Dark Hills

Green, all I could see was green. Green trees upon green grass with vibrant blue skies, it's depressing how cheerful it was. It squeezes all your pain and sorrow out forcing you to feel happy and joyful, so real yet so fake. "Happy people are fake people. On the outside they seem glowing but on the inside their heart is black and cold. Always trying to be something they're not." Every night before I went to bed my mother would whisper that in my ear. Her words would send warm shivers down my spine. If you were to ask me if I believed it, I wouldn't know what to say. I guess it's just one of those things you have to find out on your own.1

"We're just about there, you can see the church from here. Isn't it beautiful? Every summer everyone from town comes and celebrates, they have a dance and food, I'm sure you'll fit right in. You're going to love it here."2

My Aunt was one of those women you saw in Vogue magazines. With the flowing blond hair and big boobs, the ones you swear were fake. She made every woman who saw her envious and every man stunned and stupid. She was also completely immune to feelings, a trait she displayed well.3

"I don't feel like going to a dance Aunt Peggy. I just want to be left alone." I was well aware my voice went over the line of respectful and entered dangerous territory, but truthfully I didn't care. It was a sin to be thinking of parties and food when my parents had just died. It's like eating your dog after it's hit by a car, you just don't do it.4

"Well moping isn't going to help anyone, and by all means you've done enough of it. The least you could do is fix your hair, it looks as if you've just woken up." She spread her pink lip gloss across her lips, driving with only one hand. "And for God's sake when we get there, you'd better act happy. Can't have a depressed niece, imagine what that would do to my reputation!"5

"Sorry", I muttered.6


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About six miles from the church lay a little shopping mall, or at least a wannabe shopping mall. An old hardware store took most of the room, a gas station and convenience store faced it; worn down and in desperate need of repair. A clothing boutique - which looked like it supplied some kind of hillbilly wear - was crammed into the remaining space. A sad attempt at modernness.8

Aunt Peggy turned on a street after the boutique and drove down a hill. Rocks sputtered every which way hitting the car every now and then, leaving tiny dents not quite visible to the eye.9

"This is it, welcome to your new home." I looked in the direction she pointed and saw a small two story house submerged in weeds. The outside was built in concrete and glued with rocks. Shiny rocks that glittered in the light.10

"Is that glass?"11

"Beer bottle glass to be exact. Your Uncle did it, isn't it amazing? All the neighbours are jealous."12

"It's pretty." I tried not to show what I truly thought. 13

I followed her through the weeds and up the old stairs, the screen door slamming behind us.14

"Make yourself at home. That's Spike, Sydney and Sugar - Ron is in the middle. Ron honey wave!" My Uncle waved a fist full of beer in my direction, never looking from the TV screen. "Honey you remember Angela right? Remember fifth grade, the "Fallen Angel", Angel/Angela....." A grunt and more ignoring. "He gets like that sometimes, by dinner he'll have enough liquor in his veins to make his brain work, you'll see.15

She led me down a short hall with bruised white walls and into a room that looked like a closet. Unlike the rest of the house, this room was clean and looked spotless. The walls were painted a shocking white, the floor was wooden and unmarked, and in the corner a small side table sat looking unused and lonely.16

"This is your room I hope you like it, I left it plain for a reason. Once you get settled you can make it your own, paint it and decorate." She threw my bag on the bed and motioned around. I took a glance around the white room without interest. "I hope you don't mind having dogs in your bed, all three of my babies love your room, especially Spike." I nodded and we stood in silence. Awkward and quiet we just stared at each other, unsure of what to say. "Well I guess I'll get dinner on."17

"OK, thanks." I flopped on my bed and waited for her to shut the door. Grabbing my bear from my suitcase I pulled the blanket over my head and imagined I was somewhere else. Back in Canada with my friends and family. Away from "Dark Hills" and all its gloom.18


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Supper was quiet and unfamiliar. Growing up in a small family made you appreciate the time you had together. At home, on weeknights my parents would fix dinner and we'd sit together chatting and laughing about our busy days. On weekends we would sit in the living room browsing movies that sounded interesting and throwing popcorn in eachother's faces. But I had a feeling that here was different. 20

Aunt Peggy's kitchen was cluttered and dirty. There were pots and pans thrown everywhere and the table sat crammed in a far corner. Uncle Ron muttered something under his breath as he passed me a dish and told me not to expect anything fancy. So far, being here had made me expect lots of things, fancy not being one of them.21

"Why don't you eat in your room Angela?" Aunt peggy smiled at me as she dished up. 22

I was disappointed but too tired to argue. "Okay."23

The first night living with my Aunt and Uncle was spent alone in my room eating stale Chinese food and trying not to cry. A picture of my parents grinning at me from the side table and a fat dog sleeping on my bed. 24


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There's a reason it's called Dark Hills. Just after noon the sun seems to fade and leaves in its place a dreary darkness that doesn't surrender until the morning. "Funeral of the living" the towns people call it. When everyone seems to disappear and you can hear only their voices floating from across the fields.26

It was my first day at the new school, or old should I say. Like the rest of the town the school brought an ancient feel. Painted all in black it didn't seem the type to be run by nuns, but I guess looks can deceive.27

"Your name please?", the older nun asked as I made my way to the registration desk. 28

"Angela Starks."29

"Oh, you're Peggy's niece, it's nice to finally meet you." She sent me a wink from within her robed hood. 30

"Uh..thanks." I grabbed my papers and schedule without looking directly in her eyes. They seemed too piercing to look at, better to just pretend not to notice.31

The halls of "Hills High" were murky and brought a putrid stench. And walking alone passed the doors gave you a sense of being watched. Had it not been for the religious background you would call it almost evil feeling. The students here were solitary, standing alone and in silence. Not like the groups of friends talking and giggling before class like they had back home. By every door stood a nun staring straight ahead, never moving a muscle - like a soldier waiting for command.32

I was weighing my options of escaping this hell hole, when a nun to my right waved me closer. She was pretty, not as old as the others, and her hair was a dirty blond color - the look every girl wanted. She gave me a sweet smile and automatically I felt more comfortable in her presence. 33

"Are you looking for a particular room?" As I drew closer I smelt the faint scent of lavender. 34

I checked my schedule and found the words "Home Room 104" printed neatly in the first column. The sister leaned over the paper so she could better see. 35

"Ah, Sister Clair. All the new students get her, she shows them the ropes and how to properly behave in our home."36

"Our home?"37

"Yes, our home. We like to think that school is a home away from home, a place to come to learn and be loved, while loving others."38

My head kept repeating that one word like it was a scratched record. Our home, our home, our home.... Every word out of her mouth sounded played out and rehearsed. 39

She started down the hall, in the direction I was headed, her feet keeping a steady beat; almost hypnotic. When she realized I wasn't following she stopped and turned to me. "Come Angela, I'll show you to your room."40

It took me a few moments to understand what she said, I was already halfway down the hall. "How....did you know my name?"41

She looked at me and smiled. "We like to get to know our students before they get to know us. Just to understand who you are and the best teaching methods."42

She halted near a door that read "9th Grade Science", the 9 upside down so that it resembled a six. With steady fingers she fixed the number and opened the door. 43

The faces that welcomed me were curious and somewhat friendly. Beside the entrance was a girl with black hair and blue eyes, across from her a boy with blond hair, and in the third and final row, a thin brunette girl smiled sweetly. In the front - to my left - was an older lady, maybe in her late forties, glaring at me for interrupting her class. I assumed this was Sister Clair. 44

"Take a seat behind Brooke and open your agenda", she told me in a hard voice, pointing to the brunette girl in the third row. Not wanting to get in her bad book the very first day, I did as I was told. Brooke smiled at me as I walked by and sat down, I tried to smile back but wasn't sure I succeeded.45


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The rest of my morning was filled with cranky teachers and unbelievably long classes. I was tired by the time I got to the cafeteria and wasn't in the mood for company let alone conversation. Not noticing my bad mood, Brooke waved at me and offered me a seat at her table. I took it so I wouldn't look like a loner.47

"So, how was your day so far? Think you'll fit in here?" Her smile was genuine and contagious I realized, as I found myself smiling back.48

I shrugged. "I guess so...I've never been to another school besides the one back home, I guess its hard to fit in at first."49

"Oh yeah! I know what you mean, my family travels a lot, so I have to always move schools. It really sucks, but for the time being I'm happy here."50

"Where have you been?"51

"Oh all over...California, China, Newfoundland, even Quebec; that's where Ethan's from." She glanced at a large boy at the opposite end of the table. He looked up from his mac n cheese for about a second before quickly tuning us out again. "He's sort of shy."52

While she finished her pudding cup I took the time to scout out the lunch area. Everywhere I looked students filled the space laughing and talking, some studying for tests next period would bring. There were no nuns or supervisors at the doors, no one watching us and making sure we were following rules. It all seemed a little too trusting.53

As I turned to a side door an eerie feeling of being watched made me look at a table to our right. A blue haired girl, with one too many piercings sat staring at me, her eyes narrowed. Around her a group of equally strange looking people gaped at me. I couldn't imagine what I had done to receive such cold and strange looks. If anyone should be staring, it should be me at them.54

"Don't make direct eye contact. You might catch something."55

I turned back to see Brooke eyeing them. 56

"Not friends?"57

"Who, Those freaks? I don't think so. They're like rabid squirrels, only bigger. Always staring like you're the one with orange hair and suspenders. Next they'll be foaming at the mouth."58

I laughed and almost shot juice out my nose. She burst into fake dry heaves and I laughed harder. Soon the whole table was laughing, including the mac n cheese guy.59

It was as I was laughing, exiting the door that led to the main hallway, that the blue haired girl jumped in front of me. I slid in my sneakers and almost wiped out. Her gang jumped over the stair rail and joined her. It was obvious that I was intimidated, it was four against one after all. But I tried to hide my fear.60

"What do you want?" My voice was hard and didn't quaver for a second. I was proud of myself.61

"Three O' Clock in the parking lot. Be there."62

She turned and walked away, her friends following. For a while I just stood there staring after them, trying to figure out what had just happened. A nun asked me if I was planning to get to class. I nodded and ran the rest of the way.63


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After last period I planned to grab my bag and disappear. I had my backpack crammed with first assignments and worn text books and my jacket on before most people had reached their lockers. But somewhere deep in my gut - really, really deep - there was a little curiosity. Why had they wanted to speak to me? And why me of all people? I decided that one look wouldn't hurt.65

As I turned the corner of the old stone building I had a perfect view of the parking lot. Shiny vehicles sat parked in between the yellow lines. Most belonged to the nuns, some to the more well off students who drove in from the bigger towns a while away. To the far left a rusted car sat idling, a boy dressed all in black perched on the hood smoking what I'm sure wasn't a cigarette. On his right a girl fixed her fishnet pantyhose looking nervous and fidgety. I knew her the moment the light reflected off her head.66

Feeling brave I walked towards them shuffling my feet, creating enough noise to draw attention my way in case of emergency. Another boy and girl walked around from the back of the car. All their eyes were on me and I knew they could sense my false bravado.67

I walked with my head down watching the ground. As I came across a tire I stopped and looked up. I was directly in front of the blue haired girl. She watched me with uneasy eyes, looking more nervous than I felt.68

"I didn't think you'd actually come." Her voice was soft and almost pretty and her eyes held something like respect.69

"I wanted to know what you want", I said in the same soft tone.70

"We heard your parents were dead."71

Her words zapped me. It felt like a million electric bolts had just passed through my body. My head thumped and I could hear the blood rushing through my veins. My legs went numb and I suddenly felt cold. Then it all went black.72

I came to in the back of the old honda car, the vinyl seat sticking to my back.73

"I told you not to say it right off the bat!"74

"I didn't know she was going to freak out like a chick."75

"Don't think she's dead do you?"76

I opened my eyes and found four pairs staring back.77

"I'm fine..I'm fine." I tried sitting up but my head throbbed too much. I fell back down again.78

The blue haired girl looked at me with sympathy. "We didn't mean to scare you."79

"She means SHE didn't mean to scare you", chimed in a small pink haired girl.80

Looking up at them from that cold run down wreck of a car, they looked more like a group of circus perfromers than school students. Their strange colored hair and crazy clothes was like a rainbow cut into sections. Each color running into eachother yet seperate. Their annoyance and worry with me made their faces seem even more crazy. I broke out in hysterical laughter.81