Calyx ignored Bia when she collapsed into tears. We kept walking as if nothing happened. This shocked me. When someone broke down and cried, it was for a reason. Why would Calyx pretend nothing was going on? Why did we walk away?
Bia picked herself up and wiped away the few tears that had fallen like she was fine. Was she fine? I couldn’t tell. Either way, she walked right behind Ivy like she was her puppy. I didn’t want them to get too close. It didn’t seem safe. “Are you okay? Do you want to walk now?” Calyx asked me.
My legs weren’t hurting anymore, so I thought walking would be fine. “Sure. Set me down gently, though. I hate being dropped.” She placed me on the ground so my feet touched the dirt softly. I could feel everything with my toes. “Can I still hold your hand?” I asked.
She smiled. “Always.”
I slipped my hand into hers, happy to have someone next to me. I was so used to being alone. I could remember my early childhood, when I was about three or four. We were sitting around a fire singing old Romani songs. I had my head resting on Momma’s knee, but she kept shoving me away every other minute. Still, I kept going back to her because we were family and she was my protector. She was supposed to take care of me.
Momma never took care of me. She left me to starve unless I brought home money for food. “Fable, you go get dinner for us. You go do magic,” she’d croon. I always obeyed. I never asked questions. “Oh chahvi, you’re so good to me. I need you forever and ever and ever...” she’d whisper late at night while I fell asleep.
... and ever and ever and never.
I was gone. I’d left her by herself with no one to take care of her, no one to get her money or food, no one to keep her company. I left my momma for what? This? Why did I think it was ever worth it? I stubbed my toe on a rock and mumbled a swear word I’d heard our King say one day when the fire burnt him. Calyx giggled. “I want to go back,” I admitted in a small voice. “I don’t want this.”
Calyx gave me a small pat on my head with her free hand. “We all want to go back. But we can’t.”
“But… but- I miss Momma and my family. I miss everyone. I don’t want them to be gone,” I sniffled.
She stopped walking long enough to give me a hug. “It’ll be okay. Everything will be fine. You just stick with me and Bia. We’ll take care of you.” Bia walked up from behind me, leaving Ivy alone in the back. I left that topic alone.
“I won’t let you get hurt,” she said quietly. And I knew what kind of hurt she meant. Ivy’s kind of hurt.
“Good. I don’t like hurting.” I stuck my chin up in the air and sniffled again.
Bia swooped me up in her arms and carried me like a baby. “No worries. We’re doing great, kiddo.” She kissed my nose. For a second I let myself pretend I was in Momma’s arms and we were coming home after another night at the fair. But the scent of incense was replaced with bleach and Momma’s soft shawl was replaced with Bia’s cold arms. This was what I had now. I had to be fine with it.
“Take care of me, okay? And you. Take care of you. I don’t like it when you’re hurt,” I said honestly.
I could see the pain in her gray eyes. She wasn’t doing a good job of hiding. Maybe she didn’t want to hide.
“I’ll go walk with Ivy and see if her brother’s said anything yet,” Calyx mumbled. She slowed down to match Ivy’s pace. Bia pulled me closer to her chest and I laid my head on her cold skin. She’d do. She was fine. Besides, something deep inside me told me she was already family. It was like we knew each other from long, long ago. Only we’d forgotten all that and only had right now.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Ember
“ He can’t be too far off.” I told Chase, “ He isn’t usually the type to run off on us like that. His owner is a real dick- I mean... he’s really strict and all I guess. I don’t know why he ran off in the first place.”
“ Us?” Chase questioned as we pushed through the trees.
“ Uh, yeah. I’ll introduce you to them.. I guess.” I said uncertainly. Maybe it was a bad idea. Bringing in a normal kid into a group of freaks… oh well. There was something strange about him and the way I found him…
“ What’s the dogs name?” he asked.
“ Sarge. He-”
“ SAAAARGE!!!!” He wailed into the forest.
“ Don’t scare him off!”
“ Oh… Right.” He laughed nervously. “ Saaarge?” he whispered. I shook my head, a smile spreading across my lips. I pushed a branch away and saw the dog standing there, wagging his tail and waiting patiently. I held onto his collar and kept walking, Chase trailing behind.
“So uh, You like dogs huh? I thought you said you were looking for your dog, but then you just were talking about the dog’s owner in a way that said the dog wasn’t yours, so… is the dog yours or not?” words tumbled from his mouth in a constant stream.
“Uh… no. This is Jack’s dog.” I explained.
“Ohhhhh.” Chase said as if everything had become clear. We kept walking, and he didn’t say anything else. I was aware of his deep breathing, as if each step we took made him more nervous. Why? I dunno. “ Want some chocolate?” he blurted out suddenly.
I turned and looked at him. His eyes widened and his lips formed into a frown. I had to resists myself from laughing. Why was he giving me that face? It’s not like he said anything wrong. “ Sure.” I smiled, and kept walking.
“ Really? Oh- well… Okay.” He swung his bag around and fumbled around with the zipper. When he finally opened up his bag and pulled out two chocolate bars, he handed one to me happily.
“ Thanks.” I ripped the top of the wrapper off with my teeth, keeping one hand secured on Sarge’s collar, and took a bite. Chase gave me a quick look and then shrugged it off, taking a bite of his chocolate bar. “ So you didn’t tell me,” I said, snapping off another piece of chocolate. “ Why were you way out there in the middle of the woods?”
“ Oh.. Haha.. It’s uh… a Long story.” He stuttered.
“ I got time.”
“ Does that mean this is a long walk?” he whined.
“ No,” I laughed. “ but I bet the story isn’t as long as you say it is.” I smiled.
“ Us?” Chase questioned as we pushed through the trees.
“ Uh, yeah. I’ll introduce you to them.. I guess.” I said uncertainly. Maybe it was a bad idea. Bringing in a normal kid into a group of freaks… oh well. There was something strange about him and the way I found him…
“ What’s the dogs name?” he asked.
“ Sarge. He-”
“ SAAAARGE!!!!” He wailed into the forest.
“ Don’t scare him off!”
“ Oh… Right.” He laughed nervously. “ Saaarge?” he whispered. I shook my head, a smile spreading across my lips. I pushed a branch away and saw the dog standing there, wagging his tail and waiting patiently. I held onto his collar and kept walking, Chase trailing behind.
“So uh, You like dogs huh? I thought you said you were looking for your dog, but then you just were talking about the dog’s owner in a way that said the dog wasn’t yours, so… is the dog yours or not?” words tumbled from his mouth in a constant stream.
“Uh… no. This is Jack’s dog.” I explained.
“Ohhhhh.” Chase said as if everything had become clear. We kept walking, and he didn’t say anything else. I was aware of his deep breathing, as if each step we took made him more nervous. Why? I dunno. “ Want some chocolate?” he blurted out suddenly.
I turned and looked at him. His eyes widened and his lips formed into a frown. I had to resists myself from laughing. Why was he giving me that face? It’s not like he said anything wrong. “ Sure.” I smiled, and kept walking.
“ Really? Oh- well… Okay.” He swung his bag around and fumbled around with the zipper. When he finally opened up his bag and pulled out two chocolate bars, he handed one to me happily.
“ Thanks.” I ripped the top of the wrapper off with my teeth, keeping one hand secured on Sarge’s collar, and took a bite. Chase gave me a quick look and then shrugged it off, taking a bite of his chocolate bar. “ So you didn’t tell me,” I said, snapping off another piece of chocolate. “ Why were you way out there in the middle of the woods?”
“ Oh.. Haha.. It’s uh… a Long story.” He stuttered.
“ I got time.”
“ Does that mean this is a long walk?” he whined.
“ No,” I laughed. “ but I bet the story isn’t as long as you say it is.” I smiled.
Bia
Fable had adjusted herself so she was sitting on my back in an almost-piggyback fashion. She was still clinging to me, tighter than ever, as if I would drop her at any moment. But maybe that’s what she knew. She said her sisters left her. Maybe everyone else had left her long before they physically moved away.
“Guess what?” she whispered in my ear.
I nearly jumped at her voice being so close to me. “What?”
She switched to talking in my head. “Ivy’s thinking about you right now.”
I tried to slow my heartbeat down and keep all thoughts of the possibilities out of my mind as Fable obviously could catch on quick. But it was nearly impossible.
“Really? Is it good? Or, bad?” I stammered.
Fable laughed. “I’m not telling. That would be rude.”
Out loud, we heard Ivy shout something triumphant.
“Omigod! I get cell phone service! We can order pizza or something!”
I stared at blondie. She had obviously fooled me into thinking she was different than the rest of the popular girls.
“Ivy, that’s impossible. We’re in the middle of a forest with no known address, wandering around in probably circles, nowhere NEAR a road. How on earth could a pizza delivery guy reach us?” Calyx paused, thinking. “But I’m hungry too. I’m sorry if that sounded mean. I didn’t mean it to be, I just- I was-”
“Cell phone! Ivy, does your brother have a cell phone?” I asked, interrupting Calyx.
Ivy stared at the flat phone in her hand for a moment before letting a smile creep across her face.
“He does! He has a cell phone! And a backpack full of chocolate bars, not that I’d eat those, but maybe he has some snacks...” Ivy trailed off. “Oh, I mean, we could text him to see where he is. Screw the food.”
She ducked her head as if she was embarrassed. I wanted to tell her it was okay, that my stomach needed me to fill it as well.
“You ate ice cream, doofus.” Fable’s voice crept into my head again.
“Get out!” I thought rather loudly.
She shot me a look and opened her mouth to speak. “I want Calyx to carry me. Your nails are digging into my legs. You’re hurting me.”
I shot ahead to catch up with Calyx who was now concentrating on marking the trees with a sharp stone she’d found on the ground. Apparently it helped her know we weren’t going in circles and were actually getting somewhere.
“She wants you,” I said quietly.
Fable jumped from my back to Calyx’s in a couple seconds. I expected Calyx to at least jump a little at the extra weight, but she didn’t even blink. It was as if she hadn’t noticed. Huh.
“You can go now,” Fable ordered in her tiny voice.
I glared at her. “You’re really annoying.”
“I know. So are you. Now leave me alone. I want Calyx,” she whined.
I fell back in step with Ivy, who was staring at the screen of her phone. A message was up on the screen, and despite my thoughts telling me to give her privacy, I peeked over Ivy’s shoulder to read it.
“go away. im with a girl,” the text read.
“Huh, I never thought your brother was the type to ditch you for a girl,” I mused. “But then again, I only knew him for a short while.”
Ivy glanced up at me. “Why’d you read my message?”
“Well, I, uh,” I stuttered.
“That’s private and personal, you know. I don’t go through all your little diaries or whatever you do in your spare time. I don’t even know you. God, just… give me some space. I can’t deal with this right now,” Ivy ranted.
My face turned crimson and I stopped walking. Diaries. As if that’s what I spent my time doing. Try avoiding the leers of my mom’s current flame or trying to sneak downstairs without running into a half-naked man in the kitchen, eating my food. When did I ever have time to write any of this down? Did I look like the type of girl to keep a diary?
I glanced down at my arms. Probably, judging from my appearance. Good job, Bia. Dressing in black skinny jeans, a gray tank top, and gray Converse. Trying to blend in with the world around you. You mix your f’ucking charcoal eyeshadow every morning with the teal, hoping you’ll fit in nicely. Right. Like people don’t notice the freak. Like they can’t see your scars and everything you’ve done.
My feet gave out under me and I let myself collapse to the ground. It was comfier than walking, anyway. My feet ached. Tears welled up in my eyes but I refused to let them fall. I was done crying over my past. I was done crying over yet another person who shrugged me off like a stray piece of confetti. The sadness turned to anger and the tears fell anyway, hot and sticky on my sweaty cheeks. I brushed them away angrily. They didn’t belong here.
“Bia’s not good,” Fable cried loudly. I could hear her from back here.
I’m fine, I wanted to say. I’m perfect. This is as close as I’ll get. Instead of opening my mouth, I picked myself up off the ground and continued walking behind a waterfall of blond hair.
“Guess what?” she whispered in my ear.
I nearly jumped at her voice being so close to me. “What?”
She switched to talking in my head. “Ivy’s thinking about you right now.”
I tried to slow my heartbeat down and keep all thoughts of the possibilities out of my mind as Fable obviously could catch on quick. But it was nearly impossible.
“Really? Is it good? Or, bad?” I stammered.
Fable laughed. “I’m not telling. That would be rude.”
Out loud, we heard Ivy shout something triumphant.
“Omigod! I get cell phone service! We can order pizza or something!”
I stared at blondie. She had obviously fooled me into thinking she was different than the rest of the popular girls.
“Ivy, that’s impossible. We’re in the middle of a forest with no known address, wandering around in probably circles, nowhere NEAR a road. How on earth could a pizza delivery guy reach us?” Calyx paused, thinking. “But I’m hungry too. I’m sorry if that sounded mean. I didn’t mean it to be, I just- I was-”
“Cell phone! Ivy, does your brother have a cell phone?” I asked, interrupting Calyx.
Ivy stared at the flat phone in her hand for a moment before letting a smile creep across her face.
“He does! He has a cell phone! And a backpack full of chocolate bars, not that I’d eat those, but maybe he has some snacks...” Ivy trailed off. “Oh, I mean, we could text him to see where he is. Screw the food.”
She ducked her head as if she was embarrassed. I wanted to tell her it was okay, that my stomach needed me to fill it as well.
“You ate ice cream, doofus.” Fable’s voice crept into my head again.
“Get out!” I thought rather loudly.
She shot me a look and opened her mouth to speak. “I want Calyx to carry me. Your nails are digging into my legs. You’re hurting me.”
I shot ahead to catch up with Calyx who was now concentrating on marking the trees with a sharp stone she’d found on the ground. Apparently it helped her know we weren’t going in circles and were actually getting somewhere.
“She wants you,” I said quietly.
Fable jumped from my back to Calyx’s in a couple seconds. I expected Calyx to at least jump a little at the extra weight, but she didn’t even blink. It was as if she hadn’t noticed. Huh.
“You can go now,” Fable ordered in her tiny voice.
I glared at her. “You’re really annoying.”
“I know. So are you. Now leave me alone. I want Calyx,” she whined.
I fell back in step with Ivy, who was staring at the screen of her phone. A message was up on the screen, and despite my thoughts telling me to give her privacy, I peeked over Ivy’s shoulder to read it.
“go away. im with a girl,” the text read.
“Huh, I never thought your brother was the type to ditch you for a girl,” I mused. “But then again, I only knew him for a short while.”
Ivy glanced up at me. “Why’d you read my message?”
“Well, I, uh,” I stuttered.
“That’s private and personal, you know. I don’t go through all your little diaries or whatever you do in your spare time. I don’t even know you. God, just… give me some space. I can’t deal with this right now,” Ivy ranted.
My face turned crimson and I stopped walking. Diaries. As if that’s what I spent my time doing. Try avoiding the leers of my mom’s current flame or trying to sneak downstairs without running into a half-naked man in the kitchen, eating my food. When did I ever have time to write any of this down? Did I look like the type of girl to keep a diary?
I glanced down at my arms. Probably, judging from my appearance. Good job, Bia. Dressing in black skinny jeans, a gray tank top, and gray Converse. Trying to blend in with the world around you. You mix your f’ucking charcoal eyeshadow every morning with the teal, hoping you’ll fit in nicely. Right. Like people don’t notice the freak. Like they can’t see your scars and everything you’ve done.
My feet gave out under me and I let myself collapse to the ground. It was comfier than walking, anyway. My feet ached. Tears welled up in my eyes but I refused to let them fall. I was done crying over my past. I was done crying over yet another person who shrugged me off like a stray piece of confetti. The sadness turned to anger and the tears fell anyway, hot and sticky on my sweaty cheeks. I brushed them away angrily. They didn’t belong here.
“Bia’s not good,” Fable cried loudly. I could hear her from back here.
I’m fine, I wanted to say. I’m perfect. This is as close as I’ll get. Instead of opening my mouth, I picked myself up off the ground and continued walking behind a waterfall of blond hair.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Thirteen
“Thirteen, hm? Aren’t you going to, I don’t know, kill me for that last little incident?” It was a task not to bruise Julianna’s fragile skin pigments although my hold on the peasant woman was anything but rough.
“You’re a fool if you think that they are in a safe haven. The Protectors are weak… they have hardly distanced themselves from us. Their song is still strong within my ears, Julianna.”
“Julia,” She corrected me, her tone dry. Her lips parted and she exhaled a small gasp—- I realized I’d been bruising her. “Well you’re obviously not going after them now. Weren’t you programmed to kill them as the modern day Terminator?”
“Terminator,” I tested the meaningless word. “Yes, I do terminate, perhaps… there was another one to terminate, in the past?”
“Ah, Christ,” Julianna mumbled, frustrated for some reason of the sort. “The Terminator… It’s an old movie.”
“Movie?”
“Yeah.” Confusion welled in my head as I tried to remember the term, if I had ever witnessed the use in the past.
“What?”
“I’m starting to wish that you’d killed me earlier.” Julianna answered in a sigh, bringing a translucent hand to her forehead. “A movie. Moving pictures on a screen… motion picture. Do you know what ‘motion’ and ‘picture’ mean, or are you too dense—-”
“Ah, perhaps you are referring to a film, yes?”
“Sure.”
“The terminator you are subjecting to is a film.” I took a moment to ponder this as we broke from the forestry. “I was not… programmed. It is, in jest, my destiny to find and destroy the Protectors and retrieve the Prophecy to the human kind.”
Julianna barked a guffaw as she prodded from to the edge of the forest. We were now between nature and mankind; the border between the beginning of the forest and town. “And what’s Jack’s role in this?”
I wetted my lips. “I know of the Protectors and who’s to be, not their placements.”
It was only when Julianna lightly brushed a lock of my flaxen hair from my eyes that I realized I had released my grip on her arm. I froze, momentarily stunned by the sudden compassion. Stiff and no longer trekking, I angrily locked my eyes with hers. Julianna drew in air, cross. “I’ve noticed a few things about you, Thirteen. When you talk to me, you don’t move your lips. In fact, I’m not sure if I’ve ever even seen your lips open before, at all. Half of your ear is torn off. Every word you say echos. You’re pale. Your eyes are a weird shade of yellow. The way you walk...” Her words came across as gentle, yet firm. “maybe all of this urban shit is true and Jack has a place. The Protectors have a place. The humans have a place, they’re the ones being protected. But, according to the Prophecy, what’s your place in all of this?”
The back of Julianna’s hand brushed against my jaw line as she drew her arm away from my hair. She did not receive a peculiar answer from me. Once and for all, the human weapon of sound emitted none, for she had no answer.
I was silenced.
“You’re a fool if you think that they are in a safe haven. The Protectors are weak… they have hardly distanced themselves from us. Their song is still strong within my ears, Julianna.”
“Julia,” She corrected me, her tone dry. Her lips parted and she exhaled a small gasp—- I realized I’d been bruising her. “Well you’re obviously not going after them now. Weren’t you programmed to kill them as the modern day Terminator?”
“Terminator,” I tested the meaningless word. “Yes, I do terminate, perhaps… there was another one to terminate, in the past?”
“Ah, Christ,” Julianna mumbled, frustrated for some reason of the sort. “The Terminator… It’s an old movie.”
“Movie?”
“Yeah.” Confusion welled in my head as I tried to remember the term, if I had ever witnessed the use in the past.
“What?”
“I’m starting to wish that you’d killed me earlier.” Julianna answered in a sigh, bringing a translucent hand to her forehead. “A movie. Moving pictures on a screen… motion picture. Do you know what ‘motion’ and ‘picture’ mean, or are you too dense—-”
“Ah, perhaps you are referring to a film, yes?”
“Sure.”
“The terminator you are subjecting to is a film.” I took a moment to ponder this as we broke from the forestry. “I was not… programmed. It is, in jest, my destiny to find and destroy the Protectors and retrieve the Prophecy to the human kind.”
Julianna barked a guffaw as she prodded from to the edge of the forest. We were now between nature and mankind; the border between the beginning of the forest and town. “And what’s Jack’s role in this?”
I wetted my lips. “I know of the Protectors and who’s to be, not their placements.”
It was only when Julianna lightly brushed a lock of my flaxen hair from my eyes that I realized I had released my grip on her arm. I froze, momentarily stunned by the sudden compassion. Stiff and no longer trekking, I angrily locked my eyes with hers. Julianna drew in air, cross. “I’ve noticed a few things about you, Thirteen. When you talk to me, you don’t move your lips. In fact, I’m not sure if I’ve ever even seen your lips open before, at all. Half of your ear is torn off. Every word you say echos. You’re pale. Your eyes are a weird shade of yellow. The way you walk...” Her words came across as gentle, yet firm. “maybe all of this urban shit is true and Jack has a place. The Protectors have a place. The humans have a place, they’re the ones being protected. But, according to the Prophecy, what’s your place in all of this?”
The back of Julianna’s hand brushed against my jaw line as she drew her arm away from my hair. She did not receive a peculiar answer from me. Once and for all, the human weapon of sound emitted none, for she had no answer.
I was silenced.
Chase
After being freed from the vines of flowers and anything else that had happened upon me -and trust me, there were lots-, I stepped back to take a look at my savior.
Before I even thanked them, I gasped and started to stutter.
She-s-she was a g-girl!
A girl!
I was- she was standing right- and I was- we were so close!
“Thanks,” I mumbled, trying to think of something funny to say. All that came out was, “Did you know jelly-fish are 95% water? Isn’t that funny, because they swim in water, and they’re part of the water, so you’d think they’d fall apart or something… but they don’t...”
The girl watched me, her mouth tilting up slightly, forming a smile. She was laughing at me. As usual. Everyone laughs at me…
“I.. I’m Chase,” I stuttered, looking at the mess of flowers and ripped of vines at my feet.
“Ember,” she muttered, looking at me, clearly confused.
“How’d you get stuck in those flowers?” she asked, poking me in the side.
I shrugged.
“I don’t know. It was like a mutant swamp monster thing attacked me or something. Only, we’re in a forest. So a forest monster. Do you think it could have been one?” I nodded my head towards the flowers and vines, and she shook hers slowly.
I was scaring her away.
“What are you doing in this forest, anyway?” I asked, trying to find some common groud.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
She frowned at the sun that was shining through the tree tops and getting in her eyes.
I didn’t say anything more.
I was stupid, anyway.
I would just scare her away.
She was a girl!
Girls don’t talk to boys like me, unless they’re forced to.
There had to be a reason why she was here.
“No really, why are you here?” I pushed once more.
“I was just trying to find my dog,” she said uncertainly, as if she was making this up on the spot.
“Can I help?” I jumped, speaking a little too fast.
” I- I mean, to repay you. For helping me?”
She nodded, laughing a little bit to herself, but still uncertainly.
Before I even thanked them, I gasped and started to stutter.
She-s-she was a g-girl!
A girl!
I was- she was standing right- and I was- we were so close!
“Thanks,” I mumbled, trying to think of something funny to say. All that came out was, “Did you know jelly-fish are 95% water? Isn’t that funny, because they swim in water, and they’re part of the water, so you’d think they’d fall apart or something… but they don’t...”
The girl watched me, her mouth tilting up slightly, forming a smile. She was laughing at me. As usual. Everyone laughs at me…
“I.. I’m Chase,” I stuttered, looking at the mess of flowers and ripped of vines at my feet.
“Ember,” she muttered, looking at me, clearly confused.
“How’d you get stuck in those flowers?” she asked, poking me in the side.
I shrugged.
“I don’t know. It was like a mutant swamp monster thing attacked me or something. Only, we’re in a forest. So a forest monster. Do you think it could have been one?” I nodded my head towards the flowers and vines, and she shook hers slowly.
I was scaring her away.
“What are you doing in this forest, anyway?” I asked, trying to find some common groud.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
She frowned at the sun that was shining through the tree tops and getting in her eyes.
I didn’t say anything more.
I was stupid, anyway.
I would just scare her away.
She was a girl!
Girls don’t talk to boys like me, unless they’re forced to.
There had to be a reason why she was here.
“No really, why are you here?” I pushed once more.
“I was just trying to find my dog,” she said uncertainly, as if she was making this up on the spot.
“Can I help?” I jumped, speaking a little too fast.
” I- I mean, to repay you. For helping me?”
She nodded, laughing a little bit to herself, but still uncertainly.
Excerpt
The masses of people were like cattle today. Tourists filed in and out of doors, anxious to see the same buildings and landmarks that Jeremy had observed many times before. He didn’t understand why exactly this day was important. To him, it was as if somebody was having a birthday, and that somebody had a lot of friends. If that were true though, why wasn’t he invited?
“Busy day, ain’t it, kiddo?” Startled, Jeremy turned. Nobody ever talked to him unless they were scolding him for stealing their goods. The man was tall, almost too tall. He had big muscles, Jeremy noticed, that were starting to go away. He had wrinkles littering his face, and his eyes looked tired. The man seemed friendly, but he had such a deep voice that he slightly scared Jeremy. The man looked away, a shadow of a smile stretched on his lips. Almost to himself, he muttered, “Never thought I’d be here again...”
At that, Jeremy bit back his coyness with wide eyes. “You be gone from here before?” The white man lifted a brow and uttered a small cough. He leaned against the bricks of an old restaurant that Jeremy wasn’t allowed in anymore. There was a lot of black people in Seattle, but Jeremy didn’t know any of them except for himself and the nice old lady at the church. The white people though, Jeremy noted, were plentiful.
The man chuckled. “Kid, I’ve been to tons of places. I was born and raised in Canada, but I’ve traveled here in the U.S too. America, South America, several places in Europe, New Zealand...” Jeremy hadn’t heard of any of those countries before, but he nodded as if he did.
“I be in lots ‘o places too,” He boasted, puffing out his chest a little. Moments later, though, Jeremy felt bitterness make its home inside his chest. “ ‘Cept they don’t want me should stay. Iffen I do, it only be fer a tinsy time.” Jeremy exaggerated this with his dirtied hands. “They say I be a horrid guesty. They be planning to turn me out come ‘te morning to the creatures.”
The man raised his eyebrows, making his forehead seem more wrinkly. “Why do they not let you stay?”
Jeremy let a mischievous smile slip. He leaned in and lowered his voice, looking quickly both ways to make sure no one was listening. “I be take’n their goodies! Them be have’n to chase me all the time. Iffen I be sleepy there one night, I can’t come back or they be call’n the cops.”
The man cracked a small smile, as if he remembered something. “What’s your name, kid?” Jeremy stared up at the man, stretching on his bare toes to meet his eyes. Even though he was stronger and faster than most of the kids he played with, he looked a lot shorter and younger than he acted to be. Though, Jeremy wouldn’t know if he was younger or not, since he wasn’t entirely sure of how many birthdays he’d had.
“Jeremy. Actually I be have’n TWO names. Jeremy Hawthorn be all of ‘em.” Jeremy outstretched his grummy hand proudly to the tall white man. He was proud to remember seeing people do this on the streets and felt that this was a proper time. Just in case the man didn’t know what he was doing, though, Jeremy explained. “It be a hand shakey. Iffen you shaken my hand, we be friends.”
The man let out a loose torrent of laughter, breaking into a grin. Taking Jeremy’s hand, he responded, “My name’s Kiorri. And I’ve been looking for you for a hell of a long time, kiddo.”
They shook.
“Busy day, ain’t it, kiddo?” Startled, Jeremy turned. Nobody ever talked to him unless they were scolding him for stealing their goods. The man was tall, almost too tall. He had big muscles, Jeremy noticed, that were starting to go away. He had wrinkles littering his face, and his eyes looked tired. The man seemed friendly, but he had such a deep voice that he slightly scared Jeremy. The man looked away, a shadow of a smile stretched on his lips. Almost to himself, he muttered, “Never thought I’d be here again...”
At that, Jeremy bit back his coyness with wide eyes. “You be gone from here before?” The white man lifted a brow and uttered a small cough. He leaned against the bricks of an old restaurant that Jeremy wasn’t allowed in anymore. There was a lot of black people in Seattle, but Jeremy didn’t know any of them except for himself and the nice old lady at the church. The white people though, Jeremy noted, were plentiful.
The man chuckled. “Kid, I’ve been to tons of places. I was born and raised in Canada, but I’ve traveled here in the U.S too. America, South America, several places in Europe, New Zealand...” Jeremy hadn’t heard of any of those countries before, but he nodded as if he did.
“I be in lots ‘o places too,” He boasted, puffing out his chest a little. Moments later, though, Jeremy felt bitterness make its home inside his chest. “ ‘Cept they don’t want me should stay. Iffen I do, it only be fer a tinsy time.” Jeremy exaggerated this with his dirtied hands. “They say I be a horrid guesty. They be planning to turn me out come ‘te morning to the creatures.”
The man raised his eyebrows, making his forehead seem more wrinkly. “Why do they not let you stay?”
Jeremy let a mischievous smile slip. He leaned in and lowered his voice, looking quickly both ways to make sure no one was listening. “I be take’n their goodies! Them be have’n to chase me all the time. Iffen I be sleepy there one night, I can’t come back or they be call’n the cops.”
The man cracked a small smile, as if he remembered something. “What’s your name, kid?” Jeremy stared up at the man, stretching on his bare toes to meet his eyes. Even though he was stronger and faster than most of the kids he played with, he looked a lot shorter and younger than he acted to be. Though, Jeremy wouldn’t know if he was younger or not, since he wasn’t entirely sure of how many birthdays he’d had.
“Jeremy. Actually I be have’n TWO names. Jeremy Hawthorn be all of ‘em.” Jeremy outstretched his grummy hand proudly to the tall white man. He was proud to remember seeing people do this on the streets and felt that this was a proper time. Just in case the man didn’t know what he was doing, though, Jeremy explained. “It be a hand shakey. Iffen you shaken my hand, we be friends.”
The man let out a loose torrent of laughter, breaking into a grin. Taking Jeremy’s hand, he responded, “My name’s Kiorri. And I’ve been looking for you for a hell of a long time, kiddo.”
They shook.
Bia
I found Ivy sitting with her back against the rough bark of a mangled tree and her knees brought up to her chest. She was sobbing loudly, with each heave her chest rising dramatically. What I could see of her face looked streaked with makeup.
I sat down next to her and immediately put my hand on her shoulder.
“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” I asked.
She hiccuped. “My brother’s missing… Mom’s going to be so pissed.. and Dad.”
“But we’ll find him.” I rubbed part of her back softly. “I promise.”
Ivy looked up at me, her baby blue eyes swollen and filled with tears. Her lips were pouting and parted slightly, as if she couldn’t breathe through her nose.
“You promise?” she said softly.
I nodded. “Yes. We’ll find him. It will be okay.”
She looked back down at herself and scoffed quietly. I stopped rubbing her as she was easing up on the crying.
“I’m a mess.” She laughed eerily.
“No, you’re gorgeous.” I glanced at her white skinny jeans that now had smears of dirt on the sides.
The sun wasn’t reaching this part of the forest as well as it had been where I was with Fable. Though there was a small stream a few feet away, it still smelled like dirt and pine needles. I couldn’t smell the water at all. I could barely hear it.
“How old are you, Bia?” Ivy asked me.
I watched the water in the stream. “Fifteen. I’ll be sixteen in the spring.”
“I’m fourteen,” she boasted.
I smiled. “I know.”
We both watched a rabbit hop down into its burrow.
“Why don’t you go to parties? Are you afraid you won’t fit in? Because everyone’s too drunk to notice, you know.” Ivy started wiping the mascara streaks off her cheeks.
I let out a sigh. “It’s not that. I used to go to parties, but I stopped. They’re all the same, honestly. Kids get drunk, have sex, make mistakes, and add new regrets to their lists. I don’t belong on that scene.”
“So where do you belong? At home with your cats?” She giggled.
I thought about the pets I’d left behind. Would Mom remember to feed them today? Probably not. She didn’t care about anything of mine. She only cared about her men and her birth control. God forbid she have another child, another mistake like me.
“I don’t have a place. I don’t belong anywhere, really. I drift.” My mind wandered to my childhood.
I was seven years old. My teacher was a strange bald man with half a finger missing on his left hand. I shared a desk with Calyx Baker and Amanda Rawlins. Calyx was getting mad at me because I could draw a perfect circle and she couldn’t. Amanda told her to shove it. Calyx started to whimper and our teacher yelled at me for making her cry. He made me sit in the corner for the rest of the day. I couldn’t even have a washroom break or go out for recess. The whole time he told me what a naughty little girl I was and how I deserved to be punished.
He kept me after school. He was the first guy to violate me. A week later, he was my mom’s boyfriend. I never told.
“Are you okay? You look… scared,” Ivy said quietly.
I tried to erase the memory from my mind. “I’m fine. I was just thinking.”
“About what?” she asked.
“Losing my innocence.” My voice cracked on the last word.
Ivy asked no more questions, she simply gave my hand a squeeze. It was as if she understood. But she couldn’t possibly. She wasn’t the little girl with her pants down. She wasn’t the older girl screaming for help. She hadn’t seen what my mom ignored.
Maybe she still had her innocence.
“There you are!” Calyx jogged over to us. “Bia ran off suddenly and we had to follow her. You didn’t have to go so fast, you know. We- oh. Um, are we interrupting something?”
Ivy let go of my hand quickly. “No. We were just talking. Bia made me feel a little better, but we still need to find Chase.”
Fable jumped up in the air and landed half in my lap. She grinned up at me and gave my head a small pat, as if I was an animal.
“You took her hurt away, right?” she asked.
Ivy laughed. “She did.”
“We should probably look for Chase,” I said while standing up. “Hopefully he’s in the forest somewhere and not out with whatever was chasing us.”
“Chasing Chase,” Calyx muttered.
Ivy stood up and tried to brush the dirt off her pants. “Darn, I really liked these jeans.”
“Oh here, I’ll help.” I wiped some of the forest floor off of one leg. Ivy looked at me weird.
Fable threw herself in my arms and demanded that I carry her. I stopped helping Ivy and hoisted Fable up. She wrapped her legs around my middle and clung onto my neck like a monkey.
“We’re going on an adventure,” she giggled. “We’re explorers. This is awesome.”
I sat down next to her and immediately put my hand on her shoulder.
“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” I asked.
She hiccuped. “My brother’s missing… Mom’s going to be so pissed.. and Dad.”
“But we’ll find him.” I rubbed part of her back softly. “I promise.”
Ivy looked up at me, her baby blue eyes swollen and filled with tears. Her lips were pouting and parted slightly, as if she couldn’t breathe through her nose.
“You promise?” she said softly.
I nodded. “Yes. We’ll find him. It will be okay.”
She looked back down at herself and scoffed quietly. I stopped rubbing her as she was easing up on the crying.
“I’m a mess.” She laughed eerily.
“No, you’re gorgeous.” I glanced at her white skinny jeans that now had smears of dirt on the sides.
The sun wasn’t reaching this part of the forest as well as it had been where I was with Fable. Though there was a small stream a few feet away, it still smelled like dirt and pine needles. I couldn’t smell the water at all. I could barely hear it.
“How old are you, Bia?” Ivy asked me.
I watched the water in the stream. “Fifteen. I’ll be sixteen in the spring.”
“I’m fourteen,” she boasted.
I smiled. “I know.”
We both watched a rabbit hop down into its burrow.
“Why don’t you go to parties? Are you afraid you won’t fit in? Because everyone’s too drunk to notice, you know.” Ivy started wiping the mascara streaks off her cheeks.
I let out a sigh. “It’s not that. I used to go to parties, but I stopped. They’re all the same, honestly. Kids get drunk, have sex, make mistakes, and add new regrets to their lists. I don’t belong on that scene.”
“So where do you belong? At home with your cats?” She giggled.
I thought about the pets I’d left behind. Would Mom remember to feed them today? Probably not. She didn’t care about anything of mine. She only cared about her men and her birth control. God forbid she have another child, another mistake like me.
“I don’t have a place. I don’t belong anywhere, really. I drift.” My mind wandered to my childhood.
I was seven years old. My teacher was a strange bald man with half a finger missing on his left hand. I shared a desk with Calyx Baker and Amanda Rawlins. Calyx was getting mad at me because I could draw a perfect circle and she couldn’t. Amanda told her to shove it. Calyx started to whimper and our teacher yelled at me for making her cry. He made me sit in the corner for the rest of the day. I couldn’t even have a washroom break or go out for recess. The whole time he told me what a naughty little girl I was and how I deserved to be punished.
He kept me after school. He was the first guy to violate me. A week later, he was my mom’s boyfriend. I never told.
“Are you okay? You look… scared,” Ivy said quietly.
I tried to erase the memory from my mind. “I’m fine. I was just thinking.”
“About what?” she asked.
“Losing my innocence.” My voice cracked on the last word.
Ivy asked no more questions, she simply gave my hand a squeeze. It was as if she understood. But she couldn’t possibly. She wasn’t the little girl with her pants down. She wasn’t the older girl screaming for help. She hadn’t seen what my mom ignored.
Maybe she still had her innocence.
“There you are!” Calyx jogged over to us. “Bia ran off suddenly and we had to follow her. You didn’t have to go so fast, you know. We- oh. Um, are we interrupting something?”
Ivy let go of my hand quickly. “No. We were just talking. Bia made me feel a little better, but we still need to find Chase.”
Fable jumped up in the air and landed half in my lap. She grinned up at me and gave my head a small pat, as if I was an animal.
“You took her hurt away, right?” she asked.
Ivy laughed. “She did.”
“We should probably look for Chase,” I said while standing up. “Hopefully he’s in the forest somewhere and not out with whatever was chasing us.”
“Chasing Chase,” Calyx muttered.
Ivy stood up and tried to brush the dirt off her pants. “Darn, I really liked these jeans.”
“Oh here, I’ll help.” I wiped some of the forest floor off of one leg. Ivy looked at me weird.
Fable threw herself in my arms and demanded that I carry her. I stopped helping Ivy and hoisted Fable up. She wrapped her legs around my middle and clung onto my neck like a monkey.
“We’re going on an adventure,” she giggled. “We’re explorers. This is awesome.”
Fable
As soon as she realized I couldn’t run as fast as her, Calyx pulled me up onto her back and sprinted far away from whoever told us to run. She was quiet, but I didn’t want to invade her thoughts. It seemed like she needed her privacy.
Bia trailed behind us, her face paler than normal. I wanted to say something to her, but I couldn’t find the right words. Besides, she was off in her own world anyway. My words wouldn’t make a difference.
We finally started to slow down when we reached a forest. I couldn’t tell how big it was, as we were only a couple feet in. But it was darker than it had been in the parking lot and the air was cooler. Whatever we were running from wouldn’t find us here.
“I’m scared,” I whimpered.
Calyx set me down on the ground carefully. “Don’t be. We’re fine. It’s all fine.”
Bia caught up with us and flopped onto the ground. She was panting heavily as if she didn’t run at all. Ever.
“This is insane. Why are we running? What are we running from? What if it was a prank?” Bia grumbled.
Calyx clicked her tongue. “It seemed real enough to me. Besides, better to be safe than sorry.”
I nodded.
A bird flew by where we were standing and chirped loudly. I wanted to ask it if we were okay, but birds never liked me that much. Instead, I sat down next to Bia.
“Where’d Ivy go?” she asked.
I looked around. “Not here.”
“I don’t know… she wasn’t that far away when we started running,” Calyx stuttered. “But maybe she found safety.”
Bia bit her bottom lip. “I hope she’s okay.”
“Me too,” I nodded.
Calyx sat down next to me, her leg almost touching Bia’s stomach. I decided to lie down as well. Maybe I’d fall asleep and wake up to find this all a dream. I rested my head on Bia’s chest so I could listen to her heartbeat. The tha-thump told me we’d be okay. Bia was calm.
“I think I’m going to see where we are,” Calyx said suddenly. She stood up and walked away from us.
I felt a hand stroking my hair softly and I closed my eyes. Bia’s fingers grazed my cheek as if she was more than a stranger to me. She knew me. This was obvious.
“I’ve never had a little sister,” she whispered. “But I think this is what it’s like.”
I opened my eyes. “You’re nicer than any of my big sisters.”
Bia sat up, forcing me to sit up as well. I glared at her. She wrapped me in a tight hug.
I listened to her heart beat faster now and I wondered if she was afraid. Was she terrified?
“Do you think Ivy’s okay?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I hope she is,” I replied.
Bia stopped hugging me. “She’s gorgeous. I wish I could look like her.”
“Or look at her?” I smiled.
“What?”
My finger twitched. “Nothing. I meant nothing.”
Calyx came running back to us, her cheeks red and her hair somewhat frizzy. She seemed worried.
“I found Ivy,” she said breathlessly. “She’s sitting behind this huge tree near a small stream.”
Bia stood up. “Is she okay?”
“She’s crying,” Calyx sighed.
I scrambled over to Calyx and plucked a twig off of her shirt. “Why?”
“Does it matter why? We have to go make sure she’s okay,” Bia cried. “She could be hurt.”
Calyx shook her head. “She’s not bleeding. She’s just upset.”
“That’s hurt. In a different way though.” Bia took off in the direction Calyx had come from.
We had no choice but to follow.
Bia trailed behind us, her face paler than normal. I wanted to say something to her, but I couldn’t find the right words. Besides, she was off in her own world anyway. My words wouldn’t make a difference.
We finally started to slow down when we reached a forest. I couldn’t tell how big it was, as we were only a couple feet in. But it was darker than it had been in the parking lot and the air was cooler. Whatever we were running from wouldn’t find us here.
“I’m scared,” I whimpered.
Calyx set me down on the ground carefully. “Don’t be. We’re fine. It’s all fine.”
Bia caught up with us and flopped onto the ground. She was panting heavily as if she didn’t run at all. Ever.
“This is insane. Why are we running? What are we running from? What if it was a prank?” Bia grumbled.
Calyx clicked her tongue. “It seemed real enough to me. Besides, better to be safe than sorry.”
I nodded.
A bird flew by where we were standing and chirped loudly. I wanted to ask it if we were okay, but birds never liked me that much. Instead, I sat down next to Bia.
“Where’d Ivy go?” she asked.
I looked around. “Not here.”
“I don’t know… she wasn’t that far away when we started running,” Calyx stuttered. “But maybe she found safety.”
Bia bit her bottom lip. “I hope she’s okay.”
“Me too,” I nodded.
Calyx sat down next to me, her leg almost touching Bia’s stomach. I decided to lie down as well. Maybe I’d fall asleep and wake up to find this all a dream. I rested my head on Bia’s chest so I could listen to her heartbeat. The tha-thump told me we’d be okay. Bia was calm.
“I think I’m going to see where we are,” Calyx said suddenly. She stood up and walked away from us.
I felt a hand stroking my hair softly and I closed my eyes. Bia’s fingers grazed my cheek as if she was more than a stranger to me. She knew me. This was obvious.
“I’ve never had a little sister,” she whispered. “But I think this is what it’s like.”
I opened my eyes. “You’re nicer than any of my big sisters.”
Bia sat up, forcing me to sit up as well. I glared at her. She wrapped me in a tight hug.
I listened to her heart beat faster now and I wondered if she was afraid. Was she terrified?
“Do you think Ivy’s okay?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I hope she is,” I replied.
Bia stopped hugging me. “She’s gorgeous. I wish I could look like her.”
“Or look at her?” I smiled.
“What?”
My finger twitched. “Nothing. I meant nothing.”
Calyx came running back to us, her cheeks red and her hair somewhat frizzy. She seemed worried.
“I found Ivy,” she said breathlessly. “She’s sitting behind this huge tree near a small stream.”
Bia stood up. “Is she okay?”
“She’s crying,” Calyx sighed.
I scrambled over to Calyx and plucked a twig off of her shirt. “Why?”
“Does it matter why? We have to go make sure she’s okay,” Bia cried. “She could be hurt.”
Calyx shook her head. “She’s not bleeding. She’s just upset.”
“That’s hurt. In a different way though.” Bia took off in the direction Calyx had come from.
We had no choice but to follow.
Jack
Vision
There is a tree. The tree is tall and dry looking. The bark is dark and ragged, it’s branches twisted and gnarled like an elderly man’s knotting hands. One branch is twisted into an odd spiral, which I relate to Julia’s curls.
I look around.
A few feet beside the tree is a noticeably large hole. Forest litter fills it, along with something else I can’t place. Looking beyond the tree and the hole, the forest looks dark, almost… too dark. I try to take a step, but my feet are anchored. I need to…
Now
“Jack, you handsome devil,” I blink several times as the world spins into view. Brady’s glowing features materialize before my eyes and I suck in a sharp breath. As if he took that as a good omen, he grinned. “you saw something, didn’t you?”
“No,” I muttered, shrugging Brady off with a turn of my shoulder. “Just, a patient earlier… was trying to regulate her immune system, and...” I interrupted myself with a yawn. “Look, Brady. I’m going for a walk...” Brady’s ecstatic mood was destroyed.
“Number one, some wicked witch of the west tried to kill you twice, and number two, Lassie’s gone missing—-”
“Then come with me,” I spat between my teeth, knowing I was going to regret the decision as soon as I said it. Brady chuckled.
“I’ll get Elin.”
I thought of objecting to that, but I stopped. Something was going to happen near that tree I’d seen, and I was going to find it. The kid was absurd, but hell maybe she had a point. She knew something. It might not be what I thought it was, but knowledge in my opinion was something you didn’t bitch with.
Ember
I leaped over a bush and ducked under a tree branch as I sprinted into the forest. I quickly turned my hat backwards as I ran, so It wouldn’t fly off. I have to admit that the dog was really fast, and of course he was. He was running on all fours. Though I doubted it would help me much if I started running on all fours too. So I stuck with running on two legs and chased after Sarge.
A tree branch scratched against my cheek and a root tried to trip me. I swatted the branches aside and jumped over the twisted roots. Though it became harder to concentrate on both the stinging branches and the tricky roots. Crap. Which way did that dog go? A bush caught my shirt and another branch scratched across my forehead. I slammed my foot against a rock, hurdling through the branches and landing roughly on a patch of grass.
“ Uh…Ow.” I grumbled, sitting up. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to run that fast when the forest got so thick. Oh well.
I looked up, and there the dog was, sitting comfortably with his ears pointed. I sighed deeply and ran my hand down his back. He didn’t even look at me. Sheesh.
I stood up and dusted myself off, picking a few twigs off my shirt. My knees were grass stained now and one was scraped up. Sarge stood up and started walking off. “Hey! I gotta take you back, don’t-”
Holy crap.
“WHAT THE HELL!?!” I shrieked, grabbing for Sarge’s collar.
At first sight, it looked like a giant cocoon. Just standing there all sprouted with pink and white flowers. Then I realized, there was a face. “HOLY SHIT IT HAS A FACE!!! RUN SARGE RUN!” I picked up a rock and threw it at the thing as hard as I could. I turned to run when I heard, “Owwwwwww!”
I froze. Holy shit, it speaks! Sarge hadn’t even moved. In fact, he was wagging his tail now. At the monster. That has a face. And speaks. I walked over to it and realized; it was a boy. The monster with a face that spoke was a boy. All wrapped up in vines and flowers and dirt. His face was all mushed together like someone was pressing the two sides of his face together. I laughed. “How did you manage to do that?” I mused.
“Help me.” The boy whined in a muffled voice. I laughed again and started pulling at the vines surrounding him.
A tree branch scratched against my cheek and a root tried to trip me. I swatted the branches aside and jumped over the twisted roots. Though it became harder to concentrate on both the stinging branches and the tricky roots. Crap. Which way did that dog go? A bush caught my shirt and another branch scratched across my forehead. I slammed my foot against a rock, hurdling through the branches and landing roughly on a patch of grass.
“ Uh…Ow.” I grumbled, sitting up. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to run that fast when the forest got so thick. Oh well.
I looked up, and there the dog was, sitting comfortably with his ears pointed. I sighed deeply and ran my hand down his back. He didn’t even look at me. Sheesh.
I stood up and dusted myself off, picking a few twigs off my shirt. My knees were grass stained now and one was scraped up. Sarge stood up and started walking off. “Hey! I gotta take you back, don’t-”
Holy crap.
“WHAT THE HELL!?!” I shrieked, grabbing for Sarge’s collar.
At first sight, it looked like a giant cocoon. Just standing there all sprouted with pink and white flowers. Then I realized, there was a face. “HOLY SHIT IT HAS A FACE!!! RUN SARGE RUN!” I picked up a rock and threw it at the thing as hard as I could. I turned to run when I heard, “Owwwwwww!”
I froze. Holy shit, it speaks! Sarge hadn’t even moved. In fact, he was wagging his tail now. At the monster. That has a face. And speaks. I walked over to it and realized; it was a boy. The monster with a face that spoke was a boy. All wrapped up in vines and flowers and dirt. His face was all mushed together like someone was pressing the two sides of his face together. I laughed. “How did you manage to do that?” I mused.
“Help me.” The boy whined in a muffled voice. I laughed again and started pulling at the vines surrounding him.
Ryder
Blossom tilted her head slightly to the side. I sucked in an even breath, feeling sure of what I was about to do. For whatever reason, I felt that I could trust Blossom. Even though I barely knew her for a day or two. She had been there for me, without even really being there.
I stood up, and stood next to the pond. My dirtied sneakers barely touching the water. Blossom waited, her soft breathing fading into the breeze. I bent down, and cupped my hands together. I carefully slid my hands under the surface, gathering the clear water into a single pool in my palms.
I sat back slowly, keeping my eyes trained on the water so I wouldn’t spill. Blossom watched my hands as I sat down carefully in front of her. I glanced up at her blue eyes. They were patient and curious rather than confused and irritated. I looked back down at my hands and relaxed my tense shoulders. I concentrated on keeping my breathing perfect and even, my hands steady. I let my eyelids shut and I ran my tongue over my bottom lip. Then I opened my eyes and stared down at the water. It rippled, and I began moving my cupped hands apart. The water stayed in place, wavering slightly and forming into a nearly perfect sphere. A smile spread across Blossom’s lips, her eyes wide.
I kept pulling my hands farther away, until they were resting in my lap. Blossom reached up slowly, hesitating for only a second. Her finger stretched out, her eyes glistening. When her fingertip touched the water, it sunk in about an inch, then burst. Blossom jumped back and giggled, a sweet sound. Like music. “That was… pretty.” She whispered. And for the first time in a long time, I smiled. I tried to bite my cheeks to stop, but I couldn’t. It was a shock really. No, “HOW DID YOU DO THAT?!” or, “YOU’RE WEIRD!”
Blossom touched her finger softly to the back of my hand. I looked down at her hand and then back up at her eyes. “We are the same.” She said softly, smiling.
I gave her a confused look, and she sat back, looking up at the trees and pursing her lips. Then she squinted her eyes and I noticed the breeze start picking up. It became more of a wind, and the cascading petals from the tree above us started swirling around. And that’s when I realized what she had meant. She wasn’t surprised when I showed her my way of moving water. She could do the same with air.
I stood up, and stood next to the pond. My dirtied sneakers barely touching the water. Blossom waited, her soft breathing fading into the breeze. I bent down, and cupped my hands together. I carefully slid my hands under the surface, gathering the clear water into a single pool in my palms.
I sat back slowly, keeping my eyes trained on the water so I wouldn’t spill. Blossom watched my hands as I sat down carefully in front of her. I glanced up at her blue eyes. They were patient and curious rather than confused and irritated. I looked back down at my hands and relaxed my tense shoulders. I concentrated on keeping my breathing perfect and even, my hands steady. I let my eyelids shut and I ran my tongue over my bottom lip. Then I opened my eyes and stared down at the water. It rippled, and I began moving my cupped hands apart. The water stayed in place, wavering slightly and forming into a nearly perfect sphere. A smile spread across Blossom’s lips, her eyes wide.
I kept pulling my hands farther away, until they were resting in my lap. Blossom reached up slowly, hesitating for only a second. Her finger stretched out, her eyes glistening. When her fingertip touched the water, it sunk in about an inch, then burst. Blossom jumped back and giggled, a sweet sound. Like music. “That was… pretty.” She whispered. And for the first time in a long time, I smiled. I tried to bite my cheeks to stop, but I couldn’t. It was a shock really. No, “HOW DID YOU DO THAT?!” or, “YOU’RE WEIRD!”
Blossom touched her finger softly to the back of my hand. I looked down at her hand and then back up at her eyes. “We are the same.” She said softly, smiling.
I gave her a confused look, and she sat back, looking up at the trees and pursing her lips. Then she squinted her eyes and I noticed the breeze start picking up. It became more of a wind, and the cascading petals from the tree above us started swirling around. And that’s when I realized what she had meant. She wasn’t surprised when I showed her my way of moving water. She could do the same with air.
Jack
Ten minutes later, the brats were filing in my car. After a brief dispute, Brady suggested that we leave our supplies here. I didn’t argue. They might be coming back, I’d drop them off. I wasn’t going to take part in this—-Brady’s stupidity was his own. If he wanted to play with a few obnoxious kids, show his inner child, so be it. “Sarge is sitting in the passenger’s seat,” I said lamely, opening the car door.
“Are you kidding me?” Ember retorted, her tone ludicrous.
“It’s my—- SARGE!!!” The kids flinched, startled by my sudden outburst, then turned in time to see the bulky German Shepard go sprinting off in the opposite direction, as fast as his legs could carry him. I’d never seen him kick off like that in my life; it went against his training. “GODDAMMIT!!!” I slammed the car door shut, ready to engage in full-fledged flight mode after the soon-to-be shot animal.
Suddenly, excitement flashed in Ember’s eyes, and she let out a small yelp, which I placed as laughter. “Ten bucks says I’m faster than anyone here. I’ll get him!” With that she turned, not waiting for my protest, and disappeared into the forestry. I pounded my fist against the side of the silver painting of my vehicle, enraged. To the side, Brady chuckled, playing the role as an innocent bystander.
“Not a fan of Mondays, huh Jack? Me neither.”
“Yeah, well, fan or no fan, get in the car if you plan to see another one.” In turn, Brady clapped me on the side of the shoulder, then turned away to utter something sarcastic to a very quiet Elin, leaving me to fume.
“Are you kidding me?” Ember retorted, her tone ludicrous.
“It’s my—- SARGE!!!” The kids flinched, startled by my sudden outburst, then turned in time to see the bulky German Shepard go sprinting off in the opposite direction, as fast as his legs could carry him. I’d never seen him kick off like that in my life; it went against his training. “GODDAMMIT!!!” I slammed the car door shut, ready to engage in full-fledged flight mode after the soon-to-be shot animal.
Suddenly, excitement flashed in Ember’s eyes, and she let out a small yelp, which I placed as laughter. “Ten bucks says I’m faster than anyone here. I’ll get him!” With that she turned, not waiting for my protest, and disappeared into the forestry. I pounded my fist against the side of the silver painting of my vehicle, enraged. To the side, Brady chuckled, playing the role as an innocent bystander.
“Not a fan of Mondays, huh Jack? Me neither.”
“Yeah, well, fan or no fan, get in the car if you plan to see another one.” In turn, Brady clapped me on the side of the shoulder, then turned away to utter something sarcastic to a very quiet Elin, leaving me to fume.
Ember
I ran my tongue over my lips, glancing at Elin, Brady, then Jack. Elin bit the inside of her cheek and Brady crossed his arms impatiently. Jack’s expression was grim. His eyes were narrowed and his lips curled into a scowl. His dog stared at him too, his ears half down. “Well?” I sighed impatiently.
“Well, nothing.” Jack muttered.
“Come on!” Brady chimed in.
“Can’t you get your own god damned breakfast?!” Jack growled sitting up straight and looking away.
“We have no money!” I blurted, throwing my hands up.
“Then get a job!”
“Jack...” Brady warned.
“Brady. You’re a lawyer. You must have enough money to take these brats out for some food.” Jack glared at him. “Without me.” he added.
“Jack, I don’t think it’s such a good idea we split up.” Brady stated, his voice softer now.
“And why not?” Jack retorted bluntly, though I’m sure he knew the answer.
“Maybe something having to do with that superhuman teenage girl who attacked your car?” I cut in, and Jack shot me a glare. Then he sighed and shook his head.
“Alright fine.” He stood up. Sarge relaxed, letting his ears stand up and his tail wag loosely.
“Well, nothing.” Jack muttered.
“Come on!” Brady chimed in.
“Can’t you get your own god damned breakfast?!” Jack growled sitting up straight and looking away.
“We have no money!” I blurted, throwing my hands up.
“Then get a job!”
“Jack...” Brady warned.
“Brady. You’re a lawyer. You must have enough money to take these brats out for some food.” Jack glared at him. “Without me.” he added.
“Jack, I don’t think it’s such a good idea we split up.” Brady stated, his voice softer now.
“And why not?” Jack retorted bluntly, though I’m sure he knew the answer.
“Maybe something having to do with that superhuman teenage girl who attacked your car?” I cut in, and Jack shot me a glare. Then he sighed and shook his head.
“Alright fine.” He stood up. Sarge relaxed, letting his ears stand up and his tail wag loosely.
Chase
I tried to book it on my way out of the store, but I wasn’t very good with the whole ‘running’ concept.
So instead, I made my best attempt at running, stopping occasionally to catch my breath. Or, in other words, pant wildly and wipe sweat off my brow.
I felt my phone buzz in my pocket, obviously my sister trying to tell me to get back there before she calls mom. But I wouldn’t answer her empty threat. She would never tell mom, because mom would blame her. And mom would be pissed at her. As usual.
I heard yelling from somewhere close by that I could tell was my sister. I needed to run faster, to get away, but I really didn’t have it in me. Luckily, I noticed a small forest thing up ahead. I jogged ( half jogged, half stumbled ) over to it -panting- and ducked inside. The voices started getting closer, so I moved farther into the forest. Of course, me being me, I felt something crawling up my leg. Was I paranoid? I probably was.
I kept moving farther into the forest, until whatever was on my leg really started to bug me. I made the decision that it wasn’t just me being paranoid and I looked down. Surprisingly enough, there was a vine with pink and white flowers half-way up my legs. I scratched my head, not sure what to make of this. Was I under attack of Captain Green -conveniently one of the only normal super hero’s from the weird comic’s my mom buy’s me-, or was I honestly really paranoid?
I flicked them off my leg, tearing off leaves here and petals there, but they just seemed to grow back. In a fit of frustration, I sat down on the ground and pulled a chocolate bar from my pocket. I’d need to think this over. And to do that, I’d need brain food. Chocolate is the doorway to the mind.
Or at least that’s how I see it. Without chocolate, this world would be nothing.
Now. What to do about the mutant flowers growing up my legs?
So instead, I made my best attempt at running, stopping occasionally to catch my breath. Or, in other words, pant wildly and wipe sweat off my brow.
I felt my phone buzz in my pocket, obviously my sister trying to tell me to get back there before she calls mom. But I wouldn’t answer her empty threat. She would never tell mom, because mom would blame her. And mom would be pissed at her. As usual.
I heard yelling from somewhere close by that I could tell was my sister. I needed to run faster, to get away, but I really didn’t have it in me. Luckily, I noticed a small forest thing up ahead. I jogged ( half jogged, half stumbled ) over to it -panting- and ducked inside. The voices started getting closer, so I moved farther into the forest. Of course, me being me, I felt something crawling up my leg. Was I paranoid? I probably was.
I kept moving farther into the forest, until whatever was on my leg really started to bug me. I made the decision that it wasn’t just me being paranoid and I looked down. Surprisingly enough, there was a vine with pink and white flowers half-way up my legs. I scratched my head, not sure what to make of this. Was I under attack of Captain Green -conveniently one of the only normal super hero’s from the weird comic’s my mom buy’s me-, or was I honestly really paranoid?
I flicked them off my leg, tearing off leaves here and petals there, but they just seemed to grow back. In a fit of frustration, I sat down on the ground and pulled a chocolate bar from my pocket. I’d need to think this over. And to do that, I’d need brain food. Chocolate is the doorway to the mind.
Or at least that’s how I see it. Without chocolate, this world would be nothing.
Now. What to do about the mutant flowers growing up my legs?
Blossom
The sound of the rustling leaves was the only sound left. The faint murmur of people from the beach had subdued. Enough time had passed since Ryder left that I had fallen into the metronome-like sounds from the wind.
My stomach grumbled once, loudly, reminding me that Ryder had said he was going to come back with food. I moved towards The small tent I had manufactured from a few of my blankets and my backpack. I felt around in my bag trying not to move the perfect placement of the blankets I had set of three days before. I sat back at the edge of the pond, and shortly after Ryder took a seat beside me. I looked around him, trying to find any signs of food. I could find none. “I thought you were going to bring food.”
Ryders face was stone as he stared out at the pond. “Ryder? are you okay?” Again there was a silence.
“They are stupid,” he finally broke the silence.
“Who is?”
“Everyone in that house. They don’t care about anything but money. They don’t even try to love each other. If it wasn’t for grandpa’s company and dad’s company working together they would be divorced. Then I wouldn’t have to watch them fight. Then maybe one of them would care. Then maybe they wouldn’t be so greedy. If dad didn’t know grandpa would stop doing business together then they wouldn’t be together in this mess.”
I broke off a half of the cookie I had pressed in my hands. “Here.” I handed him the piece. He stared at it blankly for a while, cooling down before he finally grabbed it.
“Thanks.” He looked around the area of trees that surrounded the pond, stopping to stare at my home made tent. I didn’t doubt that he could tell I didn’t have any where to go tonight. Then he turned his head to look me directly in the eyes. “I want to show you something.”
My stomach grumbled once, loudly, reminding me that Ryder had said he was going to come back with food. I moved towards The small tent I had manufactured from a few of my blankets and my backpack. I felt around in my bag trying not to move the perfect placement of the blankets I had set of three days before. I sat back at the edge of the pond, and shortly after Ryder took a seat beside me. I looked around him, trying to find any signs of food. I could find none. “I thought you were going to bring food.”
Ryders face was stone as he stared out at the pond. “Ryder? are you okay?” Again there was a silence.
“They are stupid,” he finally broke the silence.
“Who is?”
“Everyone in that house. They don’t care about anything but money. They don’t even try to love each other. If it wasn’t for grandpa’s company and dad’s company working together they would be divorced. Then I wouldn’t have to watch them fight. Then maybe one of them would care. Then maybe they wouldn’t be so greedy. If dad didn’t know grandpa would stop doing business together then they wouldn’t be together in this mess.”
I broke off a half of the cookie I had pressed in my hands. “Here.” I handed him the piece. He stared at it blankly for a while, cooling down before he finally grabbed it.
“Thanks.” He looked around the area of trees that surrounded the pond, stopping to stare at my home made tent. I didn’t doubt that he could tell I didn’t have any where to go tonight. Then he turned his head to look me directly in the eyes. “I want to show you something.”
Ryder
“ Are you hungry?” I asked quietly. Blossom turned to me, resting the delicate flower in her lap. The purple petals were bright against the white fabric of her dress. “ I could go back to my house and bring back some food.” I told her.
“ Like a picnic?” She asked softly, a smile forming across her lips. I smiled and nodded. I had never had a picnic before. I stood up and brushed off the grass sticking to my legs. I turned to leave through the forest path, and took one last look at the spot before ducking under the branches.
I ran when I got to the beach. I didn’t want to make Blossom wait for long, and I began worrying that maybe she would leave. The hot sand was hard to run in, and the sun beat down on the back of my neck. My breathing came rough and ragged as I ran down the street towards my house. I passed by families unloading there mini vans filled with beach things. Children running through sprinklers in their front yards, cooling down from the hot sun. The water splashing against them and refreshing the grass.
I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand and slowed my pace until I was walking again. My house came into view. I stopped in my tracks. There was a car in the driveway. No. It was a limousine. Black paint and shined until it mirrored the world. It’s dark windows allowing no eyes to pierce through it. My Father’s. He was home? But no one told me he was coming home. I knew My mother would be stopping by within the month, but no one told me my father would be home anytime soon.
And then as if the universe was reading my mind, a sleek red convertible pulled swiftly into the other side of the driveway. A woman with flowing blond hair and large sunglasses sat in the drivers seat.
My mother.
“ Ryder?” She called out with her honey-like voice, stepping out of her car. She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and flashed me a beautiful smile. I nodded slowly, trying to breath normal after my run. “ Oh sweet heart! Look how much you’ve grown!” She squeaked as she ran over to me. Her red sundress matched her fingernail polish. She wrapped me in a hug, and immediately jumped back.
“ Oh… sweetie.. Your all sweaty. What have you been doing? Come inside,” She looked me over with her blue eyes. After I had changed into new clothes, I sat at the table in the kitchen. I thought it was stupid that there was a table in the kitchen and in the dining room. What was the point?
I looked down at the wooden table, unsure what to think. My mother sat at the other end of the table, looking through her magazine. “ Have you been keeping up with you’re school work?” She said almost absent mindlessly.
“It’s summer, mom,” I replied quietly.
“ Right,” She smiled, lowering her magazine. “ You enjoyed summer school though, didn’t you?”
“ Sure,” I nodded once. I heard a door shut from down the hall, and my mother closed her magazine. Her lips formed a tight line on her suntanned face. I set my jaw tight, and waited.
Then he walked in. He was tall and he has light brown hair, cut and combed neatly. He was dressed in a suit and tie, tucking a cell phone into his pocket as he walked in. He looked at me first, his green eyes showing no emotion. A few freckles were scattered across the bridge of his nose and under his eyes. I looked a lot more like my father than I did my mother. I got his freckles, and eyes. Though mine were more bluish sea green rather than just strictly green. I had my mother’s hair, though she dyed hers to make it more blond. “ Hey kid.” he shook my hand. It was a lot bigger than mine.
“ His name is Ryder. In case you forgot that too.” My mother said, venom filling her words.
“ Nice to see you too, Sophia.” My father spoke with the same tone. I probably should have left then. I knew what was coming.
“ So Ryder, Rebecca told me you like the beach?” He turned back to me. I nodded. “ Maybe I could take you to one in Florida. The weather there is much nicer and the water is-”
“ Oh Richard, shut up! Don’t you dare fill that boy’s head with lies!” My mother snapped, smacking her magazine down on the table.
“Damn it, Sophia! Stop trying to tell me how to be a parent! He’s my son and if I want to take him somewhere then by all means I will!”
“ Oh, just like you were going to take him to Disney World? Or like you were going to take me to Italy? Right, you ‘Forgot’. You’re a liar!” She turned and began storming out.
“ And you’re a wannabe! You won’t even act like a mother to him! Go ahead! Walk out on him again!”
“ I’M NOT WALKING OUT ON HIM. I’M WALKING OUT ON YOU!” She screamed, waving her finger at him.
I clenched my fists as the yelling continued. It was like they didn’t even know I was there anymore. They were acting so horrible, as if I didn’t even matter. My mother threw a flower vase, shattering it against the wall next to my father. He shoved a chair over, snapping one of the legs.
All of a sudden, the kitchen sink exploded, water shooting from the broken spout. The water stream was so powerful it shattered the light in the ceiling above it. My parents stared, open mouthed at the sink. I stood up and ran. Out the door, out of the house, and away from the fight.
“ Like a picnic?” She asked softly, a smile forming across her lips. I smiled and nodded. I had never had a picnic before. I stood up and brushed off the grass sticking to my legs. I turned to leave through the forest path, and took one last look at the spot before ducking under the branches.
I ran when I got to the beach. I didn’t want to make Blossom wait for long, and I began worrying that maybe she would leave. The hot sand was hard to run in, and the sun beat down on the back of my neck. My breathing came rough and ragged as I ran down the street towards my house. I passed by families unloading there mini vans filled with beach things. Children running through sprinklers in their front yards, cooling down from the hot sun. The water splashing against them and refreshing the grass.
I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand and slowed my pace until I was walking again. My house came into view. I stopped in my tracks. There was a car in the driveway. No. It was a limousine. Black paint and shined until it mirrored the world. It’s dark windows allowing no eyes to pierce through it. My Father’s. He was home? But no one told me he was coming home. I knew My mother would be stopping by within the month, but no one told me my father would be home anytime soon.
And then as if the universe was reading my mind, a sleek red convertible pulled swiftly into the other side of the driveway. A woman with flowing blond hair and large sunglasses sat in the drivers seat.
My mother.
“ Ryder?” She called out with her honey-like voice, stepping out of her car. She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and flashed me a beautiful smile. I nodded slowly, trying to breath normal after my run. “ Oh sweet heart! Look how much you’ve grown!” She squeaked as she ran over to me. Her red sundress matched her fingernail polish. She wrapped me in a hug, and immediately jumped back.
“ Oh… sweetie.. Your all sweaty. What have you been doing? Come inside,” She looked me over with her blue eyes. After I had changed into new clothes, I sat at the table in the kitchen. I thought it was stupid that there was a table in the kitchen and in the dining room. What was the point?
I looked down at the wooden table, unsure what to think. My mother sat at the other end of the table, looking through her magazine. “ Have you been keeping up with you’re school work?” She said almost absent mindlessly.
“It’s summer, mom,” I replied quietly.
“ Right,” She smiled, lowering her magazine. “ You enjoyed summer school though, didn’t you?”
“ Sure,” I nodded once. I heard a door shut from down the hall, and my mother closed her magazine. Her lips formed a tight line on her suntanned face. I set my jaw tight, and waited.
Then he walked in. He was tall and he has light brown hair, cut and combed neatly. He was dressed in a suit and tie, tucking a cell phone into his pocket as he walked in. He looked at me first, his green eyes showing no emotion. A few freckles were scattered across the bridge of his nose and under his eyes. I looked a lot more like my father than I did my mother. I got his freckles, and eyes. Though mine were more bluish sea green rather than just strictly green. I had my mother’s hair, though she dyed hers to make it more blond. “ Hey kid.” he shook my hand. It was a lot bigger than mine.
“ His name is Ryder. In case you forgot that too.” My mother said, venom filling her words.
“ Nice to see you too, Sophia.” My father spoke with the same tone. I probably should have left then. I knew what was coming.
“ So Ryder, Rebecca told me you like the beach?” He turned back to me. I nodded. “ Maybe I could take you to one in Florida. The weather there is much nicer and the water is-”
“ Oh Richard, shut up! Don’t you dare fill that boy’s head with lies!” My mother snapped, smacking her magazine down on the table.
“Damn it, Sophia! Stop trying to tell me how to be a parent! He’s my son and if I want to take him somewhere then by all means I will!”
“ Oh, just like you were going to take him to Disney World? Or like you were going to take me to Italy? Right, you ‘Forgot’. You’re a liar!” She turned and began storming out.
“ And you’re a wannabe! You won’t even act like a mother to him! Go ahead! Walk out on him again!”
“ I’M NOT WALKING OUT ON HIM. I’M WALKING OUT ON YOU!” She screamed, waving her finger at him.
I clenched my fists as the yelling continued. It was like they didn’t even know I was there anymore. They were acting so horrible, as if I didn’t even matter. My mother threw a flower vase, shattering it against the wall next to my father. He shoved a chair over, snapping one of the legs.
All of a sudden, the kitchen sink exploded, water shooting from the broken spout. The water stream was so powerful it shattered the light in the ceiling above it. My parents stared, open mouthed at the sink. I stood up and ran. Out the door, out of the house, and away from the fight.
Calyx
Screaming. Was that it? No, no it was yelling. Someone was yelling. “RUN,” was all I heard.
So I did. I ran. But I wasn’t sure what I was running from. The voice had been dripping with urgencing, and...was that, fear? Things were going a little too fast for me. Suddenly everyone had crazy powers and insane lives. Was it- I just- was I really a part of this?
I wasn’t sure how to react to any of this. I mean, powers. Really? I had to be fair here, as in, I shouldn’t discard the possibility....but honestly. Suddenly everyone has the mad abilities, and now, we’re running from some magical voice? Yeah, it’s a bit doubtful.
Of course, things like this do happen.
To me, at least.
Like when I was 11 years old, on… the day.
My mother and I had been fighting. About what, I can’t remember for the life of me. But we were arguing. And she said something about my grades. Was that it? Had we been fighting about- apparently so. She told me that it just wasn’t good enough. That I really needed to improve if I was to go anywhere in life. And I began to shout. Saying things like, “None of it matters,” and, “It’s not like you care anyway,” which, of course was a lie. My mother cared so much. So did my dad.
I remember it now.
We had been fighting about my slipping grades. This would have been during my rebel stage. That point in my life where I took to skipping off class and burning my assignments… Had I really been that stupid? My mother mentioned getting me a tutor, someone to help me catch up, and I pretty much exploded.
From there, it’s a little fuzzy.
I remember hearing a crash, and seeing blood splatter, and then I’m sitting on my steps next to an officer, explaining that everything is my fault. But the officer doesn’t believe me. He tells me that I shouldn’t blame myself because there was no way I could have done that. He says not to worry, that my mum could still make it. He pats me on the back and walks over to my dad, and starts explaining about the court appearance. I can hear him. I hope he knows that.
He goes on to tell my dad about the driver who hit my mother with his car, saying things like “sue” and “jail”, but I tune out. My mother wasn’t hit by a car.
An image of my mum with her body crashed through the windshield of a car, all bloody and cut, races into my mind.
I shake my head and close my eyes, and push myself a little farther.
Bia screams telling me to leave her behind. But she’s in the present.
Instead, I push my mother out of my head and remind Bia she’s important too. And then I speed up, letting my heart start to race.
My feet hit the ground numerous times, and my arms are at my side, pumping like mad, trying to keep the pace I’m at. I bite my lip and run fast. If I don’t stop, nothing can get me.
I can’t spoil this.
After what happened to my mum, I made it my mission to be the perfect daughter. Even if she’d never see me this way, at least I wouldn’t be letting her down.
I was a failure of a daughter for her.
And I can’t let that happen again.
I’ve got to be who she wants.
I’ve got to keep running.
Because it was my fault. And it’s still going to catch up to me.
So I did. I ran. But I wasn’t sure what I was running from. The voice had been dripping with urgencing, and...was that, fear? Things were going a little too fast for me. Suddenly everyone had crazy powers and insane lives. Was it- I just- was I really a part of this?
I wasn’t sure how to react to any of this. I mean, powers. Really? I had to be fair here, as in, I shouldn’t discard the possibility....but honestly. Suddenly everyone has the mad abilities, and now, we’re running from some magical voice? Yeah, it’s a bit doubtful.
Of course, things like this do happen.
To me, at least.
Like when I was 11 years old, on… the day.
My mother and I had been fighting. About what, I can’t remember for the life of me. But we were arguing. And she said something about my grades. Was that it? Had we been fighting about- apparently so. She told me that it just wasn’t good enough. That I really needed to improve if I was to go anywhere in life. And I began to shout. Saying things like, “None of it matters,” and, “It’s not like you care anyway,” which, of course was a lie. My mother cared so much. So did my dad.
I remember it now.
We had been fighting about my slipping grades. This would have been during my rebel stage. That point in my life where I took to skipping off class and burning my assignments… Had I really been that stupid? My mother mentioned getting me a tutor, someone to help me catch up, and I pretty much exploded.
From there, it’s a little fuzzy.
I remember hearing a crash, and seeing blood splatter, and then I’m sitting on my steps next to an officer, explaining that everything is my fault. But the officer doesn’t believe me. He tells me that I shouldn’t blame myself because there was no way I could have done that. He says not to worry, that my mum could still make it. He pats me on the back and walks over to my dad, and starts explaining about the court appearance. I can hear him. I hope he knows that.
He goes on to tell my dad about the driver who hit my mother with his car, saying things like “sue” and “jail”, but I tune out. My mother wasn’t hit by a car.
An image of my mum with her body crashed through the windshield of a car, all bloody and cut, races into my mind.
I shake my head and close my eyes, and push myself a little farther.
Bia screams telling me to leave her behind. But she’s in the present.
Instead, I push my mother out of my head and remind Bia she’s important too. And then I speed up, letting my heart start to race.
My feet hit the ground numerous times, and my arms are at my side, pumping like mad, trying to keep the pace I’m at. I bite my lip and run fast. If I don’t stop, nothing can get me.
I can’t spoil this.
After what happened to my mum, I made it my mission to be the perfect daughter. Even if she’d never see me this way, at least I wouldn’t be letting her down.
I was a failure of a daughter for her.
And I can’t let that happen again.
I’ve got to be who she wants.
I’ve got to keep running.
Because it was my fault. And it’s still going to catch up to me.
Bia
Run. I heard the word, and I ran. Faster than I thought possible. Faster than anyone on the track team back at school, I think. I wasn’t even sure where I was headed, but the voice I heard had such urgency that I knew it was important for me to keep going. I couldn’t let whatever was back there get me.
Whatever it was.
As my feet pounded the dirt ground, thoughts flew through my head. Of ten minutes ago. A week ago. Last year. When I was twelve. This couldn’t be my life flashing before my eyes. I wasn’t dead—yet.
I stopped at a memory from when I was twelve. The summer before grade eight. The last year I had before Mom sold me to the demons.
My hair was shorter then, and a ligher shade of brown. My blue-ish eyes sparkled from underneath excessive purple eyeshadow and gobs of mascara. I had to wonder if it was blush on my cheeks or just a normal flush. Did I ever used to have colour? I can’t remember. I was lying on my stomach, on my bed, in a baby blue room with posters covering every wall. I had headphones in and an ancient Walkman was lying by my side. The CD playing? Can’t remember.
I had a tween magazing open in front of me to a page covered in pink hearts and bubbly letters. Some boy band was smiling up at me. Apparently I used to like that type of music, the fake stuff. But I used to like a lot of things that I don’t know.
A few scars were barely visible underneath an arm full of jelly bracelets. I had a fascination with those back in the day. As I did with pink pleather miniskirts, one of which I was wearing in this memory. The horror of all horrors: I paired it with a frilly white blouse that I had tied in the center to resemble a bra. I had to hope my mother didn’t let me leave the house like that. But knowing her, I probably wore it to school.
The phone rang from next to me and I gleefully answered it. The girl on the other end, Blaire, was one of my closest friends. We used to do everything together. Until that summer. Until she heard that I was making out with her ‘boyfriend’ at the time, a scrawny kid who hadn’t yet hit puberty. The rumor was false. A lot of them popped up when people found out my chest had grown considerably since they last saw me. I thought my best friend would understand. Apparently not.
The phone call lasted a couple minutes before I ran downstairs to see my mom. She had a guy over, someone who used to be our plumber, and they were laughing together in the kitchen. I made a horrible gagging noise in their direction before grabbing a bag of chips from the cupboard. Mom didn’t notice the noise, but she did notice the chips and turned around to yell at me about my weight.
“You’re getting fat, darling,” she said sweetly while holding the plumber’s hands out of her skirt.
I’d heard it all before. I left the room.
That Bia wouldn’t find herself in my present situation, running. I couldn’t imagine how we ended up the same person, how my mom ended up entangled with demons, or how I ended up bait for a master plan.
No. It made no sense at all.
“Bia, hurry up!” Calyx shouted at me. I sped up and tried to match her pace, but it was no use. She was athletic. I wasn’t.
“Just leave me behind,” I started to shout.
Calyx glared at me. “No way. You’re important too.”
Her words echoed in my head. “You’re important too.” You are. You matter, Bia. Calyx said so.
It has to be true. You have to be important.
No matter what Mom said.
I matter.
Whatever it was.
As my feet pounded the dirt ground, thoughts flew through my head. Of ten minutes ago. A week ago. Last year. When I was twelve. This couldn’t be my life flashing before my eyes. I wasn’t dead—yet.
I stopped at a memory from when I was twelve. The summer before grade eight. The last year I had before Mom sold me to the demons.
My hair was shorter then, and a ligher shade of brown. My blue-ish eyes sparkled from underneath excessive purple eyeshadow and gobs of mascara. I had to wonder if it was blush on my cheeks or just a normal flush. Did I ever used to have colour? I can’t remember. I was lying on my stomach, on my bed, in a baby blue room with posters covering every wall. I had headphones in and an ancient Walkman was lying by my side. The CD playing? Can’t remember.
I had a tween magazing open in front of me to a page covered in pink hearts and bubbly letters. Some boy band was smiling up at me. Apparently I used to like that type of music, the fake stuff. But I used to like a lot of things that I don’t know.
A few scars were barely visible underneath an arm full of jelly bracelets. I had a fascination with those back in the day. As I did with pink pleather miniskirts, one of which I was wearing in this memory. The horror of all horrors: I paired it with a frilly white blouse that I had tied in the center to resemble a bra. I had to hope my mother didn’t let me leave the house like that. But knowing her, I probably wore it to school.
The phone rang from next to me and I gleefully answered it. The girl on the other end, Blaire, was one of my closest friends. We used to do everything together. Until that summer. Until she heard that I was making out with her ‘boyfriend’ at the time, a scrawny kid who hadn’t yet hit puberty. The rumor was false. A lot of them popped up when people found out my chest had grown considerably since they last saw me. I thought my best friend would understand. Apparently not.
The phone call lasted a couple minutes before I ran downstairs to see my mom. She had a guy over, someone who used to be our plumber, and they were laughing together in the kitchen. I made a horrible gagging noise in their direction before grabbing a bag of chips from the cupboard. Mom didn’t notice the noise, but she did notice the chips and turned around to yell at me about my weight.
“You’re getting fat, darling,” she said sweetly while holding the plumber’s hands out of her skirt.
I’d heard it all before. I left the room.
That Bia wouldn’t find herself in my present situation, running. I couldn’t imagine how we ended up the same person, how my mom ended up entangled with demons, or how I ended up bait for a master plan.
No. It made no sense at all.
“Bia, hurry up!” Calyx shouted at me. I sped up and tried to match her pace, but it was no use. She was athletic. I wasn’t.
“Just leave me behind,” I started to shout.
Calyx glared at me. “No way. You’re important too.”
Her words echoed in my head. “You’re important too.” You are. You matter, Bia. Calyx said so.
It has to be true. You have to be important.
No matter what Mom said.
I matter.
Thirteen
For the first few hours before and after the dawn broke, Julianna struggled and complained. She fought and questioned. She spat and admonished. Now, however, she was sluggish and stumbling, like a battered drunkard. Her lids were half opened and her hair looked unkempt. “Bitch,” Julianna threw out aimlessly. I cocked a brow.
“Bitch? Pardon?”
“That’s what you are,” she yawned, water gathering at the corners of her eyes. I allowed my befuddlement to slow my pace.
“What are you proposing?” Julianna spared a short glance at me, then guffawed.
“What was so complicated about that sentence? I thought you were supposed to be intelligent.”
“'Bitch'… I know nothing of the sort...”
The peasant woman chortled. “You don’t know what the word bitch means? Jesus, I'm being taken hostage by a rebelling, sheltered teenager?”
“What?”
“Never mind,” Julianna muddled. She casted her eyes from mine now, as if I was a nuisance, then wetted her lips. “You have a strange way of speaking, girl. If you were designed to be a modern teenager, what’s with the accent and old style language? You’re not very modernized for a kid.”
“We speak the way of the Prophecy,” I settled, flaring my nostrils to bid the sweet, forest air into my lungs. Nine was much more proficient on tracking by scent, though that didn’t mean Three and I weren’t iniquitous. “The Prophecy took place in ancient times.”
“You’re really full of yourself, aren’t you—-”
“Quiet!” I hissed, throwing a single arm out in front of Julianna. My bones were of concrete—-or quite literally, steel——and the sound of Julianna’s abdominal making contact was unpleasant. “The song...”
The beautiful, enriched sound of a solemn song kissed my ears, vibrating into my chest. The song that I could not explain nor recite. Just listen. The song of the Protectors…
“A name, there is. Mirabella? Saddia? No… Calyx, perhaps? Yes, one of the traveling is by the name of Calyx—-” I am to blame, for I’d let my guard down. I’d been listening so contently to the sweet sound of the song, the beautiful versus of the unheard, that I hadn’t fetched the rumble pervading in Julianna’s own throat.
“RUN!” She screamed to the chosen. “GO!”
“Bitch? Pardon?”
“That’s what you are,” she yawned, water gathering at the corners of her eyes. I allowed my befuddlement to slow my pace.
“What are you proposing?” Julianna spared a short glance at me, then guffawed.
“What was so complicated about that sentence? I thought you were supposed to be intelligent.”
“'Bitch'… I know nothing of the sort...”
The peasant woman chortled. “You don’t know what the word bitch means? Jesus, I'm being taken hostage by a rebelling, sheltered teenager?”
“What?”
“Never mind,” Julianna muddled. She casted her eyes from mine now, as if I was a nuisance, then wetted her lips. “You have a strange way of speaking, girl. If you were designed to be a modern teenager, what’s with the accent and old style language? You’re not very modernized for a kid.”
“We speak the way of the Prophecy,” I settled, flaring my nostrils to bid the sweet, forest air into my lungs. Nine was much more proficient on tracking by scent, though that didn’t mean Three and I weren’t iniquitous. “The Prophecy took place in ancient times.”
“You’re really full of yourself, aren’t you—-”
“Quiet!” I hissed, throwing a single arm out in front of Julianna. My bones were of concrete—-or quite literally, steel——and the sound of Julianna’s abdominal making contact was unpleasant. “The song...”
The beautiful, enriched sound of a solemn song kissed my ears, vibrating into my chest. The song that I could not explain nor recite. Just listen. The song of the Protectors…
“A name, there is. Mirabella? Saddia? No… Calyx, perhaps? Yes, one of the traveling is by the name of Calyx—-” I am to blame, for I’d let my guard down. I’d been listening so contently to the sweet sound of the song, the beautiful versus of the unheard, that I hadn’t fetched the rumble pervading in Julianna’s own throat.
“RUN!” She screamed to the chosen. “GO!”
Ryder
And suddenly, it was clear. The wind. The breeze. It was there, and it had always been there. At the beach, at this pond, that’s what she had been looking at. I looked at it now, the wind, that is. It tossed Blossom’s blond curls around her face. Made her dress wave like a banner. The trees around us bloomed with white flowers, and the petals cascaded downward, covering the green grass in a blanket of white.
“The wind.” I nodded slowly, trying to say it the way she did. Blossom smiled again, gazing down at her pond. I suppose it was HER pond. Just like I had MY beach. I felt the same relaxation at this pond as I did on my beach. I couldn’t believe I had been missing that for so long. The way the wind blew the sea spray into my face. I was glad I found it, the wind. I was glad Blossom showed me.
The blades of grass tickled my bare legs, and I leaned to see my reflection in the pond. A few lily pads floated carelessly, some cradling beautiful flowers. “How old are you?” Blossom asked, dipping her finger tips into the water. The bottom of her dress dipped into the water as well, but she didn’t seem to notice, or even care.
“ Nine,” I told her, reaching out to touch the water carefully.
“ I’m seven,” she replied, offering another quiet smile.
And those were the last words we said for a while. I knew my beach wasn’t too far away, but it didn’t bother me that I couldn’t smell the salty air anymore. A fresh, flowery smell enveloped me. I was lying flat on my stomach now, staring down at the water. The water rippled as my fingertips met the surface. I watched the ripples grow, and spread until they met the ripples formed by the breeze. The breeze that I had never even noticed until Blossom showed up.
I sat up and closed my eyes. I enjoyed this breeze. It was cooling, but not cold. It was nice. It kissed my cheeks and tossed my hair. I listened to it, gently brushing the tree branches back and forth, blowing the flower petals into twisting whirlwinds. It was hard to believe, that I had never even noticed it before. I could clearly see, and hear this wind. Yet I had never once before acknowledged it.
I looked at Blossom and silently thanked her for sharing it with me.
“The wind.” I nodded slowly, trying to say it the way she did. Blossom smiled again, gazing down at her pond. I suppose it was HER pond. Just like I had MY beach. I felt the same relaxation at this pond as I did on my beach. I couldn’t believe I had been missing that for so long. The way the wind blew the sea spray into my face. I was glad I found it, the wind. I was glad Blossom showed me.
The blades of grass tickled my bare legs, and I leaned to see my reflection in the pond. A few lily pads floated carelessly, some cradling beautiful flowers. “How old are you?” Blossom asked, dipping her finger tips into the water. The bottom of her dress dipped into the water as well, but she didn’t seem to notice, or even care.
“ Nine,” I told her, reaching out to touch the water carefully.
“ I’m seven,” she replied, offering another quiet smile.
And those were the last words we said for a while. I knew my beach wasn’t too far away, but it didn’t bother me that I couldn’t smell the salty air anymore. A fresh, flowery smell enveloped me. I was lying flat on my stomach now, staring down at the water. The water rippled as my fingertips met the surface. I watched the ripples grow, and spread until they met the ripples formed by the breeze. The breeze that I had never even noticed until Blossom showed up.
I sat up and closed my eyes. I enjoyed this breeze. It was cooling, but not cold. It was nice. It kissed my cheeks and tossed my hair. I listened to it, gently brushing the tree branches back and forth, blowing the flower petals into twisting whirlwinds. It was hard to believe, that I had never even noticed it before. I could clearly see, and hear this wind. Yet I had never once before acknowledged it.
I looked at Blossom and silently thanked her for sharing it with me.
Blossom
I broke through the last layer of bushes along my freshly beaten path. The small buzz of the insects lurching throughout the trees filled my ears. The deciduous leaves picking out a beat to move to. The fresh smelling air almost always made me forget I was still in the city.
Then I gazed at it, my pond. The shimmer of my short frame broke apart as I dipped my toes into the water. This area was shielded from the heat of the sun, but the light still shone through the trees. “Do you see it now?” I asked as the boy, Ryder, took a seat next to me.
“I see the water, yes.” He replied.
“No, don’t you see the beauty of the wind?”
“I don’t see any wind,” he mumbled, confused.
“You see those ripples over the water?” I asked.
“Yes, but those are from your feet,” he stated.
“Look down there.” I pointed towards the opposite edge of the pond. “You see the way the wind pulls the ripples along the water? It works in perfect harmony with the water, never pushing to hard on it, taking only what it needs.”
We sat with only the sound of the wind between us.
Then I gazed at it, my pond. The shimmer of my short frame broke apart as I dipped my toes into the water. This area was shielded from the heat of the sun, but the light still shone through the trees. “Do you see it now?” I asked as the boy, Ryder, took a seat next to me.
“I see the water, yes.” He replied.
“No, don’t you see the beauty of the wind?”
“I don’t see any wind,” he mumbled, confused.
“You see those ripples over the water?” I asked.
“Yes, but those are from your feet,” he stated.
“Look down there.” I pointed towards the opposite edge of the pond. “You see the way the wind pulls the ripples along the water? It works in perfect harmony with the water, never pushing to hard on it, taking only what it needs.”
We sat with only the sound of the wind between us.
Ryder
I stared at the girl. I found it strange that she was here again. I had been coming to this beach for two years on my own, and not once had I seen her. And here she is, the second day in a row.
Blossom. That must have been her name, why else would she say it? I sucked in a deep breath and felt my cheeks flush when she spoke her name. “ Ryder,” I answered, narrowing my eyes as I stared at her. I wasn’t sure what to think. I had never been asked for my named while at the beach. Well, technically this girl- Blossom - didn’t ask me my name. But she told me hers. So it was only polite for me to do the same.
Blossom looked at me, pursing her lips, then looked back to the ocean. The silence between us wasn’t at all awkward. The sounds of the crashing waves filled it. It was nothing like the cold, harsh silence that enveloped me as I sat alone at dinner. Or while I was trying to sleep. Blossom. I had never met anyone with that name.
“ Isn’t it amazing?” Blossom said softly. I still stared at the horizon, and I thought of all the things in the picture that were amazing. I wondered which one Blossom was talking about.
“ The ocean,” I replied.
Blossom turned and a smile spread across her face, her eyes twinkling as she shook her head. “The WIND,” She answered, her lips forming each letter of the word as if they were sacred.
I narrowed my eyes, confusion clouding my features. The wind? That hadn’t been on my list of amazing things in this picture. I looked at the ocean again. Wind? Amazing? But you couldn’t even see it. What Blossom said didn’t make any sense to me. I looked. I looked as hard as I could, but I just wasn’t understanding. I saw water. The beautiful, sparkling, ocean water. But amazing wind? No.
“ Ryder,” Blossom tested out my name. “ I want to show you something.”
I reluctantly tore my gaze away from the ocean and looked at her. She gave me another little smile and turned away. It took me a second to realize she wanted me to follow her. I scrambled to my feet and went to catch up to her, embracing my curiosity.
Blossom. That must have been her name, why else would she say it? I sucked in a deep breath and felt my cheeks flush when she spoke her name. “ Ryder,” I answered, narrowing my eyes as I stared at her. I wasn’t sure what to think. I had never been asked for my named while at the beach. Well, technically this girl- Blossom - didn’t ask me my name. But she told me hers. So it was only polite for me to do the same.
Blossom looked at me, pursing her lips, then looked back to the ocean. The silence between us wasn’t at all awkward. The sounds of the crashing waves filled it. It was nothing like the cold, harsh silence that enveloped me as I sat alone at dinner. Or while I was trying to sleep. Blossom. I had never met anyone with that name.
“ Isn’t it amazing?” Blossom said softly. I still stared at the horizon, and I thought of all the things in the picture that were amazing. I wondered which one Blossom was talking about.
“ The ocean,” I replied.
Blossom turned and a smile spread across her face, her eyes twinkling as she shook her head. “The WIND,” She answered, her lips forming each letter of the word as if they were sacred.
I narrowed my eyes, confusion clouding my features. The wind? That hadn’t been on my list of amazing things in this picture. I looked at the ocean again. Wind? Amazing? But you couldn’t even see it. What Blossom said didn’t make any sense to me. I looked. I looked as hard as I could, but I just wasn’t understanding. I saw water. The beautiful, sparkling, ocean water. But amazing wind? No.
“ Ryder,” Blossom tested out my name. “ I want to show you something.”
I reluctantly tore my gaze away from the ocean and looked at her. She gave me another little smile and turned away. It took me a second to realize she wanted me to follow her. I scrambled to my feet and went to catch up to her, embracing my curiosity.
Blossom
I could see him again, seated all alone in the white sand. Today I chose not to sit with him, but to stand close to the water where the waves chose to roll up and kiss my toes. The spray of the sea left little speckles on my already spoiled white dress. Once again the wind brought my blond locks to lick my neck and tickle my cheeks.
I knew the boy was behind me, but I didn’t dare check. I could never be caught staring at a boy. I could never turn into my sister. But something about this boy drew me to steal a look. My cheeks burned scarlet when I came to the realization that he, too, was looking at me.
A sharp whip of the wind seemed to press me closer to him, pulling me away from the ocean which I had not come to view. The heat gushed to the bottom of my bear feet, lulling me forward. I would speak to the boy. He had intruded my thoughts for all of yesterday, today he would not get the satisfaction.
My lips felt glued together from not talking to anyone in a long while. My jaw pinched closed with fear. I perched myself a good arms-length away from the boy.
A name. A name was all I desired to know about this boy for now. A simple enough question to ask would be “What is your name?”, but my lips still slowly pried apart only to murmur my own. “Blossom,” Was all I stated.
I knew the boy was behind me, but I didn’t dare check. I could never be caught staring at a boy. I could never turn into my sister. But something about this boy drew me to steal a look. My cheeks burned scarlet when I came to the realization that he, too, was looking at me.
A sharp whip of the wind seemed to press me closer to him, pulling me away from the ocean which I had not come to view. The heat gushed to the bottom of my bear feet, lulling me forward. I would speak to the boy. He had intruded my thoughts for all of yesterday, today he would not get the satisfaction.
My lips felt glued together from not talking to anyone in a long while. My jaw pinched closed with fear. I perched myself a good arms-length away from the boy.
A name. A name was all I desired to know about this boy for now. A simple enough question to ask would be “What is your name?”, but my lips still slowly pried apart only to murmur my own. “Blossom,” Was all I stated.
Ryder
I sat up, pushing the heavy covers off me to embrace the conditioned air around me. I did what I did every morning, and stood at my window. The house I lived in was on a hill, about a mile or so from the beach. I could see my ocean from this window. The sun was bright today, making the sea sparkle in the distance. I could faintly smell the salty air and I imagined walking through the sand.
I sighed as I pulled myself away. It was a beautiful day, which meant a lot of people would be on my beach. Even knowing this, I wouldn’t stay away. I needed the salty air and rushing waves.
After I got dressed in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, I made my way to the kitchen, making sure my sneakers were tied first. “Good morning, Ryder,” Rebecca chirped as I walked in.
“ Good morning,” I answered softly, taking my place at the table. Rebecca was looking at the newspaper, sitting at the other end.
“ Going down to the beach again today? It’s real beautiful out,” She smiled, setting down the paper. I nodded and took a bite of the toast that the cook had placed in front of me. The plate seemed too big, and the eggs sat awkwardly alone in the center. I ate my breakfast and stood up from the table. Rebecca looked at me, as if to say something more, but then just looked back down at her paper.
When I stepped outside, the hot air clung to every part of me. I walked along the stone path and didn’t look back when I got the sidewalk. I could hear the ocean calling to me. Urging me forward.
I was right. The nice weather brought many families to my beach. I shook my head, but made my way into the sand. It wasn’t a surprise, I mean, it’s a hot summer day at a Maine beach. Of course a lot of people would be here. Little kids shrieked and giggled and adults and teenagers both were laid out, bathing in the sun. I walked along the beach until found a place where the people weren’t as congested, and I sat down. The water was a calm and the waves gentle. The little kids splashed in and out of the water, so I was guessing it wasn’t too cold.
I sighed and tried to clear my mind and lose myself in the ocean. But for one reason or another, all I could think about was the girl in the white dress. I looked around, but she wasn’t there. I stared off into the horizon and lost myself in the waves. The girl in the white dress flooding my thoughts.
I sighed as I pulled myself away. It was a beautiful day, which meant a lot of people would be on my beach. Even knowing this, I wouldn’t stay away. I needed the salty air and rushing waves.
After I got dressed in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, I made my way to the kitchen, making sure my sneakers were tied first. “Good morning, Ryder,” Rebecca chirped as I walked in.
“ Good morning,” I answered softly, taking my place at the table. Rebecca was looking at the newspaper, sitting at the other end.
“ Going down to the beach again today? It’s real beautiful out,” She smiled, setting down the paper. I nodded and took a bite of the toast that the cook had placed in front of me. The plate seemed too big, and the eggs sat awkwardly alone in the center. I ate my breakfast and stood up from the table. Rebecca looked at me, as if to say something more, but then just looked back down at her paper.
When I stepped outside, the hot air clung to every part of me. I walked along the stone path and didn’t look back when I got the sidewalk. I could hear the ocean calling to me. Urging me forward.
I was right. The nice weather brought many families to my beach. I shook my head, but made my way into the sand. It wasn’t a surprise, I mean, it’s a hot summer day at a Maine beach. Of course a lot of people would be here. Little kids shrieked and giggled and adults and teenagers both were laid out, bathing in the sun. I walked along the beach until found a place where the people weren’t as congested, and I sat down. The water was a calm and the waves gentle. The little kids splashed in and out of the water, so I was guessing it wasn’t too cold.
I sighed and tried to clear my mind and lose myself in the ocean. But for one reason or another, all I could think about was the girl in the white dress. I looked around, but she wasn’t there. I stared off into the horizon and lost myself in the waves. The girl in the white dress flooding my thoughts.
Fable
Bia ran ahead of Calyx and me to catch up wth Ivy, who was storming through the parking lot, screaming Chases’s name at empty cars.
I looked up at Calyx to see her scanning the woodsy area around us for a sign of that boy. She didn’t seem to notice that I was staring at her, so I gave her shirt a small tug.
“What?” she said distractedly.
I frowned. “Ivy seems… strange. Don’t you think?”
“No, she’s fine. She’s just popular. Not like Bia. She’s smart and funny. And she doesn’t hide in her house all the time.” Calyx stopped herself. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course.”
I thought about that for a couple minutes while we rushed to catch up with Bia and Ivy.
“Calyx, she seems different. We get girls like her at the fair, but she’s different than them. She’s like us.” I felt my lungs starting to burn from moving so fast.
She didn’t reply to what I’d said. Instead, she fell in step with the other two girls. I didn’t want to be left behind, so I ran up to them and let my feet fall at the same time as theirs.
“And Mom won’t even care if it was his fault, she’ll just blame it all on me,” Ivy was ranting. “it’s like she doesn’t even care that I have a life and I have friends. She always makes me spend time with my dumb brother. I wouldn’t care so much if he was cooler. But he’s such a dork.”
“At least you have a brother,” Calyx muttered sadly.
Bia chuckled. “From what I’ve heard, it’s best we have no siblings.”
“I have three sisters,” I added. “I haven’t seen them in a long time though.”
Calyx turned and finally acknowledged me. I smiled to myself.
“Why haven’t you seen them? Are they at college?” she asked.
I scoffed. “They didn’t even go to school, dummy. The oldest, Mirabella, left when I was a baby. She wanted to live in the real world. Saddia, my second-oldest sister, ran off with a boy she met at one of the fairs. I was a little kid then. Jynx left last year. We never found out why.”
“Weird names,” Ivy mumbled. “But I thought all kids had to have parents. Or guardians, at least. It’s the law.”
Bia and Calyx exchanged a worried look. I wasn’t sure what that meant.
“I’m a gypsy,” I informed the blonde twig.
She choked on air. “What?”
“Gypsy. We tell fortunes, we dance…” I trailed off.
“No, I know what that is. But… how can you be? I thought you were related to Bia. You two look similar,” Ivy commented.
I glanced over at Bia who had an expression of pure shock. How did we look similar? She was so… faded. I had colour. I was happy. She wasn’t. why was so so shocked, anyway?
“She’s Bia’s cousin,” Calyx said frantically. “Bia’s related to the gypsies and they needed Fable to stay with her for awhile… and…”
Bia sighed. “Give it up, Calyx. We’ll just tell her the truth. I trust her. I probably shouldn’t, but I do.”
“But…” Calyx sputtered.
Bia stared at her.
“Alright.”
“Fable isn’t related to either of us,” Bia began to explain. “She ran away from her troupe. She found us, somehow. We’re looking after her until… well, I don’t know when. But she’s stuck with us, or we’re stuck with her. It’s just, she has… powers. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I do too. Maybe you think we’re crazy. Maybe we are.”
There was a deafening silence as Ivy stared into Bia’s eyes for what seemed like decades. I counted the pebbles in the puddle near my feet. There were thirteen.
“What kind of powers?” Ivy said finally.
Calyx let out a breath. Bia smiled.
“I can read minds,” I boasted.
Ivy instantly reeled back, as if I was a threat. This made me giggle.
“I don’t do it unless I have to,” I explained. “It’s not nice to invade people like that.”
“Oh. What about Bia? What are her powers?” Ivy eyed Bia.
“I can create creatures.” Bia’s voice was hard, as if she expected a challenge. “With blood. My own blood. I don’t know how, either. I just need a little blood to make a mouse, or a cat, or like, a lizard… god I’m such a freak.”
“Yeah,” Ivy smiled. “But it’s cool.”
It is cool. We are cool. At least, I think so.
I looked up at Calyx to see her scanning the woodsy area around us for a sign of that boy. She didn’t seem to notice that I was staring at her, so I gave her shirt a small tug.
“What?” she said distractedly.
I frowned. “Ivy seems… strange. Don’t you think?”
“No, she’s fine. She’s just popular. Not like Bia. She’s smart and funny. And she doesn’t hide in her house all the time.” Calyx stopped herself. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course.”
I thought about that for a couple minutes while we rushed to catch up with Bia and Ivy.
“Calyx, she seems different. We get girls like her at the fair, but she’s different than them. She’s like us.” I felt my lungs starting to burn from moving so fast.
She didn’t reply to what I’d said. Instead, she fell in step with the other two girls. I didn’t want to be left behind, so I ran up to them and let my feet fall at the same time as theirs.
“And Mom won’t even care if it was his fault, she’ll just blame it all on me,” Ivy was ranting. “it’s like she doesn’t even care that I have a life and I have friends. She always makes me spend time with my dumb brother. I wouldn’t care so much if he was cooler. But he’s such a dork.”
“At least you have a brother,” Calyx muttered sadly.
Bia chuckled. “From what I’ve heard, it’s best we have no siblings.”
“I have three sisters,” I added. “I haven’t seen them in a long time though.”
Calyx turned and finally acknowledged me. I smiled to myself.
“Why haven’t you seen them? Are they at college?” she asked.
I scoffed. “They didn’t even go to school, dummy. The oldest, Mirabella, left when I was a baby. She wanted to live in the real world. Saddia, my second-oldest sister, ran off with a boy she met at one of the fairs. I was a little kid then. Jynx left last year. We never found out why.”
“Weird names,” Ivy mumbled. “But I thought all kids had to have parents. Or guardians, at least. It’s the law.”
Bia and Calyx exchanged a worried look. I wasn’t sure what that meant.
“I’m a gypsy,” I informed the blonde twig.
She choked on air. “What?”
“Gypsy. We tell fortunes, we dance…” I trailed off.
“No, I know what that is. But… how can you be? I thought you were related to Bia. You two look similar,” Ivy commented.
I glanced over at Bia who had an expression of pure shock. How did we look similar? She was so… faded. I had colour. I was happy. She wasn’t. why was so so shocked, anyway?
“She’s Bia’s cousin,” Calyx said frantically. “Bia’s related to the gypsies and they needed Fable to stay with her for awhile… and…”
Bia sighed. “Give it up, Calyx. We’ll just tell her the truth. I trust her. I probably shouldn’t, but I do.”
“But…” Calyx sputtered.
Bia stared at her.
“Alright.”
“Fable isn’t related to either of us,” Bia began to explain. “She ran away from her troupe. She found us, somehow. We’re looking after her until… well, I don’t know when. But she’s stuck with us, or we’re stuck with her. It’s just, she has… powers. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I do too. Maybe you think we’re crazy. Maybe we are.”
There was a deafening silence as Ivy stared into Bia’s eyes for what seemed like decades. I counted the pebbles in the puddle near my feet. There were thirteen.
“What kind of powers?” Ivy said finally.
Calyx let out a breath. Bia smiled.
“I can read minds,” I boasted.
Ivy instantly reeled back, as if I was a threat. This made me giggle.
“I don’t do it unless I have to,” I explained. “It’s not nice to invade people like that.”
“Oh. What about Bia? What are her powers?” Ivy eyed Bia.
“I can create creatures.” Bia’s voice was hard, as if she expected a challenge. “With blood. My own blood. I don’t know how, either. I just need a little blood to make a mouse, or a cat, or like, a lizard… god I’m such a freak.”
“Yeah,” Ivy smiled. “But it’s cool.”
It is cool. We are cool. At least, I think so.
Bia
I couldn’t keep my eyes off her hair. Ivy’s blond hair. The mane of hair with black tips that slowly faded into her almost-white strands.
Wow.
My hair seemed dull in comparison. Too dark, too long, too wavy. I wanted to cut it all off and give it to someone else. I didn’t deserve my hair.
I deserved nothing.
When I first asked Mom about my father, she told me I had none. I told her that my teacher said everyone was made from a mommy and a daddy, and my mother cursed my teacher’s name right in front of me.
It was another couple of weeks before she’d give me the next answer.
She told me my dad was killed before I was born. She said he loved me, but he had to die because that’s what fate intended. I asked if I’d see him in Heaven, and she told me I shouldn’t believe in fairy tales.
Then she told me the truth.
My father ran away when he heard I was pregnant. He wanted nothing to do with me. For an eight year old, this is hard to take. And my mom offered no comfort. All she said was, “I dealt with it. You should too.”
Wow.
My hair seemed dull in comparison. Too dark, too long, too wavy. I wanted to cut it all off and give it to someone else. I didn’t deserve my hair.
I deserved nothing.
When I first asked Mom about my father, she told me I had none. I told her that my teacher said everyone was made from a mommy and a daddy, and my mother cursed my teacher’s name right in front of me.
It was another couple of weeks before she’d give me the next answer.
She told me my dad was killed before I was born. She said he loved me, but he had to die because that’s what fate intended. I asked if I’d see him in Heaven, and she told me I shouldn’t believe in fairy tales.
Then she told me the truth.
My father ran away when he heard I was pregnant. He wanted nothing to do with me. For an eight year old, this is hard to take. And my mom offered no comfort. All she said was, “I dealt with it. You should too.”
Ember
“ Don’t worry Elin,” I reassured her. “ only a MORON wouldn’t believe what’s RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS FACE. And I’m sure Jack isn’t as STUPID AS HE IS LETTING ON.” I heard a grunt from outside the tent and I smiled at Elin. She didn’t smile back though. I looked away and curled up. I began to wonder what exactly was ahead of us. I wondered about all the things Elin knew, and what would become of all of us. I wondered what my parents were doing right now, and if they were worrying about me. I wondered if we would end up like those people in the newspaper. Labeled as terrorists.
As night fell, I heard Elin’s breathing slow into a steady inhale and exhale, telling me she was asleep. I held my hand in front of my face, the scene of the strange girl jolting off the car replying in my mind. How did I do that? More importantly, how did she catch up with our car? Would we be seeing her again? These thoughts weren’t exactly comforting, but I drifted off to sleep anyways.
As night fell, I heard Elin’s breathing slow into a steady inhale and exhale, telling me she was asleep. I held my hand in front of my face, the scene of the strange girl jolting off the car replying in my mind. How did I do that? More importantly, how did she catch up with our car? Would we be seeing her again? These thoughts weren’t exactly comforting, but I drifted off to sleep anyways.
Elin
Tears were still built up in my eyes. As much as I didn’t want to act this way, I couldn’t help it. Brady sat beside me, seemingly unsure of what to do to make me feel better. Ember had her arm strewn across my back.
I didn’t mean for him to hate us. I do not doubt that he will go back to his regular life after he finds a way to dump us. He would live his monotonous life until his powers start to build up. Then he would realize that he doesn’t know how to control it. By the time that happens someone will come for him. It could be the FBI, a demon, or someone who just doesn’t like the look on his face. It was the duty I had bestowed upon me by my parents to keep that from happening.
I let another tear roll down my cheek. I let in a shaky breath of clean, pine air. “You know, sometimes Jack doesn’t mean what he says,” Brady started, “he just doesn’t like anything without a logical explanation. Sometimes I even wonder if he believes in love.” Brady let a sigh escape his lips. I wiped the sticky tear from my cheek. I lifted my head out of the safe nook of my arms to face the dark blue tent that had been set up for us.
“If I can’t get him to believe me,” I paused, “I failed my parents, and everything they taught me.” We sat in silence for a few moments before Brady shifted himself to look out of the screen of the tent. He abruptly jerked himself out of our shelter; rustling leaves the only sign he was ever here in the first place.
I didn’t mean for him to hate us. I do not doubt that he will go back to his regular life after he finds a way to dump us. He would live his monotonous life until his powers start to build up. Then he would realize that he doesn’t know how to control it. By the time that happens someone will come for him. It could be the FBI, a demon, or someone who just doesn’t like the look on his face. It was the duty I had bestowed upon me by my parents to keep that from happening.
I let another tear roll down my cheek. I let in a shaky breath of clean, pine air. “You know, sometimes Jack doesn’t mean what he says,” Brady started, “he just doesn’t like anything without a logical explanation. Sometimes I even wonder if he believes in love.” Brady let a sigh escape his lips. I wiped the sticky tear from my cheek. I lifted my head out of the safe nook of my arms to face the dark blue tent that had been set up for us.
“If I can’t get him to believe me,” I paused, “I failed my parents, and everything they taught me.” We sat in silence for a few moments before Brady shifted himself to look out of the screen of the tent. He abruptly jerked himself out of our shelter; rustling leaves the only sign he was ever here in the first place.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Bia
I wanted to hate her, I really did. Ivy’s perfectly combed platinum blond hair screamed prep, as did her pink halter top and white (CLEAN!) skinny jeans. The girl’s lip gloss matched her shirt, for eff’s sake. Her mascara didn’t even clump.
All of her spelled out trouble; bitchy, bitchy trouble, but I was intrigued.
“So, we should hang out,” she was telling Calyx.
“Me too! Hang out with me too!” I wanted to scream, but didn’t. She looked Calyx’s age. Fourteen. I was fifteen. I was darker than her, much darker. And I’d seen things that would make her crap her pants.
“You too,” Ivy said coyly, staring at me. “Um, what did you say your name was?”
It then occurred to me I’d never introduced myself. “Bia. Bia Dellnor.”
“Oh yeah, I’ve heard of you. You go to the prep school, right? You hooked up with Draegan at my neighbour’s party!” Ivy giggled.
I frowned. Apparently everyone had heard. Peachy.
Calyx’s eyes narrowed and a blush rose to her cheeks. But why, though? Did she know Draegan? Did she hear about the party that I never actually attended? Maybe she could inform me what did happen the night everyone claims I hooked up with one of the scariest and most popular boys in the high school.
Because I honestly had no idea.
“Um, that wasn’t me,” I explained, my voice squeaking a little. “I wasn’t at that party.”
“Are there two Bia Dellnors?” Ivy asked.
I shook my head. “No, I just wasn’t there. It’s a rumor. I don’t go to parties.”
Ivy had a split second of disappointment in her eyes, then it faded. “Oh well. Your loss. Do you party, Calyx?”
“No, not really. I mean, I’ve gone to study parties,” Calyx admitted.
“Right.” Ivy did not seem pleased.
I turned my face away from this conversation, not wanting to address the sinking feeling in my stomach. Fable was giving me a strange look but all I could think about was darkness. Again.
“Hey, where’s your brother?” I asked Ivy.
“He’s at our booth,” she breathed lightly, looking over at where she’d once sat. “Or, not?”
Fable started to laugh.
“Omigod, where is he? Mom’s going to kill me! Shit shit shit… where’d he go? I have to find that worthless piece of crap!!” Ivy tore away from our group and ran over to the booth as if he’d gone invisible.
Fable poked my arm which was holding half an ice cream cone. “He ran out the door awhile ago.”
A plan emerged in my head and I couldn’t help but smile as the actions revealed themselves to me. This was perfect.
“We could help her look,” I offered.
Calyx beamed. “That’s a great idea! Um, Fable, do you want the rest of this?”
Fable frowned at the melted maple pecan ice cream. “No. Ew.”
Calyx tossed her ice cream into a garbage can near the counter and we ran after Ivy, who was now storming out the door in the same fashion I imagined her chubby brother to have done. Fable was still clutching her cone, not aware the ice cream was dripping out the bottom.
I was excited.
Ivy would owe us after this. She would HAVE to spread a counter-rumor. I could finally have my name cleared by (what I was guessing to be) a popular.
Awesome.
All of her spelled out trouble; bitchy, bitchy trouble, but I was intrigued.
“So, we should hang out,” she was telling Calyx.
“Me too! Hang out with me too!” I wanted to scream, but didn’t. She looked Calyx’s age. Fourteen. I was fifteen. I was darker than her, much darker. And I’d seen things that would make her crap her pants.
“You too,” Ivy said coyly, staring at me. “Um, what did you say your name was?”
It then occurred to me I’d never introduced myself. “Bia. Bia Dellnor.”
“Oh yeah, I’ve heard of you. You go to the prep school, right? You hooked up with Draegan at my neighbour’s party!” Ivy giggled.
I frowned. Apparently everyone had heard. Peachy.
Calyx’s eyes narrowed and a blush rose to her cheeks. But why, though? Did she know Draegan? Did she hear about the party that I never actually attended? Maybe she could inform me what did happen the night everyone claims I hooked up with one of the scariest and most popular boys in the high school.
Because I honestly had no idea.
“Um, that wasn’t me,” I explained, my voice squeaking a little. “I wasn’t at that party.”
“Are there two Bia Dellnors?” Ivy asked.
I shook my head. “No, I just wasn’t there. It’s a rumor. I don’t go to parties.”
Ivy had a split second of disappointment in her eyes, then it faded. “Oh well. Your loss. Do you party, Calyx?”
“No, not really. I mean, I’ve gone to study parties,” Calyx admitted.
“Right.” Ivy did not seem pleased.
I turned my face away from this conversation, not wanting to address the sinking feeling in my stomach. Fable was giving me a strange look but all I could think about was darkness. Again.
“Hey, where’s your brother?” I asked Ivy.
“He’s at our booth,” she breathed lightly, looking over at where she’d once sat. “Or, not?”
Fable started to laugh.
“Omigod, where is he? Mom’s going to kill me! Shit shit shit… where’d he go? I have to find that worthless piece of crap!!” Ivy tore away from our group and ran over to the booth as if he’d gone invisible.
Fable poked my arm which was holding half an ice cream cone. “He ran out the door awhile ago.”
A plan emerged in my head and I couldn’t help but smile as the actions revealed themselves to me. This was perfect.
“We could help her look,” I offered.
Calyx beamed. “That’s a great idea! Um, Fable, do you want the rest of this?”
Fable frowned at the melted maple pecan ice cream. “No. Ew.”
Calyx tossed her ice cream into a garbage can near the counter and we ran after Ivy, who was now storming out the door in the same fashion I imagined her chubby brother to have done. Fable was still clutching her cone, not aware the ice cream was dripping out the bottom.
I was excited.
Ivy would owe us after this. She would HAVE to spread a counter-rumor. I could finally have my name cleared by (what I was guessing to be) a popular.
Awesome.
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