"Bye Mom!"
As I said goodbye to my mom, I stepped out of my small home into the strange, mid-August heat with my backpack slung over my shoulder. The sun was shining and the air smelled of dewy grass and nearby forest. We were having a fairly clear end-of-the-summer in Redwood, Oregon, usually being such a dull place to be. I watched all the playing children in the streets; chasing each other with endless rounds of squeals and giggles. They had nothing to do since they didn't have school yet. I was on my way to River Valley High School. We had started school early this year and I had decided to walk, since we had this peculiar weather.
The sidewalk I strode on was coming apart, and had cracks in the places that were still walk able. Good thing it hasn't rained in a while, I thought sarcastically. It was unusual for Redwood to be without rain for a week, let alone a month. There were redwood trees everywhere, the trees that named our city. They towered over my head, but they comforted me.
It was a short walk to the school. As I made my way into the building, I saw the flags and posters with our "legendary" mascot, Bucky the Beaver, on it. Why did we have to have such a dorky mascot? I walked to my locker shaking my head, where I spotted Heather Whitley, my gorgeous-model-of–a-best-friend, waiting for me. It wasn't fair; she was tall, with beautiful periwinkle eyes, and wavy, waist-long hair the color of mocha. I considered my stick-straight brown hair and dull gray eyes. Not too bad, but what could I do, eh?
"There you are Danny! I've been waiting for you for, like, 10 minutes!" she said to me in her bubbly voice. I hadn't noticed the time, but she did. I glanced at the watch on my wrist; it said 7:56. Four minutes till class starts. Great.
"Come on. We're like, gonna be late for homeroom!" She dragged me half of the way there. We walked in just in time for Mrs. Williams, our Algebra teacher, to give us a warning glance. Sorry, I mouthed to her. She just shook her head and started the lesson. I parted with my friend, and made my way to the back of the room, where I sat down in my seat next to Benjamin Russell, an overly chatty kid who was hopeless in everything.
"Hi Danielle! I was just wondering where you were, because that wouldn't be good if you weren't here…"
"Hello Ben." I interrupted him, my voice dripping with indifference. Ben's always had a major crush on me ever since seventh grade. He never gives it up though, even if we're juniors. He continued to blabber on without hesitation. I had learned to tune it out, so I focused more on what Mrs. Williams had to say. There was an equation on the board and she announced that everyone needed to write it down, for notes. I shuffled through my chaotic binder and saw a piece of un-crumpled paper. I reached in to grab it, but another unruly sheet of paper sliced my finger on the way.
I sucked in a breath of air, desperate not to cry out. It hurt so much worse than normal people; but then again, I had never experienced human pain. Could I do it here, right next to this boy? I had to. I couldn't draw attention to myself, if I squealed like a baby. I focused on the pain in my finger and my skin began to tingle. I knew my eyes would be turning a liquid silver color now. But the blood that trickled down my finger was a sapphire blue tear. Thinking fast, I sucked my finger and automatically, stopped the pain. I knew what I was, but nobody else did…
I have an explicit memory, but I couldn't remember how I'd gotten this unknown power. I thought back to the first week of my birth. After I was taken away was when they did something to me, and that's all I can guess; that it was some type of surgery. But they did give me back to my mother. I do relive the pain in that one week though. I was so small and weak, and I hurt everywhere. And then one day, I willed it to go away and, funny thing, it did.
Ever since then, I've been able to heal anyone or anything. I try to use it in emergencies only, but that usually escapes my mind whenever I saw someone in pain. This brings me back to the situation right now. The blood on my finger dissolved into my skin, so it now looks like a blue marker stain. My dilemma over, I listened to the teacher until the end of class.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I went through my classes just like any day. At lunch, I sat with my usual group: Heather, of course, her boyfriend Keith, a popular girl named Kathy, Heather's jock friend Nick, and the twins, Sammy and Stephen. All good people, but nobody I could really talk to. Heather was my only true friend. The others are nice enough, but I'm a "social outcast", for obvious reasons. I like to keep to myself.
When the school day was done at 2:30, and it being a Friday, Heather invited me over but I declined, knowing she could wait a day or two. I told her I was going on a nature walk and that she should come along, to which she replied, "Me? On, like, a nature walk? No way not in these heels! Come on, you should know this by know!" She said ruffling my hair. She was teasing but I said it was okay, smoothing my hair down. I understood; I was always going off in the woods to look at all the flora and fauna, doing alone things like that.
I said my goodbye to Heather as she climbed into her dad's black Lexis waiting at the curb. I waved to her dad, Dave, and he waved back. As they pulled out of the school grounds, I zipped open the front pouch of my messenger bag and pulled out my cell phone. Flipping it open, I pressed speed dial number 3 and "talk."
I waited until I heard the last ring, as I knew my mother always did too, and soon enough, my mother was on the line.
"Bonjour! Je m'appelle Christy!" She answered in her sing song voice. I smiled at her greeting; she was always using different welcomes when she answered the phone.
"Hi Mom. I was going walking again today, that okay?" I knew the answer though.
"Oui mon ami! Of course you can go! The same place you went last time right?"
"Yep, same as last time. I'll call you when I'm coming home, 'kay?" I asked.
"Sure, sure! Okay well then have fun! Au revoir!" I said goodbye too and snapped my phone shut with a smile on my face. Then I slipped it into the pouch and slung my bag across my shoulder.
There was a slight breeze, like a soft whisper on my skin. I pulled out the light hoodie I kept in my bag at all times and zipped it on. I was by the forest now and it was buzzing with life; a frog croaked in a nearby pond, and birds sang in the low sunlight. I looked for a place to sit, under the redwood canopy, but made sure I could see the road. Just being careful for whatever might happen. But in Redwood, that was unlikely.
Leaning against the giant trunk of a tree, I gazed out in the forest. The leaves were rustling with the wind and I saw a red squirrel scamper up a tree. A beam of sunshine crossed my face. Everything seemed pretty peaceful to me. I closed my eyes for a second and listened to it all. Ahh…
When I opened my eyes, I realized I must have taken a nap. I shot up from my resting area, alarmed to see the sky was a soft pink. I glanced at my watch: 5:23pm. I grabbed my stuff and was about to take off when I heard a noise. Stopping dead in my tracks, I turned to see what it was I heard. Silence. And then I heard it; a pitiful wail, like that of an animal. A deer maybe? It sounded hurt and I was torn between going home, and saving this poor thing's life. I decided to do the right thing and help the little guy.
The animal cried out again, this time a little louder, as if he could read my thoughts. I dropped my stuff and ran towards the noise. I knew I could save him with my power, if I could just find him first. The cry came again and all I saw were blurred trees as I ran. Searching and searching, until I had to stop and breathe. It wailed once more and I shrieked to myself, "Where are you? I can't help you if you don't tell me where the heck you're hiding!" Walking now, it gave one last wail, louder than I'd ever heard him. This time, I knew I was close. I slowed down to a gentle jog.
There was a huge redwood tree in front of me, so large that it probably was the biggest tree in the woods. That's where it was, I knew it! I steadily walked around the tree's trunk, careful not to surprise the helpless animal.
But when I turned the corner, there was no deer. Not even an animal of any sort. I threw my hands up in frustration and slumped down the side of the tree, it's tough bark grating into my hoodie. Where was it? But then a thought popped into my head. Was there even an animal to begin with? I pondered over that, deciding it was probably a bird, maybe an owl or something. Now I was probably late for din…
"I know your secret Danny. And now I've got you."
I didn't look over my shoulder to see who the dark, smooth voice belonged to. I just had time to see the giant shadow raise something- a piece of wood maybe- over his head and swing it into the back of my head.
