“Faaather.”

“Father, please”

“Where are you taking me?”

“FATHER???”

The shrill voice rang out.

Daybreak. The first wee hours that signaled the beginnings of the day. Although it was daybreak, many already awoken and started their daily rituals. The farmers were already awake. At the start of every morning they had to wake up, and feed their livestock as well as doing other chores. But that is beside the point.

Unusually, in that ungodly hour, a boy’s voice rang out.

In the town of Little Flowers, along the town’s center, a boy was being dragged towards an unknown destination. The cold dawn air caused the breaths of the pair to be seen.

There was a short pause and the tall man whispered.

“The Institution”

Immediately the boy tried pulling away his hands. Although it was his esteemed father, even if It the gods themselves, he would refuse to go.

“No. Noo. NOOOO”

It can’t be true. It mustn’t. The institution.

Not even bothering to listen, the boy’s father grabbed his arm and still dragged him in that still unknown destination. The boy tried to do everything to stop the advances of his father. He dug his heels on the ground and pulled with all his strength. But to the battle trained man who he called father, it was no use.

The grinding of shoe against stone echoed and could be heard by those who bothered to care. No one cared. After all, even if the farmers were working, everyone else was sound asleep. They had no worries; the nobles and the merchants just lived their lives. Why should they care about a boy when they had their own families to tend to? Still, it was dawn and they weren’t due to wake until a lot more hours later.

Despite the protests of the boy, they soon arrived at the front of a large Iron Gate. The gate itself was huge; it reached the height of at least 4 grown men. In the center of the gate was the shield like symbol. Behind the gate, a figure holding a broad sword could be seen. The stone sword lodged in the ground and an imposing figure was grasping the handles with both hands. It was a stone statue. Filled with vigor, the face of the statue seemed intent on not moving. Underneath the statue lied the word: Protect.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

*DUNGGGG*

The tall man struck the center of the gate with his free hand, with the other hand grasping the still struggling boy’s arm; the man had struck the shield like symbol. The sounds of the punch reverberated throughout the place.

Immediately, a wooden door could be heard creaking open.

*Pattew* The man behind the gate spat.

“Who disturbs us?” He questions.

Turning the boy aside. The man faced his son.

“Thomas.” The man’s darkened eyes stared onto his son. “You are no longer a part of us. You’ll be discarding our family name soon. You’re no longer a Creed.”

“I’m here to enlist our son into the Institution.” Thrusting a coin pouch in the gaps of the gate his father spoke evenly.

“Very well then.” The Institution man responded and upon receiving the money he opened the gates.

The man’s hand snaked forwards and grabbed the boy named Thomas and closed the gates. The boy’s father had left. His eyes were latched on to the back of his father.

“Was I abandoned?” Thoughts like this were on the boy’s mind, but before long he was once again dragged forwards. And like before he once again passed another gate, but this time it was wooden.

“Welcome boy, although I’m sure you don’t feel it.”

The man cackled.

“Welcome to a place called the Institution. We, people of the institution, call it Hell.”

“We’ll get you settled in soon enough.” The man said closing the wooden door.

As the door was heavy, it took a long time to close.

“Should I run? Should I try to make a break for it? I can still catch up to my father.” The boy’s eyes darted at the door.

“Kukuku, Do not even bother boy. None of us are here by choice. Your father left you and that’s that.”

The boy’s hands unconsciously clenched. He’s right.

“I’m no longer wanted.” The boy thought.