A short story
My alarm went off at 6:45am. I felt gluggy and sick and my limbs ached more than usual. That was by far the worst nightmare I’ve had all week and id had some pretty bad ones.
Getting ready for school was always a battle for me. I didn’t want to do it but I knew I had to. Why couldn’t I just stay home? A new school means a new hell. Boarding school was not a place for someone like me. I was dangerous. I could hurt them and have no control over it. I could make people do whatever I wanted just by thinking it. That was my secret and the reason I had begged my mum to send me away by myself but instead she decided to send me to a confined building full of people with no way out. Brilliant.
What kind of uniform was this anyway? Long grey skirt with a single pleat, a black tie that hung to my belly button, and a long sleeved white blouse. It’s as if they want us to look ugly. I could hear mum calling me from downstairs.
“Hurry up Evelyn! You can’t be late on your first day,” I wish I could.
“I’m coming mum!” I raced across my room and packed my bag while simultaneously dressing myself. I just want things to stay still for once. I want to have a chance to evaluate my life for what it was; a chance to think. I guess you could say my family wasn’t all that normal; I had a mother who was paranoid that the mail man was a spy for the Russians, a dad who had died before I was born, a brother that’s a mute but even then he’s annoying but I had my books. They were always there for me. I guess they were kind of like my escape from reality.
“What on earth are you doing Evelyn?” My mother sounded frustrated as she walked into my room. She often was in the early hours of the morning. I suspect my brother, Max, had made getting him ready for school especially difficult today or maybe the mail had come early.
“You’re going to be late now!” She stormed out of my room and downstairs. “Get in the car”
“Yes mum”
By the time we got to Carterville Preparatory School my palms were sweaty and my stomach was doing flips.
“I’ll walk you in Evie” The school looked like some sort of medieval castle. Old brick walls, tall towers, barred windows. Actually it looked more like a prison when I noticed the security guards standing at every exit. Visions of nightmares clouded my mind but I managed to push them away when I noticed a tall, rugged boy leaning against one of the school walls. His hair was sandy blonde and scruffy and his hands were tucked away in his pockets. It took me a few moments to realise he was looking at me. Oh crap I’ve been staring at him. He looked so calm. It was like he knew me from somewhere. In a split second he went from a dreamy boy who had actually noticed me to a boy who was flipping me off and walking away. The first attractive boy I’ve met and I’ve already scared him away. I let out a deep sigh and caught up to mum who was in deep conversation with one of the guards nearby. She owned a drycleaner so she liked to be in other people’s business. I hate how things continue through the family; I act just like my mum.
We were lead through the giant metal gate by a young woman who appeared to be sweet and innocent. I didn’t buy it. They asked that I don’t make conversation with any of the students yet because they were fragile given that they haven’t seen visitors in a long time. That’s not suspicious at all.
The tour took half an hour and I can’t say it change my view on this place one bit. It was still a prison; a place where souls come to die. It was also my home for the next 3 months.
Mum and I said our goodbyes and she handed over my suitcase.
“You be good okay? Control yourself”
“I’ll see you on Open Day in 5 weeks oh and Happy Birthday Darling”
“Bye mum” And that was that. She was driving away in our little blue minivan leaving me to the depths of Carterville. I walked slowly towards the entrance. I noticed that the guard was watching me so I turned to him confused.
“Welcome to Carter Prep” He said and I watched in horror as his face rippled and I saw what was underneath. Demons weren’t real, impossible. The boy ran past me so fast I questioned whether I had actually seen him but he stood right in front of me shielding me with his arms. The demon growled deeply at him and spoke with a hissing voice.
“Move boy, you have no business here” He didn’t move. He stood bravely while I barely managed to stay upright.
“You are the one with no business. You know the rules Aligon. If you break a sacred law you will suffer” The thing stepped back slowly almost slithering. The boy let his posture soften as the demon walked away transforming back into a guard. What had just happened? Another nightmare? Why wasn’t I waking up?
“What just-. How did-” I couldn’t finish my sentences. “Who are you?” I could hear the quiver in my voice.
“I’m your protector and that’s all you need to know. Stay away from the guards okay?”
“No not okay! This isn’t real, it couldn’t be. It’s just another nightmare”
“Another nightmare? You have them a lot? What are they about?” I held both hands up in a stopping motion
“A question for a question” He nodded
“I’m not here because of a random decision my mum made am i?” Why was I acting so cool about this? It definitely was not cool.
“You are here because she wants you here”
“Who?” He shook his head at the ground and look deeply into my eyes
“You need to come with me. I have to keep you safe. Please Evie” He realised a moment before I did. My mind clouded as I began to remember everything I had forgotten.
“Zeke?” His face turned from shock into horror. He held me so close I could feel his heart beating over my own; His embrace gluing me to the earth for a few moments. I could feel the burning start in my feet, making its way up to my knees, then my waist. I was consumed by a holy fire but felt no heat. I felt strong but weak. Lost but found.
“No…NO!” Zeke’s cries were drowned out by a buzzing sound then a complete and continuous silence. He knew what was about to happen. I knew.
“Find me” I said before I was sucked into the blackness and lost.
My alarm went off at 6:45am.
Divergent Quotes→”But I will find new habits, new thoughts, new rules. I will become something else.”
Divergent Quotes →You think my first instinct is to protect you. Because you’re small, or a girl, or a Stiff. But you’re wrong.” He leans his face close to mine and wraps his fingers around my chin. His hand smells like metal. When was the last time he held a gun, or a knife? My skin tingles at the point of contact, like he’s transmitting electricity through his skin. “My first instinct is to push you until you break, just to see how hard I have to press.”
“Becoming fearless isn’t the point. That’s impossible. It’s learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it.”
“The chasm reminds us that there is a fine line between bravery and idiocy”
