Random Shorts

Dystopian World

The dimly lit bedroom was crammed with torn posters, clothes discarded on the floor, a mess of failed tests and uncompleted assignments, this cool October night. With the heater turned off, the breath of any living creature would look thick and vivid. The curtains that hung from the window where thin and torn, the light that came through the parted fabric smeared itself on anything it touched and chasing the damp darkness to nooks and crannies where it could not be reached. Anyone in their right state of mind would find this room a disaster area. A minefield of a mess, but a certain teenage girl by the name of Samantha-Rose Grey, found the room to be a safe haven.

Samantha-Rose's never liked her last name. It always gave her the feeling that all she ever does will be grey and boring. All she wanted was something new, colourful and exciting in her life. Her dull dark brown eyes travelled to all the failed tests and assignments that were scattered on her bedroom floor. She remembered when she was top of all her classes. The day her mother died, she'd never felt like she was doing her best. She pushed herself too hard and she eventually ran out of steam for her train of thought and effort. She also wanted to prove a point to a certain someone who was ruining her life. Samantha's short train of thought was interrupted when the sound of harsh, sharp voices reach her heavily pierced ears. Pulling down her long, straight black hair, from its ponytail she hoped to drown out the sound of her father and his new girlfriend arguing. She squeezed her eyes shut, placing her pale hands over her ears. A few tears escaped the seventeen year old's eyes. Her eyes fly open when the weight of the bed shifted. She turned to her left and saw her little brother. Samantha hurriedly wiped away the few tears that managed to escape. She knew that she needed to stay strong for her little brother in times like those.

"H-hey Luca." She choked out, trying to keep her voice level. The small boy's face kept its twisted frown as he hugged his big sister. He collapsed in tears as Samantha rubbed circles on his back, attempting to calm him down. She knew exactly how he felt. She was impressed on how well he'd been handling the constant arguing.

"I don't like it when daddy and Sylvia fight." He managed to say between his crying and gasps for breath.

"I know Luca, I know." The seven-year-old boy calmed down but refused to let go of his big sister. Samantha noticed a bruise on his scrawny arm.

"W-what's this? Did you fall?" The small boy pulled down his sleeve in an attempt to hide the bruises.

"Sylvia got angry with daddy . . . and she hit me . . ." He cried some more but this time he tried to hide it by trying not to.

"Luca," Sam hugged her little brother again and let him cry until he calmed down.

"H-hey Sammy." He stuttered. "Am I the reason mommy died?" Samantha was taken aback by her baby brother. She had no idea he felt this way. She was so lost in thought about it, that she didn't notice him pull up her sleeve to show her wrist.

"Did Sylvia do that too? I saw one and I wanted to know." He pointed to the vertical cuts on her wrist, placed there by the razor hidden in her closet. What Luca couldn't see was that she had those ugly lines crawling their way up her arm. Samantha went to cover up her wrist with her jumper sleeve when Luca softly placed his lips on her arm, being careful not to hurt her. He also bat his eyelashes on her wrist causing her to smile from the odd sensation. Luca gently pulls down Samantha-Rose's jumper to hide the scars; fresh cuts, and older cuts. "Is it bad if I don't love her?" Luca asked with slight disdain in his voice. Samantha placed her arms around her baby brother for comfort.

"Not at all. We don't even have to like her. We only need to put up with her until dad tells her to leave." Sam said confidently. Her father had had his fair share of partners and he always dumped them in the end.