Perpetually Trapped

Chapter 1

I really did it this time didn't I? Hurt my mom. Who knows when I'll even get to see her again? I shouldn't of even attempted to eat those berries but I figured, ah what's the harm they could do to me? It would even be an adventure! I thought, Mom's always trying to get me out into the world to experience more. Claiming that if I'm always stuck inside the world would never get a chance to know and accept me. Instead I took the easy way out and stayed in my safe world of books. Where my adventures were across the pages with the characters. Yet the one time I decide to let loose this is what it gets me a world of death, despair and darkness. Huh three D's sweet, maybe that should be the name of the castle, triple D sounds better than "the under lords castle" or even "His palace" just no ring to it. Whomever thought that up sucks at their job.

I bet your wondering what happened to me huh? To get me stuck in "His palace" well that's an interesting story. So go climb into your jammies, put the popcorn on and settle down. It's time to head into the life of Penelope Wilson, it should be a little before we come back to the present.

•••••

"Penelope breakfast's ready!" cries my mom, I shout back barely tearing my eyes away from my book, he's just about to reveal his secret!

"One sec let me get done with this part!"

"No now!  Before the food gets cold! You can finish after you've eaten your food and your at school on time."

I sigh gazing fondly at my book, closing it slowly.  If I don't stop willingly she'll take the book away from me for the rest of the day and I really wanted to know his secret!

I roll out of bed leaving the book behind, partially hidden in my sheep filled sheets.  I quickly grab a hoodie and a random pair of jeans take a comb and run it through my hair and pull my hair back into a ponytail. Looking into my mirror I see myself, my curly brown hair shoved back from my face, deep brown eyes looking back.  I shrug looking at myself; ugh good enough not like I have any mad admirers rushing to get my attention.

I shove my books on my desk into my backpack grab my book off my bed and rush down my stairs.  Carelessly throwing my backpack by the front door.  I slouch down in my chair at the kitchen  table, a tiny bit of me hoping that she'll have to many other things on her mind then give the usual lecture.  I'm watching her back as she shoves the remaining food rom the pan onto my plate.

Oh boy scrambled eggs I know where this is headed, when she's agitated its scrambled for me no the fluffy goodness of those chocolate chip pancakes that I love so much.  She gives me the eye, you know the one that a parent gives you when you've annoyed them?  Yup that's exactly the fun filled glare I was getting right now.  Why did this bug her so much? its' not like I'm doing drugs or even experimenting with my sexuality. 

I dig in the second she lays the plate down in front of me, knowing the sooner I finish eating the sooner I leave to the somewhat sanctuary of school.  Putting the second bite in my mouth mom starts to lay down what she says practically everyday that I try to ignore and live my life how I will please myself.

"Penelope why do you keep doing this to me?  You know that I disapprove of all the time you spend indoors by yourself doing nothing all day but read" before I can get a word in she pushes through, "I get that your a teenager wanting to do what you will your probably doing this to just spite me. But dear why can't you even make friends that aren't fictional, maybe even if you dress other so sloppy all the time people would approach you, you look like you don't even want to try?" I raise my fork in response, she continues "and no Thom doesn't count you two haven't hung out in age, why can't you make friends with any girls your age!  You hardly act like one, a girl that is."

I move back squinting my eyes with displeasure, "Mom this is comfy, pulling my hair back like this keeps hair out of my eyes and these clothes are so comfy, its not like I'm going to wear the sweatshirt, it's going to be warmer later I have a t-shirt on underneath. I even made a new friend Ridley Florence, a girl from my gym class."

My mom's eyes widen with surprise then she get's this glint in them, oh boy what does she have planned now?

"Really a new friend in gym class, so she hasn't seen you outside of your gym clothes then; doesn't know that you read all the time?" my mom asks.

"Um yeah but why does that have to do with anything?" I counter back.

"Oh nothing but tomorrow is Saturday me and you are going to the mall.  And we are going to do some shopping.  Your going to change your image and get your head out of those books so you will make more friends!"

I slouch even farther down in my chair, are you kidding me I don't care.  This way is perfect to me, if I change now who will even notice.  No one I'm only a person in the shadows in my school; well whatever I guess I'll just give in to her.  But I am not going to stop reading that is only thing that gets me through the day.

I nod my assent, "Can I leave now?  I have to get to school."

My mom smiles wide and happy to have finally been able to get me to cave to her will.