Blood. It had started with blood and it would end in blood. Those were the rules and woe betide any of those who would break them. Milo's quest for vengence began in the blood of a friend, but it would end in the blood of his foes...

"Milo! MILO! Wake up! It's time for school!"

Milo was jolted awake by the yelling of his father from the kitchen, he lifted his head from the desk and grimaced as a thin trail of drool stretched between the corner of his mouth and his notepad. His notepad! Groggily wiping his eyes and his mouth he checked the pages and sighed with relief as he noticed the drool had missed any of his story. He'd been up all night working on it.

"Milo! Are you coming or have you given up on breakfast today?"

"Coming Dad!"

Quickly pulling on some trousers and a shirt from the floor he danced along the hall, trying to jump into his clothes whilst hopping down the stairs. When he reached the breakfast table he looked like a badly dressed puppet. His father just peered over his paper and shook his head. There was a bowl of cereal waiting for him.

Pulling his jumper over his head he sat down and began wolfing down his breakfast.

"Mmmm....nom...thanks Dad...mmn...nom..."

His father looked over his paper again and gave him a wink.

"You eat that any faster you'll be going to the hospital, not school. Slow down Milo."

Milo crammed in the last bite and swallowed it triumphantly, to much head-shaking from his father.

"Anything new to report? What's happening in your story now?"

"Which one?"

"There's more than one? You've been busy!"

"I have tonnes of stories now!"

"How about tonnes of homework? I hope you've been doing that too."

"Yeeeeeees Daaaaaad."

"Don't 'Yes Dad' me you cheeky beggar. I don't want you getting in trouble."

"It'll be fine, I've got it covered. Well, " Milo said, looking at the clock on the kitchen wall, "I'd better get going. See you later Dad!"

With that Milo leaped up and grabbed his school bag which was laying at the foot of the stairs. He opened the front door and called up the stairs before he left.

"Bye Mum!"

There was a grumble from up the stairs but Milo was already out of the door and down the road towards school.

Robert headed down stairs in his dressing gown and looked at Milo's father with exasperation.

"I really wish he wouldn't call me that."

"Oh come on Robert," Milo's father grinned, eyeing up Robert, "I think it's kind of cute. Speaking of which..."

"You! Well, I guess every boy needs his mother." Robert said. "Did you pack the lunch I made him?"

"Errr..."

"Simon!"

"Sorry, you'll just have to go to the school and give it to him. I've got to head off now myself."

Robert pouted and then kissed Simon gently on the lips. "You'll be the death of that boy you know. Not giving him his lunch, tsk, tsk. Take care, see you later."

"Oh, what's for dinner?"

"Something nice, as always. Unless I forget to pack it."

Simon squinted in mock anger at Robert, quickly pecked him on the cheek and then was out of the door.

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Guidance

Milo Manning is a budding young writer. He lives with his two Dads (his real Dad and his partner), his mother isn't in the picture, though she is alive.

However, Milo suffers terribly from bullies though his doesn't let his parents know, both for his daydreaming and bookishness and for the fact that his parents are gay.

The premise of the story is somewhat similar to that of The Odyssey, where he gets in an accident and ends up in a coma, experiencing an alternate world where characters from real life play counterparts in his mind taken from his stories.

In his coma he is lost in this strange imaginary world and is trying to find his way home.

Characters

Milo Manning - our protagonist and budding young author. A little short for his age, not into sports. Very imaginative and intelligent. Friendly and not afraid to stand up for himself, but avoid conflict if possible.

Susan Dunwurst - one of Milo's best friends, an extraordinarily tall girl with a taste for the gothique.

Jake Samson et al - a bully that takes particular issue with Milo's gay parents.

Simon - Milo's Dad, works at a bank.

Robert - Simon's partner and Milo's 'other Dad'. Slightly effeminate, but certainly not a raving queen by any means. Unemployed and taking on the role of housewife.

updated Mar 6 '10 by darkliquid