Ace

Ace Chapter 1

   I breathed out a heavy billow of fog as I pulled my hair into a long pony tail that flowed down to my mid-back. Crickets played their violinist tunes as the stars slowly revealed themselves from their hiding places. I smiled and blew hot hair into my hands hoping to warm them up. "Almost", I muttered to myself.

   Lying flat on my stomach, I peered across to the western wing of the mansion. Silhouettes danced across the closed windows to the soft hum of classical music. Women curtsied and chose their dance partners; men who I could already see stumbling over themselves at the fact a beautiful woman would even consider looking their way. I too should have been over there. Not tonight though...not tonight. I whistled a high pitched tune as I gazed from the top of our indoor garden. The large glass panes gave me the view of an eagle. For once, I could feel superior.

   "C'mon", I muttered for possibly the tenth time tonight. My heart skipped a beat when a storm of applause erupted from the western wing. Finally. The ball had begun. My father and mother must have entered to begin another one of their lavish parties. I stood and glided my fingers in an agile motion across the glass panes until I found the right one. Gently so as not to leave finger prints, I opened the slanted glass window and hoisted myself up. My socks slid on the other panes before I maintained my footing. Exhaling slowly, I closed the window and cautiously sat on my bottom.

   The music augmented, signaling my safety to slip out into the night. I stretched my right leg out and leaned on my side. "1...2...3!" I let my weight go and began to slide down the glass roof of the indoor garden. I silently thanked my thin frame for keeping me from collapsing through the thick glass. Laughter erupted from my slightly parted lips as the wind tugged at my jet black hair, bleeding it into the dark sky. This was what I lived for, what I hoped for, what I begged for. Just the slightest amount of freedom. To be at peace. I watched the blur of the colors of the flowers as I neared the end of the roof, a part of me begging to be apart of them- free of worry and strife- away from this world.

   I slowed my speed and swung my legs over the edge of the roof. It was about a 10 foot drop now. I made my decent into the tall, luscious grass and removed my socks. My toes wriggled and became comforted with the ground beneath them. I exhaled in relief and began walking away from the mansion. Many would think I'd be glad to call it my home, but at some points I couldn't stand being inside of it. It was too fancy, too representative. It just wasn't me.

   Autumn leaves danced around me as I entered a trail winding through a small forest. Pine needles littered the trail along with snapped twigs and the occasional fallen acorn. I breathed out purposefully, watching the air turn my breath into a ghostly white. "I'm jealous of you", I whispered. "To be allowed to be carefree... to go to the farthest corners of anywhere you please. Take me with you one day, oh would you?" I sighed when the wind didn't respond. Not that I expected it to anyway. Shrugging, my eyes roamed about as I emerged into a clearing with a small pond in the center of it, littered with lily pads and hovering dragon flies. I kneeled at the edge and peered into the clear water. Ice blue eyes stared back at me with strands of black hair falling over them; possibly with a hint of anger in them. A shiver ran through my body as I tapped the water, making my reflection bounce away in small, intricate waves.

   Perhaps that was the only real thing around here that could be tampered with. After all, everything in society was set in place as it should be...as it needed to be. Decades worth of wars and diseases made sure of that. A society where everything went right for once. Fair wages, pristine medical care, no crime. It was a little too perfect if anyone should ask me. But no one ever asks me, so what was there to comprehend, or question anyway? Nothing. Nothing at all. Both my mother and father taught me not to question things. I believe they feared it would get me in a world of trouble some day. What no one explained to me though, was why questions weren't allowed if this world was now so perfect. Be it as it may, something was still missing. Was it internally or externally? I've yet to discover. My train of thoughts soothed me as I found myself slipping into a slumber.