Author's Note
well this is a teaser chapter for an up and coming story i'm working on. i refuse to list any pairings, but this is a modern Fairytail AU with magic and supernatural themes! I never see anyone do stuff like this, but here goes. hope you all like the prologue! love cherry
She's Gone
prologue
She sat quietly, hidden amongst the tall grass, munching on the strawberries now growing wild in the nearby garden. Besides her mother's grave, this was the only spot she truly felt safe and at home. Taking a sip of sweet tea from the mason jar between her legs, she peeked above the swaying grass at the green rolling Oklahoma hills.
Everything was silent, besides the lowing of nearby cows and the occasional truck bouncing down the distant dirt road, and she watched the rushing wind ripple the tall grass like small silvery waves. To the north, past the tiny trailer she called home, she could see black cumulus clouds rolling in, and figured she'd better head back soon. But knowing what awaited her made her linger longer in the wild grass.
"You're only as good as the check I get every month girl." Her dad had said only hours earlier. He made it a point to constantly remind her of the only reason she was allowed under his roof- the security of a bigger disability check. Even though the railroad said they'd pay for whatever was necessary to get him back to work, the man favored having free time to drink and live off the inadequacies of the government. And having free time to control most of his daughter's life. He'd smack her, spitefully reminding her of her petite frame and impending 18th birthday, when he'd toss her out flat on her ass. After years of being smacked down, she'd learned to keep silent and keep her head down. If the man had ever loved her, she didn't know. Even while her mama lived he'd always held her at an indifferent distance. Then when his wife had her untimely passing, the blonde hair and chocolate eyes of his daughter was a bitter taunt of the woman who had left him behind.
"Lucy!" the girl's head whipped in the direction of her neighbor's voice, and smiled at the sight of the elderly lady standing on her sagging front porch.
"Girl get on over here!" the woman hollered when she finally caught a flash of platinum hair between long blades of grass. Lucy stood, dusting off her jean shorts, and holding her mason jar ambled over to the woman.
"Yes maam?" Lucy tugged on the long sleeves of her v-neck, eager to cover the tell-tale marks of her father's drunken rampage the previous night, and hoped Beth hadn't seen. Unconsciously the woman's eyes hardened slightly, angered that such a large man thought it okay to lay hands on his much smaller daughter, but outwardly she pretended she hadn't seen.
"It's gettin awfully windy out. You best go home and take shelter," Beth said, tucking a stray silver lock behind her ear, "Looks like that storm's fixin to rip us a new one." Both girls shot a worried glance at the horizon. Lucy nodded and turned before Beth's voice made her pause.
"Your birthday's coming up soon isn't it?" The elder woman asked. Lucy nodded once more and saw Beth mentally fishing for her next words. Folk around here were quiet, kept their problems to themselves behind closed lips and closed doors. And if you knew about it, you didn't say anything. Tight-lipped and tight-minded is what Lucy's mama had always said. Lucy's mama was always such a sharp witted woman, and Lucy was almost identical to Layla. Beth smiled fondly at the memories Lucy's face invoked- that trailer had seen happier days.
"Well I know you'll need someplace to stay, once 18 rolls around-" and Lucy blushed in embarrassment at her situation "- And you're more than welcome to stay here darlin." The older lady finished, and watched as Lucy's face brightened momentarily before falling.
"Oh I couldn't be a burden..." Lucy trailed off- don't take a cent you haven't earned, her dad's voice hissed in her head. Ironic that he was receiving money he had no right getting.
"Oh honey it wouldn't be a burden." Beth chuckled lightly, before dropping it. Lucy hadn't always been like this, beaten down and meek. The girl had spitfire racing through her blood, just like her mama. One day, Beth hoped she'd discover that inner strength and free herself.
"Thanks Beth. I'll think about it." Lucy smiled slightly before walking away with a light wave. Beth sighed. They both knew she wouldn't. Leaving behind her sanctuary, Lucy jogged down the dirt road to her house, her hair whipping wildly around her face. Thunder boomed deeply, echoing through the darkening skies, and Lucy picked up her pace. This wasn't just a normal storm- it had tornado written all over it. A faint engine whir made her decelerate in her jog. Ahead she saw a truck kicking up dust further down the road, and it slowed as it approached. The boy behind the beat up Ford rolled down the driver side window before flashing the blonde a toothy grin.
"Hey Luce." He said with familiarity, and Lucy couldn't help but smile at the thought of the night they spent together a year back.
"Hey Cliff, what are you doing this far out?" Lucy asked, leaning on the driver's side door. The warning thunder sounded out once more and both teens looked at the storm closing in.
"Just heading out to Tim's to help with bailing hay, but looks like that'll have to wait." He responded gesturing to the chaotic sky. Tim was the very friend who had hooked the two up in the first place.
"Hey, so you gonna be at Nicole's party tomorrow night?" Cliff asked, trying to be polite despite knowing the answer.
"If I can sneak away from him." Lucy laughed somberly, and Cliff didn't even have to ask. "Him"- the reason they'd never worked out in the beginning, and the reason Cliff now had a scar above his right brow.
"Yeah, well I'll see you around Lucy. Call me so we can do somethin for your birthday." Cliff grinned, before sweeping a hand through his short brown hair. Lucy was always the special one he let get away. She was the small town girl who stole his virginity and his heart. If he'd had his way Lucy would still be his, but after the altercation between he and her father last year, Lucy begged Cliff to leave her be for the sake of his own safety. But soon, she'd be out of the damned house, and then maybe if she were willing he could take a shot at seeing her again.
"Sure Cliff." Lucy waved before he pulled away, flashing his goofy smile. That boy... She smiled, but was jolted from her thoughts by an echoing boom. She better get home quick. When she finally reached her front yard, the plastic lawn chairs had been forcefully blown from their perch on the front porch and Lucy didn't even bother to put them right. Not that it matters, he'll get drunk again and send those back to where they are right now. She stepped quietly through her front door, and flinched when the tin screen door slammed on it's hinges.
"Girl! Where you been?" A raucous noise came from the living room as bottles clattered to the wood floor. Uneven footsteps shuffled across the boards, and the red-faced man Lucy called her dad stood before her. He was past his swaying state - he was belligerent. She tried to back up, but fell roughly to the floor when pain erupted across her cheek. He was always so heavy handed. She tasted blood, and stared up at the glowering man above her.
"Bet you were whoring around with that boy again huh? Could never keep your legs closed." He sneered, before bringing a half empty amber bottle to his lips. Lightning flashed outside.
"If your mama could only-" He began, his mean eyes glaring down in disgust at his daughter.
"- Don't you talk about mama!" Lucy yelled before covering her mouth in fear- big mistake. She was harshly ripped to her feet and flung into a nearby wall, making picture frames rattle. Her head smacked the wood hard, and Lucy tried to make sense of her surroundings. The thunder outside boomed, turning the violent thud of blood in her head to muffled beats.
"Your mama was ten times the woman you'll ever be," the drunk man spat, "You get your shit and get the hell out." He stalked away, and Lucy heard his heavy footsteps recede back into the living room. She couldn't imagine what had set his temper off; she'd returned earlier than she normally did in the summer. He didn't have to hunt her down to get her home. Shakily standing, she made herself small, and quietly walked to her tiny room. Thunder quaked the small home and Lucy's blood ran cold at the sight that greeted her. Ripped gold-leaf paper everywhere- thrown atop her now messy bed, perched awkwardly on her rickety vanity. The man must've found her passed down diary, one of the only things she had left of her mother's, and read Lucy's entries. He probably knew about most of her deepest secrets now, if not everything. Lucy slowly knelt before what was left of the bound book and fingered her mother's delicate writing with remorse.
'To my Lucy, just like my mother did for me, I want to leave this diary to you as well. Take time to write down your dreams, your hopes, your prayers, and know wherever I am that I love you. Make your dreams come true, your hopes become fact, and your prayers become truth. Love always, your mama,' the inscription said, written in precise shorthand below Lucy's grandma's own dedication. Lucy sniffed, trying not to cry at her father's cruelty, as she went around her room and grabbing all that she had left of her mother's thoughts. Her mother's worries during her pregnancy, the poems she lovingly wrote for Lucy, and all the hopes she had for her growing child. Some pages were ripped beyond repair, but Lucy carefully collected those pieces as well. The wind howled outside, and Lucy focused on the noises of the rolling storm, trying to drown out her inner turmoil. Instead she held tight to the hatred that swirled deep in her gut, spurring her on, pushing her to calmly and thoroughly go through her mental checklist of what she needed. She'd have time to grieve later. But for now she needed to take care of herself. She hated that man. Wished that man dead.
Lucy stood somberly, the papers clasped in an ice cold grip, as she stared around her room. Testaments of a happier childhood, crowns and sashes from beauty pageants, pictures of her with her mom and her old dog Toby, gave way to her ill-spent teen years. She held on to her memories, just like she held on to her childhood relics- it was the only solid things she had to anchor her down to the dry Oklahoma dirt. But she wasn't a child anymore. She hadn't been since her mother passed, the only thing standing between she and her father's spite. With a sore head she thought of the damning birthday only 3 weeks away- while she was scared to be out in the world without even a bed to come home to, it couldn't come soon enough. She was ready to leave it all behind.
So she packed swiftly- grabbing the only nice outfits she had- as well as her traveling leather jacket and boots, and the $450 she had saved from work at the corner cafe for such an occasion. She tenderly pulled the picture of the 8 year old blonde girl posing with her pre-sick mama from the cheap picture frame, and along with her ripped pages placed it in the wooden keepsake box Cliff had given to her last summer.
Suddenly Lucy spun around, anger and dread sweeping through her body. Please tell me he didn't... No, there it was. Lucy bent down with a sigh of relief at the sight of her mother's bracelet laying half hidden under a pillow. She tied her mother's charm bracelet around her wrist, glad it had escaped her father's wrath, before slinging her full duffel bag over her shoulder. This was it. Almost 18 years gone. Lucy didn't know whether to feel sick or excited. She should feel sick she knew- she was leaving the home her mama had raised her in. But her mama wasn't here anymore, she didn't fill this trailer. Her father's face full of rage flashed through her head and Lucy made up her mind. She would leave with dignity and righteous anger. She would take nothing from him but her own presence. She turned and paused in her exit from her room when the piercing sound of distant sirens reached her ears. Her blood chilled at the eerie noise. A tornado has touched down. Take shelter. The wailing screeched. In her eagerness to pack Lucy hadn't noticed the creaking of the mobile home as the fierce wind pushed and pulled. But now it was all too obvious.
She rushed down the hall, in a hurried panic to wake her dad out of routine and take shelter when something tugged at her gut. She stopped before the snoring man passed out on the couch, his hand gripping a whiskey bottle, and felt that insistent tug on her bruised and beaten heart. Hate. The past 5 years flashed before her eyes- his fury filled face dominating most of it. Lucy couldn't find it in herself to care about the fate of the man laying before her. Was it so horrible that she should walk away? Run... Her mama's voice was whispering in her ear. Lucy tried to ignore the word, but found the outcome so appetizing. The voice got louder, refusing to let the tornado sirens and screaming wind drown her out. Run Lucy... run like the wind. She would. With unfeeling determination, Lucy turned and calmly walked away, leaving behind the man who had a hand in creating the monster Lucy was turning into. She was emotionless as she strode away from the only life Lucy ever knew, her mama's insistent voice pestering her to move faster. But no, Lucy would take her time, savor this with cold malice. All those hits, all those words, it all dwindled down to this very moment.
She didn't bother to close the back screen door, and was nearly thrown back by the force of the gales. So close. She fought through the dirt and debris flying through the air to the dank cellar, and flung the trapdoor open. Staring down into the darkness, she could see her mother smiling with open arms. She peered back at the shuddering mobile home, angry clouds and approaching tornado not far beyond, and knew the man inside would sleep on without her to wake him. As he should.
Lucy allowed herself a last rueful smile, content at the deciding end to her old life, and slammed the door down above her. The lock snapped shut and Lucy sat protected in the dark. Outside the wind picked up to a furious keen, the thunder drowning out the distant sirens. Safe, safe, safe... her mother murmured softly, making Lucy smile as she watched the small slit of light spilling in through the tiny crack darken above her. And as heavy and small debris alike pelted the heavy wooden door, Lucy took her revenge amidst the shelter of her mother's embrace like a silent prayer. Let the wind blow it all away.