Vendetta: Throne of Betrayal

The sun struggled through a gray winter sky as Aiden Cole jogged down the cracked sidewalks of East Hollow, his breath misting in the frozen air. 

Houses stood hunched and broken, paint peeling, windows taped up with cardboard. Most people here gave up dreaming a long time ago, but not Aiden.

He clutched the worn strap of his backpack tighter as he neared the rickety building that housed him, his father, his mother, and his little sister Emily. Aiden's world. His reason to keep fighting.

Inside, the smell of frying eggs and cheap coffee filled the air. His mother, Mary Cole, a woman with tired eyes but a bright smile, greeted him with a kiss on the forehead. 

His father, Thomas, set down the newspaper, the job ads section circled in red ink, and gave Aiden a nod that said everything words couldn’t. "Any news today?" his sister Emily chirped, her hair tied up in uneven pigtails.

Aiden forced a smile. "Not yet, Em. But... maybe soon."

In truth, hope had been gnawing at his insides for days. He had applied for the National Excellence Scholarship.

A miracle ticket offered once a year to only one student in the entire state. Full tuition to Gravesend Academy, the academy of the rich, the powerful, and the untouchable.

But kids like Aiden didn’t win things like that. Not here. Not ever. The front door banged loudly, the mailman, in his patched-up uniform, saluted lazily and shoved a stack of bills and flyers through the slot.

Among them... A thick, cream-colored envelope. Heavy. Embossed seal. Aiden’s heart thudded against his ribs. His mother caught it first. "Is that, ?"

He tore it open, fingers trembling. Inside, a single sheet of elegant parchment:

Congratulations, Aiden Cole. You have been selected for full scholarship admission to Gravesend Academy, beginning this semester. We look forward to witnessing your brilliance. Headmaster Valenwood

For a second, no one moved. It was as if time itself held its breath, then Emily shrieked and threw her arms around him. 

His father laughed, a real, deep laugh Aiden hadn’t heard in years. His mother’s hands shook as she pressed the letter to her chest, whispering a prayer of thanks.

They celebrated that night with a feast, frozen pizza, instant noodles, and the cheapest root beer they could find. It tasted better than anything Aiden had ever eaten.

"I’m so proud of you," his mother whispered as she hugged him tight that night. "Promise me, Aiden... no matter what happens, never forget who you are."

"I promise," he said, meaning it with every fiber of his being.

The next morning, Aiden stood outside a different kind of building, Gravesend Academy.

It towered like a fortress, its iron gates gleaming under the pale sun. Beyond them, a marble fountain flowed endlessly, surrounded by pristine hedges trimmed into perfect geometric shapes. 

Students milled about in tailored blazers and expensive watches, laughing, texting, posing for photos beside luxury cars.

Aiden wore his best, a secondhand jacket that didn’t quite fit, and a backpack stitched with duct tape. He straightened his shoulders anyway and walked forward.

The stares started immediately. Some curious. Some disgusted. Most... amused. A group of boys in matching blazers leaned against a polished BMW. 

One of them, tall, blond, with a smirk carved into his face, stepped forward. "Hey, look, guys. The charity case arrived," he drawled loudly.

Aiden ignored him. Head high. Eyes forward, but the boy wasn’t done. "Careful, peasant. Try not to stink up the place."

Snickers rippled through the group. Aiden's fists clenched at his sides, but he remembered his mother’s words. “Never forget who you are.”

He kept walking. The first day was brutal. Teachers called roll and paused at his name, as if it were something dirty. 

Students shifted seats away from him. Whispers followed him wherever he went. At lunch, he sat alone, picking at a cold sandwich. He was mid-bite when a soft voice spoke: "Mind if I sit?"

He looked up. A girl. Golden-brown hair that caught the light like fire. Emerald green eyes. A perfect smile.

Isabelle Lane. The Vice President’s daughter’s girlfriend.

He had no idea who she was yet. No idea how important, and how dangerous, she would become.

For now, she just smiled and sat down beside him, offering half of her chocolate bar. "You look like you could use a friend," she said. And for the first time all day, Aiden smiled back.

As the final bell rang that day, Aiden gathered his books slowly. Students filed past him, laughing and texting.

As he stood to leave, a hand, rough, strong, clamped down on his shoulder. He turned.

It was the blond boy from the BMW. Up close, his name tag read "Bryce Maddox."

Bryce’s grin was all teeth. "Listen, dirt rat. You’re not welcome here. You don't belong here."

Aiden stared him down, refusing to flinch. Bryce leaned in closer, voice low and chilling: "Watch your back, Cole. Accidents happen here all the time."

Then he shoved Aiden hard against the lockers and sauntered away, his laughter echoing through the hall.

Aiden stood there, heart pounding, breath ragged. He realized, in that moment, that Gravesend Academy wasn't going to be the dream he imagined.  It was going to be a battlefield, and the first shot had already been fired.