Underground

Written one I was but 14-15 years old (2007,08), an incredibly short story that is still one of my favorites and often an inspiration for other work. About a girl at a party with those so far gone.

Underground

lks

 

Once upon a time, there was a time when no one believed in once upon a time. Hatred rushed through veins instead of care, and ignorance instead of acceptance. But, there was still hope, still few who believed in once upon a time. These people were in the Underground.

Everyone knew the kids of the Underground, if not by name, then by “them;” those who outcast themselves. But even here, it only exists in the minds of those too far gone. But in one part of the Underground, in a city where it had it’s place, one girl watched. Imagine her as you will. All you must know is that she is one of those outcast, and in no way looks mature enough to speak what she does.

“Want some?” She turned and looked up. A drink was held in the arm stretched before her. The smell of cheap booze and stale smoke came with it.

“No thanks, you know what I’m like.” The boy smiled and pulled back his arm.

“Yeah, I know, just thought I’d offer.” He turned away and started walking down a set of stairs. “Oh, by the way, you gotta come down, no ones really allowed up here.” She descended the stairs behind him.

Down below, the air was hot and thick. Smoke, a mixture from substances both legal and not, floated in the air and managed to find its way into her lungs. She didn’t cough, it stopped bothering her long ago. Standing at the foot of the stairs, she watched the scene before her. They were all so far gone, letting themselves believe in once upon a time. The alcohol they drank and the pot they smoked let lose in their veins the care and acceptance they needed, if only for the night.

She moved further into the mass of people. Music soon met her ears, but no one was dancing, they were too far gone. She let herself sit down on the couch, in between those giving into their lusts and desires and those just letting themselves relax, letting once upon a time take over their minds. She simply watched with a sad sort of smile on her face. People she cared about, so far gone, but at least, at last, believing.

A guy beside her gave her a nudge, and outstretched his hand toward her face. This time she did cough; what was smoking in the beautiful glass pipe was too much for her.

“No thanks,” she said, pushing his arm away, “I already believe in once upon a time.” He looked at her like she was crazy, while she laughed at her own joke. “Don’t worry, I’ll explain it to you once you’re too far gone.” He looked at her in a questioning way yet again, but let it go.

Soon, people began to ascend the stairs, leaving behind the Underground, back to being the outcast. She stayed, as she always did, always there to help those far gone come back, but for now, she found a bed, lied down, and rested.

When she awoke, someone was with her. She turned to look at who it was, but only saw was someone who no longer believed in once upon a time. With a sigh, she sat up. The boy on the bed mumbled something incoherent and readjusted himself. The girl got up and left the bed, and the boy, alone. In the dark, she stumbled around bodies of those who stopped believing, and headed for the back door. Picking up a random jacket from those scattered across the floor, she exited the house, where so many were so far gone, so in need of help, yet were turning a blind eye to their own problems.

She walked for a minute, finding a place in the grass, and again lied down. She closed her eyes as she did this, only opening them when she was down, looking upwards at the stars. Finally, she let herself relax, her unaided once upon a time flowing through her veins, helping her let herself go, but it didn’t last. The sound of a door opening and closing met her ears, and her eyes shut themselves. Footsteps fell heavily, bringing a body towards her. It sat down next to her.

“So will you tell me about once upon a time now?” She didn’t open her eyes, she knew who she was talking to, and sight could only bring her mind away from the words flowing through it so gracefully.

“Once upon a time isn’t the way it is in the stories. Once upon a time is simply believing; believing something is possible. It’s the feeling of care and acceptance in your body, the lack of judgment for everyone, even those who judge you. Once upon a time is the lack of what you think you need, but you have, what you don’t, and just being.”

She finished and sat up, looking into his eyes. If only for the night, he wasn’t so far gone.

Author's Note

Please keep in mind this was written when I was 14-15 years old!!