The Division

1

Part 1: Ghosts

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, it's true but not in the way you think.

                                                                      .      .       .

The day it happened was a day like any other with a slight twist, it was my birthday.

My family and I had just finished eating at my favorite restaurant and were ready to go home.

"Gwendolyn!!!" My mom called causing me to groan. "Mom, I've told you not to call me that. My name is Gwen."

"Yes Clara," my dad pitched in, a dorky smile plastered on his face, "remember, our daughter is in a phase." He made air quotes with his fingers to which I internally rolled my eyes.

My brother snickered and I glared at him, "I'm not in a phase." I corrected, mimicking my dad's air quotes, "If you want a phase, you should see the kids at my school."

My brother scoffed, not taking his eyes off his video game, "The kids you don't talk to?"

"Watch it Davis." I snapped through gritted teeth.

Davis laughed and I rolled my eyes.

"Okay you two that's enough, get in the car." Dad said and we obeyed him, getting into our black car from opposite doors, once we were inside and secured, my dad started the drive back home, I placed my head on the glass and stared out the window.

"What's wrong dear?" my mom asked turning around to look at me.

I felt odd, like something was actually wrong when everything was okay at the time, there was this unsettling feeling in my chest.

'Maybe I ate too much' I thought.

"Just a little..heartburn." I assured my mother, she smiled convinced and then looked at my brother.

"Davis," she began, "Aren't you going to give your sister her gift?" she asked which caused Davis to frown in confusion, "Wha-Oh! That gift!" He exclaimed in realization.

Davis reached into his backpack and pulled out a black notebook with little silver hearts on the cover, he gave it to me and smiled. "Happy birthday sis."

"Thanks, I love it!" I said admiring the book. "Since you're a nerd," Davis continued, "I thought you'd like to sketch some of your ideas for inventions in it."

"Hey!" I laughed, "I'm not a nerd, but thanks."

"Aww look at my sweet angels." Mom cooed wiping a tear and taking a picture, I cringed at the act, "I can't believe it! My sweet daughter is fifteen already."

"Yes," dad agreed, "Time goes by so fast, I remember when she was still in her crib, she was so small back then."

I shook my head at my parents' embarrassing behavior.

"Gwen! May this year be a wonderful and amazing year for you!" Mom beamed, "I have feeling great things are coming your way."

As my mom finished her proclamation, the tight pain in my chest returned, I coughed.

"Are you sure you're, okay?" Davis asked, still not looking up from his war game, "You could be showing signs of cancer and if we don't treat you, you're going to die."

"DAVIS!" Mom scolded.

"Sorry! It was just a joke!"

"I'm fine." I assured everyone once more and they nodded.

My dad continued driving until we reached traffic, he cursed.

"Giovanni!" My mom scolded.

"Sorry," dad apologized, "It's just this stupid traffic, this road has no business being this packed at night."

"Let's take different route then." Mom suggested.

I listened to my parents carefully as they talked about other available routes they could take home and wondered if I could help them in any way, that's when an idea came into my mind, and I opened my big mouth.

"Let's take the highway."

My parents turned to look at me, "At this time?" Mom asked, "It could be dangerous, you know it's dark out and your father isn't the most patient driver..."

"Clara! I'm not impatient and our daughter has a point." Dad tried to convince my mom.

"Fine," she sighed, "Let's go."

My dad turned around and drove to the lonely highway that wasn't too far from our home. The street lights were dimmed and, didn't illuminate the road properly. We almost didn't notice the truck slowly approaching us from behind.

Davis looked up from his video game with furrowed eyebrows. He peered out the window and frowned at the vehicle behind us. 

"Why is he swerving like that?" He asked in a worried tone. I lifted my head up slightly to look. "Dad. Is that normal?" Davis held on to my mom's seat.

"No.." My father's voice trailed off as he looked at the front view mirror. "Probably drunk off his ass."

"Giovanni!"

"Sorry! Sorry!" Dad waved mom off.

The truck swerved dangerously towards us making dad steer harshly and, the rest of us hit our heads on the car ceiling.

"Dad!" Davis had turned off his game now, rubbing his head with his free hand. He looked tense and, held mom's chair tighter. My mother scolded my dad for being reckless but all he did was blame it on the truck.

We continued down the lane and, the truck did too, speedily trying to overtake us while swerving unnaturally. As my dad's pace increased, the truck's did too closing the gap between us until the two vehicles met in a blurry collision.

I could hear my mother screaming and, glass breaking as the car rolled off the highway into the mound below. It all happened in slow motion. There was no time to think of saving anyone talk less of myself. My life was taken away from me but, not physically. Spiritually and emotionally. 

The car stopped rolling. I was now upside down, gasping for air and fighting for the life that was being tugged away by the cruel hands of Fate. I shouldn't have fought. I should've given in. My lungs were tight, and I couldn't see, it felt like a sharp object had been pierced into my skull.

I heard sirens just before falling unconscious.

This is where the story begins....