Post by ari/kat on Jun 23, 2014 15:20:02 GMT -5
Lɪғᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴀᴅ ɪsɴ·ᴛ ᴇᴀsʏ
Nᴏ ʜᴏᴍᴇ﹐ ɴᴏ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs﹐ ɴᴏ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ.
Aʟᴏɴᴇ.
Aᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ﹐ ᴛʜᴀᴛ·s ʜᴏᴡ ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟʟʏ﹐
Mʏ sᴛᴏʀʏ ɪs ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ.
Sixteen year old Kaylin Summers is tried of her life being constantly pushed around and mistreated by her stepmother Grace. One day she decides to leave, she has no idea of the adventures she will soon have.
Chapter One:
I stared boredly at my blank computer screen, it hadn't worked properly for almost a week. My dad said he'd fix it but he's always busy fixing other peoples' computers for his job. Yes, my dad's job is repairing computers and yet mine had been broken for almost a week.
Enough about my computer, I should be getting to the real story.
My name is Kaylin Summers, but almost everyone I know calls me Kat, I'm 16 years old. I have long, jet black hair, dark brown eyes, fair skin and I'm about 5'5.
I don't know how to describe my personality, kind of weird really, I guess it'll make sense later. I lived in a large brick house in Middle-of-nowhere-Town Florida, at least that's what I call it. There was a small front yard and behind the house was a thick forest. A very short narrow trail led to an old fence with no gate. I dreamed of one day going past the fence, though I doubted that I ever would.
The chance came much sooner than I expected.
An hour later while trying once again to turn on my computer, I saw my step mother's car pull into the driveway. The Cadillac's door opened and "Mom" stepped out. She had reddish brown hair and bright green eyes. She's almost always in a bad mood, in fact, it seemed like Grace Summers didn't even have a good mood.
I quickly retreated to the kitchen table and opened a math textbook. At that moment, Mom walked into the room and looked straight at me, "Really Kaylin?" she said, a disgusted tone in her voice, "Eighty-seven on your math test?" Her voice rising with each word. "Mom, I tried, but-" I started, but Mom stopped me mid-sentence, "No excuses!"
I could feel the sting of tears in my eyes, I hated when she was like that, "Mom, please stop," I said. That was a mistake. WHACK, she hit me right in the face.
With a yelp of pain, I stumbled away from the table and ran upstairs to my room. I sat on the edge of my bed wondering why she hated me so much.
I heard footsteps outside, then Mom's voice, "Dealing with you always gives me such a headache, I'm going to take a nap and I expect all the windows to be washed by the time I get up."
I stared speechlessly at the door, how could she expect me to wash all the windows after she yelled her head off at me and hit me over an okay grade? She didn't even say please, although it probably wouldn't mean anything coming from her .
I walked down the stairs and out the door, then walked around the side of the house to get the hose. Mom wouldn't be able to tell if they'd scrubbed or not, so why bother, I'd just washed them last week anyway.
I had just sprayed down the the first window on the back of the house when I noticed a large raven sitting on a fence post, watching me. "That's odd..." I said quietly, as it turned and flew into the forest. As far as I knew, there weren't any ravens in Florida.
I turned off the hose and walked to the fence
This was my chance to explore, all I had to do was climb over the fence. But would I be able to get back before Mom noticed? Maybe not, but if I could explore for just a few minutes it might just be worth it.
I glanced around to make sure that no one was watching me, even though I knew that our only neighbors were almost half a mile away.
Then I climbed the fence and landed lightly on the other side.
It was a strange and amazing feeling to be on the other side of the fence, in a way, it felt... free. The thought of an adventure filled me with excitement.
I pushed my way through the thick brush, I knew that there was a trail somewhere to the far right of where I was standing, how did I know it was there? I'm not sure, it was like a memory or something.
It seemed like it took forever, but I finally reached the path. It was narrow, with tree roots sticking up here and there, and the ground was covered in fallen pine straw and leaves.
In the distance, I could hear the sound of rushing water, that must be the creek I'd heard of. I wondered if I had enough time to find it... Then again, if I didn't go then, I might never have another chance, so I walked along the path, following the gurgling, bubbly, sound.
I soon found myself standing at the edge of the water, it was beautiful. The water rushed over large, flat stones. The creek wasn't very wide, only about five feet wide. Watching it gave me a strange feeling, so happy, and peaceful, so free.
I wished that I could always go to that little creek whenever I wanted, I wished that I could travel across the world with nothing to stop me.
Then I realized, I could. All I had to do was keep walking. Keep walking and not turn back. I could be free.
Chapter Two:
Through the trees I could see the sun starting to go down and I was starting to get hungry. Luckily for me, I had a crumpled ten dollar bill in my pocket.
If I could find the road, I could go to "The Dollar", a small shop a couple miles away, and I could get a map of Florida from the little train station on the same street.
I walked along the creek, trying to find a good spot to cross. I found a slightly narrower part, then took a running jump. As I landed on the other side, my foot caught on a root and I stumbled, hitting a tree and scraping the side of my arm.
I stepped away from the tree and continued walking in the opposite direction of my old home. I didn't stop until I emerged from the woods and found myself beside the road.
Street lights began to turn on, by now the air was growing a bit cold and the sun had almost completely disappeared.
I saw the little shop on the side of the road and walked over to it. I opened the door, A voice came from below the counter, "We're closing in a few minutes," I walked directly to the counter and grabbed a bag of beef jerky and a bottle of water. Two dollars. I thought, I would have eight dollars for later.
I paid for my things, left, and walked across the road to the train station.
Although none of the trains there were used by people for traveling, there was a clear plastic container full of maps on the outside of the building. I took a map and walked around the building, a train was slowly leaving the station. I found myself forming a plan in my head, a crazy idea, but it was the only idea I had.
The doors on one of the cars were open. I had to time my jump just right. One car, two cars. I allowed myself to become used to the speed at which the train moved, the distance between cars. The car I was going to jump for was coming closer, I was ready when it came. My feet left the ground, then I was through the doors, nearly hitting the side of a large crate.
I was trying to hide between two crates when I heard a harsh "Craa!" from near the doors, I whipped around to find the same raven I had seen by the woods before standing a few feet away. . I could barely see it in the darkness, but I was sure it was the same raven.
Why are you following me? I thought.
If a raven could look surprised it was that one, in the dim light, I could see it's eyes widen as it jumped backward. It wasn't the only one who was surprised, why had it jumped away from me? I hadn't said or done anything...
It tilted it's head curiously, looking at me with it's dark shining eyes, then flew over a large stack of crates and disappeared behind them.
I fumbled with the laces on my shoes. The train had been going for hours, I wondered where it was going, Why hadn't I checked before I jumped on it? I guess I hadn't had a chance to, I would find out when I got there.
As the hours passed by I grew more and more bored, there was nothing to do but wait.. I hadn't seen the raven since the strange encounter earlier. I slowly walked toward the doors, careful that I didn't lose my balance, and looked out... mountains?
I wasn't in Florida anymore.
It wasn't long before the train began to slow, I had to jump.
There was snow on the ground, I hoped it would give me a soft landing. I leapt from the train, the snow was harder than I had expected and I tumbled across the ground,
The train sped past, slowing as it went toward the station. Then I realized something, the train was going to be unloaded and the raven would be trapped in it!
I got to my feet and walked along the train tracks, I wanted to make sure the raven got out.
I eventually caught up to the train at the station it had stopped at... I was too late. For reasons unknown to me, the doors were closed and locked, maybe because it was going to be unloaded later, but whatever the reason, I couldn't get back in, and the raven couldn't get out. Unless it had flown out without me noticing. I hoped it had.
I walked back the way I'd come until I found a group of large trees, mostly pines, but there was an enormous live oak partially hidden by the pines. I scrambled up the tree and stretched out on one of the tree's unusually large branches.
I was so tired...
Chapter Three:
Why was the house so cold? I thought. Mom must have turned the heater off when she left for work again.
I sat up and put my feet on the floor.... but there was no floor. "What the-!" I started, falling out of the tree and landing in the snow below it.
I was confused for a moment, then remembered the evens of the previous day and night.
Maybe I should have planned the whole thing out better, I had no idea what to do next. I suppose I could go to the train station to find out where I was.
Snow began to fall as I walked along the train tracks, I had never seen snow falling, it was so cool, fluffy, white flakes flying all around me, each one was unique as the floated through the air to join the countless others that covered the ground.
The train I had arrived on was still there. I noticed a door that had been left open... was that the car I'd been in?
Then I heard a loud thumping sound inside the car. I looked into it but couldn't see anything. The sound was coming from the back of the car... Could you just move these boxes so I can get out of here?
I jumped into the side of the car with a loud crash, why the heck was some random guy's voice in my head?! It had to have been in my head, there was no one else in the car but me. Over here!, the voice said again. I turned around, looking up at me from under a pile of crates and boxes was the raven. Are you talking... in my head?, I thought.
Yes, I am. Now please, move the crates before I break a wing trying to get out of here, the raven replied.
Still confused, I picked one of the smaller crates up and put it against the side of the train car, eventually, I reached the bottom of the pile. The raven flapped his wings and landed on the floor.
Thanks for that! he said.
I was extremely confused, I mean, it's not every day that you run away from home and your evil step-mother and talk with a bird telepathically.
Um... who are you? I asked curiously.
My name's Reiyus, the raven replied, and you are..?
I'm Kat, I said.
Reiyus nodded slowly, looking toward the side of the train. Something wrong? I asked.
It took several seconds for him to reply, Someone's coming. We need to get out, now! he said, Use the other door.
I looked around, I didn't see another door...Reiyus interrupted my search, Over here!, he shouted in my head. He was flapping his wings wildly in an attempt to hover by the door.
You aren't a hummingbird, I said as I darted to the door. I opened it and jumped out, quickly followed by Reiyus. I shut the door and ran out of the train station, pausing at the entrance to wait for him... he didn't come. Reiyus? I called. There was no reply. Had he just left me without saying goodbye? Was that normal for ravens?
I waited for nearly five minutes, but Reiyus didn't come.
Disappointed, I walked past the station and to the road. There must be a town or city or something around here, I thought. I looked up and down the street, I wondered which way I should go. Maybe I should just go in the same direction most of the traffic was going, I figured it must be a bit after noon now, people were probably going shopping.
I walked along the road, looking at the trees and plants as I went. Some were so different from the ones I'd seen in Florida, and all of them were covered in snow. Actually, there was snow all over the place. There was a cold breeze blowing in my face, but I didn't mind, I usually liked the cold weather.
I had been walking on the side of the road for almost an hour when a fancy-looking black car pulled off of the road in front of me. The drivers side window rolled down, a girl of around eighteen with long blond hair and large, expensive looking gold hoop earrings looked out of the window, "Heading into town?" she asked. I paused, "About how far is it?" I replied. The girl gave me a "You-aren't-from-around-here-are-you" look, then said "It's a few miles away, I can drive you there if you want."
I looked down the road, "I think I'll just walk there, but thanks anyway." I said, stepping away from the car. "Alright," she replied, then rolled the window up and drove off.
I continued walking, that was odd, I thought, did people around here just like helping others or..? Maybe I was over thinking things.
I had only been walking for about fifteen minutes when another car pulled off of the road in front of me, this one was a yellow Volkswagen Beetle. Th window rolled down and a girl who looked strangely similar to the driver of the first car looked out.
"Need a ride into town?" she asked.
I hesitated, maybe I should... it would be so much faster... "Alright..." I said, walking around the car. I opened the door and climbed in.
As the car slid onto the road, the girl took her sunglasses off and tried to clean them with her sleeve. That's when I noticed her eyes. They were a strange yellowish color with narrow, slit-like pupils. Suddenly her gaze seemed to lock on me, a feeling of combined panic and fear spread through me. I wanted to get out. I had to get out.
I reached for the door handle, there was a loud clicking sound as the door locked. I pulled frantically at the door but it refused to open.
The girl folded her sunglasses and put them on the dash of the car, then looked at me with a rather amused expression, "Where do you think you're going Kaylin?"
Chapter Four: