Searching for Your Feathered Soul

Chapter 1: Confinement

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It was quite a while ago, but I remember it like it was just yesterday. How could anyone forget that experience? Of course, I'm sure you're wondering what the hell I'm talking about. Well, I might as well tell you. I've got nothing better to do...

I had just woken up, dressed, and forced myself to leave the comforting solitude of my room. Everyday I walked down that hall thinking that the day could turn out better than the others had, but I knew it wouldn't. It never did.

Then, I heard his voice echoing through the once quiet passageway. That man, Boris, spoke the same every morning: strictly, as he did pretty much any other time. Morning was always the time for first role call, which Boris carried out with precision. If you were late for role call, that was it. Immediate punishment ensued.

I, myself, had never been late for this regular morning activity. Today, however, was different. I was slow, and I knew it was too late even before I entered the training hall. "Tala." Silence followed. "Tala?" I knew Boris would give me a second chance; I had always been his favorite, save for the short time Kai had been with us.

"Solitary confinement." Boris stated bluntly as I finally made my way into the cold, yet crowded room. Everyone's eyes were on me, and they stung. God, I hated it when people stared. Don't they realize how stupid they make themselves look?

My gaze, unwavering, made its way to the face of my punisher. "Yes sir," I could hear myself say. Handing over my Beyblade next was one of the hardest things I'd done in a while. Wolborg had been my only company, my only friend. Now he was be held by that madman Boris, probably never to be returned.

You see, solitary confinement was a punishment that was given often when the abbey was new. Though now it was rare. All of the bladers, even those who were new, did their best to avoid this rash penalty. It meant almost certain death for any unlucky blader.

Do you think I'm over reacting? Think again. When given by Boris, confinement consisted of a few things: no food, no light, chains on your door to keep you locked in your room, and definitely nothing that could be used as a means to kill yourself. I knew a few others who had been locked up by him, only to become rotting corpses and damned souls.

I soon found myself making my way back to my room, a place I would normally be thrilled to be heading. However, this time was different. I knew I wouldn't be leaving it for a long, long time, if ever. I sat waiting on my bed, waiting for the blader assigned to 'room duty' as Boris called it. The blader chosen would have to clear the room of the one under punishment. No light and no means to kill yourself, remember.

My thoughts on who it could be were soon interrupted by none other than the one given the task of clearing my room. Bryan walked into the room, eyes downcast to the floor. I knew very little about him, though we had been on the same team for quite some time.

He began clearing my things. First went my only lamp, though the light from the hall provided the ability to see. Then went the rest of my things, not many seeing as we never had any money.

I watched him for a while, though I soon grew bored. It was surprising how calm I felt in the midst of the oncoming confinement. Lying out on my uncomfortable bed, I stared at the plain ceiling. My thoughts soon drifted again to those bladers left to die in their rooms.

One last time Bryan entered the room. I had wondered why, considering all of my things had already been taken. He didn't take, or look, for anything more, but I felt him walking towards me. He stopped over me, and I could feel him staring down at me. I really, really hated that. I opened my eyes, which I had closed just before he came over, and looked at him sternly. I was still team captain after all, he should've known better than to stare.

It seemed to work, as he turned to leave. Though one last, almost sorrowful, gaze was sent back at me from over his shoulder. I breathed a contented sigh as the door to my room was shut. I was glad his intense gaze was off of me. My relief was short lived, of course. It wasn't the darkness, no, I enjoyed darkness. The sound of chains was it. Chains being draped across my door was what reminded me of my fate.

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That's it for chapter one. A bit short, perhaps. Tell me what you think, please review! Cookies for all reviewers!