Chapter One

Broken Wings

Everyone has a place they can go when things get too hard. Some people close their eyes, and let their mind wonder, other people go for a drive, or a walk. Maybe they like to indulge in sweets, or an addiction. Either way, everyone has a safe place, where they can just let their mind float away, and they can forget about the world in front of them for just a second. I choose to let my mind drift, because in the moment, there's nothing else I can do. I let my mind drift away, to some place calm, an ever flowing green meadow, with lots of butterflies, and a small creek trickling down the middle. I can hear the birds singing their random songs, and I could also see myself. Happy, untouched, skipping along side the creek, beautiful rows of colored flowers brushing against my legs, as if they welcomed my presence. The butterflies swarming around me, as if they were my direction, guiding me further and further into a happier place. And so, I skipped, away, far, far away until I couldn't go anymore. Skipping with the butterflies, in tune to the bird's song, untouched, and happy.

I woke up to the sound of my alarm. I jumped out of bed, quiet enough to not wake up my father sleeping down the hall. It was four in the morning, and I was thankful that I actually woke up at the sound of the alarm this time. I quietly got ready for school, before rushing out of the house. I knew I was lucky once I got out, I felt as if I had broke off my chain, and I didn't stop to look back. I ran as fast as I could, although it was still very dark out, I didn't care. I ran, until my legs gave way. I took a deep breath as I tried to regulate my breathing. I sat down under a tree, and listened to the cricket's chirp. They all seemed so free, I wished somehow I could join them. I wondered what it would be like being as free as they were, although most people look down on bugs, I felt I could relate to them. They were misunderstood, ugly creatures. They were well hidden, they never cried, even when someone threatened to stand on them, they never cry. And at night, when everyone is sleeping, they can come out, and sing their songs. Sometimes I wondered if they were singing for all the loss in their families. How many of their kind were smashed by people? How many of those people actually thought about the murder they caused while walking to work? I sat there pondering all of this, until my phone rang, I stiffened at the sound, praying that it wouldn't be him. As I looked over the caller ID, I was thankful that it wasn't him. I answered the phone, with my usual happy-go-lucky voice, "Hello?" I said. I had gotten so good at hiding my emotion, and faking my enthusiasm, that it made me sick. I was able to so easily trick my best friends, and no one thought anything was really wrong with me. Just like a cricket, I never cried, and although I was being smashed, I never let out a cry, I was still able to sing for everyone around me.

"Hey Akira, I'm on my way to school. I'm passing the park, are you there?" Asked my best friends voice.

"Yes, I'll meet you by the fountain." I said, before hanging up the phone. I gathered my things, and headed towards the fountain. The sun had been out for sometime, the dew on the grass was starting to fade, and the crickets made less, and less noise. I silently apologized for walking on their home, though I was careful, and payed attention to my steps, I still felt enormously guilty for walking, until I reached the cement path, which lead me all the way up to the fountain. I looked up, as I caught sight of my friend standing there.

"Hey Jake!" I waved.

"Hey bum!" He said back. "Your too much of an early bird. People are going to start wondering if your homeless." Jake joked. I was forever thankful for his upbeat mood all the time. He never asked questions, he was just there for me whenever I needed him. He knew exactly how to make me smile, and that's what I loved about him. When I couldn't hear the crickets, and the butterflies, and meadows were too far out of reach for even me to see, Jake was always there.

"At least I'm never late for school, unlike some people." I joked back.

"Hey, I'm not late, how can I get in the class if they lock the door, that's just rude!" Jake stated.

"Jacob Anderson, if I were you, I would take that time to run away from school altogether!" I said in a heroic voice.

"Should we ditch today? You look like you need to have some fun." Jake asked.

I smiled, and thought about it, after the night I had, I really could use a day to myself.

"Lets go!" I laughed, as I ran in the opposite direction of the school. Jake ran after me, and it wasn't long before he got ahead of me, "No fair!" I whined. Jake just laughed at me even more. We didn't stop running until we knew it was safe enough. We ended up at the park, which was nice since everyone was at work, or in school, there wasn't a lot of people there. Jake set down his skateboard, "Get on." He said.

"You know I cant skate." I told him.

"So what, I'll teach you." I set down my backpack against a dirty green bench, and took ahold of Jake's hands, as I stepped up on his black skateboard. With shaky knee's I tried to find my balance, which was not easy, considering how uncoordinated I was. Jake kept a firm hold on my hands, as he walked backward, taking me with him, "Keep your knee's a little bent, it will help with the balance," Jake told me. All I could do at that moment was nod my head, as he continued to take steps back. A smile spread across my face, as I felt the wind whip through my extremely long brown hair. It was a perfect day, until my stomach started growling. Jake looked up at me, as I looked away embarrassed. "When was the last time you ate anything?" Jake asked.

"Umm... I dont really know." I said truthfully.

"C'mon, I'll buy you lunch." Jake said, as he took a hold of my hand, and guided me to a restaurant. I took in a deep breath, realizing exactly how hungry I was, I couldn't help buy lick my lips. Jake must have seen this, because he let out a laugh, "Let's go!" He said, as he opened the door, and waved me in. We took a seat at a random table, waiting to be served, at a small random Chinese food joint. It was quiet, and I was thankful for that. Since we had come right after the lunch hour rush, there was only one other couple there, sitting in a corner. We were seated in the opposite corner, in a bright red booth. There were various paper fans, and masks decorating the walls beautifully.

I tapped my feet impatiently, as I looked over the counter to see if anyone was there, only a minute later did a short asian woman come, and ask us what we would like to drink. I looked at Jake, unsure of what I wanted, "Ladies first." He said.

"I'll have an Ice Tea, please."

"I'll have Coke." Jake said.

The girl wrote down our order of drinks, and left two menu's at the table. It wasn't long before she returned with our drinks.

"Are you ready to order?" She asked in a thick accent.

"Yes." Jake replied, as I was too busy sipping down my ice tea. I couldn't belive how thirsty I was until, the girl looked at me, and asked me for my order. It was only then that I realized that I had already finished the whole glass of ice tea. My face grew bright red, as I ordered chicken, and rice. The girl bowed to both of us, "I'll be back with your order, and I'll bring you another drink, ma'am." Jake watched the girl walk away, with my cup in hand, then turned back to me with a serious look on his face.

"Ki..." Jake started, but quickly stopped, as the girl returned with my drink. I thanked her, and she left us alone once again. "Ki." Jake said once more. "You wanna talk about it?"

I looked down at my lap, fighting the tears that threatend to spill. I simply shook my head, and that was enough to let Jake know to change the subject.

"You remind me of that fan." Jake said pointing up at a dark blue fan, with a bright moon. There was a field of grass, and just one single butterfly. One of the wings looked broken, and the butterfly seemed so sad, and lonely. I didn't want to look at Jake, as I felt warm tears escape my eyes. I didn't try to hide them either, for it was the only way to let out my emotion. I was broken, and sad. I was sixteen, and defenseless, and unsure of my life at the moment. I heard Jake's phone ring to life, which made my head jolt up on its own.

"Its Josh, he wanted to know why we weren't in class today." Jake said with a mischievous grin.

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him we were abducted by aliens." Jake said with a straight face. I was thankful for his sense of humor, because it gave me a reason to laugh, and it made the tears go away.

"I suppose we'll have to go back to school after, and meet up with him?" I asked, knowing the answer before I asked the question.

"Yeah, I'm supposed to go to his house later anyway. Why don't you come too?"

I looked at Jake wide-eyed, "You know I cant. I have to be home right after school, anyway. I'm probably going to be dead for being home late today."

"Kira, please let someone know about whats going on." Jake pleaded with me. I was thankful that the girl brought out the food just in time, so I had a reason to avoid the comment Jake made.

As soon as my plate hit the table, I started devouring it. I could feel Jake's eyes watching me, and I knew he was more than upset. But the truth was, I had nowhere to go, I had no money, or job. I was still so young, what was going to happen if I told someone that my father was abusing me?

Once again, I have another DC story going. This one is a little less upbeat than my last stories, but still, I hope you enjoy it. Please Review, and let me know what you think! Thank you!