Random Fits of Fancy

Excerpt from AWD, Chapter 12: Elementary

*As always, this is a rough draft and might change so...yeah. Enjoy!

It took a while for Winters to finally stop running, nearly collapsing onto the ground. Her sides heaved, stitches and pain threatened to topple her over. She was trembling, sweat and goosebumps creating a slick surface on her skin. Spluttering breaths hissing through gritted teeth, but she couldn't focus on any of that. The real world felt fuzzy, disconnected...so far away from her version of reality, or was it her that was disconnected?

How. How. How. It is not possible. It cannot be. How.

The memory of the weaves was burned into her skull. She closed her eyelids and they were still there, waiting for her in the darkness. She opened her eyes, blinking rapidly, a foolish, desperate attempt to change what had just happened, to forget. But no, the weaves had been there. You cannot ignore them, Valerie. An echoing voice of a distant memory came to the surface. They will not be ignored.

I want to Dad. I really, really want to. A strange sob rumbled up her throat, stuck somewhere in her windpipe. No. She wasn't going to cry. No.

We are Weavers. It is not our place to decide what is and what is not. We read the language, we can manipulate it to do certain things...but we do not get to decide what is truth and what is fiction. Do you understand, baby?

But Daddy...

I know. I know. It is difficult to be a Weaver in our society, Valerie.

But...why?

Faintly, she recalled him fidgeting. When you are older, I will give that answer baby. I promise.

Her father had been unable to keep that promise, having died a year later.

All her life, Valerie had been expected to stay within certain boundaries. Her mother expected her to remain within her sector of the city at all times, unless she was to be escorted by someone within the family, or a mentor. This was for her safety. Her family expected her to excel in her education and to master her abilities above all else, including making friends or having extracurricular activities. This was for her benefit and for the safety of the others around her. Her grandfather expected her to remain silent, to never question the Council and "stay in her place". Again, this was for her safety. When it was confirmed she was a Weaver, she had been isolated from other children and even her older sister for everyone's safety. She had been three years old at the time, and had to undergo rigorous training to even be allowed within the same space as her sister, let alone the other children her age. By the time she had been allowed to make friends, she was eleven years old and had no idea how to fit in with her peers.

Her father had been unable to keep his promise, but she found out regardless. To be a Weaver within the Light Realms was to be isolated and feared. To constantly push down any questions and stay within a certain box, all in the name of safety. You had to play the game, as her mentor Lucinda had told her quietly after she had dared to ask questions when she was twelve.

The Council means well, her grandfather always told her anytime she felt a certain way about their society. You do not understand the immense pressures it takes to keep the balance here, butterfly. What it takes to keep us all safe. One wrong move and this all goes away. Things may not always be right, but everything that is done is to keep our society safe from outside influences. Earth is a deadly place, filled with beings beyond what you know. There are forces beyond our control, but the Light keeps us safe. You cling to that Light, Valerie...you cling to it, and you never let it go. Pray for guidance and it will be shown, butterfly, I promise.