Bright Eyes

Chapter 1: School
I walked into the main office on the first day of school. As I walked in, I heard someone talking. The secretary was on the phone and she was saying, "That is absolutely terrible, poor girl!" She hung up the phone, turned to the other secretary, and exclaimed, "You won't believe what happened." She began to fiddle with the papers on her desk when she saw me.
"How can I help you, sweetie?" the other secretary asked.
"I would like a class schedule."
"Are you new? All students should have gotten their schedules by mail."
"My house burnt down," I answered, trying not to show the pain, but the tears silently rolled down my cheeks. As soon as I got the paper, I ran to the bathroom. Some teacher told me to slow down, but I just pushed past them.1

When I came out, my eyes were raw from crying. I believed that everyone would leave me alone, but the one person I did not want to see. Jenna ran up.
"We have gym first period," she complained as if it were a death sentence.
I could barely utter the question, "Jenna, did you hear about my parents?"
"Yeah... both of your parents were killed six days ago, and now you are living with your grandmother. You should talk about it with a counselor... do you want me to come with you?"
"My parents were more to me than a hall pass. Please don't ask me about it again." I knew she wouldn't be as sensitive as the others, but I didn't know that it would hurt that much. 2

The locker room had a completely different atmosphere. You could feel the sweat of last years' athletes clinging to the breeze. Hard work had been taught harshly between these four walls. The room smelled of sacrifice of the many for an ultimate unified goal.
It was strangely relaxing. We stretched one arm and then another as one synchronized being. Soon after warm-ups, we split into pairs. I called Jenna, but she looked over quickly and didn't answer "Jenna Black" I yelled again, starting to get annoyed.
She looked at me and strode over, "I told you not to call me Jenna. It is just plain Jen." She glanced at me once more, and then exclaimed, "Oh Chess, I'm so sorry about what I said before! I don't know what I was thinking!"
"S'okay," I replied. I was expecting this from her. It was a matter of how long she took, which was not long at all. 3

Once everyone found a partner, we formed two lines and passed basketballs to each other. It was a dull exercise, but the rhythmic beating calmed me down.
We stopped all too soon. It was near the end of the gym period, and groups of kids were talking in small clusters. Three of my friends were up ahead.
“I don’t know what she thinks she is doing”
“Just because he is popular, he thinks he can do what he wants.”4

“If their parents find out they will be grounded for a year.” At the mention of parents they looked up and, seeing me near, slowly slid into silence.
The rest of the day went painfully slow. It was all introductions and expectations. My last period was study hall, so I took the chance and left. It didn't matter anymore. 5

Chapter 2: Home Again
I snuck out of school through an emergency door. The principle had stationed bouncers on the other doors, afraid that if we were to escape, we would get drunk on the outside air.
I just sat against the wall with the winter wind tugging at my jacket. I refused to move and just sat there with the wind ranting at me. I woke up to a woman yelling on the loudspeaker; Track was canceled, but volleyball would be in the gym. The voice seemed to be out of place, staring at a desolate field, but I forced myself to move before others came out.
My grandmother would be waiting in the parking lot by now, but she could wait a little longer. If I ran, I could make it to my house in three minutes. She would not be upset if it took me 10 minutes to "pack up." She would not even mind if I disappeared, because she believed that I started the fire that killed my parents.
I ran past everything I once knew, making sure I would remember all of the people and the way their lives intertwined with mine. As I rounded the last corner, I closed my eyes to make sure that I could still remember my house as it was. It was a place where I could hide, when the hounds of reality hunted me down.
I looked up, and my heart started to blacken and crumble like the house before me. Caution tape surrounded it, but I walked right through, the tape snapping at my heels. As I sat on the floor in front of my melted TV, all façades fell, and I was by myself once more. 6

Chapter 3: The Phone Call
I woke up to a glowing phone beside me. Its vibrations were the only sounds in the darkness. 27 missed calls. It must have been hours since the sun set in the west.
At that moment, the phone rang again. My caller ID was completely blank, but I picked it up anyway.
"Chessa, you will follow Jenna to the cliffs. Then you will contemplate death."
"Wait! Who are you?"
"By acknowledging me, you gave me life. I am the force that would change the world for the better. I will make the world perfect, but those who will not follow me must die. I am the over mind. You do not have long before the sight takes over."
I was terrified and didn't know what to do, so I ran to the school, flinging my phone away en route. The party at the cliffs was tonight. It was Jenna's birthday, but I decided not to go, because of my parents' death.
After finding no one in the parking lot, I decided my best option was breaking into the school. The police would come and lock me up for the night. I could not hurt my best friend.
I broke the glass in the front door and struggled to climb in. There were glass shards everywhere, and as I fell, a piece slid into my leg. I suddenly heard alarms, but instead of white or red lights, there was a bright green flash. 7

Chapter 4: Contemplating Death
The police would be here any minute. I turned around and vaulted through the broken glass window. The vault turned into a loping run, as I jogged through the soccer field. The cliffs were at least 10 miles away, but the party would be an all-nighter. The rhythm of my bare feet on the packed earth was maddening. I seemed to be running forever.
I saw lights ahead and slowed. I hid in the bushes and solemnly pulled the glass out of my leg. There was no pain, but the knowledge of what I was going to do.
"Jen, come here! I have a surprise for you."
"Chess! I thought you weren't coming."
"Only for a minute. I just stopped by to give you something."
"Okay..." She gave in, but still sounded nervous. I closed my eyes to try to think about what I was doing, but I could not stop myself. When she joined me, I looked up at her and she screamed. My eyes were neon green and shining in the night. I thrust the glass at her throat.8

As soon as she was dead, the Overmind let go. The moon was only a sliver in the sky and did not shed much light. I closed my eyes and hid. 9

When morning came, I got a ride to the Canadian border. There, I hid in the furthest reaches of the wilderness. I still travel to small towns some nights to deliver the Overmind's justice. My grandmother never sent anyone to look for me. She was right about my parents.
I always feel sad when I am outside. Winter reminds me of life and death and all the changes that happened since my 8th grade year.