~*~Author's Note~*~
Heheh...yeah. PLEASE tell me I got you feeling at LEAST a LITTLE for Neiva there. If I have, I've done my job. Please review and let me know. This is the final chapter, and I'm hoping I can write this without having an emotional breakdown. (You'll see why.) I call this chapter..*ahem* CONFRONTATION.
The clock near Neiva's bedside flashed 10:56. Neiva had stayed holed up in her room all day, refusing to come out. No-one wanted her to anyways. None of those 'gifted children', or even Sametta cared enough to come check on her. Some guide Sametta was. She gave up as soon as it got a little tough. And those kids..they just made Neiva so mad! She couldn't stand their optimism. No matter though. Soon enough, she'd be gone. Back o the streets, where she knew what was what. She didn't need Sametta, or Cassidy, or any of them. She had survived just fine on the streets without them, and intended to do so again. With an indignant sniff, she pulled the bag out from under the bed. There were blankets, and little trinkets that she could sell for some quick cash. She would be just fine out there on her own. She cracked the door open, and looked around to see if anyone was about. The coast was clear. Smirking, she slipped out the door, closing it noiselessly behind her. Creeping down the hall, bag in tow, Neiva relaxed a little. She would be out of here in no time. She wanted to leave this place behind. She recalled the oracle saying something about how she had once been called Moncha. She decided to leave the name Neiva behind too.
"I am Moncha." She said to herself, reassuring herself that she was no longer a part of all of this. Her new name gave her new confidence as she walked quietly down the hall, and past the living room to the front door. A voice, emanating from the living room, interrupted Moncha's thoughts.
"Where are you going?" The voice wasn't Sametta's, nor was it even female. Turning around, Moncha hissed into the dark.
"Where I go is none of your business." A figure appeared in the shadows, approaching her. It was Todd, the boy who looked at her strangely on the first day.
"That may be right. Even so, I want to know."
"And why would you care?" Moncha asked, acid seeping into her tone, her face hardening.
"I just do."
"If you must know, I'm leaving. Not like you care or anything."
"Why?" He asked. A moment of profound-feeling silence passed between the two, as Todd watched her with his dark eyes.
"Because of everything." Moncha said simply.
"What do you mean?"
"Just what I said, idiot. I'm leaving because of everything. I don't have a gift, Sametta doesn't like me, and I'd be doing everyone a favor by getting out of here, as well as doing better for myself."
"Humor me. Elaborate."
"Why the hell should I? I don't need to explain myself to you."
"You don't have to." He replied, leaning against a wall, shadows dancing across his face.
"Then I won't. If you'll excuse me, I have to leave."
"You don't have to go. Number one, you DO have a gift. Number two, Sametta doesn't hate you. Number three, you wouldn't be doing anyone a favor by leaving, and number four, you're far better off here than anywhere else." His voice cut through the darkness in a calm, collected manner.
"How do you know?"
"Sametta doesn't hate you. You were all she could talk about during dinner. She's just a little proud, that's all. She's worried about you, but doesn't want to admit it. She's a little stubborn that way. And you ARE better off here then back on the street. Here, you have a bed, food, clothing, shelter, and everything. Out there, what do you have? The clothes on your back, and whatever you can make off all the stuff you've jammed in that bag. And as for your powers-"
"Hold on a second." Moncha interrupted. "How did you know-"
"-My gift is the second sight." He responded. Moncha nodded.
"Figures." She muttered. Todd shook his head, grinning, and spoke again.
"As for your gift, I know you have one. Everyone does, whether they are gifted like us or not. What did Sametta tell you your gift was?"
"She told me it was my Inquisitiveness." Moncha said.
"Neiva, do you have any idea how precious that gift is?"
"I don't know how precious my gift is. I don't even consider it a gift! Apparently, I'm doomed to ask questions. Some gift. And besides, no-one will miss me. No-one here cares."
"Neiva-"
"Stop calling me Neiva! I'm NOT Neiva! I am Moncha. Get it? Moncha."
"Look. I don't care who or what you are, Moncha. Do you have any idea what you could become if you stay here? What you could acomplish?" He asked, standing up straight, coming away from the wall.
"No. And I don't care."
"Do you know how childish that reaction is?" He asked, shaking his head sadly.
"NO! And I told you I don't care! I want to go back to the streets. Even though I don't have anyone there with me, at least I can't get hurt by anyone either. I can deal with the streets. I can deal with all of that! I just can't deal with this place!"
"Neiva, Moncha, whatever you want to be called. Do you have NO sense of what others think of you? Do you have any idea how much we care about you here? Everyone here is concerned about you. We all care-I care." Todd said, stepping away from the wall, and grabbing Moncha's shoulders.
"No you don't. You were just sent by Sametta to get me to stay in this hell- hole." She said, trying to wrench herself free from Todd's tight grip.
"Neiva-"
"-MONCHA!"
"WHATEVER! I don't care what you want to be called. I CARE about you, okay? You say no-one cares. Well, someone who cares is right here in front of you, and you are too blind to see! Maybe you SHOULD go back to the street. If you can't see what's right in front of you, then maybe you WILL be better off." He released his grip in Moncha, and glared at her as he stepped back, leaning against he wall once more.
"Then I'll go." She said, hardening further. Clutching the bag tightly, she opened the door.
"Moncha, wait." Todd said, his dark eyes softening.
"What." She said angrily.
"Don't go. Give this place a chance! Give all of us a chance. We're not as naïve as you think we are. We've been through the same sort of thing you have, but we've all healed ourselves here. We've found rest. You can too! Cassidy's parents beat her until Lodema rescued her. Me, I grew up on the streets too. All of the others have been through similar things. You see? We're not so different! We understand!" Moncha's tough core shattered, and tears began to stream down her face as she collapsed on the floor in sobs. Todd knelt down beside her, and hugged her tight, trying to comfort her. Moncha gulped, and began to speak.
"All my life, I've looked for acceptance, help, friends. I grew up alone, with the lowest expectations possible. I lived off what I could bring to myself. I've never had to depend on anyone, and survived by being strong, resourceful, and smart.. Here, I have to sacrifice my independence, and put my strength and pride on hold in order to gain what I have always looked for. How can I do that, when all I have is my independence, strength, and pride? How can you ask me to do this?" She looked up pleadingly into Todd's dark eyes. He pursed his lips for a moment, then spoke.
"I don't have all the answers. And I won't pretend to, Moncha. I can ask you another question, though. How can you pass up all of what is offered to you here for a life on the streets?" As they looked at eachother, together they searched for answers, and explanations. The darkness, combined with the silence, fell heavily upon both of them. Moncha rested her head on Todd's chest, as a last tear fell.
"You're right, Todd. You really are. And.and it's Neiva now. Just Nieva." Todd smiled slightly, as he helped her up. And together, they walked back to the hallway-Todd and Neiva.
THE END
~*~Author's Note~*~
EEP! GAAAAAAH! Remind me never to write like that again! So emotionally draining! GAH! I have to write two viewpoints, while believing them both. That's what's tricky about this angsty conversation stuff. Well, I hope you've liked your little adventure with Neiva.I certainly have. Thanks for everything, everyone. Take care, and stay strong.
Heheh...yeah. PLEASE tell me I got you feeling at LEAST a LITTLE for Neiva there. If I have, I've done my job. Please review and let me know. This is the final chapter, and I'm hoping I can write this without having an emotional breakdown. (You'll see why.) I call this chapter..*ahem* CONFRONTATION.
The clock near Neiva's bedside flashed 10:56. Neiva had stayed holed up in her room all day, refusing to come out. No-one wanted her to anyways. None of those 'gifted children', or even Sametta cared enough to come check on her. Some guide Sametta was. She gave up as soon as it got a little tough. And those kids..they just made Neiva so mad! She couldn't stand their optimism. No matter though. Soon enough, she'd be gone. Back o the streets, where she knew what was what. She didn't need Sametta, or Cassidy, or any of them. She had survived just fine on the streets without them, and intended to do so again. With an indignant sniff, she pulled the bag out from under the bed. There were blankets, and little trinkets that she could sell for some quick cash. She would be just fine out there on her own. She cracked the door open, and looked around to see if anyone was about. The coast was clear. Smirking, she slipped out the door, closing it noiselessly behind her. Creeping down the hall, bag in tow, Neiva relaxed a little. She would be out of here in no time. She wanted to leave this place behind. She recalled the oracle saying something about how she had once been called Moncha. She decided to leave the name Neiva behind too.
"I am Moncha." She said to herself, reassuring herself that she was no longer a part of all of this. Her new name gave her new confidence as she walked quietly down the hall, and past the living room to the front door. A voice, emanating from the living room, interrupted Moncha's thoughts.
"Where are you going?" The voice wasn't Sametta's, nor was it even female. Turning around, Moncha hissed into the dark.
"Where I go is none of your business." A figure appeared in the shadows, approaching her. It was Todd, the boy who looked at her strangely on the first day.
"That may be right. Even so, I want to know."
"And why would you care?" Moncha asked, acid seeping into her tone, her face hardening.
"I just do."
"If you must know, I'm leaving. Not like you care or anything."
"Why?" He asked. A moment of profound-feeling silence passed between the two, as Todd watched her with his dark eyes.
"Because of everything." Moncha said simply.
"What do you mean?"
"Just what I said, idiot. I'm leaving because of everything. I don't have a gift, Sametta doesn't like me, and I'd be doing everyone a favor by getting out of here, as well as doing better for myself."
"Humor me. Elaborate."
"Why the hell should I? I don't need to explain myself to you."
"You don't have to." He replied, leaning against a wall, shadows dancing across his face.
"Then I won't. If you'll excuse me, I have to leave."
"You don't have to go. Number one, you DO have a gift. Number two, Sametta doesn't hate you. Number three, you wouldn't be doing anyone a favor by leaving, and number four, you're far better off here than anywhere else." His voice cut through the darkness in a calm, collected manner.
"How do you know?"
"Sametta doesn't hate you. You were all she could talk about during dinner. She's just a little proud, that's all. She's worried about you, but doesn't want to admit it. She's a little stubborn that way. And you ARE better off here then back on the street. Here, you have a bed, food, clothing, shelter, and everything. Out there, what do you have? The clothes on your back, and whatever you can make off all the stuff you've jammed in that bag. And as for your powers-"
"Hold on a second." Moncha interrupted. "How did you know-"
"-My gift is the second sight." He responded. Moncha nodded.
"Figures." She muttered. Todd shook his head, grinning, and spoke again.
"As for your gift, I know you have one. Everyone does, whether they are gifted like us or not. What did Sametta tell you your gift was?"
"She told me it was my Inquisitiveness." Moncha said.
"Neiva, do you have any idea how precious that gift is?"
"I don't know how precious my gift is. I don't even consider it a gift! Apparently, I'm doomed to ask questions. Some gift. And besides, no-one will miss me. No-one here cares."
"Neiva-"
"Stop calling me Neiva! I'm NOT Neiva! I am Moncha. Get it? Moncha."
"Look. I don't care who or what you are, Moncha. Do you have any idea what you could become if you stay here? What you could acomplish?" He asked, standing up straight, coming away from the wall.
"No. And I don't care."
"Do you know how childish that reaction is?" He asked, shaking his head sadly.
"NO! And I told you I don't care! I want to go back to the streets. Even though I don't have anyone there with me, at least I can't get hurt by anyone either. I can deal with the streets. I can deal with all of that! I just can't deal with this place!"
"Neiva, Moncha, whatever you want to be called. Do you have NO sense of what others think of you? Do you have any idea how much we care about you here? Everyone here is concerned about you. We all care-I care." Todd said, stepping away from the wall, and grabbing Moncha's shoulders.
"No you don't. You were just sent by Sametta to get me to stay in this hell- hole." She said, trying to wrench herself free from Todd's tight grip.
"Neiva-"
"-MONCHA!"
"WHATEVER! I don't care what you want to be called. I CARE about you, okay? You say no-one cares. Well, someone who cares is right here in front of you, and you are too blind to see! Maybe you SHOULD go back to the street. If you can't see what's right in front of you, then maybe you WILL be better off." He released his grip in Moncha, and glared at her as he stepped back, leaning against he wall once more.
"Then I'll go." She said, hardening further. Clutching the bag tightly, she opened the door.
"Moncha, wait." Todd said, his dark eyes softening.
"What." She said angrily.
"Don't go. Give this place a chance! Give all of us a chance. We're not as naïve as you think we are. We've been through the same sort of thing you have, but we've all healed ourselves here. We've found rest. You can too! Cassidy's parents beat her until Lodema rescued her. Me, I grew up on the streets too. All of the others have been through similar things. You see? We're not so different! We understand!" Moncha's tough core shattered, and tears began to stream down her face as she collapsed on the floor in sobs. Todd knelt down beside her, and hugged her tight, trying to comfort her. Moncha gulped, and began to speak.
"All my life, I've looked for acceptance, help, friends. I grew up alone, with the lowest expectations possible. I lived off what I could bring to myself. I've never had to depend on anyone, and survived by being strong, resourceful, and smart.. Here, I have to sacrifice my independence, and put my strength and pride on hold in order to gain what I have always looked for. How can I do that, when all I have is my independence, strength, and pride? How can you ask me to do this?" She looked up pleadingly into Todd's dark eyes. He pursed his lips for a moment, then spoke.
"I don't have all the answers. And I won't pretend to, Moncha. I can ask you another question, though. How can you pass up all of what is offered to you here for a life on the streets?" As they looked at eachother, together they searched for answers, and explanations. The darkness, combined with the silence, fell heavily upon both of them. Moncha rested her head on Todd's chest, as a last tear fell.
"You're right, Todd. You really are. And.and it's Neiva now. Just Nieva." Todd smiled slightly, as he helped her up. And together, they walked back to the hallway-Todd and Neiva.
THE END
~*~Author's Note~*~
EEP! GAAAAAAH! Remind me never to write like that again! So emotionally draining! GAH! I have to write two viewpoints, while believing them both. That's what's tricky about this angsty conversation stuff. Well, I hope you've liked your little adventure with Neiva.I certainly have. Thanks for everything, everyone. Take care, and stay strong.