Heros, or Villains?

Prologue - The Beginning

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Birthdays are supposed to be happy. You're supposed to have a party with cake, friends, and gifts. It's my birthday, but I'm not happy.
I didn't have a party, or cake, or friends coming over. On all of my birthdays, I have asked if I could have a present. Each time, Ryan told me no. This time, he finally said yes.
But he didn't give me a present.

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"What was that, you worthless little..." Ryan said, waving his cigar in my face. I rocked back and fourth on my heels nervously, shying away from his cigar. "It's my birthday today, did you get a present for me?" I asked, smiling hopefully.
"Tch. Ya hear that, Mary? The little shit wants a present because it's his birthday." Ryan turned to me, the smell of cigar hitting my nose and making my nose scrunch up, "I'll give you a present you won't forget." I smiled as he said that. He took my hand. I was thinking, what was it? Was it a bracelet?
And then, he gave me the not-present.

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I looked at my hand, flinching at the pain still tingling on it. A big, round burn mark from his cigar, in the center of the back of my hand, stared back at me. His not-present present. I felt tears well up in my eyes again. "It's not fair! Other boys my age got loads and loads of presents! I'm 8 today, shouldn't I get at least a hug? It's not fair!" I cried into my arms.

I just wanted to go to sleep, for the pain on my hand to go away, but mostly the pain in my heart. Why didn't they love me?

I wish I could run away.

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"Psst!" I jolted awake, my face still wet from crying myself to sleep. Spots on my sweater were wet, too, from my tears.

"Psssst! Hey, Cory!" I heard again, a familiar and welcoming voice. I sniffled, wiping the wetness off my face, and walked to the window.

"H-hey, Val." I whispered after opening the window.
Val stared back at me, a huge smile on his face. If I wasn't so sad, I would be smiling, too. His smile made me smile, usually. "Cory! Want to play?" He asked, pointing down to the grass below us. I picked the chipping paint from the window, sighing. "I don't know, Val... I'm really tired." I said.

He stuck out his lip, making a face I couldn't say no to, ever. "Pleeeeasee, Kay? I have something for you!"

I let out a sharp breath, a smile forcing it's way onto my mouth. "Fine. Just... let's be quiet. If your parents, or Ryan and Mary find out..." I hid my burn slightly, hoping he wouldn't notice it. I didn't want him worrying over me.

I swung my legs over the window, jumping down and hitting the ground silently. I looked up to see Val struggling to get out, and then falling down. He landed ontop of me, and we ended up both falling with a loud thud. "Ow!! How are you so clumsy?!" I giggled, trying to stay quiet as he got off of me.

"That's not fair! You're good at all the stealth stuff!" He huffed, sitting down. I sat down beside him. I felt his hand suddenly ontop of mine, and pain shot through my hand. I pulled away, trying not to cry. "Cory?! Are you ok?" He asked, grabbing my hand back and looking at the burn. He gasped, covering his mouth.

I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes. "Val... why don't I get presents like every other boy? When I ask for presents, they just say no... and-and this time, Ryan said yes, but then he--" I sniffled loudly, looking down as tears rolled down my cheeks, "he b-burned me!!"

Val watched in shock, and then in anger. "Cory, let's run away together, when we're 18. Then, Ryan and Mary will never hurt you again, and I won't have to leave to become a hero!" He grabbed my other hand, squeezing it.

His eyes were shining with determination.

"You... you promise?" I murmered, looking up at him. He smiled, showing his one missing tooth, and held out his pinky. "I pinky promise!" My eyes widened. He only ever pinky promised me one thing, when we both met for the first time. Me promised we would always be friends. He was serious about this. He won't break it, ever.

I know it.

I shook his pinky, excited for the day we'd finally be free from this.

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