(Don't worry! ch1 is supposed to look generic, stay at least to ch2 if you're thinking of dropping. ENJOY!)
***(Non-Protagonists POV)
It was numbing darkness, one that stole all your senses, I didn't even realize I was in it until it let go. I quickly raised up out of the bed in a cold sweat as my eyes began frantically looking around I could feel my heart beating and my heavy breaths as I rapidly thought of where I was.
The room I was in was cold and was dark due to the curtain covering the big window. The room was adorned in blue decor though none of it looked to be too elaborate seeming to be the bare minimum of elegance.
'Where am I?!' I thought due to my unfamiliar surroundings. 'I thought I died!' Remembering the truck coming towards me before my memory ended. I got up and quickly walked around the room before noticing the large mirror stood up on the wall.
As I glanced into it I gasped at the boy staring back at me. They had black hair and blue eyes and was covered I very plain clothes, even more so that the room I was in. Their build wasn't too skinny but certainly wouldn't be the called the pinnacle of health.
I slowly moved my hands to my face as the boy in the mirror did the same as our hands touched our baffled faces at the same time. 'This boy is me.' I thought in bewilderment, 'it's really me…huh.'
As I was marveling at my new body I looked up and happened to notice the symbol engraved at the top of the mirror. It was a screeching hawk with talons sticking out that each gripped an arrow.
Despite the unfamiliarity of my situation I still recognized the meaning of that small yet important engraving, it was the symbol of the aristocratic Accipiter family.
The reason I knew this was because they had been in a Novel I just read called The Overpowered Peasant. Where the protagonist starts off as a poor farmer's boy before becoming a hero and saving the world.
But what's important is that the Accipiter family are villains that end up working with demons and getting killed by the hero. I quick rescanned my face to find out just who I was, but I still couldn't recognize who I was.
I pondered the idea of being a servant before quick dismissing it as servants have rooms even worse than this. 'A illegitimate son extra?' I thought as that was the only answer I could currently come up with.
It didn't matter what I was as what I needed to die was leave immediately. I definitely don't want to be killed by the hero or my family. With my goal set I stepped out of my room to look for a way out of this situation.
My room seemed to be tucked in the back of the large hallway that was filled with expensive pottery and tapestry. I moved with haste as I looked for a door that'd lead out of the maze like mansion.
Finally I found myself on the top of the stairs leading to a big open room with a big set of doors that led outside. I was about to walk down towards my ticket to freedom when I saw a boy at the bottom of the stairs.
He had green eyes and blonde hair that looked to be the definition of rich. He stood arm crossed with a smug face. "What are you doing up Cooper, looking for some trouble?" It didn't take a genius to guess who he was, the only son of the family and the one that would ultimately bring an end to the entire family.
If it wasn't for the fact that we were both children around the age of 12 I might have felt threatened. I couldn't help but letting out a chuckle as I remembered his name 'Ridgway', 'even his name sounds like a villain!' I thought starring at him.
He didn't like that as he marched on up the stairs towards me, "What are you laughing at you annoying waste of space!" he said angrily. The perfect opportunity I thought, " don't worry Ridgway I'm leaving you don't have to see my face anymore, goodbye!"
I quickly walked down the stairs hoping he'd let me leave without hindrance but he proved me wrong, "What?! you can't just leave like that if you go I'll tell mom!"
I froze realizing the severity of the situation. While he himself isn't a threat if he told his mom I was leaving they'd send guards chasing me making it impossible to get away, or worse kill me.
As I thought about just how to get out of this house I remembered this kid's story. As a child he showed promise in the sword contributing to his arrogant attitude. Luckily karma struck as he never got stronger as he got older making his already bad personality worse and causing him to abuse his power.
Knowing this I came up with the perfect solution, "How about this, we have a duel and if you win you can do whatever you want with me. If I win though then I can leave and you can't tell anyone."
The kids eyes lit up as he heard my proposal, "deal! Follow me quickly so I can get this over with slave!" As I followed him I couldn't help but smile at the whole ordeal. Normal I wouldn't be confident in beating him but his skill level wasn't that high and I had one thing that assured me victory.
As we walked to a set of doors a maid stopped us practically shaking from fear. "Young master under the orders of the head butler you're not allowed inside the training room without permission sir."
He immediately began acting like the brat he was as he told off the innocent maid, " Both you and the head butler have no power over me! I'll go in if I want to and if you tell anyone I'll make sure you're done!"
With a cold sweat she silently bowed multiple times before opening the door and letting us in. Honestly I feel like all he knows is how the yell.
As we walked in it wasn't the dirty messy training area that I thought it'd be. Instead it has marble floors with a raised platform in the middle of the room. Everything was perfectly clean with not a spec of sweat or grime to be found.
We both grabbed a wooden sword off the rack which luckily were all identical meaning I wasn't starting at a disadvantage. We stood opposite sides of the platform with arrogance on his side and confidence on the other.
"
You better not take back what you said servant or else you'll be in big trouble." He said mockingly from across the room. "Same to you RiDgGwAy." I teased enraging him as he yelled start ready to beat me up.
He began his charge at me with his sword faceing straight at me. Even I, who wasn't Knowledgeable I swordsman knew he was inexperienced though so was I making him still a threat. Good thing that due to my laziness as a kid I was forced into fencing and martial arts.
It wasn't much but it was my only hope in beating him and leaving this terrible place. When he got close I raised my sword with a firm grip and used it to deflect his sword away from be as it continued to the side of me as my brother watched with a confused expression.
My plan was to beat him up enough to where he couldn't immediately cry and run to his mommy giving me enough time to escape. I thought that it would be a hard fight but he surprisingly proved me wrong.
When I deflected his attack I clumsily retaliated hitting him with my sword multiple times. He didn't even put up a fight as he dropped his sword and hastily put up his hands to defend himself.
'I suppose I couldn't expect much from a 12 year old' I thought before realizing that the author may have exaggerated about how skilled he had been.
After I dealt what felt like enough damage to keep him on the ground I tossed my sword away as I looked at him. He had bruises all over his body though I don't think I broke anything.
Unfortunately he was still conscious and was starting at me with emotions that I couldn't exactly figure out. I decided that I would tell him how bad a person he was and how to become better that way I wouldn't feel guilt when he ultimately died in the future knowing I did all I could.
The entire time he didn't say anything and just kept looking at me. I didn't waste time on this idiot of a brother as time was of the essence. I quickly ran out of the room and towards the doors that led outside.
There weren't many people around as I ran away, the guards who were there didn't stop me as they seemed to know me and not think it was worth it to chase after me. I pushed climbed up the gate and dropped down on the other side.
I than ran towards the forest as fast as I could not looking back. My only thought was getting away as far as possible whilst my family and my brother were pushed in the very back of my mind.
•••
While the illegitimate son Cooper ran as far as he could he left the beat up and defeated bother laying on the cold marble. He was unmoving and silent as he staired up at the ceiling above.
He kept on replaying the words his brother said in his head and everything that just happened to him.
His brothers words to him would change Ridgway's life, his future friends life, and the entire world.
For better or worse.