Chapter I

uploading this again... because I changed it... a lot.

I

 

 

Gasp, I bolt up from my sleep.

Gasp, my eyes are unable to focus.

Gasp, the world shifts off it’s center leaving me grappling for straws.

Everything. Is. Wrong. My room… everythin’s in place. Like I never attempted to run away, Katherine never came… like it was all a bad dream. But I can’t shake the feeling that I was wrong. What happened? What happened?! I struggle to remember something that should be easy. I look at my hands �" normal hands �" but then why wouldn’t they be? And then at my arms expecting bruises, but then why should there be?  

 I slowly pull back my covers watching everything in the room very carefully. I blame it all on paranoia as I run my fingers through my raven hair. A cold shiver like chill ran across my head. Pulling my hand back, it’s a bracelet. A thick and gold lightning bolt that wraps around my wrist. This isn't mine. I try to pull it off but it won’t budge. It’s like it hits a cosmic wall and did a grumpy-cat ‘No’. Oh forget it! I go to my closet pulling on the first thing my hand touched. “Dad!” I shout barging out of my room. “Lily!” I trample down the step. Where is everyone?

I hit the bottom step but freeze, halt, sever. There, staring at me with austere blue eyes is a man. Not just any man you might pass on the street. I bet he couldn’t walk three feet from his door without all eyes on him. His short snow hair contrasted against his black clean-cut garbs. He holds himself tightly with his arms behind his back.

Dumbfounded, I step closer, “Umm, what are you doin’ here?” How did you get in here? Why are you in here? What do you want?  He didn’t say anything… didn’t even move.

He wouldn’t dignify me with such answers. No, so I wouldn’t beg and I wouldn’t plead. I rush at him, equipping myself for a fight�" hoping that I’m quicker than him, hoping that I have surprise on my side, get them before they get you �" but before I reach him, he raises his hand. In that simple motion, that careless sweep through the air, a ripple of sound, like dropping a penny in a lake, bounces around me. I couldn’t make a move toward him, like I’ve hit a wall.

His dull face contorts as he shakes his head, “I didn’t think you were much for the theatrics … I see I was wrong.” He c***s his head to the side looking at me, speaking with an accent that’s hard to pinpoint, like he’s from everywhere.

I shout angrily, “You drugged me!” Oh hell!

 He straightens, ignoring me, “You are Rayne Daniels,” walking around me. My body moves involuntarily with his, “And I am Xerxes, Mentor Xerxes. You are being hunted down by people who want to harm you & you must leave this world with me to Saungora Island. I have charmed that bracelet so that it will keep people like you invisible from the visible plane. We must go now, your last encounter called too much attention.”

Now I understand, “Ohh… you’re a mental patient.” Instantly relieved that he didn’t kill people. It all makes sense now!

“Children of this century are very irritating, although, they get more so with each passing one.” So what I’m hearing is that you aren’t denying. “Of course I am not mental. How do you presume that you managed to escape an Armonian foot soldier that was sent to either kill or recruit you?”

“What do you �"?” I start to ask but along with a splitting head rush, but as they say, it all came rushing back to me.

I woke up yesterday morning, my head was pounding, much like now. My arms were weak and tight but I could feel the plush of a comfy bed under my fingers. I fight my way into an upright position, peeling my eyes open, and the sting of light nearly blinded me. The walls were a faded blue and it smelled like… a hospital �" like dead things, bleach, and flowers.

I take in the room trying to remember what I was doing here. As far as my knowledge I hadn’t cut myself in a week, I remembered to eat at least one and half meals a day, and I hadn’t gotten into any fights at the club. And my SSWA (Supervisin’ Suicide Watchin’ Adult) wasn’t anywhere in sight. I absentmindedly touched my bandaged arm. They normally don’t leave me by myself, afraid I’ll run away. I grin, means I better seize this opportunity.

I moved from my bed to the door and looked out. A cop stood, half diligent. The police? Ohmygod…Nicolia! I remember. Where is Nicolia? Is he dead? What do the police know? The police and I have never exactly been cordial to one another. I have to find Nicolia. I changed quickly in the nearest thing I could find and snuck out of the room while the cop had his back turned… like I said half-diligent. It doesn’t take long to find Nicolia Garden’s room, I know this hospital like the back of my hand. I closed the door behind me after grabbing his clipboard and looking around.

I scanned it fast. He had severe head trauma from what they guessed was a pipe or multiple large rocks and three sets of tiny puncture wounds on his abdominal from a double prong weapon or snake. They’d drawn the dots and it looked like a small pentagram. They didn’t know when or if he’d wake up. The word jumped across the page catching my attention… Comatose. He’s scheduled to be put on a breathing machine tomorrow.

I slumped down in the chair silently clenching the board in my lap as tears fight their way down my cheeks. I reached for his hands, his cold still hand. They were pasty and weak. All I could think was “please wake-up, please… open your eyes, look back at mine, and tell me things are gonna be fine.”

“They were lookin’ for you,” What did he mean?

“Real sneaky what you did.” I just don’t understand.

“Please come back.” I squeezed harder. When I was with Nicolia I felt so at peace, like nothing could hurt me even if it tried. So calm, my brain stopped spinning and for a while I’m not angry. He takes away the madness in my life. I wanna fall madly in love with him. I want him to be the one. I do love him.

“I do love you. I love you,” I whispered to his lips. “It’s all my fault.”

I’d ran after seeing him, ran sneakily out of the hospital… I didn’t want to cause any more damage to anyone… so I figured it was better to run away. I lifted a jacket and a wallet off two mourners at the hospital and cabbed it all the way home in Loganville.

As soon as I stepped on the doorsteps I heard Zendáza squawking away from her cage. This will be the first place they look for me when they realize I’m gone but it’ll take a good hour or two. I might be troubled but I’m smart. I remember letting Zendáza, my large black raven, out her cage and dumping out my books from my bag. Running away just as we get back from Winter Break, I’m gonna be remembered all right.

I piled clothes into my bag, fitting as much as possible, thinking about the night before. New York with Dad or the Crackhead’s house with that mother… worse the Big House… police probably think I put Nicolia in a coma since I was covered in his blood… or maybe I’ve just seen too many episodes of Law and Order? Then there’s the matter that Nicolia said ‘they were lookin’ for me.’ Vague or what?

I found Dad’s emergency credit card. Thanks Dad… sorry for the bill I’ll leave after max this out… well slightly sorry, a smidge. Zendáza shook her head with the sad eyes of a mourning mother bird. This isn’t the New Year I had planned either okay. Lose a few pounds maybe… not on the run from cops….

I ignored her stare trampling down the steps with my bag. I paused taking notice of the wide open door. Odd… thought I closed that.

“Running away?” I heard and it creeps my skin. The voice of that guy, like a harsh winter, stood proudly in my house… Aidan. He flashed me his confident smirky smile and looked me over as if he belonged and I was the intruder.

“What are you doin’ here?!” I gaped… now positive I locked that door.

“I came for you… you are running away, aren’t you?” I’m a bit taken aback by the lack of that southern Georgia accent that used to attract me so much. He stepped towards me side glancing my bag. I wanted to back away and leave but my feet felt frozen in place.

“Leave,” I demand willing myself not to move back, but he smirked tilting his arrogant head with eyes that usually view me as his little marionette doll, I was used to that. But now, his eyes have a furious fire flaring within them, they are that of Count Olaf’s �" mischievous and sly, dangerous and murderous. I couldn’t move away now even if I wanted to.

With movement of a snake, he slithered forward folding his brusque arms about me �" shivers erupt against my skin, “The Provenance requests your presence and I am obliged to give him what he wants.” I thrashed against him trying not to remember the way his hands warmed me up, how our lips moved under the stars, and the way he smelled… like freedom.

“Aidan it’s safe to say I think you finally lost it!” I shoved him hard until we broke away.

“You’re thinking about me, even now. I feel it, you know that’s not the hardest you can fight. I could always take my prize…” His eyes alight with mischief.

“Aiden I don’t have time for your games. I’m �"”

“You’re leaving I know. One small messily coma and you're ready to give up.”

“You know?” That threw me, I was stumbling back as sudden throes of anguish stab my heart. How did he know? It just happened yesterday? The world slowed but my heart accelerated. Did he? My hands tremble. Did he?

A great pain exploded around me, it was like the air had caught fire and I was just in the middle. I cover my eyes to protect myself but the flames followed… attached to me as it warmed my skin. I gasp holding my hands in front of me as electric currents swarm around my skin giving me frigid goosebumps. Once when I was seven, I picked up a live wire and burned the tips of my fingers but this felt nothing like that.

“Did you hurt him?!” I scream as explosions of glass echoes through the air. My visage bounces off the thousands of raning glass and I see my long black hair flow wildly down my shoulders as my incongruous chill blue eyes match the color of the electricity flowing around my arms. He fell back surprised and amused.

“You’re power matches your eyes my dear; an African American with bluer eyes than the ocean,”

“Stop it! Stop it! What are you doing to me!” I scream but little blue tendrils zip and zap burning holes in the wall.

“I did nothing love,” He smiles gleefully, “Crazy is a very good look on you.”

I back away almost tripping over my feet as I stare in amazement as powerful electric blue bolts slither around my fingertips like lightning. “You’re different Rayne, so very different �" so very powerful. Come with me. I will take you home, a home for people like us.” He reached out for me. I gazed at him squinting. Was he nuts? Was I nuts? There's like lightnin’ comin’ from my fingers! Obviously I’m nuts! Even crazier… I want to.

Zendáza stared at me like she was awaiting an order. “I can’t�"”

Frowning, “Excuse you?”

“I can't. You… You hurt Nicolia.”

“No one cares about insignificant Nicolia Garden! Rayne… you misunderstood,” he shakes his head laughing. “This isn't a choice, a request to join a party. Since the first attempt failed I’ve been tasked to take you & I don’t care whether you agree or not.”

He came closer the more I counter back, what’s wrong with him? “Zendáza!” I whirled around running as fast and as hard as my feet would take me. I barely saw Zendáza swarm at him, squawking and screeching, biting and clawing.

I can’t fight him, he was always better at it than me. In martial arts, I could best everyone else but him. A desperate feeling, like being strangled, builds inside of me and the static grows louder, more blue wisps surround my hands get bigger and stronger until the force moves from me cratering the ground. I shouted out, flinching. Dirt erupts, I lose my balance and collapse to the ground as it blanketed the sky.

His voice creeps ever near, “You can't even control it!” He chuckled. The feeling builds faster this time, block after block stacked on top of each other in quick procession. The flick on a hand destroys building, releases as another explosion and he jumps unexpectedly. Stop doin’ that!

“You lil �" �" Look �"” His voice faded away, reappearing right in front of me and I felt his hand grip my shoulder and force me back. “You can't win… no matter how powerful The Provenance thinks you are. I will always be victorious! Now you will come with me.”

“I don’t want to!” He moved in a blur but I felt a powerful swat cross my face. It echoed though the unsettled dust swarming in the air. My cheek stings like an angry bee. It takes a minute before I register that he’s hit me �" hard. Even in class, he never struck me.

“You don’t have an option!” His voice deep and dark. Even in the dusty air, I saw red gleaming eyes if only for a split second. I shrink down to the ground touching my face gently, glaring at him. He exhaled sharply and composes himself. “I’m sorry. You make me so frustrated. I just love you too much.” His voice sounds normal but his words are what flabbergast me.

My eyebrow raised in disbelief, “The hell!? LOVE! You don’t even know what love is you twisted son of a -!” I screamed. He actually convinced himself that he loved me! Oh my f*****g God!

He smiles shaking his head, “We hit a rough patch that’s all babe. It’ll be easy to convert you when you get used to being around us… in time.” Whoa he really musta’ fried his brains in a volcano or somethin’! and did he just call me babe… eww.

“Convert? Are you catholic!?”

“Your humor excites me.” He rolled his eyes while I get to my feet.

“Go tell the Provenance to suck it!” I think of every thing that’s ever made me mad, angry, upset, hurt, and enraged as I instinctively point my open palms towards him. Please work, please work. A large beam of blue light burst from my hands spanning out as tall and wide as the world would allow. The pure shock on his face slightly amuses me. Then it’s all gone, little dots spot my vision, and I feel my head ringing as my hands grasp the ground.

I want, try, and fail to crawl back to my house. My arms are shaking too much. I can hardly stand the pain. My body feels so spent that I hardly remember anything past breathing.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” a voice around me buzzes but the room is spinning too much for me to focus my eyes. Please don’t kill me; I’ll never attempt to run away again. I’ll stop causin’ trouble. I promise, “You might just live through this.” My head hit the ground exhausted. Was Zendáza alive, was Aidan alive, was I alive for that matter? If not, it’s been a good ride.

“I remember now. You were there. And Aidan! Where is that son of a �"!?” I look over my shoulder angrily wishing that b*****d would show his face. I might not beat him, but I’ll land a good kick between those legs.

“He managed to shimmer away before your blast could kill him.”

Shimmer? I touch my head, “Everything you say makes no sense. None of this is possible. It was all a terrible dream. For all I know, this could be a dream, a very strange dream, a very long dream. But if you are real, you might wanna leave before my father gets here or he’ll kill you.”

“As I stated before �" that bracelet makes you invisible to the humans.”

“Yeah sure,” I scoff, “You just wait til he gets here.”  

“Fine,” he lifts his hand again. I flinch but this time a white mist paints the air in front of him as he moves. I watch the window as cars speed in and out of our neighborhood way past the recommended speed limit.

My eyes drift down to my watch seeing the hands of the clock speed around resting on 3:14 pm. A minute ago, I was positive it was 7: 28 am. Not possible… this thing is busted.

I hear keys jingle and the door swings open. DAD! I discard my thoughts as a smile stretches across my face, but as my eyes catch sight of him it becomes a fast frown. His eyes are red and he looks like he hasn't shaved or slept in days. His hair is steadily becoming a mess and his clothes look like he hasn't washed, or ironed, or eaten at all.

“Dad?” I mumble confused. He rubs his face before stepping in the house, “DAD!” I yell louder. Not even a blink. He stops short in front of me and I pray he can see me (and that this was all a nasty joke for attemptin’ at runnin’ away). He shifts his head towards the stairs as if he’s expecting me to come running down with my hair in pigtails, spin me around in the air, and give me his famous bear hug. “DAD!” I scream waving my hands around in his face suddenly missing those days too�" but not even a wince. He walks straight through me and I don’t even feel it.

With wide eyes, “Don’t tell me I’m dead!” I tug at my hair as I shake my head. “I don’t think I could handle being dead!”

“You are not dead! You can believe that but you can't seem to grasp that you're being hunted down like cattle?” He looks slightly agitated. “You are invisible to humans… for the third time. I tried to tell you but if you need any more convincing, go see for yourself.” He waves his hand in the air again.

I pause, oddly needing to test out my feet then walk down the hall, through the kitchen, and to the living room. Dad’s already pulling out a bottle of liquor from the normally locked liquor cabinet. Before he closes it, I note that there are many other missing bottles. He slams down on the couch turning on the news, chugging straight from the tap.

I’m distracted from the horror of him drinking by the alarm of the date on the TV, “This is wrong! It’s Friday! It has to be Friday… it was just Thursday…” but Monday flashes on the screen.

“The battle between you and the Armonian �"”

“Aidan,” I clarify simpering with rage.

“The battle between you and… Aidan,” he tests the name on his tongue like it’s unfathomable that he has a name, “took a lot of energy from you. I healed you but you had to sleep for two extra days before you were fully rejuvenated. Believe what you will.” I did believe it, I remember it. The windows exploding, the slice on my arm right open, the fight… everything. Which means Nicolia is really in a coma….

My head is reeling and my lungs shrinking, “How�"” I start but a flyer holds my attention before I can finish. ‘MISSING: RAYNE ADALEE DANIELS’ and below is a picture of me last summer in front of the Grand Canyon. ‘Last seen at Gwinnett Medical Center… Reward for her safe return: $50,000’.

I’m hit with this sadness that feels like talons are stabbing me deeper and deeper, never ending, “You gotta let me see‘em.” He doesn’t answer, sets his jaw and stares straight �" as if to say he won’t be moved by my tears. “Hey! You have to let me see him! I said such awful things to him.”

 The door opens and female heels coming clicking down the hallway. Expecting it to be Kelly but when I turn, I’m awestruck by the woman who turns the corner. It’s Katherine… she cleans up nice…. Her hair is straight and shiny… and clean. There are no dark circles under her eyes and her face is brighter. She’s even dressed in a black-n-white business dress.

“Jamar,” she lays keys on the counter sighing, “Come on.” She walks over to him nearly fighting to get the bottle from his hand. I swear if she could see me I’d kiss her… or at least consider it.

“Leave Kat,” he grumbles with sagging cloudy eyes.

“No! Someone has’ta keep you and this house from fallin’ apart.” She walks back into the kitchen to throw away the bottle.

“It’s already fallen apart,” Dad murmurs nearly crying.

“Get up!” Katherine’s words shock me, “I will not make Lillian go through this! Get up! Go take’a shower right now!”

Xerxes looks away, the coward, “We should go. We’ve overstayed our welcome.”

“No.” I stand my ground. I will not abandon them the way Kat left me, not ever.

His ears stand and eyes narrow, “No? One fight with an Armonian Soldier and you’re ready to take on an armada? Heed my warning, Armonian Soldiers are ruthless creatures, they kill anything standing in their way…including their own families and the families of others. Do you wish that upon yours… to have to sit back and watch them die or actually kill them with your own two hands? If you come with me you keep them safe.” I hesitate, “If the Armonian Soldiers don’t sense your presence they have no reason to be here. They are smarter than your average criminal but when you leave this dimension you become vulnerable & I will not help you. And if you choose to join them, I will have to kill you before you become a problem.” He says dully like everything else he’s said to me.

 I don’t understand what half of that meant, but what I did get was... “You’re takin’ me hostage?”

“No, you can come with me and live or choose to leave… and either die by their hands or by mine,” Thanks because that won’t scare me more, “You have choices,”

I watch Dad trudge pass me, down the hall, and up the stairs. I did leave ‘cause I thought they were better without me… and it turns out they are. Wow, the irony of my life.

“Why now?” I cringe holding onto the countertop looking at my feet.

“You seemed to have activated your power Wednesday night �" you are useless without power,” I could feel his eyes staring at me. I sigh roughly taking all this in. So I wasn’t dead, I wasn’t dreamin’ last night… Aidan really attacked me, Nicolia is really in a coma, and Zedric really left me there to die.

 “Can I at least say goodbye to my friends, if not my family. They must be freaking out,” I ask him feeling sick to my stomach. If I was forced to watch anymore of this I’d puke.

“I’ll think it over.” 

That was probably the best thing I was gonna get from him.

I decide. I concede. I give. I follow him down the hallways accepting the expatriation with shaking hands and swelling tears. At the door, he places both palms on my door fingertip to fingertip, and separates them like he’s pulling apart an elevator. Once he reaches the sides he travels up down the side and with hands together he seems to make a cut up the door. I look over my shoulder thinking about the last time I had been here.

Wednesday night, I had been too busy pretending to do homework whenever Katherine came upstairs. I resented the choice to let her stay after dropping me off at home. When I smelled food in the air, curiosity got the better of me… as I walked down, I heard something I hadn’t heard �" laughter. Was Dad already home? Gradually, I made way to the kitchen the laughter ceased almost immediately as I walked in the room.

I saw Marcus sitting on the loveseat, across from the two armchairs. Dad & Katherine with Lillian sitting on her lap were on the big couch, straight across from the TV. Marcus was supposed to be back at NYU.

“Rayne, there’s dinner ready. We need to talk.” Dad straightened up. He was still dressed in his business clothes but his tie was a bit loose. From his looks, New York wasn’t really doing much for him. Around his mouth a shadow had begun to form. You could see the formation of dark circles under his brown eyes and his black hair steadily turning into a bush. He didn’t look weighed down by time like Katherine; he still looks fairly young for thirty-eight.

“What is she still doin’ here?” I had asked sharply. Her head dips down, tapping the side of her water glass with chipped fingernails.

“Rayne,” Dad’s voice made me shift my head. His face is severely disappointed, weird because I’ve been disappointed in him for years now but I didn’t get luxury of making that face, “I raised you better than to disrespect your mother.”

Raised?! Since when did he have claim on raisin’ me!? We are a house of children raising children, more or less like my generation, “I’m not sorry Kat-ther-ine,” I retorted sarcastically crossing my arms.

“Rayne Adalee Daniels!” He stood up, “Your mother has been through hard times but she's trying to get better.”

I scoffed squinting, “She looks like she's still goin’ through a rough time.” Her restless hands made an attempt to flatten her hair. What did he want me to do? Pat her on the back for being a crack-addict?

“That’s enough!” He fumed, breathing steam like a malfunctioning machine. Marcus shrunk back in the couch like he normally did whenever I was in trouble while, as usual, Lillian was just cowered in Mom’s arms, home sweet home, right? “Apologize!”

 “No need, this isn’t ‘bout me, it’s ‘bout Rayne.” She said softly, as they stared at me I felt so closed in like my lungs were being sat on. It was so silent that I could hear the rain pattering outside on the porch.

“We know you haven't been taking your medication and that you’ve been hurting yourself. I think we may need to discuss alternatives.” Dad suggested calmly.

“What �" do you mean?” I asked sharply clenching my teeth together. Weren’t we already living the alternative? I stayed here with Lillian, Kat met her “needs”, Marcus ignored us from NYU, and you pretended like you had a happy family.

“I think�"” Katherine stepped forward towards me and Lily clung onto her hips as she frantically looked around to the windows as the wind blew into them. You can hear the creaking of the foundation and see the rain stream down the window like large rivers.

“I don’t care what you think!” I screamed, my hands literarily shaking. Wind blew against the walls, making them scream in protest.

Marcus stood up this time. “Rayne, she’s our mother. Misguided and wrong as she may be… please just listen to what they have to say.” He actually stood next to her touching her shoulder, the woman who had abandoned us… who left us to be high in the clouds all day, every day, without responsibility...with an actual look of sympathy in his eyes, him, who had suffered the most.

The lightening cracked through the air and made Lily jump. Marcus peeled her from Katherine’s leg pulling her up in his arms like he used to do when he lived here. My dull eyes glowed from remembrance as hollowness crept into my stomach.

“She may be your mother but she was never mine.” I glared at her intensely, “Not after what happened! How she almost killed me and Lily!” I glowered, “Have you ever thought that maybe if you were here I would take my medicine and stop hurtin’ myself!” I dug my nails into my arm to keep from crying. The lightning crackled hitting the ground closer and closer.

“I know,” he closed the space between us to hold my shoulders firmly, “That’s why things are going to change.”

“What do you mean?”

“We think you and Lily should move up to New York to be with me and Kelly.” I scoffed at the mention of that tramp’s name but he ignored it. One battle at a time, right Dad?

“No!” I moved further away from him shaking my head, “No! I’m not movin’ again… YOU promised!”

“You were seven! I thought this would be the last move. This is a great opportunity for me. I have a shot at CEO. We would have more money, and there are tons of things we can do in New York that you’d love. And with this new job I can finally afford to fly you First Class anywhere you want!” He smiles but all I hear is more and more conciliation prizes.

“FIVE TIMES!” I held my fingers spread apart in front of him as lightning clanged around outside, “Five times you’ve uprooted my life… each time makin’ the same promise that this would be the last time. From Chicago to Florida to Texas to North Carolina to Ohio and finally to Georgia! I’ve lived here nine, nearly ten years! I not movin’ again! Not a chance in hell!” I shook my head adamantly, “I’ll just live here and get myself to school like normal. I don’t need you!” I hugged myself.

“Unfortunately you do & you have proved that you need a guardian and that I can't trust you alone in this house. The boy drama, girl drama, the smart-mouthing, the trouble you find yourself and that’s disregarding the fact that you chase off every therapist who wants to help you, you keep harming yourself, and you refuse to take medication.”

“I hate you!” I sputtered angrily. All he ever caused was misery in my life. Rayne do this and Rayne take of care of that. Then he had the audacity to pull the superior parent card like that meant anything. He tries to dictate everythin’ in my life, not anymore, “I’M�"NOT�"MOVIN’!” I stood on equal footing staring painstakingly clear at them as another lightning bolt lit up the sky. I see limpidly the expressions on their faces.

“Which is why we have come up with another alternative,” Katherine crept next to Dad before he can snap. “You and Lily would move in with me… and Julian.”

“To hell I am!” I shouted loudly, “I would never… ever step foot anywhere you're certain to be!” I glare furiously gripping onto my arms.

“That way we can keep watch on one another.” She tried plastering on an encouraging smile, which was cracking. My face contorted in revulsion and confusion at the same time.

“I don’t have a problem!” lightening couldn’t drown out my voice. “You guys are the one with the ones with the problem! I’m perfectly fine, perfectly FINE!”

 “You are not ‘perfectly fine’. ‘Perfectly fine’ people don’t try to kill themselves time-after-time-after-time.” Marcus spoke, “Do you know how many frantic calls I’ve gotten from Dad, or Julian both near crying ‘bout how you're doin’. My first year of college has been all about you… talkin’ to Julian about things he can do to calm you down, researchin’ things I can do to make it better, and leavin’ school to talk Dad outta sendin’ you to the psyche-house. We can't keep livin’ life like this!”

“You, another man who abandoned me,” I scoffed under my breath.

“No one has abandoned you! I had college! I have a life outside of you!”

“You promised �"” I couldn’t even finish; my voice was cracking so much.

“Rayne,” Katherine took my attention, “You’re not mad at them… you know you’re not. You’re mad at me, aren’t cha? You’re mad I left, mad I wasn’t much a mother, mad that I almost got you killt.”

I let the dam break; spilling tears I could no longer hold back, “You promised Mom! Back in North Carolina, when I turned six, you promised we’d always be together. You promised you’d get better and that everythin’ would be better ‘cause you didn’t wanna lose Dad or us.” I shook my head trying to straighten out from my break, “You were the bowlin’ ball that started the domino effect of failures and empty promises.”

“Honey,” she tried to come closer. No, leave me alone! LEAVE ME ALONE! My throbbing brain pounded against me, demanding to be free until finally bursting out and pushing in every direction trying to escape the suffocation of skin.

“Stay away from me!” I screamed so loud that my voice was cracked by the end. My eyes are blurred with tears, my limbs are trembling, and I’m filled with so much hate and distaste towards them that I couldn't breathe against it, it crushed me. I’m met by a sound of glass exploding as a gleam of white light catches my eyes followed by a large breaking and screams. My head hit the ground and my ears rung loudly.

I look forward as Xerxes steps back to join me. The lines, he had traced, lit up with a white shining light. The door folds up then bottoms out. Effervescent light glares across my eyes and when it diminishes a black swirling tunnel appears. It actually looks like a wormhole of death. He starts pulling me through and I just know I’m going to die this time for sure, “Just walk towards the center and you won't die.” He stares at me emotionlessly, but ends with a smile. HUH!?

Author's Note

please review, I changed so much, I feel like I need to know what you think