A few day's later, Lumen is seen leaving school a little early on her final day before winter break, due to having a study hall as her final class. As Lumen was leaving, Henry walks up to her. Lumen knew Henry, but not a very much because he was in honor roll classes. Lumen was surprised by his appearance.
"Hey Lumen, leaving early?" Henry asked,
"Uh yeah, I had a study hall. You have study hall last as well?" Lumen asked,
"Nah got a sick note, I didn't want to do advanced calculus today"
Lumen nodded understandably.
"I guess since you and I got out early, i thought maybe we could go into town and grab a coffee together" Henry suggested,
Lumen hardly knew Henry, but knew his personality was not the best especially towards people or students at school who were poorer than him.
"I appreciate the offer Henry, but I have something important to do. I have to study for my science test" Lumen said in an attempt to excuse herself,
Henry senses her avoidance, but goes with it.
"Nah that's fine I understand, maybe next time"
As Lumen leaves. Henry calls her out.
"You know you won't be able to do that later in the future right?" Henry called out,
Lumen stops and turns around.
"Future?" Lumen asked in confusion,
"I guess your mom never told you. I won't spoil it for you" Henry said in a suggestive manner,
"Spoil what?" Lumen asked,
Henry walks away waving his hand. Lumen only looked on with confusion. Lumen walks into town and goes to pick up lunch from Panera bread: a grilled cheese with a cup of chicken noodle soup. As she walks out she sees a man throwing a guy out of his grocery store. The man shoves the kid down in the frozen lot
"Don't come in here again kid, god knows what you're carrying!" The man exclaimed,
The man walks back in his store slamming the door shut. Lumen walks up to the guy who was roughly her own age wearing a beanie hat that covered his ears, a ragged sweater over a white t-shirt, ripped jeans, and worn wool gloves in 30 degree F weather. His skin was fair with roses cheeks from the cold, he had hazel eyes and black hair that was a little overgrown, Lumen felt bad for him. She put her lunch down and helped him up.
"Are you okay?" Lumen asked,
"Yeah I'm fine, I had the money to pay for the food but that asshole kicked me out anyway" he complained,
Lumen picked her lunch back up. She looked at the poor pitiful homeless kid. She opened her bag, pulled out the chicken soup and piece of bread, deciding he deserved it more than she did. She held it in front of him.
"Here, you can have these. You need them more than I do" Lumen offered,
"No, I can't take it" the boy refused nervously,
"No really it's okay, I ordered too much food. Please I insist" Lumen said,
The boy hesitated, he took the soup and bread from Lumen. He looked at Lumen gratefully.
"Thank you so much miss" He said thankfully,
"No problem, try to bundle yourself up or find a shelter. You look like your freezing to death" Lumen said worryingly,
"Oh no it's okay, I'm not cold" the boy said assuringly,
Lumen realized that the guy wasn't shivering or spoke with a shaky voice despite wearing light clothing. She was puzzled, but didn't dwell on it.
"Anyway, thank you again for the soup and bread" he thanked again,
"No problem, be safe" Lumen bid farewell,
Lumen returned home with her grilled cheese in hand. As she was about to enter the kitchen, she heard her father shout.
"How could you do this Vivienne?!" Alexander shouted,
"You said we needed money, and I found the solution to our problem!" Vivienne exclaimed,
"She is our daughter! How could you do this to your own child?! She's almost 18!"
"Oh please that girl is 6 months from becoming an adult, it's time to settle down! That's what you and I did!" Vivienne shouted,
"I will not allow you to do this!" Alexander shouted,
"It's too late Alex, it's all set and done. I will not have this family end up on the streets!" Vivienne said defiantly,
Lumen's heart sunk again, she quickly grabbed her sandwich, left the kitchen, and ran upstairs before her parents entered. She listened from the top of the stairs.
"So who's gonna tell her?" Alexander asked,
"You're too much of a wimp to tell her, I'll tell her myself when I see her"
Lumen was confused and scared. As she made her way to her room, she heard Claudia sobbing softly in her room. Lumen quietly went to her room, closed the door and ate her grilled cheese. Later that night, Claudia enters Lumen's room with a solemn look on her face. Lumen looks at Claudia with concern from her bed.
"Claudia?" Lumen asked with concern,
"Dinner is ready Lumen" Claudia said with her voice breaking,
Lumen gets up from her bed and walks with Claudia to the dining room table. Her parents were sitting across from her.
"Mom. Dad" Lumen greeted,
Claudia served Lumen and her parents their food.
"Alex?" Vivienne asked suggestively,
Alexander sighs in a disheartened manner.
"Lumen's have some news that won't be easy to tell. Your mother and I-"
"Alex let me handle this. Lumen you are getting married" Vivienne said bluntly after interrupting Alexander,
Lumen who hadn't had the chance to start eating dropped her utensils.
"I'm sorry what?" Lumen asked in confusion,
"In 6 months you're going to become a woman. After you graduate there will be a family who will provide financial security and stability. In exchange you will be married off to the family's eldest son the week after your 18th birthday"
Lumen's heart sunk harder than it ever did in her life. Her stomach tied itself in multiple knots. She could only remain silent as her father looked on with a broken heart. Her mother apathetically ignores her daughter's shock.
"So in short you are now engaged, here's picture of him. Isn't he charming?" Vivienne asked,
Lumen looked at the picture and instantly recognized the guy in the photo as Henry Miller from her school. Recalling what Henry told her, Lumen realized what he meant. Her heart began pounding. She said nothing and quickly left the room without eating anything. Claudia followed her.
"Well glad we are all on the same page" Vivienne said in a dismissive manner, "now let's eat"
YOU ARE READING
Lumen's Awakening
WerewolfLumen Smith, a teenager from Auburn, Maine, is raised by her nursemaid, Claudia, while her neglectful parents focus on their middle-class lives. As her 18th birthday approaches, Lumen discovers she is to be forcibly married to the son of a wealthy f...
