Light for the Dark

Chapter 1

The dreaded screech of the alarm rings in Persephone ears. She groans at the shrill sound poking her eardrums and hits the 'STOP' button. The pixilated numbers 6:30 a.m sting her eyes with their fiery red glow against the dark backdrop. Persephone thought this part of her life ended with high school but unfortunately college class schedules had other plans in mind.

"Persephone. Athena time to get those fannies out of bed and down here for breakfast," Mrs. Mellows yells up the stair well.

Persephone swings her legs over the edge of the bed dragging her torso to an upright position. Why did Persephone pick the 8:00am class. Oh yeah it was the only time available and it was a required course to graduate so she couldn't escape it clutches. Mornings were never Persephone's favorite time of day even when it was on the later side. Persephone's legs take lead to her closet to pick out her identity for the day ahead of her. She figured a change of clothes is a good way to start the morning after all she can't go outside in her oversized nighttime shirt she nabbed from her boyfriend Andrew. Persephone grabs a dark green, long sleeve, knit dress with the shoulder parts missing, black leggings, white shin high knit socks with a silk bow adorning the top and her favorite pair of brown lace up boots. She puts on a bra at lightening speed then piles the outfit on top of undergarments without a seconds of hesitation. She walks over to her vanity and rakes a hairbrush through the long dark red tresses before setting it back down and grabbing her backpack. She flies out her door and down the stairs into the dining room. She is't surprised to see Lennard ,her dad, in his usual spot armed with his coffee in one hand and 'The Moscow Daily' in the other. Cassandra, her mom, sets a plate dressed with bacon, scrambled eggs and fried potatoes.

Cassandra's cooking was something she would miss when she inevitably moves out from her parents house. Her mom asks her if she wants orange juice or coffee the obvious choice being coffee.

If Persephone had any chance of surviving the morning drive to campus she would need the caffeine for perk.

"Isn't Athena up yet?"Casandra mumbles to herself.

A clatter erupts from upstairs followed by Athena running down the stairs still trying to pull her hoodie on.

"Ah there you are. What in gods name were you doing up there? We heard a clatter." Cassandra sets a plate in front of Athena.

"Oh. I got caught in my blankets and fell out of bed then ran into the closet door. No biggie," she says trying to catch her breath. She looks at the plate of food on the table and scoops fork fulls into her mouth. Athena was the complete opposite of Persephone .

Persephone is organized, level headed and always on time while Athena is messy, stubborn and always late. Persephone gets up front he table and rinse her dish in the sink then checks her phone for any messages. She usually got messages from her friends in the mornings but not today it seems. Persephone shoves her phone into her purse and pulls our her keys dangling them on her finger. "Atehena can you please hurry up. I don't wish to be late to class again.'

"OK. I'm done, lets go. Bye mom and dad, love," she says ash she shoves the last bit of food in her mouth. Athen grabs her backpack and purse and follows Persephone out the door.

They throw their bags in the back of Persephone's 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1, that her dad gave her when she graduated high school. Rain falls on the windshield as they zoom through town towards our college, University of Idaho. The sound of the rain mingles with the ring of Athena's phone.

"How are you so popular?" Persephone asks to her sister.

"I'm not really that popular? Most of it is notifications from my socials or from the games I play."