Limbo

Chapter One: Taken

  A young girl stands in front of her classroom of peers  during show and tell shaking at the knees. All eyes were on her, and she could certainly feel the pressure. The fellow children's expectant and impatient eyes shot through her skin like daggers.

  She opened her mouth hesitantly as she raised the small mason jar she was holding ever so daintily with both hands. She closed her eyes tight and shook her head to shake the pesky nerves and brought herself to speak. In a small, sweet voice she muttered "well... it's nothing special really. For show and tell, I decided to bring in some of my very special plants." She set down the jar on the desk next to her and used both her small hands to unscrew the lid. She pulled out handfuls of leaves, flowers, and clovers all bundled carefully and set them before her classmates.

  The classmates all peered at them curiously, different reactions on each face. "River." said the young girls teacher Ms.Ark. "Why don't you explain each plant to your friends, hm?" She smiled encouragingly as a nonverbal nudge to the shy child. River nodded and started rummaging through each bundle, displaying them proudly and explaining the name and fun facts of each one. After all, River had planted and raised each plant to maturity. She had much to be proud of.

  When River got to the last bundle she noticed the plants had withered in the jar, and crumbled at the slightest touch. "Oh no.." River muttered and knelt down eyeing the plant carefully. Ms.Ark walked close and put a hand on rivers back gently. "Oh River, that's alright. You have all these other wonderful plants you showed us today. I think we're all very impressed aren't we class?" She looked up at Rivers peers with the widest grin and they all nodded in agreement. River didn't break her gaze on the fallen plant however. "It's not alright... he's gone. He was alive, and he's gone!" She could feel hot tears building in her eyes and wiped them quickly. "Don't worry..." River whispered to the bundle of once so magnificent roses. "I'll make this right again."

  Ms.Ark gave a slightly concerned and confused look to the child who was not only giving pronouns to a plant, but speaking to it. Though she ultimately brushed it off to a child's wild imagination and whimsy. River closed her eyes and muttered incoherent phrases while placing her hands just above the bundle. A sweet smell filled the classroom within short time, and a sensation as if the shriveled plant was glowing shocked the audience before her. Ms.Ark stumbled a few steps back with a look of pure shock and quite honestly, a bit of fear too.

  Slowly but surely the once dead plants rose from their droopy position and regained moisture and color. The beautiful silky red petals returning to their original state, one by one. The phenomenon was slowly brought to an end as each rose was restored, and River slowly opened her eyes with delight to see her friend had returned to life. Proud with herself she turned to Ms.Ark. Unfortunately, Ms.Ark herself was speechless. With a mouth dropped wide open she let out a soft breath before fainting to the floor.

  Rivers peers were a mix of emotions and this turn of events and River was nothing but confused. She thought everyone could do this... if they tried hard enough. It's like wishing on a star right? It wasn't long after before the administration rushed inside. The situation blew way beyond proportions. As if getting worse at every turn, the more people that were informed, the more serious people got involved. News spread quick in the small southern town after all. River was sat at the front desk, swinging her dangling feet slowly and holding tight to her jar.

  Whispers among faculty and staff filled the small child's ears; some even pointed at her. She couldn't help but feel guilty, confused, and hurt. Most believed Ms.Ark had gone nuts and made up the crazy story. But others knew Ms.Ark better than that, and knew she was as sane and earnest as they came. Towards the end of the school day, all the children were piling out the door for pick up and going home. River only felt as if she was in trouble for what she did, and felt a sick feeling in her stomach. Her mother had been informed of the incident... but strangely never showed up to confront it. She was supposed to turn up hours ago.

  Instead, after almost all the staff had left, a tall woman with long ginger hair and seemingly golden eyes entered the building. She was dressed head to toe in all black. But the not the type of black outfit that made you sad or depressed. The elegant kind that made you shiver with envy. Her tight hourglass figure complimented her long black dress splendidly. River watched as the intimidatingly beautiful woman approached her. Her black heels clicking on the linoleum tile of the school halls as she neared closer.

  She smiled down at River, yet walked right past her to the remaining staff members. She spoke with them for a few before being led back into the principals office where she, Ms.Ark, and other members of staff congregated for a meeting of sorts. River waited about as patiently as she could, though she had been waiting an awful long time already.

  After what seemed an eternity, the beautiful woman returned along some taller men, also dressed in black attire, who looked quite  frightening. River cowered in her seat, gripping her jar as the woman slowly knelt to her level and extended her dainty hand to the child. In a voice as smooth as butter she spoke, "You're a very special child River. But this place is not suited for special children. It is but a normal school." She smiled reassuringly. "I can take you somewhere that knows exactly how to take care of children as special as you. So that nothing like this will happen again. Is that alright?"

  River looked around confused but nodded slowly. The woman seemed as though she was another authority figure who knew best. An adult to listen to, who sounded like she knew what she was talking about.  So, hesitantly River slid off the chair and took the woman's hand, who nodded slightly to the men behind her.

  She began walking towards the door with the crowd, looking back only once at the staff left gawking at the scene. The mysterious woman's clacking heels even louder at her side now as they left the school. What River hadn't known at the time, was that that was the last time she would attend that very school. At just the young age of seven, her life was about to change very drastically.