He stumbled gracelessly from the alleyway. Baggy clothes clinging from a unhealthy, thin body slowly dying red with blood trickling from reopened wounds. The rain washing away the bright iron smelling evidence from the concrete as it dripped.
Whenever he saw the rain it made him wonder if his relatives were psychic. It was as though they knew the rain would come and cover up their 'activities'. But as soon as the thought enters his mind it departs; they would kill themselves before considering they might have magic.
Watching the crowds of people walk by in a hurried attempt to flee the rain, he fixed his appearance. Righting his twisted foot and straightening is oddly bent arm so that it hung limply by his side. Pulling his clothes away from his body so they hid his form when he kept posture. He swallowed his breath as cold air attacked his wounds and ignored the tickling itch feeling of bloody water sliding down his back and legs.
Without a sound or abnormal look he slipped into the crowd unnoticed, walking with them hidden from close inspection. This continued til he reached the park near his school. There was a tunnel nearby that kids in his residence's area used as a shortcut to the school and park.
He had made the mistake of using it to flee to his 'home' when he was being chased by his cousin's gang. It ended with him being beaten black and blue after his uncle threw him back outside saying 'he should be thankful anyone even wants to play with a freak like him'. He'd learned his lesson and instead fled deeper into the city as the boys wouldn't chase to far in fear of getting lost.
Rarely had he seen an adult use it as they tended to drive places instead. Thus it was often incorporated in his return routes so he could avoid long exposure toward unsuspecting prying eyes.
Slipping through the tunnel he watched for the ugly, old, hag Mrs. Figg on her daily walk. He hated that woman more than he hated Dudley. She watched his every move; reporting him to his 'caretakers' whenever he thought to get help and then she would testify to the police that he was lying. He didn't think he was every so joyous than that moment when he heard she was in the hospital due to a fever.
He often thought that if one day he snapped the first person he'd kill would be her. But than he thought better. The hag was already ancient in his opinion (he was biased in her case, any other old person and they would just be 'old', he would respect them) so she was gonna die soon enough. If she took any longer he'd help speed it up by spreading germs around her home.
With the coast clear he left the tunnel and made his way down the street preparing to turn a corner when he heard footsteps and a man shout from behind him.
"Hey Kid! Could you help me out?"
He wanted to ignore the man and keep walking but by the time he woke from the shock of being seen the man was already behind him. Sighing he swiftly turned around biting his tongue sharply as his limp arm glided speedily behind him to hit his back. He hoped the man wouldn't notice, quickly opening his mouth to distract him as he spoke politely, "What can I help you with, sir?"
He wanted to curse the man when he grabbed hold of both his arms and squatted down as if in hopes to not intimidate a child. "Do you live here? I'm kind of lost and need some help finding my way..."
The man chuckled but he could tell from the way he lightened his firm grip on his right arm that the man realized his arm was broken. He wanted to scoff at the flickering feelings of pity in the man's eyes before returning to normal as if indifferent to the matter. "I live here. Just down the corner actually. Where are you trying to go?"
The man paused. "I'm trying to get to a school called Saint Whinging."
Curses. He bit his tongue to keep from cursing luck. Of all the places the man could be going to it had to be his school. Despite his annoyance he smiled politely, "If you're going to Saint Whinging you'll want to go down the this street. Halfway down to the left of the houses there's a tunnel that will take you down to the park. Once at the park's edge just take a right and follow the road down the street. The schools on the corner."
The man grinned. "Great! I'm Mason by the way. What's your name?"
He paused. Should he give the man his name? It won't matter everyone at school knows me so he'll find out either way. "My names Hadrian."
Mason nodded finally releasing him. Standing he waved as he walked away. "Nice meeting you, Hadrian. Thanks for the help!"
Hadrian wanted to snarl at the man as he looked at his arm only to find it bent out of shape again. He grit his teeth shoving it back in place as he once again spend off in the rain to his 'home'.