The Network

Chapter 2 - Appearance

I was awoken by a stream of light flickering over my eye lids, unaware of the network still covering my hand. My mind was racing, I turned my head and look at the clock. 9:47. I lay in bed with my hair spread across the pillow thinking about what I was going to do. I then needed to get up because I was busting for the toilet. I looked outside and noticed a black car sitting on the other side of the road. As I live on a farm, any other car besides our was a rare thing. I didn't take much notice of it and walked off.

"Jessie, good morning sweetie, good sleep?" My mum said as she stirred her green tea. "Eh yeah I guess" I lied, I didn't get much sleep at all! Laying awake think about the network on my hand. I held my hand and covered it away, mum was the sort of person that if I had a scratch she would take me to the hospital and put me on drugs. Wasn't keen on home remedies at all! I guess she just thinks all modern technology can fix everything when in theory it can't.

All day I slouched around the house not doing anything productive, every now and then I would peer out the window and notice the black car just there. Nobody seemed to be in it but I couldn't see because of the dark tinted windows. The day passed on and still the car stayed put. Night fell and street lights lit up the way. I was in the middle of watching 'The Carrie Diaries' when I dozed off to sleep.

I was awoken by a loud sound. Jumping from my seat and leaping to the window, I saw the black car driving off with no hesitation. "Who was that" I wondered. Confused and tired I pulled myself up the stairs towards my dark bedroom before sliding into bed and falling asleep in a matter of minuets.

I woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs. The best cook in the world lived with me. My father, (well not really he just makes the best food ever) I run downstairs with my robe hanging off my body, dipping my left hand in the pocket to hide the me network.

"Yum! Thanks dad" I said with pure delight. I picked up the plate and sat down on the stool, shovelling the food in me like I hadn't been fed for days. I wasn't a huge eater but I sure did love bacon and eggs made by the famous DAD.

Life was good, so good I almost forgot about the network constantly growing on my hand. i was scared that when the next one came I wouldn't be able to handle the pain without crying out. It came first with 11, then 3, then another 8. Now there coming 1 by 1 every day or so. More and more painful each time it happens.

Sunday came and went in a flash.

"She looks to perfect standing there in my American apparel underwear." Was what I woke up to that morning. My feet slid out beneath the blankets and i stood up crookedly on the floor. Looking up I see a pile of clothes, all clean just couldn't be bothered putting them away. Picking up a sweatshirt and jeans and heading into the bathroom. While brushing my hair and pulling it up into a neat French braid I quickly slip on my converse and packed my bag. While heading downstairs dad goes pass and spots the network spiralling up my hand. "What's this Jess?" He asked with confusion, "Uh just a drawing"I replied nervously. Did he believe me? Obviously because his answer was "Nice", plain and simple. I ran down the rest of the stairs and bolted out the door while yelling my goodbyes to the parents. My walk was a long walk to the bus stop where I caught the bus to the bottom of the hill, then there was a huge was up to school. First class was science then art. On my way up to school I notice a black car, a lot like the one parked outside our house last weekend. Weird, probably just being paranoid again. All classes ended and I hadn't gotten a blue dot on the network that day, maybe a big one was coming for tomorrow. I hope not.

I arrived home and when I walked down the hall to my room I noticed Dad, sitting on Nathan's bed with his shoulders slouched over and his head buried deeply in this hands. "Dad?" I said, my voice weary, I didn't want to say something that would've upset him. Maybe I should of just keep walking. He lifted his head and straightened up. "Uh Jess, yeah I'm fine just a headache." He replied. "What are you doing it Nathan's room?" I asked. "Just looking at his achievements my dear." He replied, it sounded like he wanted to cry. Maybe I should of just walked past. I walked down and sat next to him. He started talking about how Nathan didn't deserve it, how it wasn't supposed to happen to our family, how life is unfair. Dad then did something unexpected, he cried. He had never cried in front of me before, not even at Nathan's funeral. I didn't know what to do or say so I just hugged him and we both shed a tear. We then straightened up the creases we had made in the duvet and shut the door on our way out, everything still untouched. "Our secret Jess, don't tell Mum please." He said and kissed me on the forehead. Before I could even reply he was gone.

One week had passed and not new dot had appeared on the network. Was it ending? Or was is saving its energy?