I open my eyes to see my arms chained up against the wall, on a dirt pavement. Pulling on the chains, I try to escape this prison.

"HELP, SOMEONE HELP ME" I scream, but the voice that came out isn't my own. It is a deep, raspy with an Old Elivich accent, something I haven't heard since I was living with my grandmother. It startles me into silence. As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I begin to look around. The dim light of the sunrise washes the cell in an oppressive gray, highlighting the brick walls that make up the cell. I look between the bars of the window, scanning for a clue of where I am. I could see nothing but the light of the early dawn.

In the corner of my eye, I see a bucket. I turn my full attention to the bucket and study it for a minute. The oak wood of the bucket is slightly peeling that the tips, rotting at the edges from use. The copper hoops bound near the top and near the bottom were beginning to rust. The bucket itself doesn't bother me, it is the design. Buckets like this hasn't been in use for ages. Before I could wrap my head around what was going on, the door opens. I strain my head to see who is walking in, but before I can see anyone, I wake up.

The sound of calming music floods throughout my room, as I stare at the ceiling for a minute, trying to process the fading dream I just had. Every time I get close to remembering a small detail, it fades away. I shake my head, and get up from my bed. Rufus, in deep sleep, lays shirtless with his arm lays across his stomach. His hair covering his closed eyes, his face is relaxed with his soft, pink lips slightly parted as if he is about to speak while his chest rising ever so slowly. Now and then, his tail will twitch and then move from left to right. I watch him for a bit, amazed at how peaceful and beautiful he looks.

I shake my head and turn my attention to the alarm clock on our shared night stand. In red neon lights, the numbers 6:45 flash back to me. 45 minutes until I have my first class, I should get ready, I think to myself. I put on my flip-flops and gather up my school uniform, my shoes and my toiletries to head to the showers. Slowly, I walk out of my room, making sure that I don't wake up Rufus. No one appears to be up yet, so the halls are quiet. Every step I make, echoes throughout the halls, disturbing the peace and calmness.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

I enter the shower room and place my stuff in the corner of my shower. I'm glad that no one is awake because I don't want anyone to see me at my most vulnerable state. I turn on the water to the hottest setting and then carefully take off my clothes. The tiled floor feels cold under my feet as I walk towards the shower head. The heat engulfs me before the water hits my body. As I wash my body with the soap I've made of lye, lavender and roses, I close my eyes, taking in everything. The heat kissing my skin; the water pouring out onto me, the sweet scent of lavender flowing throughout the shower room, and the footsteps of someone entering the room.

The footsteps of someone opening the door???? My eyes shoot open and turn my attention to the opening to see Rufus closing the door. He places his stuff on in front of the other shower. He faces me and we lock eyes. His eyes travel down. Pure fear floods throughout my body, I put my hand out and then a wall of roses suddenly appears.

"Uh, Legolas?" I hear his voice behind the wall.

" Yes, Rufus."

"I need to shower too."

"I know, I didn't mean to put it up"

"That's fine, just take it down and build it up around you"

" I don't know how."

"Then just take it down, we're both guys here" I can hear the laughter in his voice as he says that. I narrow my eyes and contemplate if I should throw some rocks at him. Waving my hand, I take down the wall. Rufus smirks at me and thanks me for taking down the wall. I flip him off and I resume my bathing and close my eyes again, taking everything in. The sound of the water hitting my body and then sliding to the floor, the water flowing down the drain, and the sudden smell of male body wash hitting my nose.

After a while, I turn off my shower and wrap myself in a towel. Rufus starts whistling something I don't recognize. I roll my eyes, pick my stuff up and get prepared for the day ahead of me.

I place them on the corner, and I turn to the mirror. Wiping the steam off the mirror, my gaze falls onto my pale scar. My hand reaches up to touch it, as I struggle to remember a day without it. It's hard, living with this scar that went across my left eye. My finger traces down to the end of it, which rests at the corner of my mouth. I spent years dodging questions of how I got this scar, ruthless torment from my peers. It shocks me that no one considered asking me about it yesterday. I smile a bit and take my hand away from my face. I start putting on my clothes and brushing my teeth. I tie my locs in a ponytail and rub aloe vera on my scar, soothing the skin and the pain that comes with it. I gather up my stuff and walk towards the washroom door. With a deep breathe, I open the door and leave to start the day ahead of me.