf 
//------------------------------//


Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Does the alarm blare.
I awaken from my slumber at the empty world I stare. 
Sighing, I toss off my thin cotton covers.
The infernal machine still beckons me awake.
With a push of a button, the machination abomination lays silent.
I sit on my bed, feet touching cold, stone floor.
My eyes are closed. Why bother to open them?
Will I have gained my sight?
Will I finally be accepted by society?
Will my mother wake me up with a kiss?

No.
No.
No.

Some may call me cynical I am just indifferent.
My brother, ever the optimist.
Probably because he can not hear their words.
I envy him:
Able to see the world,
Able to ignore the negativity,
Able to see...

What I would not give to see!

I loathe the world.
I loathe whatever/whichever god(s) created me.
I loathe how people try to baby me.
I loathe, loathe, loathe,
Hate, Hate, Hate!

A fist of mine connects with the solid maple headboard.
A bone or five of mine crack.
A girlish cry may or may not have escaped those lungs of mine.

"Temper, temper, Mason," I calm myself.
I try to soothe the burning, pulsating, flaring, pain in my hand.

Ice.
Ice.
Ice.
...Baby. 

The door opens from across the room.
Most likely, my brother's worried brown eyes looking up at me.
Ice cubes knocked around in his hands.

"I didn't mean to wake you, Jason," I chuckled nervously at him.
He does not say anything.
He does not speak.
How could he?
How would he?

I hear him shuffle to me.
I hold out my hand.
He begins to wrap my hand with a towel and the ice.

Aahhhhhhhhhh....
Such wonderfully cold comfort. 

Unexpectedly, Jason wraps his arms around me in a hug.
He rubs my back.
I sigh.
I whimper.
I sob.
I cry.
I wail.

I want to die.
I want to die.
Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die.
So many times have I try.
So many times has my brother saved me.
Why?
I am just holding him back...
Is he holding me back?

No. 
No.
No.
No.
No.
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jason hums softly.
Rocks me gently.
His vibrations calming me.
"I'm so sorry. 
I love you. 
We have to look out for each other," 
I say.
"Thank you. 
Thank you for everything. 
I owe you everything, Jason. 
I love you, brother."

I do not deserve such a wonderful brother.
I obviously did not deserve a wonderful mother.
I obviously did not deserve a father.
Wherever he may be.
Screw him.
FUCK! Him.

Jason releases me and ruffles my shaggy hair.

"Time for school," the evil mechanism announces.