Beck Burning

"RandomDuck-Productions" B LeB

-Chapter 1-

The hot wind blew through my red, blonde hair as I ran. A rock came out of nowhere. Just as soon as I registered it, I went down. SMACK! “Ufh” I muttered as I rose to my knees slowly. I saw a large clump of mud on my cheek out of the corner of my eye. I tried to get it off, but the attempt I made at wiping it away only succeeded in smearing it. I sighed. I looked down as I got to my feet, surveying the damage. Luckily, no one had been around to see my faceplant. But, unluckily, I took in a large mud stain, matching my face, on my favorite bright red hoodie. I frowned, mild panic bubbling to the surface of my emotions. I didn't want to attempt to wipe it off, seeing as it didn't help with the mud on my face. I tried gently brushing at it, and picked off the small rocks. "Great." I muttered under my breath, exasperated. Continuing on, slower this time, I jogged toward my house, my tail swinging behind me. I opened the door, little kids were running around everywhere. 

I maneuvered my way through the small crowd of toddlers and pre teens, nearly trampling one, and finally arrived at the large, warm kitchen that also served as our dining room. Delicious smells wafted from a black pot on the stove, less kids occupied this space, but some still lounged around the old wooden dining table. Trays, bowls, and plates filled the big table. They were filled with various side dishes, salad, a loaf of wheat bread, sauces, and a small bowl of crackers. Surrounding those were 18 sets of utensils, along with large white plates and bowls, and clear glasses filled with water. I snuck a piece of the warm bread from the table. I turned from the table, snacking on my pre-dinner snack. As I was about to leave the kitchen before a large figure blocked my path. "Oh-!" I stammer, surprised. "Hey Sarah!" She just grinned at me. "Where are you going? We're about to have dinner!" I shoved the rest of the bread in my mouth, and Sarah just laughed. "Wash yourself up, you have mud on your horns. And come sit down! Soups ready!" I spun around making my way toward the sink, I washed the mud and dirt from my hands, face, then my bright red horns. The same color as my tail. I attempted to clean the big brown stain off my hoodie, gently dabbing at it with a paper towel drenched in water, nothing. I give up, and head back toward the dining table, selecting my usual seat. Children of all ages crowd around me and each selects a seat. They're all ages. From babies in diapers to kids as old as 18. There's 17 of us in total. I'm one of the older ones. I had just turned 16, a few days ago. Sarah took care of us all. She was like our mom, almost. None of us had parents, well, from what we knew anyway. We were all one big family, and even though the orphanage was small, it was just the right size for all of us to live a comfortable life. 

Sarah brings the large pot I saw boiling on the stove over the table, and sets it on a hot pad. One of the litter kids, Jackson, reaches for the crackers on the table. Taking notice, Sarah pushes his hand away gently laughing. “Be patient, we have to say grace first.” Jackson sighs, folding his arms in defeat, and everyone bows their heads. Sarah speaks loud and clear so the whole table can hear, “Please bless this meal lord, help these children grow and thrive, Amen.” “Amen” The rest of us chorus as the prayer ends. Jackson reaches for the crackers, successful in his thievery this time around. It sends the table into a sort of frenzy, kids reaching for soup and all the side dishes. I wait somewhat patiently for my turn to ladle soup into my bowl. I take the large spoon and pour the delicious chicken noodle soup into my bowl. I pass the ladle on, and the usual pre dinner chatter dies, replaced by slurping and loud chewing. I cringe a little, my misophonia acting up as people chowed down. Over the quiet din of the meal, a small voice fills the small table, its Ruu, a small 8 year old, an air of complaint in zer little words.

“Why do we even need to say grace? It's not like anyone's listening, not down here. Especially after-” Sarah cuts zem off. “We're not discussing this now Ruu, we've been over this, just because you can't see them, doesnt mean theyre not there.” 

I suppose I should clarify at this point, me, and the rest of the orphanage, live in what Sarah calls, “The Netherworld”. There's lots of names for it, “The bad place”, “The land of the dead”, some names Sarah wont let me say. No one here did anything wrong to end up here. We were all born here, Ruu, Sarah, Jackson, me, and all the others. It's not just us either, there are probably millions of Netherborns. That's what we call ourselves, ‘Netherborns’. I've heard the stories, of course. We've been stuck here ever since I was born, which, of course I don't know much about. I don't know my mom, or my dad, or anyone blood related to me. But from what Sarah told me, my birthday is a day she’d rather not remember, though we still celebrate every year. 

I realized I had zoned out, again. I focus back into the conversation. Athen, a 17 year old, with bright orange and pink short cut hair, pipes up. “Ruu has a point. We don't even know if the person we're praying to is alive." "Like I said," Sarah sounds like she's losing her patience, something that doesn't happen very often. "We won't discuss this during dinner."

◇◇◇

              I ran up to my shared bedroom after dinner, and check the clock on my phone. It's 6:57. I smile, and take out my sketch book. I open up to a fresh, blank page and pick up an old pencil. I began to sketch the start of a portrait. I like those the best. They're easy. Just a head, neck and a pair of shoulders. I carefully add in guidelines for the eyes, two lines right above where I drew the nose. I was outlining the shape of the hair when Athen, the other occupant of my room, walked in. She slumped on her bed, pulling out her phone. Her short hair flopped around her head like a floppy sun hat. I turned back to my drawing. She spoke then, catching me off guard. “Do you know what it was like?” I turned to look at her. “What what was like?" She explained- alitle sheepishly. “You know, the day you were born. When, all that happened.” I was a little surprised, “Of course not?” I laughed. “I was less than a day old.” She shrugged. “I don't know. I guess I assumed someone would have told you by now.” I stared at her. “Do- you know?” She looked back at me surprised. “Of course! I was there.” “Well then,” I was hesitant, but I needed to know now. “Can you tell me? What happened?”

She spoke hesitantly, her voice dropping to a whisper. “It was like- the sun crashed straight into the sky. Like- the brightest light i've ever seen- and clouds, and blue sky, and- there were the purest white clouds…” She trails off and her gaze drifts to the window that sits in between our two beds. I follow her gaze out the window. I couldn't imagine a blue sky. The sky here was dark, a foggy red cloud at almost all times, except for when it rained, and the sky turned as dark as night. Athen continues, still staring out the window, “There were like- these two points in the sky. One was, like, a star in the night sky, and the other one was like- the night sky itself.” I cut in, “What were those?” She looks back over at me. “No idea. I barely remember anything, I was only 1.” “Well- what happened next?” I stammered, desperate. Athen just shrugged. “Like I said, no idea.” Athen goes over to her dresser and begins picking out pajamas. But I'm not ready for the conversation to be over. “Do you remember anything else?” All the sudden it feels like I need this information, like- i can't live without it. "Uhm… maybe- I remember some sort of explosion, like- have you seen those photos of supernovas? Ya it looked like that. Just like- a giant burst of- something, in the sky." My eyes widen at the thought, but all I say is, "You have a good memory." She laughs. "Yeah well you don't forget that kind of thing easily." Pajamas in arm, Athen opens the door and walks out, I assume to head to the bathroom to change. 

I just sit there for a minute. I wondered what happened. An explosion in the sky. What was it? I sigh and swing my legs off my bed. I set my sketch book down and hop to my feet to retrieve my pajamas from my closet. 

◇◇◇

It was the next morning- I drifted awake. I felt- weird. I tried stretching- something felt off. I brushed my hair out of my face, my hand drifted to the top of my head were- were my horns were- where they were supposed to be. I was wide awake now. "What in the-" I muttered to myself. I was in my bedroom- i ruffled my hair, felt all around my head- they were gone. Athen was asleep in her bed, across from mine. But, she didn't have horns either. Her usual bright pink horns were gone. I rushed to the bathroom and examined myself in the mirror. They were gone. It registered to me as I looked in the mirror, my tail- my diamond like- bright red tail- was gone. Confused and panicked I rushed down stairs, Sarah was cooking pancakes down stairs. She didn't have horns either- or her tail. I gasped- confused. Sarah turned around and smiled at me. "Good morning Beck." I barely heard her. My eyes were focused on the small window that shed light on our dining table. Outside it I could see a soft blue sky.