Inevitable Darkness

Chapter 2

I splashed water in my face, cold ribbons of water sliding down my sandy cheeks, the smell of smoke still clinging to my skin. I looked back up into the mirror at my vibrant blue eyes and my white blond hair. I hated mirrors. It reminded me of things I didn't want to be reminded of, the scar slithering in a qaurter moon shape on the right side of my neck. I looked away ashamed. You did this to yourself. A voice in my head said to me. I shook my head and turned away from the mirror, desperate for relief. My legs forced me to move out of the bathroom into the practically empty apartment, the only furniture was a coffee table and a couch, including a TV that barely worked. And then there were the two bedrooms, my brother's and mine, both sharing a bathroom and a closet.

But tonight I knew there would be no sleep for me, especially since my brother wasn't home, he was at some friends house. Like I believed that. But I wasn't one for pushing into his life, he needed to learn to fight his own battles just like I had.

Because of the anticipated lack of sleep, I opened the living room window, which creaked and groaned, and I hopped out onto the small balcony where I kept a few pillows, and a pot of daisies. I just sat down and looked out at the city. It was beautiful at night, and I knew my mom chose this apartment for the view, she likes great views just as much as me. I could see the downtown area from here, and the ocean just 20 miles from there, the waters just sitting at the edge of the view, surrounding the skyline. I could sleep to this. I could...

~~~~~~~~~~

"Corrin!" My eyes pried open at the sound of my name. I saw my brother looking at me, from inside the window. "Corrin it's eight. You need to get up." He said walking back inside towards the kitchen, where I saw him eating a poptart and reading a newspaper he probably found in the dump. I rubbed my eyes. I must've fallen asleep out on the balcony/fire escape. I got up and slid back through the window slamming it back into its place and turning the lock. I needed to hurry or I wouldn't make it to school on time, so I ran into my room picking out black leggings, tank top, and grey flannel, praying it wouldn't rain. Just in case I grabbed my black hoodie, and grabbed my back pack, telling myself I would do my makeup at school.

"Better get to school Collin or I'll whoop your-" I slammed the door before I could finish. I ran down the stairs and out the apartment building's creaky door, running the route to my school as fast as I could. Running two miles wouldn't be that hard if I didn't have a heavy backpack on and I wasn't running in boots. After about fifteen minutes of running I could see my school down the street. Come on Corrin. I told myself. I had finally reached the school, and I realized the bell hadn't rang yet. Oh thank god. I walked through the entrance of the school, looking over to see Carter and Lily goofing off in the middle of the courtyard.

"Corrin!" Lily yelled running over to me and hugging me hard. I just laughed.

"Why the hell were you so late to the bonfire last night?" She asked. I shrugged as Carter embraced me in a bear hug too.

"Yeah why the hell did you make me pick you up in the middle of it too?" Carter laughed. I had no idea how these freaks had become my friends.

"I ran into Quinn again." They both gasped and they pulled back from me. I rolled my eyes.

"What did he want this time?" Lily asked as we went and sat in the fake grass, where we sat everyday.

"He showed me a video of me by the very gas station where a murder happened last week, minutes before the murder took place." I looked at my hands, both of them realizing how serious it sounded. They knew about what had happened, the scar...

"You ok Corrin?" Lily asked. I just nodded. I would not let myself cry, I needed to be strong, like I always was.

"Sorry to ask but it's killing me," Carter spoke, "but what were you doing there?" And that's what scared me the most.