Beyond Fate

This has been the longest day of my life. Charlene thought to herself. It's only 9am, and I got to be here until three pm. She began to whine, "Why me?"

She laid her chin in her hands and looked towards the teacher in front of the class.

The mark on her forearm would not stop itching. "Ahhhh." Maybe if I wrapped it tighter. She thought.

Rolling up her sleeve to take a look. This badge is cutting off her circulation. She tried to keep it in place as best as she could without revealing her secret. Charlene quickly rolled her sleeve back down to conceal the mark.

Charlene went back to frowning at the large round-faced man in the front of the room. Who was struggling to keep control of the over crowd classroom. Being homeschooled for so many years has been a blessing and a curse.

Not having to socialize with people her own age was freeing. Her life as the only child was perfect. So she thought, but in this environment, Charlene was at a disadvantage, never learning how to make friends. She sighed. Keep your head down, Never make eye contact. Speak when spoken to Charlene or risk being found out. Her father's words echoed in her mind. She tried to hold back the tears.

" Not now." It was too late. The flood gates were open. You never go to the bathroom alone. shes over heard stories of bad things happening to people going in there alone. She couldn't hold back the tears. "I'll just hurry up." She thought. Charlene quickly raised her hand. "I have to go to the laboratory. I mean the bathroom."

"Laboratory! where are you from?" One student yelled out. The room erupted in laughter.

Charlene's face turned bright red.Trying not to look at the other students in the room. With her head down looking at the floor now. Without a word, the teacher scribbled some words on a piece of paper and held out his hand. Charlene went to the front of the classroom to retrieve the hall pass and escape any further embarrassment.

"Why do I have to be so nerdy?" Charlene spoke to herself. Pulling the hoodie over her head and shuffling her feet down the hall.

Charlene had never cared about what other people had thought about her before. Why now, she thought to herself, darn hormones? Being the smartest person in the room has always benefited her before, but now it is a burden. All the school work was years behind, which she'd already learned. On top of that, she didn't even know how to dress in this environment. Never put any focus on brands of shoes or jackets or hair or anything of that nature. Now she was aware her shoes weren't right? Her clothes were out of date. You can't wear a certain color in this place. It was like a war zone with land mine waiting to go off at every turn. She couldn't wait for the school day to be over.

Charlene once raised her hand too quickly to answer a question, and the class started making fun of her and calling her names.

" Dummy yourself down to fit in." She's scoffed." I know next time I won't say a word." Charlene didn't want to get bullied again. She couldn't step out of her grandma's apartment without running into one. They would wait for you in the halls and elevators. "The bathroom was a no-go. She thought to herself, "Get in and get out as quickly as you can!" As if she gave herself a shot of courage.

Charlene quickly entered the bathroom. She looked under all the stalls. "No feet great!! She relieved herself, used her foot to flush the toilet bowl, and rushed to the sink to wash her hands.

1 1000 2 1000 3 1000 4 1000. She heard a voice say,

" Is all that really necessary?"

Charlene whipped quickly around to see who was in the bathroom with her!! She grabbed a handful of water and splashed it on her face when she heard a voice speak again.

" What's so frightening about a bathroom," the voice said sarcastically. "We need to talk? Why can't you hear me yet? They are coming for you!"

Quickly drying off her face."Hello! Who's here with me!" She frantically asked.

Hearing a low giggle, "Ha, wait! you can hear me!

No darling, I'm not trying to frighten you, I'm trying to warn you!" Charlene ran for the door, pushing it wide open. Fleeing the bathroom as fast as she could, trying to hurry down the hall to get back to class.

The mark on Charlene's arm began to itch vigorously, almost burning. She pushed up her sleeve and quickly removed the bandages she had wrapped around her forearm. She noticed that there was some light illuminating around the mark blinking.

Charlene thought quickly she ducked into the nearest empty room she could find. Tried to re-wrap the bandage around her forearm, she noticed the mark was warm to touch now, but the itching had stopped. The light has begun to eliminate at a steady pace pulsating now.

As a child, Charlene was always told to leave it alone. Don't touch it. Put the Sav on if it itches. It will go away soon. Dad and mom would say, "Don't worry, we promise." Where are you now? Why have you abandoned me in this crazy place? "I need you, mom and dad." Tears formed at the corner of Charlene's eyes. She took her sleeve to wipe her face.

Charlene thought to herself. "Can things even get any worse? She felt foolish standing there in the classroom crying. A clear voice spoke to her in the darkness. "You're not alone. I've always been with you."

A startled Charlene spoke into the darkness. "Who's that!!!? Who's in here with me!!!?" Mostly, I've always been here with you."The voice replied.

Charlene focused and stared down at the mark on her arm. It had changed and looked like a spear. It now had symbols and shapes illuminating from it.

It was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. It drew her in. She couldn't stop staring, mesmerized by its beauty. The lights and the colors emanate in the spear. Charlene slowly succumbed to the light. The voice began to speak again. "I'll find you! Just hold on." A moment later, she woke up in a strange room she'd never been in before.

Abruptly,she got to her feet. Charlene began to call out for help. Frantically looking for a way out, trying to find a door or window to no avail.

"Help me, I'm trapped!" She cried out. Panicking, she screamed for help. "Is someone out there?? Help me!" She screamed......