The Black Mirror

Chapter Two

I guess you can say that I've always had that feeling. That slight emotion that you are lost. This emotion settled unevenly in my mind, like a handful of scattered thorny seeds. I didn't want to pick them up and I didn't want to leave them.

Most times I will like to think of myself as being in all the clans, that I had a bit of their abilities. By doing this I masked my insecurity of not fitting in at the clan.

I turn twenty- one soon. That's the stage of adulthood. How do I know that? It's the black mirror; the main determinant that distinguishes youthful exuberance from the perils of adulthood. The black mirror was formed from the sweat and tear of all the twelve sages. It was for the people of Belk to help find themselves. It was one of the sages' gift to the mankind. The ability to know who you are makes it easier in increasing production in Belk and making it a living organism. Once one clan fails to perform the organism dies and Belk collapses. It was one of the main emphasis of the overbearing lecture my adopted mother always forced me to attend.

I have mixed feelings of going to the black mirror. It was the only way out of the worm hole I was experiencing I'm excited that the mirror will show me who I truly am. This will go a long way in chasing away the killer whale that clings me to me every time I wake up from sleep. On the other hand, I'm rather sad that it will show me where I truly belong and I'll have to say goodbye to my adopted family who over the years have got to put up with long face and upsetting mood.
There is no much to say about me. My adopted parents found me on the beach when I was six. The only memory I ever had was that I was six. It was rather astonishing to everyone that despite my amnesia I still clung unto the accuracy of my age. And even when the medical team in their rather flaccid routine examined me pointing loose flashlights into my eyes, I still hung on to the fact that I was six years old.

I had grown to call them mom and dad; my adopted parents. When they broke it to me that I was adopted and wasn't their son. I felt sad for a bit. I was rather disappointed that I didn't really belong to them but amidst the unplaced feelings I still called them Mom and Dad. They deserved it. They had to put up with my loneliness and they shielded me from the harsh criticism of the other clans. Like when they called me a "coincidence" or a man with no clan. In turn I protected them from the harsh reality that they had no children. They all died when the Aloof clan due to some internal conflict spread out lightening across Belk like a strong perfume. One of the lightning bolt struck Paty and Patrick the seemingly innocent six-year-old twins. Now you know why the number six was significant to them. Little wonder they were so eager to take me in. The Aloof clan felt sorry and tried to make up for their loose ends in any way they felt was worth it. Their zeal to make up for their mistakes was still present up unto now. Guilt is a terrible thing.
The star patterned ceiling up in my room is what I wake up to everyday. I stare at it, most times blinking my eyes frequently as I lay on my bed. I tried to decipher what the intentions of the laborer who patterned the roof were. The patterned room helped me to envisage what it meant to be free, to be happy.

I got up and between trying to brush my teeth and taking a piss. I got a brief glimpse of my image in my bathroom window. I had moderate muscles. I was blonde. I always loved being blonde. There was a scar just at the top of my right shoulder. My adopted parents couldn't fathom what it was or why I had a connection with it. But I felt it most times, when I had visions or nightmares depending on the day. My visions were rather vague.

There was a knock on the door. It had to be her. My adopted mother Meredith. She was the first person that I had memorized her knocking pattern, when she ran to my room most nights my nightmare took a better hold of me. That's was when I was little. I had controlled their occurrence mostly by studying them. She carried all her radiance and smiles and transmitted it into the way she knocked. Her knocking rhythm was innocent.

Mom poked her head in through my bedroom door

"Jason dear" she said softly. "Don't forget to give the kind hearted people from the Aloof clan their package.

"They are not kind hearted ma, they killed your kids" I said abruptly.

I knew it was going to hurt her but yet I said it. I reminded her of her past.
She was quiet.

"I'm Sorry" I said, turning to face her.

"Your father left to the other side of town on an errand. I'll join you later at the store." with that she left banging the door slightly.

She would involve herself in vigorous house work until she forgets the memory locking it back in the cage she had made out for it. I help her out most times and most times I don't. I will make up for my careless words later. Perhaps I might work extra hours at the store to relive her. Or rather the sweet icy cones the Ginger clan make would be the best fit. She was obsessed about those cones.
I wore some pants, a green t shirt and a leather jacket and I headed downstairs.

There wasn't anything special about the houses at Belk. It was more like a rented apartment. Down stairs was a living room, kitchen, and dining room. Upstairs were three bedrooms, each with a bathroom. The houses were all the same in Belk, a nice package given by the En clan to the city. Made by the skill and craft of the strongest of their clan who with unison formed the houses out of the earth and made it as homely as every house can be.

I quickly ate breakfast and headed out to begin my hours at the store, stopping briefly to say thank you to Meredith.

"Thanks Ma". I tried to be as polite as I could be.

Her answer was a slow nod and a quick smile. She was really hurt but she didn't show it. it would go a long way to tarnish her accumulated years of merry.

I went out through the front door to the store. The backdoor was used mainly for sneaking out, when I wanted to go to the beach and watch the stars. But that must have been ages. I would soon turn twenty-one. And I sure didn't need any permission any time I wanted to go clear my head.

The store was a few blocks away from our house. Meredith's husband thought it wise to have the store close to the house. The distance was shorter and reachable. Besides their diverted affection for me, their store was the only thing they hold dear before nature's cruel minions had made them childless.