Madness: Shadows Tales

the boy who saw his shadow

The day was april 2nd. It was Rory Rittle's birthday. His 16th birthday in fact. Rory's mother Marsha and father Herald had made him his favorite, spaghetti and meatballs. They threw him a suprise birthday. Knowing there son hated birthdays. Inviting rory's bestfriend Gene and Rory's girlfriend little annie a friendly awkward girl with hair that went for days falling into a tone of copper. She too was 16.
The whole party of 5 sat in the backyard as they ate italian ,opening gifts. While having a good ole time. Talking and remenesing on old times when rory was young. He hated that too. He didnt want his mom embarrasing him in front of his newly acquired girlfriend. that he'd known since he was 5.
Rory and annie met in kindergarden he asked her if she was an angel. She had blushed while screaming at him in a friendly way "no! Im a pegasus my mom says i can fly". She was a weird girl and he was a weird boy.
For as long as Rory could remember everyone always said" those two are a pair meant for the ages. Just alike! Look at em adorable." His mom always agreed saying herself in a pleasant voice"she's the bonnie to his clyde mister"
As they sat eating Marsha handed Rory a small blue box with a red bow neatly wrapped ontop. She came close to his ear and whispered" this gifts for you from me and your dad for everyone to see but the real gift. ill give you later!" winking at rory still whispering "Just me and you." Rory said ok tearing the present open with anticipation. Inside was a video camera.
It was one of those you could flip open and watch your recording on a side screen. The screen itself was about 3 inches wide and 2 inches tall. The camera itself was heavy looking like a silver bullet. Rory had been asking for one for about 2 years now and was estatic to finally have one.
Harold a tall but chubby man. Who had a beer belly with muscles from a body builders competetion had slicked back his shiny black hair hollering his famous laugh. Marsha hated that laugh. it reminded her of a hyena. Harold's voice was loud and had a strong presence to it. he said to his son, " try it my boy!give it a roar!" Marsha quickly replied in her pleasantly sweet voice that made men melt"not now sweetie. Let the boy open his gifts and eat with his friends" she showed harold a glare and he backed off.
Rory enjoyed the rest of his party eating ice cream cake. It had been shaped to look like a zombie's brains. Rory was really into the supernatural having posters of nightmare on elm street,vampires,ghosts, ghouls and even a ufo poster saying "i believe".
Gene had bought Rory a magic set with the fake wand that shoots out flowers a hat and other fun things. He didnt bother to wrap it. he just said here you go dog and handed him it. Annie had wrapped hers in a gold trim marron package. Rory loved the way it looked he didnt want to open it but had wondered what she got him. He ripped into it to find a white laced pendant. It glowed purple blue and black. It seemed to swirl around inside looking like a constant shooting star. she told him"you're my everlasting sun, my eternal moon but most importantly my shooting star" she then kissed him on the cheek. He lit up blush red and said in a high pitched tone that cracked" my love for you is created by the grace of your glow. I see it and i know everything will be ok. I love you darling. Now give me a twirl." She did. He caught her mid twist bringing her into him in a perfect turn around. They smiled hugging up to eacherother with her hands on his shoulder. there love was special. One that could stand the test of time.
His friends left a couple hours later. Annie gave Rory a kiss on his cheeks saying"ill see tomorrow! I love you hyde." Rory replied "ok Jekyll i love you too" smiling a grin of satisfaction. Gene gave him a high five saying in his shrill voice"bye roar dogg always a pleasure"
1b
It was about 11 o'clock. Rory was sitting on his bed with his door closed. He heard a knock. He said come in. On the door there was a sign hanging it said one man's trash is another mans treasure. When you went in his room. you'd see knicknacks, posters, toys from the actual kinder eggs from Germany the ones you had to order. His grandpa brought him one everytime he stopped. Old looking toys. There where tons of them. Rory collected what other people considered junk but in his eyes had a use, a purpose. Rory and his dad would refurbish the junk. Then sell it. It was there hobby. They connected on everything like old time pals. Talking for hours giggling like school children. Having that father son bond. Rory's mom would say you're two eggs of the same basket. They'd both laughed.
Marsha walked in sitting next to her son. She placed her hand on his. Glaring dead into his eyes with her light bright hazel eyes that spoke to you in a way where you thought everything was always gonna be ok. but now she spoke in her pleasant glowing voice" son we need to have a talk" he replied with a little worrisome sound"about what?" She replied in the same voice with a smile kinda giggling "child of mine! theres nothing to worry about. You're on the cusp of manhood!soon you're gonna go through all these changes. These changes will affect you in many ways. From your body to--" Rory interuppted speaking in a high pitch tone"MOM! I know what puberty is. Me and dad discussed it. I dont wanna talk about it with you."
Marsha looked at her son with a scowl speaking louder with a little anger to it but not enough to make you feel it saying" child of mine. Our family is different. My side anyway. Your father couldnt understand. You soon will! Your body,your mind and your spirit will become one. Its the most glorious feeling you'll ever experience. Itll truly open your eyes. Ask your brother. He'll be here on friday." Rory thought, not that dick but spoke calmy in his now changing voice for it was still finding itself," the armies not gonna let him go he's got 3 months before he gets leave." She replied with calmness in her voice this time" he had special permission to do so. You know how good he's been doing. He saved his squads life. Ask him when you see him. Im sure he'll tell you all about it you. You know how he is." Rory thinking again, he's still a dick but said instead," he'll gloat. He always does. He's gotta be the best. Always!mom how do you deal with a head that big and an ego that hits the moon leaving it seeing stars!? Mom hes a jerk." Marsha replied with a sturdy bullet of strong decisiveness with a harshness to it"thats your brother!he's your family. He'll be there when we cant. He loves you more than you know. I know you two never get! along but try! Always fighting. You only have one brother. Try for me. Dont you love me!" Rory replied in disatisfaction," yes mam. You know i love you." Rory shrugged his shoulders. He looked down not liking this conversation just wanting it to be over. Marsha put her hand on his chin bringing it up to her gaze saying with a lovely motherly tone"my child. I know you want this to be over. Trust me but son. You're gonna experience more than a changing voice, sweaty arm pit hair and a growing wing ding. Your mind will meet your spirit. You will know the truest truth of yourself. You will find yourself. only in the shadows can you see through to the mirror of your soul. You're my special child." Marsha smiled saying pleasantly,"now go to bed. We'll talk again soon about this. When the times right but one more thing dont use that camera on me! You know how i feel about those thing!" She got up kissed rory on the foreheard with that soft motherly touch. Then walked out the room
If you knew Marsha Rittle. walked into her house. You'd see there weren't any pictures hanging with her in them or home videos with her attached.
Everyone would say Marsha's a bit of a mystery. Herald being with her for 20 years would say differently. He thought he had her pegged after all these years. Saying he had solved the puzzle. Which was her. Always shouting,"thats my queen now and forever".
Harold always tried to find out new things about Marsha. He really didnt mind anything that had to do with her. Because that's the thing about real love. It never ends if you dont want it to. If you show the effort for it. I mean after all these years of knowing her. He learned all the small things. Her favorite color which was red, her favorite tv show lost, even what not to do to piss her off or how she liked her feet rubbed before bed. His effort never faded.
Harold was invigorated by her scent,her sweet but sassy attitude. Everything about her. Down to the angry face she made when he did his hyena laugh. she had him under her spell of love. She was his world. Other than his two boys. She was the most important thing in his life. Till death do us part. He took it serious. Always trying his best to please his wife. He devoted himself to his family but more importantly his wife. Every part of him. Always getting involved. He wanted to be there and was. Through the bad and the good. "For the family" he'd say as his motto but maybe her spell went farther than just love for her and the family. Who knows.
1c
It was late around 1 to 2 in the morning. Rory had to pee. He walked into the small bathroom next to his room. Which was convient for him. It was a faded blue room that ran down to a pearly white. With a big mirror standing above the sink next to the toilet.
     He did his buisness walked to the mirror to wash his hands. when he noticed something in the mirror. He started to feel pain in his mouth. He opened his chompers to see sharp teeth growing. His mouth was bleeding perfusly. The old teeth he had where starting to fall out.
Rory screamed in shock but nothing came out. He started to spit the blood out when a couple of teeth fell into the sink. Then he heard a voice in his head say with a sharpness to it,"hey buddy! Its time. Im here. Do you hear the door? Its knocking? If you do let me in. Im starving" rory blinked his eyes a little dazed now. He saw a shadow spread throughout the room consuming it into darkness.
Then it went back to normal in a matter of a moment but not all of it. He seen his shadow swing infront of him with its head poking up in the mirror looking right at him. It seemed to smile. Its eyes where glowing a foggy silver color the rest of it looked like a shadow would but it was moving on its own. Talking to him in his mind again with that shapness" the time is coming!your ma's right son. This is something different but dont worry im your friend. More of a brother actually. You can call me dandy for ill show you the true nature of existence. Just stick to my side. Ill show you the world. The way its truly meant to be lived."rory in shock didnt say anything. He stood there baffled. It spoke to him again,"dont worry. I'm only here for you. To guide you to yourself. Dont worry Rory we'll become besties." Then rory passed out hitting his head on the floor.
2
Rory woke the next morning to his father shaking him saying in a worrisome voice," are you ok? Roar talk to me."Rory dazed. Opened his eyes feeling lightheaded he answered in confusion,"where am i? I dont remember what happened. I think im ok."
    Herald lifted him up placing him on the toilet. Rory was a scrony boy looking more like his mother than his father skinny,kinda taller than most but with black hair. Rory said,"thanks dad! ill take it from here."smiling a fake grin. His dad then replied,"ok little man I'm making breakfast come down when you're ready. Its waffles the way you like em drenched in syrup."herald then left. Rory looked in the mirror to see four of his front teeth had changed. Realizing it wasnt a dream but still wondering what that shadow thing was." Was it real." He thought. He was just happy herald didnt look into the sink to see the blood and teeth. He was to preoccupied by his son passed out on the floor.
2b
  Rory went to school. He got through half the day feeling great. He was eating lunch with his besties gene and annie.  When he heard a hollow laugh with a dick head's voice attached to it yelling,"little rittle always sittin on a fittle." Rory turned to hear another laugh. He saw antwon and his two goons brad and fred. The dummy brigade was his name for them.    
   Antwon was a big boy always chewing a toothpick with his famous suspenders. he always tugged at them. Wearing that ratty orange flannel shirt. . Rory wished he'd choke on the toothpick. He'd been bullying rory since he was 5. He thought antwon was jealous for he liked annie but treated her like shit. Kids throwing sand in the schoolyard.
   Antwon opened his blubbering lips again,"did you hear me! Roar you squeeky lil man. I cant hear you," they laughed again. This pissed annie off. Annie spoke up getting madder at each moment that passed,"leave him alone ant hill. Find another hill to crush. Your such an asshole." Antwon laughed at this replying,"ok raggedy anne! Tell your boy to speak up when i talk to him." Gene spoke up instead,"why dont you just go. No one wants you here." Rory nodded in agreement saying," ya anty boy go find someone else to put a magnifying glass too." Antwon spoke with confidence to him saying,"why dont you make me rittle im right here. Do something." Annie spoke with frustration ,"lets go boys. We dont need this." Then the three bestfriends got up to leave. Annie picked up her tray to throw it away. When antwon pushed it in her face giving her a facefull of mashed potatoes with gravy in her face. Rory got up and hit antwon with his tray. Smacked him right in the face. Antwons face lit up red. Him and his two friends proceeded to give rory an ass whooping. Hitting him in the face pushing him over. while kicking him in the face. Annie and gene screamed for them to stop. Annie jumped on antwons back choking him with her arms tightly wrapped around him. Gene punched brad in the gut. Then gene too got beat. Antwon backed up banging annie into the wall. She fell landing with her ass flat on the ground. Then a loud booming voice shouted,"stop this shit and get to the principal's office! dont make me say it again" the man was prinipal Rudolf. He grabbed antwon by the ear yelling at all the kids"lets fucking go! Now!"