Into the Dark

Chapter One

Black and white is abstract; color is not. Looking at a black and white photograph, you are already looking at a strange world.

-Joel Sternfeld

-------------Two Weeks Ago----------

I blended my colors in fatigue, watching them mix together to form a swirly rainbow.

"Ms. Lilli? Can I have some gray, please?" Maya asked. I glanced at her palette.

"There's gray right there," I said, pointing to a giant splotch in the middle. Maya tilted her head to the side in confusion.

"Um, no. That's red," she said.

"Oh, yeah. Whoops. Must have been the light in this place," I said, once I saw the color change back to red. I nodded to confirm myself. "Just the light."

Maya gave me a suspicious look, then turned to Ms. Lilli. "Right there please," she said, pointing next to the black paint. I squinted to make sure. It changed to green. I gasped.

Maya looked at me as if I was crazy, and right now, I was starting to believe that I was. I cleared my throat.

"Just, uh, amazed at your awesome painting." I immediately realized that I shouldn't have said that, because her artwork was probably the worst in the room.

"I know it's bad," she snapped, her eyes blazing with anger. "I'm sorry if I can't be as perfect as you." I opened my mouth to apologize, then decided that Maya probably didn't want to be talked to at the time. I sighed as the bell rang, hastily packing up my things and running outside to catch the bus.

***
I slammed my backpack against the wall and opened the refrigerator to get a snack.

"Lydia? We need to talk," Mother said.

"Where's the strawberry yogurt?" I asked, looking for the familiar pink container. Mother pulled me away from the refrigerator and slammed the door shut.

"That's what we have to talk about," she said, dragging me over to a table.

"We need to talk about strawberry yogurt? Wha...?" I wondered aloud.

"No, no. Sit down," she said, dragging a chair over. She sat down and I joined her.

"You haven't had any unusual experiences with color, have you?" she asked. My eyes widened. She knew about this.

"Y-yeah. Today at art class, some of the paint changed color."

"Did this happen before?" she asked, her voice as calm as a placid lake.

"No...not that I know of," I said. She let out a sigh of relief.

"Good, you still have time," she said. "I'm so glad it's not too late."

"Time for what?" I asked. She placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Lydia, it's time you know. You aren't any ordinary human. You are a Disapparent." A Disapparent? That didn't sound good.

"Disapparents have special powers. You will find out yours soon enough. However, Disapparents are color-blind," she continued. "You aren't allowed in this city. It's very dangerous...for you and the others. We have to send you to the city of Kin." She  got up and grabbed a small box from the top of the shelf. I took off the lid, revealing a small leaf.

"Take this leaf and go to the outskirts of the city. Once you're there, crumble it up. It will take you to Kin." She handed me the leaf and gave me hug.

"I'll miss you," she said, "but it'll only be a month before I join you." She pushed me gently when the sound police sirens were in the background.

"You must leave. Now! Hurry!" she said.

I ran outside and hurried to the borders of the city. I ran past girls who had gone shopping, couples who were happily sharing their ice cream, and old men who were discussing the political news. I let out a sigh. This would be the last time I saw the city.

Unfortunately, I didn't know it would be the last time I saw my mother as well.