The Portal - Pain Is The Password

Chapter One - Words Can Feel Like Knives

Chapter one

Audrey-Shay eases herself carefully up the stairs, avoiding the creaking steps and not using the bannister. Her blonde, long hair falls over her eyes, she makes it onto the landing and creeps over to her bedroom door, praying that no sound has been made. She opens the cracked, wooden door and it squeals as she enters, she curses mentally.

Shutting the door and leaning against the cool surface, hot tears burn her face, her stomach grumbles in agony. "Forget." Is the only word she can think of, "forget what happened, forget that this happens every day, forget that anything has ever happened."
After all, she is sure no one will ever care enough. She wraps her bare, bruised arms around her skinny legs and the same thought train repeats. In a circle, every day at the same time, there's never any difference. She closes her eyes, cold air breathing against her but she doesn't care, her blanket is never much use anyway. She sinks into a light sleep, the type of sleep was she can feel everything happening around her, hear it nearly. She can still feel the pain in her mind, the whirring clocks of the words he said.

Waking early, without an alarm is necessary for Audrey-Shay, otherwise, her father will make her pay for the time she wastes. Quickly slipping into her school uniform, covering up her bags with makeup and brushing her teeth, she leaves the house at quarter-to-seven. Wondering around in the dark, waiting until she can go around to Taylor's and spend the rest of the morning there. Taylor doesn't know the full story though, she doesn't know half of it.

No one knows the full story.

Easing herself down onto a park bench whilst the harsh, winter wind blows cruelly towards her, she wraps the thin coat closer to her body. Unzipping her bag slowly and taking out a small sketch-pad, the only thing that will keep her sane. She shakes as she sketches and can't really lose herself into the magic, she's never really sure if she's safe or not. Eventually, the park begins to fill with strangers and Audrey takes off immediately, crossing roads without looking and sprinting around corners. Audrey-Shay does not look back once, not even when a frail old-lady nearly hits her. She just carries on running

Eventually, the familiar blue door comes into view and a smile appears on Audrey's face as she thinks of the warm house. Opening the gate is a hard task when your hands are frozen but finally, with much struggle, she manages.

Running up the steps, Audrey-Shay is excited to see her second family. She kicks the door as her hands begin to hurt. Within seconds it is answered, a small girl aged six opens the door.

"Oh." Tate sighs and steps back, her brown bangs covering her eyes; her school uniform too big for her. Audrey-Shay steps into the household and sits politely in the living room, waiting for Taylor to get ready.

The living room is nothing fancy, with two large, saggy sofa's, a tv and photos hanging on the wall! In fact, if you paid enough attention, Audrey is on that wall multiple times; mostly with Taylor, Tate or Theo; swinging on swings, mucking about on roundabout. Once or twice if you look closely, Audrey's school photos are up there merged in with everything else.

"Audrey, breakfast." Mr Heavle commands and Audrey begins to protest. "Audrey, you need to be fed to get good grades." He points towards the door. Hidden inside Audrey is grateful, she slouches on a chair and Taylor places down a plate of Toast in front of her, munching on a piece of her own.

"So, have you done any more drawing?" Taylor asks she wants Audrey doing her best and nothing less! Exactly like her parents, despite the fact that Taylor's homework was never being handed in and her school tie was three stripes to short. Audrey forces herself to swallow the dry toast.

"I tried this morning but my hands were too cold to sketch anything worthwhile," Audrey explains, a blush appearing on her cheeks. She feels so ashamed, never being able to repay them, only the gift of her friendship to give.