Russell Matheson D7 {FIN}

The forest was quiet with no sounds of life in the middle of the night. A slight breeze pulling into the forest blowing the boy's light brown hair back. The boy silently continuing on in his journey through the woods. A lonely and quiet journey of nothing but thoughts haunting him. A clear night with the stars above shining brightly onto the 5'11 boy. The boy was toned and had muscles from most of the hard labor that he did for a job. The strength this boy had was a bit incredible. The small scars spread out all over his body from simple accidents, such as scraped by a log accidently. Though, his biggest scar is on his arm. The boy had been running around and doing miniscule tasks to fill up the day and when he went to put equipment for the loggers back, he cut himself on accident. A scar was left there to remind him of his clumsy ways.

The boy was home now in a room with a mirror, checking for scratches and bruises to hide from the rest of the family. The pity they gave him when they saw something always annoyed him on the inside. His grayish blue eyes staring back at him as he scanned his body. He wore a everyday type of outfit. Jeans, socks, shoes, t-shirt or tank top depending on the weather, and a hoodie depending on the weather. Stubble slightly growing on his chin and bottom of his head, but not very visible, unless someone looked closely. A necklace hanging from his neck, dog tags on a silver chain. Over to his right was a nice button up shirt that he used for special occasions only.

The night crept up all too quickly for him. The voices from the past filling up in his head. They always crept up on him at night. It always was like this for him. Some of the voices would be about how he is one of the nicest people in the district, but then there were the opposites too. Some say he was the meanest person in the district. Others talking about how caring he is to his family. One in particular talks about most of his positive traits. The fact that he is smart and had top scores in his class, but still won't admit it. One voice always talks about how cocky and confident he always is. Another talks about how daring and adventurous he is. The last voice is his own, thinking of ways to trick people to get what he wants and needs.

There was always so much on his mind at all times. He was more confused about himself than other people. Always having to think before speaking, but during heated arguments, sometimes words slipped out. There were also those times when confidence came with selfishness. The boy would sometimes think of himself over others, especially when he was angry. Sometimes, the boy gets frustrated with the people who believe they are smart, but are not. The boy always is sly and tries to go his own way and it makes him seem suspicious sometimes. The boy's last flaw is being stuck in the past that always seems to be lurking around the corner.

The boy's last thoughts before bed were the fears and dreams he had. There are many dreams that the boy carries with him. One of his family being happy. Another of himself being happy. Another dream of love in his life. The last is to not be lonely ever. His fears were not as big as his dreams, but are just as scary as most of them. His biggest fear is being alone. His next fear is being unloved and not helpful for his family. His last fear is the fear of rejection. Rejection has always scared him through out life.

The thoughts always had an order, mainly from his power hungry family, the Matheson's. There was an age order in his family, you had him and Ian, his soft spot, at the top. Rachel and Maggie came next. Nora after them. Charlie and Jason. And last was Danny. Russell had all mixed feelings about them all. Russell was born in the Winter. The family was crazy power hunger from the start. They were always pressuring Russell to be the best. Family member after family member were born into the family. The real struggle was once the kids were old enough to think for themselves.

The first memories he had were the ones when he first started school. The other kids were jealous of him because he got some of the best grades right off the bat. Facts just stuck in his head unlike some of the kids there. The jealousy got so bad with one kid, that he purposely bullied him because he was smart. This started a terrible school life for him. Kids bullied him until high school. His brother Ian would find him crying in his room some nights. Ian then would snuggle up with Russell and try to help him calm down enough to sleep. The bullying got worse and worse with every year.

The last year of school before high school, Russell decided to join the power struggle. He began doing activities to help improve his strength and endurance, so he could fight back, but from what he learned in that moment was that hard work causes improvements to yourself, so from that day on, Russell works extremely hard to get what he wants. Ian once was worried that Russell would tire out at times, but Russell never did. Eventually, at home, Russell assumed the typical big brother who was protective of everyone. Especially with Danny and Charlie. Danny has always been protected by all the kids, since he has terrible asthma and being the youngest doesn't help the boy, but Danny always argued with Russell about how he doesn't need to be watched every second, so Russell backed off.

Charlie and Russell is a whole different story. Russell and her butt heads often. The other siblings think it's because they are really similar and tend to argue about stupid things. Charlie secretly looks up to him and he knows this all too well. He tries not to take advantage of it. He would tell himself that she is only 15 and should not be manipulated. There were times when Russell almost lost it with his anger. Most of it was directed towards Jason. Russell hates Jason with a passion. The way how Jason just listens to what is told annoys him. He wants Jason to not let everyone use him, but Jason is easy to manipulate. Russell just ignores him most of the time.

Nora was another member who pissed him off occasionally, just from her mishaps. She always was working on some weapon. She always was trying to take control over everyone too. It was always a power struggle. She had burnt him and given him a few scars from mishaps, but when she finished something, it was always amazing. Russell knows for a fact that Nora is smarter than him. Nora always was an inventor, sometimes Russell would think that she belonged in District 3 with all the electronics.

Then there was Maggie and Rachel, who always were fighting and wanting to be the motherly type for Charlie. They always argued. Rachel and him had a past and most people don't talk about since the family is already pretty weird. Maggie was always the one who was healing Russell after something stupid. She was nicer than he ever expected her to be. She healed everyone who was in Nora's little stunts. Maggie and Rachel argue all day. They argue and then fight for the "motherly" type in the family. Russell always left them out.

Then there was Ian. Ian was special to Russell, sure they had falling outs before, but they rarely do. It was Russell's only soft spot, through his stone heart, Ian broke through. Ian was the only family member that he truly listened to. Ian was always in his shadow, which always makes Russell think he is timid at times, but Russell knows how Ian truly is out of the shadow. Ian always would argue with other and go to actions without thinking if Russell isn't there. Russell honestly feels weak since Ian found a way through his stone heart. The only person to be able to do that. There's secrets he's never told anyone, but Ian. Ian could destroy Russell at anytime and that scares Russell a lot.

Life in the present for Russell is the same old power struggle. All the Matheson's are trying to get higher than the others. It annoys Russell a lot. Russell goes on runs and does fitness things to stay in shape. Ian and Russell still get along very well. Charlie and Russell butt heads still. Everything was basically the same, except that Russell now hides his smarts from everyone. Russell tries to hide his past as best as possible and always is as serious as he seems. The guy who has to be the older brother and be the most mature is a hard job being from the Matheson family. The Matheson's were a power struggle. Life will always be a power struggle for him. Now the question is, will he stay on top or will he fall off with the voices in his head haunting him.