Destiny's Pawns

Chapter 1

Life is a cruel joke. Those who are cursed. Those who got the short end of the stick. Constantly told that we can be whatever we want to be if we work hard. That this world is a happy and kind place. Well, maybe for those who don't bear a marking of the damned.

After all our lives were determined at birth. Did your mark line up with rest of society? Or were you different?

Now sometimes, differences were praised. Perhaps they had the "three lines of luck" and are bound for success. But most everyone receives the same boring circle in the center of their hand. Sure, sure, irregularities exist and some have it on their palm or so but only one irregularity is given such an intense spotlight.

The most spuratic of all. So much infamy surrounding such a simple design. But a jagged line that will twist the beholders life. Warped by nature, society's rejects, frowned upon by humanity. What a way to decide, right? A blemish on the skin that dictates your behavior, your life. It's the sign of a killer after all. Fated to be a disgrace. I would know. I was born with the curse. Every time I look at the palm of my hand I see the very thing that has doomed me to hate.

I fight fate with every breath. I have yet to do as I have so long been told. Fear for the future only further fueled by the mindless normals, droning and avoiding me, too concerned that they'll be the victim. Warranted worry perhaps. I really am a ticking time bomb in their eyes. I cannot sway their sympathy. I've become well aware that I will always be an outsider. The only people who go near me are the others like me. Abandoned by everyone in my life, my parents left me to die once they discovered what I was. Sheer luck someone on the streets pitied me enough to take me in and teach me to survive. I do wonder if that was for the best. Is a life without love worth living at all?

Yet, I can't say that with complete certainty. Throughout the years the same man that took me in had welcomed me into a group, which later became the same to me as family. All of us society's misfits. But together we're a family since ours left us. It's not a terrible set up, we have a camp set up next to a park and it's a pretty nice view. People tend to stay out so we get to stay to ourselves. It really can't be helped but I don't mind the loneliness so much.

"Nellie, dinners up!" Jack calls for me outside. I swing myself down from the railing I was sitting on. I rush out from the shack. "Don't forget the door. You'll blame me for that again." A boy smirks at me. "Auguste! You know I just kid." I say with a huge grin on my face. "You're a terrible liar." He laughs. "It was enough to convince the others that I wasn't the one who let a raccoon in the room..." I mutter. Auguste rolls his eyes. "You don't get it. Anyway Jack sent me to make sure you're on time for dinner this time. It's soup." He says to entice me. My stomach growls in response. Well, it looks like my body has agreed against my will. I walk alongside him as I head to the rest of the group.

"There they are!" Jack announces. "I got a pot of soup cooked up. It's the good stuff since Ricky got ahold of some cream for us." He smiles. "Woo! Tonight's a celebration then." Auguste blurts out. "We just got lucky, that's all. Fate's smiling on us tonight." Jack remarks as he passes me a bowl of the white broth.

Is it? Fate is a merciless creature. She doesn't smile at those in fortune, rather those that play into her plan. I am truly afraid if fate is smiling down at us.