Chapter 1: Crash (pt1)

“Rose! Time to wake up!” hollered Laura (Rose Thorn’s Mom) “It’s the first day of school!”. Thorn rolled out of bed and looked at the mirror.

“Mom! I don’t wanna go to school!” wined Thorn as she looked out the window and picked up her hair brush.

“You have to go! No if, ands or buts.” replied Laura.

“Fiiiine, I'll be down a bit. I have some other work to do.” replied Thorn in a thoroughly aggravated voice..

She roughly brushed her hair while glaring into the mirror. “Why should i have to go? We’ll just move again in a month or two! That’s how it goes. One town after another, constantly moving. It’s as if we were running away from something.” sat Thorn as she thought to herself.

Thorn stood up swiftly but at the same time, somewhat elegantly. She turned and walked over to her outfit she had put out the previous night on the foot of her bed. It was a black short sleeve shirt with a white celtic cross on it. It was paired with simple black leggings. She slipped on the shirt making sure not to hit her favorite choker. It was simple, just a thin black elastic ribbon like band with a small celtic cross charm on it. She finished getting dressed and walked over to her door. With a little effort she put on her favorite shoes, a pair of long black boots. They were simple but elegant and comfy.

“Hurry Rose!” yelled Laura. Thorn rolled her eyes while slipping on her leather jacket.

“I know! I’m on my way down now!” replied Thorn in an exasperated tone while finishing putting on her jacket but leaving it open.

Thorn opened the door and stepped out. The sweet smell of her mother's blueberry waffles filled her nose followed by the bitter smell of her dad's coffee. She smiled softly and slid down the railing to meet her parents.

“Rose Thorn! What have I told you about sliding on the railing like that? What if you fall and break your neck? What then?” yelled Laura. Thorn rolled her eyes while her dad hid behind the newspaper snickering..

“James! Get ready for work or I'll take your coffee.” grumbled Laura. James (Thorn’s dad) looked solemnly at his coffee then replied.

“Yes dear, i’ll go now. Love you hunny.”. James kissed his wife (Laura) and patted Thorn on the head before grabbing his coffee and heading for the door.

“Have a good day!” cheered Laura and Thorn in unison. They both looked at each other and laughed.

“Well, I gotta go mom. I’ll be late if I stay any longer.” said Thorn in a sing-song voice.

“ok sweetheart, have a nice day!” hummed Laura while tossing Thorn an apple as she ran out the door “Be safe!”.

“I will mom” replied Thorn as she closed the door.

Cold air met thorn as she turned and walked from her house. It seemed to hug her gently in its cold and bitter arms. She shivered lightly and looked down the street. Not many people were out nowadays. They were afraid that by being outside they would catch “The Mist”, a virus spreading around the world rapidly. Thorn and her family were not worried about this though. They had a good immune system and wouldn’t catch it. Only people with weak immune systems got it. Only people like her brother.

Thorn looked up and remembered how her and her brother used to play before he caught the infection and passed away. She tried to hold back her tears but a single tear fell down her cheek landing on a cold piece of grass. It shook as the cold drop hit it. The cool air gently brushed her cheek as if trying to comfort her and brush away her tears. She breathed in deeply and shook her head. “ It’ll be ok, I still have mom and dad and I'll be fine. Little brother is always with me.” She turned and started to walk to her school while trying to sort out her emotions.

She walked up to school and looked at her watch she had forgotten she even had. “Still 20min. Till orientation” she thought as she looked at the map in front of the school building. “It’ll take about 5 minuts to get there”. She turned towards the direction of the auditorium where the orientation would proceed.

She walked quietly down the path knowing her life was going to change yet again. “Would she make a friend here? How long would she stay? Will she be good in her studies? What about the teachers?” all these questions ran through her head. Before she knew it, she was at the auditorium. She shook her head banishing these thoughts and turning her attention to what was going on. She sat at an empty seat and prepared for orientation. She looked up to the ceiling in wonder.

Later that day, Thorn finished school like she always did. Just going through the motions. She didn’t try to make friends, she knew they wouldn’t last. She would have to move eventually, just as always. All the same, she didn’t mind. She knew nothing would last forever and right now she had her parents, she would be fine.

"Rose! Rose! Hey, you! In the black outfit" hollered a seemingly I'll mannered, chaotic girl with long light brown hair. "I'm cherry! Nice to meet you! Are you new here? You don't look familiar! We should hang out!" The girls rantings seemed endless.

"I apologise, I'm busy right now. I won't be here for very long anyway. It would be best to find a new friend. I appreciate the notion though." Replied Thorn trying her best not to be rude or disrespectful.

"Oh, ok. I-i'm sorry. I'll just leave now. Oh! It's another new person!" Rushed cherry in an attempt to escape

"Oh, ok. Bye" she replied

"I wonder if I can get a new follower or servant." Whispered Cherry under her breath.

".....ok" Thorn turned and walked away forgetting the whole conversation.

She walked out of the school building looking at the sky. She was not happy, nor sad, or even mad or angry. She didn’t necessarily have an emotion. She just was. She was like the floating cloud, no emotions, just drifting in the wind. She didn’t feel she was missing anything without her emotions either. She became numb.

She looked down to the road and started walking home. No, not her home, for she was going to move soon again. It always happens. It’s all she knows and she’s fine with that. As long as she is with her family. She set off on her way to her house and maybe, at least for now, her home. Home, with her family.

She walked up to her house as the gentle wind spun around her. She always enjoyed the wind. It was after her brother passed away that she found it really came to take form. The wind reminded her of her little brother. Sometimes kind and sometimes playful or even angry. When she was sad it caressed her gently like a small hug from her little brother. When she needed encouragement or confidence the wind seemed to punch her ahead just as her brother would push her towards her obstacles saying she could do anything. After her brother passed away she felt the wind was like her brother's spirit, it followed her to keep her safe and watch over her. She walked into her house with a gentle smile and a light foot knowing her brother was always with her.

She stepped into the house and cold air met her. This was unlike the gentle wind that reminded her of her brother. This wind was cold and chilling to the bone, It was almost like a warning.

“Mom! Are you here? I’m home!” hallared Thorn but no one replied. She tiptoed in and looked around but no one was in sight. She was somewhat nervous but continued on. She turned on the heater as she passed by and walked into the kitchen, where she normally found her mom. She was not there. Thorn called again but there was no answer. She Looked throughout the house but no one was there. She tried calling her mom but there was no answer.

That's when she saw the note on the table. It was on pale yellowish colored paper. It was obviously old and came from the storage or something. She looked at it and saw her mom’s delicate handwriting. The simple curves only her mom could perform. Simple and still elegant. She grabbed the little piece of paper then sat down to read the note:

Dear Rose,

I love you my daughter, I have gone to pick up your father and will not be back until late tonight. I left you some money to order pizza or something on the counter. I love you baby girl. See you tonight have fun and stay at home please. See you by love

Love, Mom

Thorn had a bad feeling. She didn’t know why but she felt something was off. “It’s just my imagination” she told herself as she walked up to her bedroom to study. She went along with her day as normal and fell asleep early that night. What awaited her the next morning she did not know but she will see it the next day.

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