Chapter One

Meeting Lola, the main heroin, and a snipet of her daily life and feelings

The swing set softly squeaked under the pressure of a person. Her long brown hair fell in front of her face, for she had broken her hair elastic and lost her hairband long ago.

The woodchips on the floor of the playground was being kicked around at her feet, the playground was fenced off by a shoulder high black fence made of metal, to get in you needed to be at least be a metre tall or to have a grown up with you.

She sighed as she started pushing off the ground and started softly swinging; the wind was blowing her hair on her face as she swung only to be blown back into her face on her way back down. The whole playground seemed like a mini ghost town, no kids were sliding down the slide, crawling through the tube or climbing the monkey bars, nobody was playing soccer on the dead patches of grass or climbing the lifeless trees. She was all by herself in the playground.

She looked down at her uniform, it’s colours were faded on her blue checkered skirt and her cream coloured blouse, it’s meant-to-be white socks were no better and the shoes were made of thin rubber, the only thing holding the soles of her feet was some duct tape, when she walked it was like constantly stepping in sticky gum.

As she was softly swinging she looked at the bottom of her shoes, she re-stuck the tape and picked off some of the bark on them. Beyond the rusty chains of the swings, she could hear the sound of a squeaky gate opening. She froze her eyes wide as she eventually stopped swinging, and she heard the laughing of some girls, more than three. She didn’t move from her shoe sitting on her knee, she was trying to disappear where she sat, but even she knew it was useless.

“Hi Lola,” one of them greeted, the other girls were quick to mimic her.

Lola flinched as if she had been slapped in the face, she slowly turned her head to the girls and forced a smile, “hi Jasmine,” she greeted rather timidly as she dropped her leg and clutched the chains of the swing as if she was being forced from them. The girl before her had light blue eyes, golden brown hair and wore a uniform similar to Lola’s but the blues were more brighter and the skirt was much… shorter.

Her friends, all six of them, that stood behind her like a brick wall behind her, mirrored her in every possible way. What they wore, the style of their hair, the length of their skirt, the way they stood, talked or laughed, they even copied the way Jasmine leaned her hips forwards slightly.

Lola sat there in uncomfortable silence, she leaned her head forwards so her hair would hide her face, “How’s La-la land treating ya?” she asked mockingly.

 “Umm…” she managed to say, “Goodbye…” she was quick to stand up and start walking away.

Lola grabbed the gate and unlatched it, as she pushed it open someone behind her pull it closed, “what’s the matter, La-La? Can’t take a joke?” she asked leaning against the fencing with her arms folded.

Lola gulped as she looked to the ground, “it’s not…” she barely muttered.

“What?” Jasmine overlapped.

“It’s not even a…” she shook her head; “would you just let me past?” she asked a little annoyed.

Jasmine raised her eyes brows, “that sounds mighty sassy, now ain’t it?” she asked looking to her friends.

Lola rolled her eyes as she unlatched the door, the suddenness of it didn’t give Jasmine enough time to react, and she fell backwards with the open door she was leaning on. She landed in an awkward heap on the floor outside the playground gates, she went wide eyed, Lola was wide eyed too.

Jasmine took in a deep breath and cried wolf, “she pushed me!” she exclaimed.

Lola jumped at the accusation, and started to deny it, “No I didn’t…”

“You liar, you opened the gate deliberately for me to fall through,” Jasmine screeched as she got up.

“I…” she looked to her friends who were beginning to close in on her, “I didn’t mean to,” she confessed as she pushed past Jasmine, Jasmine shoulder barged her back in and she landed on two of the girls. She screamed in response as they dropped her, she landed on the ground. She scrambled to her feet and ran past them, their mocking calls following her as she ran.

Lola was soon surrounded by the streets of her town. The concrete roads and matching pathways, the buildings were made of cement blocks and there was barely any colour. Surrounding the whole town were some bushy woods that eventually got to the waveless beach and meadow fields.

Lola walked in silence through the town, dodging the seemingly dull people as they went along with their seemingly dull lives. With her arms crossed along her chest and her head falling in between her shoulders she walked on, the chill of the streets cut through her uniform like scissors to paper. Looking at the ground she counted the cracks in its seemingly impenetrable form and counted how many times its generosity showed by letting grass or small weeds sprout from its corners.

When she managed to count to 40 she nearly ran into three people at once, just standing in the middle of the pathway. She over reacted and nearly fell backwards in an attempt to dodge them elegantly.

She narrowed her eye brows as she listened, “… I can’t believe it’s happened again…” one person said.

“This is the third time it’s happened this week…” another said, “why are they attacking more often now?”

Lola thought of the worst as she pushed her way through the people, pushing through any space possible and even going through someone’s split standing legs to get through, she managed to get to the front of the crowd where she was cut off by some bright orange traffic cones.

She looked at the scene before her in horror; paramedics dressed in white uniforms with matching green hats and Dark Guards, basically cruel police men,  dressed in black uniform with dark purple or dark navy coloured features like their stun guns, whips or armour, were pulling motionless people out of buildings. Their bodies seemed to be frozen where they stood, as if they were flash frozen, while other bodies looked like they had fallen asleep and would eventually wake up.

“What happened?” she asked someone next to her.

A woman, wearing a bright purple hat and matching blazer was kind enough to answer her questions, “those Dark Angels have striked again,” she informed.

Lola made a small gasp, it was said if you looked an Angel in the eye you’d freeze, or die, or your insides would melt like lava to ice-cream… there were many rumours as to what happens and even more things gossiped about.

But Lola watched as a fourth man was pulled out of the building, his hand outstretched as if to cover his face.

Lola looked around at the expressions of the people watching, it was a mixture of horror, fascination and fear. Lola was just as terrified of Angels; they’ve been attacking her kingdom for as long as she could remember, along with Dark Soldiers. Nobody’s ever encountered an Angel and lived to tell such a tail… so Lola didn’t know what to avoid during the dark. Dark Soldier’s barely attacked anymore and no longer was considered a giant threat.

These people were most likely staying late at their jobs or something and left a window open. If you are outdoors at night time there was a guarantee you’d be attacked by an Angel, it was rare for them to come out during the day, Lola wasn’t aware why.

She looked away when she saw a little girl, no more than six years old, get pulled out of the building by some Dark Guards, a face of peaceful terror on her face but her body as limp as a noodle. Lola pushed her way back through the crowds and crossed the street and continued walking.

The buildings soon turned from work buildings to small house buildings. The roads were less busy and there weren’t as many people wandering the streets.

Lola wasn’t in a rush to go home… but there wasn’t anywhere else to go.

The houses were made of brick, wood broke too easily, but none of them were new looking. Their roofs were brown tiled and their front yards just as dead and dull as everywhere else.

After a while of what seemed like endless walking she managed to make it to her house, she stood at the white picket fence that surrounded it, she looked around, as if hoping something would distract her even for a moment, but the streets were empty.

Lola pushed the picket fence open with a loud creak; she flinched at every noise it made. She quickly passed through it, the fence closing by itself and softly clicking its automatic lock. She walked up the worn out pathway, its rocks and stones crumbled by age and use, and she made it to the front door. She sighed as she turned the bronze doorknob on the paint peeling door, it turned for a moment and then refused to turn anymore.

She sighed as she rested her head against the locked door, “Mum?” she called softly knocking on the door, “Mum!” she called again. The door opened slightly and Lola felt like she was going to fall for a split moment, but the chain on the inside of the door prevented that. Lola backed away from the door a little dazed as she looked at the dark blue eyes poking out of the small crack in the door.

“Mum, the doors locked. Let me in,” Lola said.

The door slammed with a loud thud, Lola heard the chain unhinge itself, and soon her Mum opened the door. Her long brown hair was frizzy and she wore a long white nightgown with evidence that she hadn’t neither washed it nor taken it off for several days.

Lola gulped, “umm… have you gotten out of the house today, Mum?” she asked as she walked into the house.

“So what if I haven’t?” she replied bluntly.

Lola heard the swishing of liquid; she turned and watched as her Mum sipped from a large scotch bottle. When she pulled the bottle away from her lips she grunted and winced, “that’s strong stuff,” she stated as she sipped it again and pushed past Lola.

The smell of cheap whiskey and cigars assaulted her nostrils as she strolled through the house. Almost the whole house’s walls were either painted yellow or forced to become yellow because of years of fading and what’s been smoked around the house.

“Mum… where did you get that?” Lola asked.

Her Mum staggered over to another room and sat directly on the lounge on the other side of the room. The ‘Lounge Room’ contained nothing but a lounge, a small TV, a door to a closet and bared up window to make sure people don’t break in… or in Lola’s case, get out.

“None of your business, Lola,” she informed.

“But the doctors said-“

“Pish on those doctors, Lola. You shouldn’t care about other people’s opinions because they sure as hell don’t care about yours,” she informed, “I mean, nobody ever has cared about your opinions, so what makes you think I’m gonna care now?” she asked drinking out of the bottle.

Lola nodded, “Right… but Mum, it can’t be good for you,” she informed as she stood next to the TV that sprung to life.

Her Mum just laughed in response, “don’t be difficult, my little La-la,” she said.

Lola flinched, “Please don’t call me that, Mum. You know I don’t like it,” Lola stuttered attempting to stand up for herself.

Her Mum smiled as she stood up, the bottle sitting on the floor now, “I am you mother,” she informed standing before Lola, Lola felt the blood in her face drain and her hands begin to twitch and tremble, a first elegant movement suddenly turned into a ferocious twist of Lola’s ear that sent her into a sudden scream of pain, “And I will call you whatever I please, do you understand?” she growled tightening her grip on Lola’s ear until it turned bright red.

 “I understand,” she gasped as she grabbed her Mum’s hand to try and loosen to hold, “I understand, just please don’t hurt me again,” she begged.

Her Mum just merely laughed in her drunken state. “I don’t think the message’s come across,” she informed smiling. Lola went wide eyed as her Mum dragged her into the kitchen, she was begging and pleading, her screeches were loud and echoed throughout the house, but nobody ever seemed to hear them.

“No, Mum! Please! No! Mum!” Lola screeched as she was dragged into the kitchen, going around the wooden dining table that was never used and went straight to the sink, the counters beside it were bare from any knives or dirty dishes, no plates or spoons or coffee makers cluttered on the counters. All there was was a sink full of dirty water that Lola had used to wash dishes that morning.

“This’ll teach you not to correct me,” her Mum snapped as she grabbed the back of Lola’s head, clutching her hair with a firm fist as she did so and dunked her head into the water. Lola screamed going down, with her eyes closed and her mouth open, she could feel the chunks of whatever grease she scraped off the plates that morning, the soapy taste was in her mouth as her Mum pulled her head out with a hard yank.

“Am I understood?” she demanded.

Lola was hyperventilating now, trying with all her might not to cry but fear was projecting off her face like an old movie, “Yes, I understand. I’ll never object to it again,” she softly cried as her legs went limp from tremors and her whole body was being held up by her hair, “please, just let go of me…”

Her Mum smiled softly, “well, since you asked nicely,” she informed; she quickly dunked Lola’s head into the sink again and released her. Lola’s legs slid down to the ground and the rest of her body followed as she coughed where she sat in the kitchen, “nice to know you’re not entirely useless, little La-la. Limited brains you have are obviously filled with some manners,” she said as she simply left the room striding.

Lola sat for a moment, her whole body trembling, her hair sticking to the back of her neck with chunks of bits stuck in her hair. She was gasping for air as if she were still under water, her eyes were growing teary as the water started to dry on her face. With trembling hands, she hugged her knees with trembling arms, dug her face into her knees and softly cried. Ensuring that she wasn’t so loud as to disturb her Mum and her TV shows.

*

Lola stared at the board of questions, there were many numbers on the boards next to letters and words that she couldn’t read or understand. Lola felt her eyes begin to get teary as the teacher continued talking about some maths stuff that made no sense.

The pencil in her hand started to shake, causing scribbles on her page.

She gulped as she mimicked the writing on the board as best she could; she didn’t have a clue as to what she was writing down. All around her, kids were answering the questions on the board.

Lola tried to disappear from it all, fade away into the background and be as if she wasn’t there at all.

Then her worst fear came true, “…Lola?” the teacher asked.

Lola jumped in surprise and gulped as she looked at to board, “umm… what question, Miss?” she asked.

“5a,” the teacher replied.

Lola went pale as she stared at 5a, it didn’t make any sense to her. It was an extended response; there were several words she couldn’t read and several numbers she didn’t understand the reason for.

“I…”

One of the other students laughed, “looks like little La-la can’t read either,” they teased.

The whole class started laughing softly to each other; Lola did a small gasp as she slowly sank down her chair.

The bell rang to call upon recess; all the students were out of there in a hurry. Lola stayed behind until she was the only student in the classroom as the teacher rubbed off the equations on the board. After a moment she turned around and jumped, “oh Lola. Hadn’t you finished what was on the board?” she asked.

Lola shook her head as she stood up, “no Miss. Sorry,” she said as she picked up her bag, everything almost immediately fell out. She groaned slightly as she nearly down and picked everything up.

The teacher sighed as she watched Lola pick up her things. “Lola, are you okay?” she asked.

Lola gulped as she pulled at her sleeves as she picked up her bag, “just fine Miss,” she replied quickly.

Miss smiled, “don’t let those other kids get to you, Lola. I’m sure stuff like that will pass,” she informed.

Lola attempted a smile, “I’ve been telling myself that for almost ten years Miss. It seems to take a long while for such a thing to pass,” she replied simply, “if anything, life gets worse. Good afternoon, Miss,” she smiled again and walked out of the classroom.

“You are a smart kid, Lola,” she called.

Lola stopped at the door and smiled in amusement as she looked at the teacher, “you seem to be the only one who thinks so, Miss,” she replied sadly as she walked down the hall.

Outside wasn’t any better, almost as soon as she got outside people started laughing and pointing at her. They put her in the centre of a ‘mocking circle’ where everybody laughed at her and chanted La-la the loser or calling her an idiot.

Lola tried not to listen, but their chanting was louder than her will power to ignore it. Then the physical teasing came into effect. One of the boys came forwards, holding a book at some page with large words that Lola couldn’t read as he poked it to her. “Go on, idiot. Read a page,” he mockingly instructed.

The chanting changed as the whole circle yelled for her to read.

Lola just stared coldly at the boy who was laughing at him. He laughed, “What? Did your Mum teach you read? You’re probably just as idiotic as her,” he laughed.

Lola let out a small gasp, and her cold stare turned into an angry glare. “Bet she’s a drunk too,” another laughed.

“Lola must be an exact then,” another chuckled.

Lola let out a shaky, angry breath, her hands curled into fists and her arms started to tremble.

“Aww, did we heard your feelings?” the boy asked I a tone made for babies, “what, are you gonna started crying too?”

Lola licked her lips and sighed a less forced one and felt her whole body relax, “please leave me alone,” she said as tears stung her eyes. She turned away from everybody and attempted to leave, when she tried to push her way through everybody started booing at her, one even pushed her back.

She suddenly felt someone’s hand on her shoulder, she felt her heart skip a beat, she felt every nerve in her body into overdrive and, without warning, turned around and punched her ‘attacker’ and let out a loud, desperate and painful screech as she collapsed to the ground in an attempt not to get hurt. Painful memories of her mother came to mind, the idea of what normally came next when she grabbed her flashed into her mind, even if it wasn’t her mother that grabbed her.

She started to cry as she kneeled over and curled into a ball as she always did. Everybody around her went wide eyed as they stood back, some even left so they wouldn’t be part of what happened next.

Lola continued to yell and screech in fear and pain.

“What’s going on here?” someone asked.

One of the teachers, a woman with dark blond hair, a pencil skirt and blouse, came through the splitting crowds and soon came to the timid looking girl cowering at the feet of another student holding their nose.

“What did you do to her?” she demanded.

The boy went wide eyed and shook his head, his nose bleeding, “nothing. I literally didn’t do anything,” he somewhat lied, not mentioning how he got the bloody nose.

Some other teachers came over as the first one kneeled down to Lola; she looked around, “what are you all doing? Go away!” she demanded.

Lola lay there trembling, her eyes wide as her pupils dilated, her skin more pale then a marshmallow. The woman softly placed a hand on Lola, she screeched again and lashed out, slapping away the woman’s hand as more of a protection caution then for deliberate injury.

After a while, Lola fell silent and just laid there, her eyes staring unblinkingly at the ground, her breathing somewhat quick and no emotion was imprinted on her face, and all the fear in her eyes left almost as immediate as it came.

She was just a shell, lying on the ground with twitching arms jerking every now and then.

Another teacher kneeled down to Lola next to the woman as she lovingly brushed Lola’s hair in an attempt to calm her down. “You’d think she’s been attacked by an Angel,” one of the teachers said.

The woman stared at her and sighed, “I think her mother may have something to do with this,” she stated as she softly pulled at the sleeves of Lola, within seconds Lola slapped at her and sat up.

“Please leave me alone,” Lola said her voice blunt and impassive, she sat up and dusted off her blouse, “I’m fine. Just a small panic attack,” she replied as if it had never happened, she stood up, “nothing major. No need to be concerned.”

“Lola, maybe I should call your Mum,” the teacher suggested.

Lola shook her head, she didn’t even look at the teacher, “no need, Miss,” she replied, her voice blunt, “you’ll just be wasting her and your time, and my Mum doesn’t like having anybody’s time wasted.”

She turned with a flick of her hair and walked across the courtyard as if nothing happened. She sat down before the gates that surrounded the school, more to keep people trapped in it then to keep people out. She stared at the gate she stood centimetres from and sighed as she sat down and just stared out to the streets, nobody bothered her as she sat there.