Storm | Teen Ink

Storm

August 17, 2008
By AquaGem SILVER, Kalamazoo, Michigan
AquaGem SILVER, Kalamazoo, Michigan
5 articles 0 photos 50 comments

Favorite Quote:
Nobody will ever win the Battle of the Sexes. There's just too much fraternizing with the enemy. ~Henry Kissinger

Life it too short to let you matter.


A new town; a new identity. My life has been full of new beginnings, never lasting long enough for any substance to be acquired, though that is not necessarily by choice. None of them are better then the next. Hope stays alive in me though, it’s all I have. I can feel that there is something for me out there, and just need to find it. I am still kept dreaming.

I am young with few belongings or things to tie me down. All of my possessions are either on my body or fit comfortably within my backpack. I never unpack it completely and am ready to move on at a moments notice. I’ve been moving for five years now, ever since puberty struck. My family cast me out. I don’t blame them; it’s safer for us both this way. I miss them though. I am so lonely.

After years of unfortunate mishaps, I’ve learned that little good comes from letting myself become especially angry. I meditate every morning and pride myself with staying composed under… tension thriving circumstances. For me it’s not a matter of regretting harsh words. Life or death stands in the balance.

I walk at the side of the worn dirt road, ducking when carts pass. The town is nearby; I’ll be there by nightfall. It’s small and I hope to stay there for a few weeks at least. A month would be wonderful. I’ve traveled a long way and could use a good rest. It’s more than I dare to expect.

At the local inn I am greeted with curious glances. I doubt this place sees many new faces. I am obviously a well traveled guest. One glance at my sturdily worn backpack, long gray jacket with a deep hood pulled over my head, thick breeches, and rough leather boots leaves no questions.

I sit at a table in the corner of the room. It’s dim, the sun’s light having left, and it makes the inn appear slightly less dingy. I’ve grown accustomed to such places. They have become my home for brief periods of time. I leave my hood on my head, wishing I could just go up to my lodging, but I need to eat and I'd rather not waste more of my road supplies.

I hesitantly order stew and water from the no-nonsense maid. She brings it in a timely manner. It’s not the best, but I’ve certainly had worse. I eat everything quickly, having learned the hard way not to waste food when my next meal is everything but certain.

Afterwards I retire to my room. It is simple with a small cot and table. There is a wobbly chair to the side. It doesn’t seem sturdy enough to carry any substantial amount of weight. The room didn’t cost much. It’s warm and dry, which is all I ask. I have limited funds left from what my family gave me when they also kicked me out. I’ve earned a little from what I sold of my jewelry and food I find on my travels. It won’t last for many more towns.

I slip my jacket, of worn leather lined with wool, off and sling it around my shoulders as I lay down for the night. I leave on my boots and keep my backpack within reaching distance. I close my eyes and prepare myself to doze lightly, keenly waiting for any sign of trouble.


I wake up to the sound of a horse having been run too hard. There are raised voices from just outside of the inn. I sit up and draw a jagged breath as I hear hurried feet come up the stairs. My door is thrown open violently and light courses in, momentarily blinding me.

When I can see again, I realize that it’s him. I thought I had lost him. He’s been on my trail since the last incident, but I thought he’d finally given up. Why does he torture us both so? I didn’t mean to do what I did, I never meant to. Now he puts us both in danger.

“Thought you’d gotten rid of me, did you, demon? Not so lucky this time. Now you’re finally going to answer for what you’ve done,” He says as he comes closer and I back away until my back touches the wall.

“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone,” I say earnestly, frightened as he corners me. “I don’t want to hurt you. Please don’t make me hurt you!”

He growls and says gruffly, “Don’t lie, you little witch. You planned it all along. She tried to help you. She tried to be your friend and look what you did to her. I’m tired of listening to your serpent tongue.”

He comes closer and I try to run past him, through the shadows and out of the present. His foot connects savagely with my back and I cry out as I hear something crack. Whimpering, I fall to the floor and crawl to the side, backing away from him. I hear others start to stir from the racket. I am afraid; more so of what I might do than what he could do to me.

“You took her from me,” He whispers angrily.

“I didn’t mean to,” I protest, unable to stop myself. “I was scared. I am someone else’s daughter too! Do you want to take me from them like I took her from you?” I plead as my eyes drag around the room, looking for an escape.

“I’ll send you back to your father, the devil!” He shouts, losing his hold on sanity as he lunges at me blindly.

Without thinking I point at him, and before he reaches me a line of electricity flows from me to him. His heart stops instantly with contact. I smell burnt flesh. Others are starting to come now, and without time to grieve, I rush past him, down the stairs, and down the road.

After hours of running on pure adrenaline, I stop deep in the woods. I pull my backpack under my coat as it starts to rain, drops quickly falling to match the tears streaming down my cheeks. Wind whips around me as nature lets it me known how upset I am. Shaking, I watch as lightning splits the sky in two, only reminding me of what I just did.

Its hours before I calm down and the sky clears. I fall into a restless, fitful slumber. It’s night again when I open my swollen blue eyes. I get up, stiff from sleeping on the hard ground but not at all unused to it. Signing I pick up my bag, knowing that I must keep going.

By now there will be search parties. Maybe instead of him following me I’ll be stalked by those that found him. I feel so guilty thinking of how I left him. There was little dignity in the entire situation. Him angry as I plead for both of our lives. It wasn’t his fault that I took away his only reason for living, and that afterwards the satisfaction of seeing me dead replaced it. I shudder and continue placing one foot in front of the other.

I hate to think of what I’ll do next, and who will be the price of my mistakes and loss of control. If only I could find a place to fit in, with others like me. Those who could teach me about what I can do so things like this won’t ever happen again. Where I could be myself, and the things I can do helpful, even appreciated.

I’ve been dreaming about a place like this for so long, with these nameless people. I’ll continue to hope and look, but things can’t go on like this for much longer. I’m so worn out, my body as well as my soul. This salvation has to stop being the reason I dream and become the reason why I wake up. Reality.



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This article has 171 comments.


ShadowRealms said...
on May. 28 2012 at 9:33 am
Wow. That was fantastatic, just amazing.

J1029 SILVER said...
on May. 11 2012 at 11:33 am
J1029 SILVER, Tampa, Florida
5 articles 0 photos 73 comments

Favorite Quote:
Sing like no one is listening,
Dance like no one is watching,
Love like you've never been hurt and
Live like it's heaven on earth.

- Mark Twain

I only found this story, because of Opulence and I have to say Storm was way better. Please, write a whole novel on this. P.S. Check out my novel Evolution.

on Apr. 14 2012 at 11:23 pm
The_Typewriter GOLD, Dumont, New Jersey
12 articles 0 photos 12 comments
Great story! I loved the way that you kept the suspense hanging until that last few paragraphs. The confusion you expressed, the way that it was all so vague at first, that was flawless. If you wanted to you could turn this into a longer work, make it a book or short story. I feel as if the girl's power was just starting to come into play here, and her past is still only slightly revealed. You created a lot to expand on. Judging by the number of comments, I'm sure you would get plenty of readers as well.

on Apr. 14 2012 at 8:31 pm
AbbyMarie SILVER, Harlingen, Texas
6 articles 0 photos 19 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail". Ralph Waldo Emerson

Very well written, I liked it a lot. You should extend it!

JessC. BRONZE said...
on Mar. 23 2012 at 9:20 am
JessC. BRONZE, Los Altos, California
4 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
Women are like tea bags; you never know how strong they are until you put them in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

More please! :) Great job!

Indilove GOLD said...
on Mar. 23 2012 at 7:50 am
Indilove GOLD, Kenockee, Michigan
17 articles 0 photos 71 comments

Favorite Quote:
No one is your strength or guidance. If life is what you wish to live then do not bind your soul to something unreal. The creater nor the keeper can heal you for it is blind faith that leads you.

the begining of this was so amazing i thought i had clicked on a nonfiction piece! It was that believeable!!! Great, fantastic, wonderful work!!!

on Mar. 1 2012 at 5:45 am
Nooneknowsme BRONZE, Ambathenna, Other
3 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don`t dream your life and live your dream!! ;)

Wow,Your work is very very nice!

Unknown0_0 said...
on Feb. 8 2012 at 6:17 pm
Unknown0_0, Valrico, Florida
0 articles 2 photos 253 comments
Excellent beginning to a very nice novel, you should keep writing on this :)

on Feb. 8 2012 at 2:40 am
GingerLily BRONZE, Aulnay-sur-Mauldre, Other
3 articles 6 photos 78 comments

Favorite Quote:
"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world" - Oscar Wilde

A really fascinating story. You wrote it really, really well, too.

on Oct. 16 2011 at 9:59 pm
Miki-chan BRONZE, Waynesboro, Mississippi
3 articles 0 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't screw with Crazy.

A truely lovely piece. Keep writing!

Zamls BRONZE said...
on Sep. 29 2011 at 5:58 pm
Zamls BRONZE, Montpelier, Vermont
3 articles 2 photos 1 comment
What an amazing piece! You are so vivid and it makes the read a wonderful expeirence

on Sep. 29 2011 at 5:01 pm
NobodyYouKnow BRONZE, Princeton, Massachusetts
3 articles 2 photos 32 comments
Beautiful work- I love your detail-without-backstory. Keep writing!

GaelicC said...
on Sep. 29 2011 at 11:37 am
GaelicC, Longford, Other
0 articles 0 photos 91 comments

Favorite Quote:
No -Rosa Parks

I might have commented before but sure ah well!

I love how you explain things and divide your piece into small, easily read paragraphs without exhausting the reader. Well done, I love your work!


on Sep. 29 2011 at 1:21 am
derickinc BRONZE, Rockford, Illinois
4 articles 0 photos 36 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I hate all of you." - Squidward Tentacles

This was good but I think there wasn't enough said about the electrical powers.

Aurelie SILVER said...
on Sep. 29 2011 at 1:08 am
Aurelie SILVER, Bellevue, Washington
6 articles 3 photos 12 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I'm dying of boredom. Or maybe just dying" -Megan Whalen Turner

I loved the pace at which the piece flowed, the action, suspense and vagueness. This is amazing! Keep writing!!

on Sep. 7 2011 at 9:31 pm

It was very sublime! ("sublime" is a fancy word for "good")

I am starting this game called Big Words. To play this game you can go and read my short story called "Purple-face Tom" and post a comment using a fancy word. If you do this, then I will read at least three of your works. Just use bold on the fancy word that you are using.


soldout said...
on Sep. 7 2011 at 8:29 pm
Deserves four dollars- three for description and relatable writing, one for the action. you could add some fists, punches, throw in some spice, man! or lady. -soldout-

on Sep. 7 2011 at 5:58 pm
zadiekatie23 PLATINUM, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
39 articles 4 photos 69 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Well, yeah, the exposition should have been a bit more built up so you understood who it was you were reading about, but I just rode along with it once I was provided with some details.

Brin11 BRONZE said...
on Sep. 7 2011 at 4:25 pm
Brin11 BRONZE, Gilmer, Texas
4 articles 0 photos 18 comments
I liked the vagueness, it kept me intrigued. Somehow I didn't seem to connect with the character at the begining though.....I think it needs more description of emotions, not just resignation. 

on Sep. 7 2011 at 7:47 am
zadiekatie23 PLATINUM, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
39 articles 4 photos 69 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Incredible! Kind of vague, but that's what was intriguing! Enjoyed reading this!