Welcome to chapter one of my first Nifty story, The Commandment.
I am a long time Nifty fan, mostly of authoritarian themed stories in high school/college settings. I hope you enjoy my work, and if so, donate to Nifty to keep it going strong. All characters, events and ideas in this story and future chapters are 100% fiction.
This story is a work in progress, so I am open for your feedback, ideas and suggestions at dsweenz71@gmail.com.
Thanks for reading!
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When Dean had turned ten years old, his parents had pretty much given up. It seemed their boy was out of control, and no mixture of psychiatry, pills and punishment could stop it. They'd gone through the tantrums with the two older children, but never to the same degree. As a last ditch effort, they took a chance on one more psychiatrist, a younger man who'd been rated top of his class, who went by Mr. Prince.
Right away, Dean left his first session pretty quiet, which gave his parents hope. He was polite to his older siblings and younger brother for the rest of the night, and even brushed his teeth and went to bed when his parents asked. The next day, his mother kissed him on the forehead and pleaded that he be good at school, but old habits returned and before lunch, Dean's mom had received a call from school that he'd bit another kid enough to draw blood. He then threatened another few kids who'd watched. Dean's mom quickly got permission to leave work and go pick up her son, but never made it. By sheer coincidence, the second she ran a yellow light was also the second a trucker waiting at red had been reaching for a piece of gum and dropped the package on the floor. When he reached for it, he accidentally put pressure on the gas and before he could hit the break, he'd killed a woman who'd been on her way to pick up her son.
This series of unfortunate events would have a major effect on the rest of Dean's life.
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Dean got off the bus and walked towards the first day of high school. He was nervous, but not for the same reasons as everyone else. He'd heard a lot about high school, and he had a secret -- a secret that if anyone else found out about, would ruin his chance at leading any kind of normal life, and definitely ruin him in high school. He knew he'd just have to keep a low profile, just as he had since his mother passed away.
He pulled his backpack higher on his back as it kept slumping while he walked, heavier than he was used to. As he gave it a good hoist, he accidentally swung it into the backpack of another boy, getting a hard glare and a "watch where you're going!" Dean quickly apologized and walked away faster, even as the guy glared after him.
Dean had never really been at the bottom of the social ladder. In elementary, he was a small kid, but he was kind of a freak, and in a way, that set him at the top. Being unpredictable, mad, and `crazy' as some people called him, no one ever bothered him. By the time he was ten, he'd reached his peak and was starting to really be held accountable for his actions. Following his mother's death, Dean settled down, but to a point where he was still considered unpredictable and other students just avoided him.
As Dean swept his brown bangs from his eyes, he realized that this school was different. Three feeder schools made up this high school, which meant at best, only 30-40% of the students knew his reputation. It might be hard to fly under the radar here, especially being only 5'4, he could see himself being bullied by some of the seniors. He'd really have to make an active effort to keep to himself.
Once inside the school, he made his way to the gym where all the freshman would receive their welcome packs, complete with schedules, locker combinations, an agenda book, and more. He found the table with his last initial and stood in line, realizing he hardly recognized anyone in the room so far. Maybe the 30-40% estimate had been optimistic. Come to think of it, Dean didn't know how large the other two feeder schools were.
Finally, he spotted his best friend Jayden (who happened to be one of his only), and waved him over. He shared the same last initial so would be part of the same line anyway. The two asked each other about their summer, Dean and his family had traveled to his grandparents for most of it, and Jayden had mowed some lawns and helped around his neighbourhood trying to make some money. Overall, both had had a good summer but agreed it was nice to see each other again.
"I also got this from my dad," Dean said, showing Jayden the new phone he'd got for his birthday. Both freshman had up until this point not had a phone, which set them behind almost every kid their age in terms of technology.
"Let me see!" Jayden exclaimed as Dean handed over the phone, "That's sick dude, I hope I get one for my birthday!" He returned the phone as the two reached the front of the line. Dean hoped Jayden would get one too, as his phone was pretty much useless until his friend got one as well.
After collecting his welcome package, Dean made his way to his locker and then his homeroom, trying to make sure he was there on time. He only knew a few people in his first few classes that day, mostly people who didn't talk to him in case he suddenly flipped out and attacked them like he'd sometimes done in elementary school.
Dean was thrilled in third period (which today was history) as Jayden walked into the classroom. Dean had sat at the front, but Jayden waved him to come to the back with him. The two could hardly stay focused but fortunately the teacher was very old and didn't pay any attention to the couple. They only got called out once when Dean could barely stop laughing about something Jayden said. Even then, the teacher moved on rather quickly.
After third period was lunch. In previous years, because of the population size of the school, they had split the lunches by grade, but this year they decided to mix 9/10 grades and 11/12. As well, students in any grade who had an off block on one of the lunches could attend any lunch they like.
It was Dean's first time seeing the cafeteria and he was shocked at how big it was. There were probably fifty or more tables and two different places to purchase food. Some people with closer classes to the cafeteria had already entered and began to line up. Dean and Jayden did the same.
Suddenly Dean felt a tap on his shoulder, and when he turned around, no one was there, but then he turned around again, and the guy he'd unintentionally hit with the backpack this morning had stolen a place in front of the two friends.
"Hope you don't mind I get my lunch first, kiddo," the stranger quipped.
Dean just nodded. "Go ahead, it's cool man."
Jayden looked at his friend with his mouth hanging open. He whispered, "You're just going to let him do that?"
Dean looked back and mouthed "It's not worth it."
The two got their lunch and sat down, as the bully from the line sat with one of his friends. He kept looking over at the two of them and it was making Dean really uneasy. Still, he told his friend about what had happened this morning with his backpack and how it'd been a mistake.
"Looks like it was a big mistake dude, I don't think he's going to let it go. You better keep an eye out for him."
"Oh definitely," Dean said, already nervously sneaking glances and making sure he wasn't coming after him.
The afternoon classes went by quickly, although it was unfortunate that Jayden was only in the one class. Dean realized through the day that many classes were split between the ninth and tenth grades and that it wasn't until eleventh and twelfth grades that topics became more structured and teachers much stricter. This was true for most classes, but not physical education.
Phys. Ed. was the last class of the day, and when Dean entered the room, he was sure he'd been put in the wrong class. Despite being only slightly lower than average in height for his grade, he was the smallest in this class, and as he saw people start to change and strip off their t-shirts, he realized he was one of the least hairy. He quickly double checked his schedule, then went out to find the teacher.
"Hi, Mr. uh... Jamieson is it? I think I'm in the wrong class. I'm pretty sure the guys in there are seniors."
"Let me see your schedule kid," Mr. Jamieson took the schedule from Dean's hands, "Nope. You're in this class kid. It happens from time to time because your grade classes are full. It's all good though kid, we start out every year at a beginner level so you'll be fine. Still you've probably never used the locker rooms, so I'll get Brody to show you around. O'leary!"
Brody came over and Dean's gut dropped. It was the same guy he'd knocked with the backpack and who'd cut in line. In a school of at least 1500 students, what were the odds.
"Dean here needs to be shown to his locker," Mr. Jamieson said, "Give him a rundown of the required uniform too because I think he might be the only fresh meat in the class this year."
Dean looked pleadingly at Mr. Jamieson despite the feeling of Brody's smirk next to him. "Yes sir, I can do that. Come this way Dean." With a final feeling of helplessness, Dean walked after him into the locker room.
"So you just choose any locker... do you have a lock yet?" Dean shook his head.
"Fuckin' hopeless. That's okay, bring one tomorrow. No one will steal your shit anyway. Do you have some gym clothes with you?"
Dean nodded. Despite not knowing the exact dress code for gym, he knew he'd probably need shorts and a t-shirt so he brought some just in case.
"Good. Shorts and a t-shirt is fine. Sweat pants are also allowed if you don't like showing off your scrawny legs. If you don't have dress code, you have to choose out of the lost and found in Mr. Jamieson's office. Those clothes are never washed and they're slim pickings too." He laughed as if remembering something, then got a more serious look. "What are you waiting for kiddo, fucking strip already."
Dean looked around. Most of the other guys were already changed and he knew he had to too. He pulled off his shirt revealing a white hairless chest and hairless armpits. "Do you have to watch?" he asked, trying to pull out some bravery.
"I don't have to," Brody replied quietly, "But I want to make you uncomfortable. You tried to knock me down a peg by shoving into me this morning and it was embarrassing. I won't hold a grudge, but I do want a bit of fun before I let you off the hook."
His smile was really bothering Dean as he reached for his t-shirt. "No," Brody said, "Take off your pants first."
Dean looked pleadingly at him for a brief moment but then reached down for his belt. Brody was shocked this kid was obeying him so easily, but went along with the act. He didn't want the kid to think this wasn't the norm. He wanted him to believe he did this to other freshmen all the time.
He pulled the pants over his feet and Brody laughed at his state of undress. He was wearing a tiny pair of tight red boxer briefs and a pair of white socks. Most of the other boys were out of the locker room and the last few were grabbing some water from the fountain around the corner.
"Before you can get dressed, pull down the front and show me your dick," Brody commanded. He didn't know if the kid would, but figured he was vulnerable enough that he just might. And he knew he had the intimidation factor so it was highly unlikely he'd tell anyone for fear of getting beat up.
Dean swore under his breath. How had he gotten into this mess? He knew he had to do it. He reached for his elastic and was about to it down to show him when --
"What did you just say kid?"
"Huh?"
"Under your breath. You swore at me. Did you call me a fucker?"
"No, I..."
"Be honest. What did you just say?"
"Okay, I called you a fucker, but this is fucked! I just want to get dressed!"
"You want to hit me?"
"What?"
"Do you want to hit me?"
"No, I..."
"Hit me then. See if you're strong enough to even..." But before he'd said anything else, Dean had jumped on him, getting two good hits in before another senior, who'd been at the fountain but eavesdropping a bit, came to Brody's rescue, pulling an underwear-clad Dean off and telling him to "Chill out," to which he obeyed.
As Dean sat in the principal's office next to Brody, he began to worry. Dean had been careful about his secret for four years. For those four years, he'd told no one and no one discovered. Sure, they could all have put it together if they really thought about it, but Brody was already on the verge of that after one day. For a moment, it seemed to Dean as though he'd discovered it, but... no, he hadn't yet. He couldn't have. He didn't know Dean's backstory either... what he used to be like, what he used to do to people. And why he stopped. After his very first visit with Mr. Prince.
Mr. Prince was just like any psychiatrist. He tried the usual routines and procedures. Digging a bit into Dean's past, his behaviours and personalities. After only one session, Dean had written him off. But as he was about to leave, he told Dean "This is your commandment. From now on, if you don't obey every request that is given to you, bad things will happen Dean. You must listen to your parents, your friends, your teachers. No matter what someone tells you, you will obey. For if you do not, there will be dire consequences. This is your only warning."
The next day, a schoolmate had called Dean crazy and he forgot all about Mr. Prince in the moment. He'd forgotten he promised his mom he'd be good that day. And within two hours, his mother was dead.
Sitting next to Brody in the office, he knew he'd have to keep him from figuring out his secret, because if he didn't, Brody would abuse his power at the expense of Dean, and there was nothing Dean would be able to do about it.