Failure.

 

            Jaden found herself in a dark, circular room. With very little light that seemed to radiate from the ground itself, shadows were cast everywhere. She could see the faint outline of others, but when she called out to them, no one responded,

            After many minutes of waiting for something to happen, someone stepped forward. Immediately Jaden recognized this person.

            “M-m-mom?” Jaden whispered in awe, salty tears filling her eyes.

            “No, how can I be the mother of such a freak… such a disappointment?” Jadens mother asked, hostility lacing her every word.

            Jaden’s mother stepped back into the shadows, no longer to be seen. She was just another shadow along with the rest of them. The outlines of the figures walked in circles around her now, bellowing harsh insults in her ear.

            “Freak!” One called out to her.

            “Monstrosity!” Another screamed.

            As they continued to berate her, Jaden felt a flow of tears run down her cheeks. With a jolt she woke, her alarm clock buzzing obnoxiously in her ear. As she slowly opened her violet eyes and squinted from the bright sun coming through her window, only one thought passed through her mind as she realized what today was. Ugh.

            Today was one of those days many look forward to, a wondrous occasion that mothers shed tears over because their babies are growing up so fast. However joyous and wonderful the day may be for others her age, Jaden could not bring herself to smile at the first day of high school.

            Some secrets are meant to be kept silent, and covered away by the darkest of shadows. But going to a school full of people she didn’t know meant jeopardizing her secrecy.

            Jaden was unwilling to get up and out of her warn cocoon of blankets, but when a large beefy man stormed into her room, she jumped up. His face was red, his mustache and beard ruffled. In his hand was a large bottle, which smelled putrid. Sighing to herself softly, she reflected back upon the times when she used to be proud to call this man Daddy.

            “Daddy, Daddy!” An eight-year-old Jaden exclaimed, running towards a tall, clean-shaven man. When he heard her, he smiled and opened his arms wide to welcome her into a large embrace with her mother grinning for the first time that week and standing right behind him.

            Jaden just wanted to break down as she saw that image in her mind, for things were no longer the same….

            “Mommy, where are you? Aren’t we a little old to play hide-and-go-seek?” A now ten year old Jaden called as she ran through the house. When she reached the upstairs floor she continued to call out for her mom, but to no avail. Her mother had still not responded, and Jaden was just starting to get scared when she saw a red fluid creep under the bathroom door and onto the tan carpet. Not realized what that could be, Jaden walked to it and tried to open the door. It was locked

            Jaden ran into her parent’s room to find the general key to all the doors in the house. Looking throughout the tidy room took only a few moments, but seemed like an eternity. Rushing back to the bathroom, she immediately saw the small pool of red liquid had grown. Panicking, the young girl took her shaking hand and put the key in the lock, opening the door. Afraid of what may be hidden behind that barrier that separate her and her mother, she closed her eyes.

            Finally coming out of her trance like state, Jaden realized her father was speaking to her. Or rather, he was yelling at her. She had learned to tune him out, it seemed to be the best option available. Soon enough he left, but not before angrily slapping her squarely across the face and slamming her door as he stomped out of her room.

            Jaden sighed deeply. Why did she have to be such a disappointment? Why couldn’t she just be enough for her father, as she once was? Had she really changed that much? Brushing her brown hair behind her ears, she glanced at the clock and realized being late for school was not an option, and she was just about to do just that. Grudgingly she made her way around the dull pink room, dressing quickly without much thought. Picking up her ratty black binder and dirty brown pencils from the year before, she walked out the door. Her face was down, long hair covering it as she was seeing only her small feet, moving one in front of the other. The rhythm captivated her, let her remain numb. She did not see anything around her, not until she heard a loud horn blaring in her ear.

            Realizing that that was her bus, Jaden lifted her face just a tad and walked on, hearing the bus’s steps creak as she climbed. She didn’t realized that people were staring at her oddly, as if asking themselves, “What the hell’s wrong with her?”

***

            Cade was one of the many that were staring at Jaden as she walked onto the rickety bus, but unlike the others he did not lose interest. His eyes followed her as she sat down and his gaze remained on her back. There was something about her… something that intrigued him. She was hiding something, and he was determined to figure out what.

***

            After what seemed like hours and hundreds of stops later, the bus finally drove into the school’s parking lot. The teenagers groaned as they all crowded together in the narrow aisle to get off the bus. Jaden slowly got up, afraid of what the day may hold for her. Continuing to stare at the ground, she decided to wait until everyone was off the bus to try and move forward. Her plan was working well, all up until the last person in line motioned his tan, muscular arms for her to go ahead of him. She almost refused, but seeing his goofy smile melted just a bit of the ice in her heart.

             Soon after she got off the bus, her head started swimming. Falling to hear knees, Jaden felt tears prickle at her eyes from pain. Hearing nothing but a dull buzzing noise, and seeing nothing but blur, she passed out.

***

            Caden saw her fall to the ground and onto her knees, and almost stopped to say something but soon realized tat would only draw attention to himself. So he quickly walked on and past her, without a second glance.

           

Reviews

[Mariah]

Ooh.. this story seems so interesting. Particularly, I really liked the paragraph about Cade.

'Cade was one of the many that were staring at Jaden as she walked onto the rickety bus, but unlike the others he did not lose interest. His eyes followed her as she sat down and his gaze remained on her back. There was something about her� something that intrigued him. She was hiding something, and he was determined to figure out what.'

I want to read more!!!

[MarchAprilMayJuneJuly]

i remember how things where when i was younger....they were more peaceful,
like jaden's. I can't wait to read what happens next...i just hope that she will get an easier way out of this mess that she is in. Even though this is sad, it is that much more interesting...

good job at this inspiring piece!

~may

[Michael Raymond Robinso..]

A very great write. It pulled me in. I enjoyed the flash back sequence, giving us a nice sneak peak into Jaden's past. Not enough to give anything away, but just enough to hold our interest, a tease if you will. I like how Jaden's character is developing. Nicely done, I will read more.

[Marcus]

Wow - i take it as a compliment that you called me talented. This is really good. Would love to read more. There are a few typos and grammar mistakes, but i'd be surprised if there werent. Let me know when you post more . . .

[J. James Reider]

This is really good. You paid great attention to detail without getting hung up in it. There were a few typos, but that is to be expected in any story that has yet to be edited. Your character development thus far has been flawless and I also like the relapses into memories. Keep writing!