The double doors of my home never were, left opened. Even when dad goes to work, he would be out in a spilt second. It sealed most light but a crack. I grew quite fond of that crack, it gave me the tiniest bits of sun.
The windows apparently were sealed off too. The wooden planks, all were arranged tightly against the once tall graceful windows, now it's just a bunch of planks. I don't like it, they were the worst of the worst kind of planks. The ones that's probably a thousand years old and moldy. But on the bright side of things, those too have holes, cracks. Holes that allow glimpse of light to pass through.
Presumely, I wanted to see more off this light after being locked out from it for years. I did try you know but alas, my poor nails couldn't last much. I would scratch, pulled the nails out of these planks. It hurts terribly but to no avail. And so, I stopped trying and just peeked out of the hole.
The house was always cold. It could possibly be more than the word drafty. Sometimes, my brown hair would go stiff and break off. Though my thin clothes that I wear on my back, it never gave me warmth. It serves the purpose of covering the ragged skin.
My ragged skin.
I always wondered what it was like to play in daylight. To feel some kind of warmth kiss your skin. I feel jealous of those kids I see from the many holes of the planks. I looked to my right to see the untouched chimney, it was horribly clean for one self, except for the dust bunnies and the spiderwebs.
I heard footsteps behind me.
"Hey mom, when is dad going to be back?" I asked.
I heard those feet halter behind me. A cold hand clutched lightly on my shoulder. The hand then pulled me away from the light. She tossed me back and placed a tethered towel on the hole. I didn't fall though, it was just a mere shove.
"How many times do I have to tell you to adress me as your mother. You know your father won't like those such, informal words." She said, her tone full of warning. Warnings that I was so used by now that they don't matter anymore. As long as dad's not here, she can't hurt me.
"Whatever you say mom." I murmured and walked around her to another opening with the light.
She grabbed the collar of my shirt and forced me to turn to her. Her face so close that I could feel her short golden hair poking my cheeks. "Now you listen carefully, don't you ever peek through those holes."
She stared at me before hugging me close, "In the next world you should find, it's a cold and dark world. And I want you to be familiar with that, even if you miss those lights."
"Do you mean death?" I asked but was slightly muffled by her shirt.
"No, but it is as menacing and I cannot tell where it lies. It's a threat, it may come for you."
Her words sank deep into mind but then, a new thought floated. "What if it doesn't come for me mom? What then? I wasted years in darkness and solitude just because a newly world mentioned never engulfed me."
"I would worry because that world will come." Her voice laced with fear.
"And where could that place be? It's not like I'm going anywhere. What's with these riddles? You have been acting uptight in the passing months. I've been in here for years mom. Years! I don't even know what day it is."
She seemed to just realize my pain. "Oh honey, I know you're upset but I have to do this, I have to seal of those lights-"
"Upset? I've been more than distraught! I can't recall a happy childhood, much less a happy teen life. There hadn't been a day I spent as a child watching through those holes, just to see light and now you're sealing them off? Are you trying to label this place as the menace?" I suddenly snapped.
"Why are you so desperately trying to rob me of light, mom?"
She was stunned, her body rigid. Never had I've been one to easily snap. She pulled away from me and released me of her hold. Her eyes turned cold and I see a faint storm brewing in those blue eyes.
"Those lights aren't yours to begin with. Why should I steal one that's not even considered to be in your possession?" Her words rushed, as if fuming. Her eyes watered.
I sighed. "Look mom, I'm sorry."
She shook her head and a tear escaped. She whispered, "Remember, I'm doing this for your own good." and then the back of her hand came in contact with my left cheek. I stumbled to the ground and fell hard on my side. I peeked up and saw that her hand was red.
"Wha..."
"What did the girl do this time, Diane?" I froze at that voice. How is that possible? I didn't even hear him come in.
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The Phantom Shard
Teen Fiction"He can make hell feel like home." Claire Blaine was told of another world where it will be filled with darkness and constant plummeting of temperature. She didn't believed that of course, with the abused life she lived for years, she was sure there...
