Falling

Falling - Short Story

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

The sound of my annoying alarm clock wakes me from my sleep.

"Just five more minutes." I mumble to myself as I drift off back to sleep.

BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.

"TAYLOR! WAKE UP! YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE FOR SCHOOL AGAIN!" I jolt awake to the sound of my mum's voice.

I drearily open my eyes to look at the time on my phone. My eyes nearly pop out of my skull as I realise school starts in ten minutes.

I hastily jump out of bed, nearly tripping over in the process. I rush to put some random clothes on from off the floor, brush my teeth, grab my backpack and sprint out the door towards school. Luckily I reach school just in time for roll call.

I sigh as I head towards my allocated classroom. As I walk past, I notice lots of other kids staring at me.

"Weird." I think to myself.

Just as I'm about to open the door to the classroom, I catch a glimpse of my reflection in one of the windows. I hear myself gasp as I look down at the shirt I'm wearing.

A bright red shirt with Santa on it, saying "I love Santa!"

Just great.

I swing my backpack off and thankfully find my black hoodie stashed in there.

Hopefully not a lot of people saw me.

I step into the classroom just as the bell rings.

"Nice of you to join us, Miss Parker." Ugh. I hate Mr Gilby. He's just so...creepy.

I laugh nervously and duck my head, trying to find my seat.

"Nice shirt, Taylor. I'm pretty sure my five-year-old sister has the same one." Laughter sounds from the group of people sitting behind me.

Great. Someone must have told Nicola.

I just keep my head down until the bell goes for first period. I try and sneak out, but Nicola and her posse grab me by my arm before I can.

"Where are you going? Trying to run away from us? Too bad. We've got something we want to show you, don't we girls?" Her maniacal laughter sounds as her slaves say "Yeah." in unison.

Next thing I know, I'm being pulled to the deserted part of our school which has been deemed too dangerous for students. It is closed off because it leads to a twenty metre tall cliff. Looks like Nicola doesn't care, though.

"What am I doing here?" I dare ask Nicola.

"I'm sorry, did I say you could speak?" That earned me a hard slap across the face.

"Sorry." I whimper.

"We brought you here because we're sick and tired of you looking at Nick. Yeah, that's right. We see you stealing glances at him under your filth-ridden hoodie. And - guess what? It needs to stop."

Throughout her little speech, I was pushed and prodded all the way backwards until I was almost teetering off the edge of the cliff. I hadn't even realised that had happened. I was too busy being scared out of my mind by some bullies, that I hadn't acknowledged the real danger.

"I-I'm really sorry, Nicola. I didn't realise you liked him. I'll never do it again - promise! You can do whatever you want to me, but can we maybe, possibly move away from the edge?" I'm surprised I had the courage to squeak that out. I look up to see a sneering Nicola.

"What? Are you scared?" She taunts.

"W-what? Hah! Me? N-never!" I stutter. 

Wow. That was so convincing, Taylor. A+.

"You hear that, girls? Little Taylor here is scared of the cliff!" All of them laugh, and then she proceeds to push me to one of her slaves, which leads to an ongoing game of washing machine.

I bounce around the circle screaming, "Please! Stop! Please!" My screams go unnoticed. I close my eyes, just waiting for it to end, until I suddenly hear gasps from everyone. I open my eyes and realise I'm plummeting to my death!

"Help! HELP!" I scream, but soon realise no one can help me. They'd never make it in time, anyway.

I start crying, hoping, begging anyone to help me. I think of my family, all of the things I haven't done.

"Taylor." I hear a whisper as I'm free falling to my death. "Say 'yes' and I'll help you. All you have to do is say 'yes'. I must warn you, though, that there are grave consequences with saying yes. Ones that will only hurt you. However, the choice is yours, my dear."

Without hesitation, I yell "YES! YES!"

Then - nothing. I open my eyes and find that I have stopped falling mid-air.

I look around and try to figure out how, when I fly forward. Fly? Am I flying? That's ridiculous! But - I am.

I spin around with delight and squeal. "Thank you! Thank you!"

I soar up, up feeling like a dove gliding through the air.

That's when reality hits me.

Who was that whispering to me? How did they help me?