Chapter Two

Lost Love

Chapter Two

                “Deena, you are going to make me twice my weight if you keep this up!” I pushed back from the table, looking at Zen’s twin sister. “You really have a gift for spices.”

                “Why thank you, Ivory, I’m glad someone here appreciates my hard work,” she said looking pointedly at her brother.

                “Hey, I’d appreciate you if you’d appreciate me,” he said, the worn smile lines on his face intensifying.

“Well, thanks guys, but I really should get going. If Commander shows up and I’m not home, there’s no way I’ll get into the Election.” I walked across the age-old wood floors to where I had hung my jacket. I heard a sigh from behind me.

“If you must, Ivy. But please, come over any time you need to. I- we- love you more than anything,” Deena said walking over to me. She was as close to my father as Zen was to my mom. I received no pity from her when they died; Zen had to comfort the both of us. They took me in for four years and raised me as their own. When I was six, I left. I’ve been told that I’m mature beyond my years, and I guess that is true.

It only hurt a little when they never went to find me. I think that they knew I needed to be alone, do this on my own. But, still, it hurt.

“I know, D. And I really am grateful for everything you do for me. I love you to,” I said, enveloping her in a hug. She kissed the top of my head and handed me a container of the left over dinner.

“Take it. It’s not charity if you’re family,” she whispered in my ear. I smiled. Family. So I took the box and left their house.

After I had run away fourteen years ago, I chose a little abandoned shack only a ten minute walk from Zen and Deena’s. It was perfect: small, homey, and it was falling to pieces. But, it gave me some distraction by fixing it all up. Now it could sell for good money.

I walked in the front door and glided over the wood floors to the kitchen. I opened the fridge to put Deena’s leftovers  in, and noticed that I was almost out of, well, everything. I sighed and closed the door.

I didn’t have a TV, or a CD player, or even a radio for that matter. The only thing I had to do for fun was read. I owned one book and got the newspaper everyday. I walked up the two flights of stairs to my bedroom, which was an old loft the size tennis court. It was huge, and very empty. I had a large bookshelf that I found on the street and didn’t have the heart to break it up for firewood, so I just left it as it was. It held one lone book: Romeo and Juliet. I honestly could quote that entire play by heart. William Shakespeare, whoever he was, was very talented. Although, I thought the plot was incredibly unrealistic.

I pulled out my worn copy and flicked through the yellowing pages. It was my parents copy, Jackson didn’t see the need to destroy it after he murdered my parents. He burned just about everything else, our house, our memories, everything. Not me, though. He finds taking innocent human life repulsive. Psh.

I opened to my moms favorite part: Act II Scene 2, when Juliet and Romeo confess their love for each other and plan to get married. I can vaguely recall Mother reciting to me Juliet’s famous lines, “Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo. Defy thy father and refuse thy name…” My vision blurred with tears. Zen had said it himself, it takes a lot to break me, but with all the talk of my parents today, I was broken. I walked over to my little bed and crawled under the homemade comforter, trying to forget the day.

***

I woke to pitch darkness and a loud rapping on my door. Who on earth would be trying to break my door down so late at night? I threw back the covers and sprinted downstairs.

“I’m coming! Hold on!” I called as I ran towards the door. I flung it open and had to stifle a scream at what was in front of me. A seven foot tall… thing... looked at me with its beetle black eyes. Its form was ever �"changing, from a monstrous demon to a grotesquely decaying mummy to the tortured face of my mother. I recognized this creature. They were Changelings, servants of Justice Center’s Councilors.

“Ivory Carson?” it asked me in a voice that made it sound like its vocal cords were burned.

“Um, yes?” I answered hesitantly. It unrolled a heavy-looking piece of parchment and read:

“Miss Carson: Hello. My name is Caspian, Fourth Councilor of Justice. I’m happy to inform you that you will be competing in the Election against yours truly. Your test scores and strategic skill show great promise and you will be a fun challenge. I cannot reveal to you what your game shall be, even I don’t know. I will see you on Wednesday October 22 for our dinner meeting. Good evening.” The Changeling rolled up the scroll and vanished soundlessly.

I stood in shock for a moment or two, trying to take in what I had just heard. I made it? I made it! I was in the Election! Councilor Caspian’s position could be mine. My game would be of strategy, I knew that much. I didn’t know much about how the games were run though. No one wasn’t forced to watch them, so I didn’t really bother. Commander Jackson ran them, and I wanted to stay as far away from him as possible.

“What do I do now?” I mused to myself. Zen. I have to tell him! But it’s like two �" thirty in the morning. I had these thoughts vaguely as I ran to Zen’s to tell him the news.

                I sprinted across the gravel roads that I knew better than the palm of my hand towards Zen’s. I was so excited I almost didn’t notice I was being followed. Almost. I stopped abruptly and slowly turned around.

                No one.

                “Hello?” I called out, trying to sound confident. I heard a tree branch crack behind me. “Who’s there?”

                “Oh, don’t be frightened Ivory. It’s just me,” Commander Jackson said as he emerged from the trees.

                “Commander. What brings you here, following me, at two thirty in the morning?”

                “Same as you, I presume. Going to see Instructor Zen, hmm?” He tilted his head at me.

                “Yes, I wanted to tell him that I-“

                “Got into the Election, yes, so I’ve heard. Congratulations, by the way. Unfortunately, I won’t get to see you play.”

                “But you run the games, of course you will see me.” I was beginning to get very suspicious.

                “Oh, the Board has decided to make a few small changes this year, just to keep things interesting. They say I’ve been doing it too long, so I’ve been removed from the position,” he said, not sounded too despondent about it at all.

                “Oh, well, that’s just too bad. I’m very sorry for you,” I replied, hoping he’ll notice the sarcasm laced in my words.

                “Yes, well, that is actually the reason I am going to visit Zen tonight. I want him to be my replacement. Plus, he’ll be escorting you anyways as your guardian, right? It’s supposed to be a parent but…” New rage fills my vision and it take literally everything I have not to slaughter him there on the spot.

                “Commander, I would greatly appreciate it if you would shut the heck up about my parents. I don’t need more on top of the pain I already feel. Thank you,” I said with fists tightly clenched. I quickly turned and walked away before I lost control of my anger.

                “You can’t run, Ivory,” he said behind me.

                Watch me.

               

Reviews

[MiniDumpling]

Oh, that girl's got such a sassy attitude :)
Haha, I enjoyed the humor you added to your story, and it has a good voice meaning I can really understand how the main character is feeling.
However, I'm a little confused by what genre this is. At first I thought sci-fi, but then i wondered if it was something else. What exactly is going on right now, and who exactly IS this awesome Ivory girl? :D
Great start though!

[Calvin]

You seem to work well with narratives, I like your characters as well. However, I would like to see a sypnosis before you go any further. This story is interesting, but it has a very strange setting. Your readers will want to know if this is taking place in a futuristic world or a galaxy far far away. (Pardon my dry humor). All you need is a sypnosis to tell what the story is about and I think you're good to go.