Chapter 1 - Strange New Friendships
Katie was sitting outside, it was lunch time and students ran around the oval in front of her. A brown paper bag sat on her lap as she munched on a potato cake. A footy came flying past her, a group of boys tackling each other after it. The wind whipped around her causing her brunette hair to float around. Someone sat down next to hair with a thump. "Hi. What do you want?"
"Vhat's zhat?" Katie turned the boy who was sitting next to her. He was the one with the round glasses who arrived this morning.
"A potato cake. What's with that accent?" She replied.
"Vhat accent?"
"You German or somethin'?"
"Ja. Mien name is Lukia." The boy held out his hand. Katie grabbed it and shook it peacefully.
"I'm Katie. So what brings you to the most deadly place on the earth?"
"Mien Father und his teammates vere posted here."
"Cool. Want some?" She asked, holding up her food. He nodded. She tore off a chunk of potato and passed it to him.
"Vhat time is it?" Lukia asked.
"One-Thirty-Six. Bell is about to go. We have math next right?"
"Ja."
"Hmm okay. I gotta go get my stuff from my locker. Wanna come? I heard you and your friends ended up with lockers near mine."
The pair wandered up towards the locker bay, other students whispering under their breath as they passed. Katie wasn't very popular among the students mostly due to the vast amount of rumors that swarmed her. She was known to talk to herself insanely and that was the trait of a high school freak. With her shy and highly awkward personality, she became the target of bullying. And lots of it.
When the pair arrived at the locker bay, one couple was making out in front of Katie's locker. With disgust, Katie shoved the pair away and unlocked her locker.
"Go do it somewhere else, ya bloody retards!" She shouted as the sneered and walked away.
"Zhat vas…"
"Eh, don't worry it happens all the time here. It is a public school."
"Oh heya, Lukia." A voice said, causing the two to turn.
"Hallo Danny." Lukia replied. It was one of the other new boys. He was the one with brown hair and the cocky attitude.
"Who's dis?" Danny asked, pointing at Katie.
"I'm Katie. Your Danny I'm guessing?"
"Woah! Your that chick those other dudes told me 'bout."
"What the hell did they say this time?" Katie spat, grabbing her stuff out of her locker and slamming it shut.
"That your pretty hot and that yer boobs ar-" Danny was cut of mid-sentence as Lukia cupped a hand over his mouth.
"Danny zhat is enough." Lukia said. The bell rang as Lukia released Danny.
"So, your whole group are friends?" Katie asked as she and Lukia left the classroom.
"Ja. Our parents vork together. Vell only one of our parents. I do not know mien mother." Lukia replied grimly.
"Geez that must suck. I barely see my dad. My mum been raising me and my little sis."
"Zhat is also sad."
"Wanna come over to my place? It's walking distance."
"Nien. My father offered to teach me about his medical equipment zhis afternoon."
"What's his job anyway?" Katie asked.
"A field Medic." Lukia simply replied.
"Anyway, I gotta jet. Cya tomorrow Lukia!"
Katie bounded down the hill towards the large road at the end. She crossed it after a car came speeding by. She continued up the hill along the concrete sidewalk. Flowers were sticking out and onto the path as they were overgrown and unkept. Trees swayed in the slight breeze that blew around. The little voice in her head started to trickle into her subconscious.
'Today was interesting.' The disembodied voice said.
"For you. Mind you they still think I talk to myself." Katie muttered under her breath.
'Alas, life is that way. So, those new students?'
"We already talked about them."
'YOU. Already talked about them. They don't know I exist. They seem familiar.'
"How so?"
'Remember that time your father came home for one holiday and you stumbled upon that photo of him and his co-workers?'
"That doesn't mean anything. That was years ago, Mara."
'Touche!' The two finished their conversation once Katie arrived home. She flicked open the wooden mailbox and peered inside. She grabbed the stack of letters inside before wandering indoors. She opened the screen door and shouted to alert her mother that she was home.
"Katie! Katie! Guess what!" Her younger sister said as she bounded down the hall.
"What is it, Lucy?" Katie asked.
"Daddy's home!" Lucy replied before running back down the hall towards the kitchen. Sitting in the kitchen on a high, wooden stool was Katie's father. He was lanky and tall with grizzled brown hair with sideburns, his hat laying on the table beside his tinted sunglasses. He was wearing a tan vest with a red t-shirt underneath and brown pants. His pointed shoes were caked in mud and dirt.
Katie's father hadn't been home for years. Something was off.