Not My Destiny

Down the Manhole

A/N

    This is my own original work. I have been working on it for a while and want some feedback on what you guys think about it so here's the first chapter. Tell me if you think I should continue, I already have a few chapters done now.

Chapter 1

Down the Manhole

    My name is Raven Penn. I am a normal 14-year-old. I live alone with my mom in the hustle and bustle of New York city.

    I never met my dad. Never wanted too either. He left before I was even a year old. According to mom he said he was leaving to follow his destiny. What a load of crap. Destinies are not real. You make your own path in life, it's not predetermined.

    The days are sweltering right now in New York. It's made even worse by all the people pressed together in the streets. I wiped the sweat from my brow. Normally on a day like this I wouldn't even leave my house. But my mom had forgotten her lunch. So, on this day I was braving the heat.

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I made it to my mom's office. I entered the building and the cold AC hit me, finally giving me some relief.

    The elevator ride was dull. But finally, it ended, and I was on my mother's floor. As I stepped off the elevator, right at that moment my mom walked out of her office. I smiled. She was barking orders at assistants who followed her. She was also typing out messages on her phone. This was a normal day.

    Mom looked up and saw me. She smiled and sped up to reach me. She took me in her arms and gave me a bone crushing hug. After she pulled away, she kissed both of my cheeks.

    "What are you doing here dear?" Mom asked. I held up the lunch in my hands.

    "You forgot your lunch," I said.

    "And you came all the way over here to bring it to me?" Mom asked, taking the lunch from me. I nodded.

    "It wasn't that far," I said.

    "Well, I won't be able to eat it," Mom said, pushing it off on one of her assistants. My face fell.

    "What? Why?" I asked. I came all this way to bring it to her.

    "I have a lunch meeting today," Mom said looking at her phone.

    "Since when?" I asked. She always planned these in advance and would always tell me.

    "Oh, last week. I told you."

    "No, you didn't." I always remembered my Mom's meetings.

    "Oh, I didn't. Oh well, I have to run." Mom patted my head as she pushed past me.

    All I could do was stare. Stare as mom got on the elevator. Stare as it descended down. Stare for a long time after I knew my mom had gotten off.

    When I finally snapped out of it my fists clenched. I was angry. Because this was just proof that I was second fiddle to my Mom's company. I got on the elevator and impatiently waited for it to reach the bottom.

    I stormed home as fast as possible. And when I reached home, I went straight up to my room. Once there I grabbed my backpack off the desk chair. It held everything I'd need to leave for a few hours. Not like my Mom would notice me gone anyway.

    I took my phone out of my jeans pocket. I looked at it for a second; debating whether or not to take it with me. Eventually I stuffed it back in my pocket. I'd figure it out later.

    I headed out. I was planning to go to central park. I'd hope I could see something freaky or odd. That always helped my mood, it made me feel less alone.

    The throng of people had thinned out a bit. So, I felt like I could breathe easier now. I looked up at the sky as I walked. I didn't need to look at the streets. My body instinctively knew where to go. I just needed to make sure not to run into anyone. I wish I had been paying more attention though.

    I wish everyone was paying more attention. I didn't know that the city had been doing work in the sewers today. The people who had been working there never set up a perimeter to warn people away. They had been in such a rush to get to lunch that they left the manhole uncovered. And me not paying attention fell down that manhole.