Chapter One.
Explain a few things.
I slowly dripped back into consciousness, a blue light coming in through my eyelids as I adjusted to the feeling of being aware of my surroundings. The cool air of the basement clings to my trench coat, and the thinness of the air made my lungs burn a little. I sighed heavily and sat back in my wheelie chair as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, my hands brushing over the tattooed markings under my eyes. The markings burned little, the skin still slightly tender from the needle that plastered the permanent ink to the already sensitive skin. Everyone thought it was make-up, but they have no idea how wrong they are, they have no idea what pain was suffered when my father had the tattoo artist put these dishonorable markings on my face. As if I hadn't enough problems when I was young.
My eyes open slowly, the blurry surroundings coming into focus for my tired eyes, only to be blinded by my bright computer screen. I shut them tight and groaned, a mild headache arising from the drastic change in lighting. I pulled myself from the wheelie chair and walked away from the bright screen, when I was sure that I wouldn't be blinded I opened my eyes again. This time I'm facing my work bench, or more specifically, the six foot by six foot table that my latest designs rested on. The only thing to light up the area above the table being a single light bulb, and it's dim light offered little for making things easy to see.
A dialog clock on the far side of the room showed it to be a little past midnight. Great. I got two hours of sleep and already my insomnia has kicked in. I sighed and rubbed my hand through my bright red hair, not the first time that I've woken up in the middle of the night. But it's not like anyone cares, or even notices. My parents rarely ever come see me anymore, unless they want a punching bag or want me to build them another 'sure-fire money making machine'. My siblings don't even know that I exist, special dedication and compliments of my parents. The only good thing that comes from living in the basement is the constant flow of technology, food and money my parents send to me to keep my mouth shut about who my parents are and who I am. Funny how even they are ashamed of me...
They went through a great deal of stress to make sure that no one knows that I am related to them or their 'perfect family'. Making sure no one knows of their albino son that creates all of the machines that they currently make money off of. They even made sure everyone who lives above me in their big house, never finds out of the younger brother who lives below. Yet I know all of them. Some inventions that I keep hidden from my parents, which isn't hard to do since they don't ever come down here except maybe once a year, IF I'm lucky, help keep tabs on my family upstairs. My heart sinks a bit, knowing that the siblings I so desperately want to bond with...will never know that I exist.
It's only because they don't want my 'bad mannerisms' to rub off on their precious perfect ones... I think quietly to myself as I head to my makeshift kitchen. If only they really knew how 'perfect' my other four siblings were... I smile a bit. My parents aren't the only ones who keep secrets in the family.
I take out a soda from my mini-fridge and open it casually as I go back to my computer, my eyes now fully adjusted to the brightness of the screen and room. Setting the can lightly on my desk, beside a few already empty ones and my signature goggles, I type in my password and open up the screens that show each room in the upper portion of the house. Minus the bathrooms of course. Everyone is sleeping peacefully in their bedrooms, all except one. My little sister, Lacy, is walking absent-mindedly through the halls to my three eldest siblings' rooms. I smile a bit as I watch her slow, cautious walk through the dark hallways, a stuffed cat clutched tightly to her chest.
She has short, curly blonde hair and the brightest blue eyes that stand out like gems against her lightly tanned skin. Lacy is only ten, barely able to stand being alone more then thirty minutes before going to find an older sibling to play with. Some nights, when I can't sleep and I decide to check up on the other residents of the house, I watch her toss and turn helplessly in her bed. As far as I can tell, she has bad night terrors at least once or twice a week. They strike randomly and most of the time she gets lucky enough to have them close to morning. I guess she didn't get so lucky tonight.
She shuffles across the brown shag carpet and up to a redwood door, she turns the golden doorknob ever so gently and eases the door open. I shift my gaze to a different screen which displays my twins room, yes I have a twin. Her walls are a soft, violet color with multiple posters to cover the face of just about every side and dark purple carpet to cover the floors. she has a white dresser to the far side and a vanity mirror to check herself in. I've watched her decorate her room many times, and it surprises me how fast she goes from one topic to the next.
Lacy creeps inside and quietly shuts the door behind herself before making her way over to the king sized bed where Jenifer sleeps on. She crawls up onto the large bed and inches closer to my twin's sleeping body, poking it with a tentative finger. Jenifer stirs a little but settles back just as quickly, receiving another poke from Lacy before she grunts and turns over to face the scared ten-year-old. Jenifer opens her emerald green eyes and blinks away the bleariness of sleep, only to sit up quickly and look Lacy over.
"Are you alright?" Her voice shows a bit of worry, knowing the child has night terrors sometimes. "Was it a bad dream again, Lacy?"
Lacy nods ever so slightly, hugging the stuffed cat to her cheek. "It was really dark..." Her whisper would have been nearly inaudible had my little spying machine not been built with sensitive microphones.
Jenifer takes Lacy into a comforting hug. "It's alright. Dreams can't hurt you, at least...not while you're with your big brothers and big sis." She earns a big, thankful smile from the little girl. They both lay down and Jenifer covers them both up with her big comforter. "Now then, why don't you go back to sleep? It's the middle of the night and a strong, goring girl like yourself needs her sleep."
Lacy nods and yawns a little before curling close to her big sister. Both of them slip back off into sleep.
I sigh a little. "I wish I could be there for your night terrors, Lacy...I know plenty about being scared of the dark..." I whisper to no one in particular.
I minimize the screens and pull up some of my other files, looking over the blueprints for a new robot that I have in the making. One that's sure to wow the Xiaolin monks and a few haters from the Heylin side. A jack-bot hovers over to me, staying a respectful distance away until I wave for it to come close and signal for it to speak.
"Master Jack, you have received a letter from Wuya and Hannibal bean." It's robotic, monotone voice relayed it's information to me quickly.
I sigh. "What could those two abusers want now...they've taken just about everything I have, what else is there that's left?" I get up, the force from my motion pushing the wheelie chair into a far wall. "Fine...where is the letter?"
The Jack-bot hands over a fairly large envelope, a red wax insignia keeping the fold closed. I roll my eyes a bit to see the 'elegance' they tried to put into the letter, as if those two could ever care about anything other then themselves. Although the amount of respect they share between them is surprisingly strong, at least it's strong enough that they don't betray one another. I slip my finger under the flap and open it, tearing the insignia with great ease and taking out the piece of parchment within it.
To Jack,
To my most horrid of discoveries, it has been brought to my attention that Roy Hannibal Bean would allow for you to join us to retrieve the next Shen-Gong-Wu to activate itself. We are in dire need of your robots assistance in distracting the ever paining Xiaolin Warriors while you retrieve the Wu for us. Cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated and we would like for you not to fail as horribly as always.
An answer to this letter is expected immediately and should you reject this extremely generous offer, you are to be warned that we will have to take extreme and forceful measures. (So please, reject.)
Forever better then you,
Wuya
I crumple up the piece of paper and throw it away in a nearby trash bin. Figures that she and everyone else would want to use me as a doormat again. Can't catch a break anywhere with anyone, and I should have known that it'd be Wuya who would want to use me first. That little witch always dumps me when she gets the chance, this time will be no different. I turn to my Jack-bot who waits patiently for an answer, and against my better judgment, I let my anger flow out.
"You can tell Wuya and her precious Hannibal that I reject their offer." My voice is dripping with my anger. "I don't care about their pathetic excuse for a warning, if they need a distraction so bad then they can use their own creations to sacrifice because I am done sacrificing mine."
The Jack-bot only beeped, showing that it had recorded my answer and it quickly flew off to deliver it's message. My anger boiled down and I sighed, knowing that when they heard that message I was going to be in a lot of trouble. But for once, I didn't care. Physical pain that they can inflict is nothing compared to the emotional pain I feel everyday. Besides, I'm used to physical pain, might as well let them vent for a little bit.
This is an incredibly poorly written chapter by me, I hope you all can forgive me if I made your eyes bleed or if I have offended you in any way. I'm not a very good writer but I try, plus I like to get criticism in hopes that I might one day become a good writer so please, help out ^~^
Next chapter coming as soon as I can make it.