The Star in the Darkness

Chapter 1

Wake me up, say enough is enough, I'm dying to live, something's got to give...

Alice groaned and sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, and then yawned loudly. Half past one in the morning wasn't a good time to get to sleep, but it was what it was, and there was no changing it. She looked blearily at her clock. Half past five. She relaxed and sank back down in to her bed. She had a good two hours before she had to get up to school, in which she was hopefully going to be able to sleep. Pulling the duvet over her head, she turned over and shut her eyes.

"Alice"

Her eyes snapped open and fear crept over her. The voice inside her head was back. It had left her alone three hours earlier to cry herself to sleep; one of the many moments she hoped it would never come back. She breathed deeply and replied coldly to the annoying whine of the voice.

"I thought you had had enough of tormenting me"

"No one could have enough. You're just so likeable"

Alice sighed and shut her eyes tightly, hoping to block out the thoughts. The voice returned, filled with malice.

"I know you're worried about that school test today"

"So what if I am?"

"Your going to fail it"

Alice shook her head and placed her palms over her ears. Her eyes hurt from being scrunched up for so long.

"You're going to fail it like all your other tests. Because you're a failure!"

"I am not!" Alice finally choked out. She was not going to cry again over a stupid voice inside her head. Tears threatened to tip down over her cheeks. It spoke again.

"You will never be able to ignore me. You're definitely not strong enough"

The voice went quiet, leaving Alice to hear her ragged breathing in the cool morning air. Her eyes remained squeezed shut. She waited for the little voice to return and resume the battle. She pushed her sweating forehead into the icy pillow.

"Alice, do you remember that stupid time when you-"

"Go away, depression!"

There was a short pause, and then the short answer that would always reply to her order.

"Never"

*******
"Alice wake up!"

She jumped out of her light slumber, terror returning in her mind. She sighed in relief. Her mum stood over her, tugging on the duvet gently. Half past seven already? Sitting up, she plastered on a fake sleepy grin. This was when she would forget what woke her up early that morning. Or she would try to anyway. She clambered out from under her blankets and stood up to stretch.

"Morning Mum"

"Morning kid"

Her mum ruffled her hair and went over to the wardrobe, yanking it open. She brought out Alice's uniform and laid it on the bed with care.

"Get dressed, dreamer. And don't forget your book"

Alice cast her eyes to the corner of the room to a book leant against the wall - 'Alice in Wonderland', the book which her mom had owned as a child, and Alice's favourite read. It seemed to be her own private adventure every time she read it, and most importantly, it got her through the day. She dropped it on the bed and began to dress as her mother left the room. She brushed her ice blonde hair through and pushed a headband through it, pausing to look at her reflection in the mirror.

"Ugly"

She sucked in a breath and shut her eyes tightly. Not today, please. Any day but today.

After a quick breakfast, she slung her laptop bag over her shoulder and hugged her mum, before pushing open her front door. She turned and pulled the door closed after waving with another fake smile. She stared at the front door for a moment before turning to walk to the bus stop.

It was only a short distance and a short amount of time, but the aching in her knees brought another thought from her friend.

"Lazy. Exercise much? Ha. Never!"

She straightened and walked faster. Today was going to be a long day.