The Village of Praepes

Bella Johnson

Everyone says, that when you're different, you're one of the most beautiful people alive. I used to believe that, until I noticed my mother and father would do everything to hide me away. I remember asking my mother if I wasn't as beautiful as the other girls, because unlike everyone in our village I didn't have wings. 

My mother and father stopped letting me leave our home when they noticed I wasn't growing any wings. That was until I turned seventeen. 

On my birthday I began to sneak out at night time, I watched as the others my age flew into the air, with the most beautiful wings. Most of them were gorgeous shades of gray, sometimes lighter, and other times darker. 

I always saw one boy, who sat by the trees and never moved. His wings were always so dark, but I never understood why.  He was a good guy, who never hurt a living soul. His eyes were dark blue, with specks of yellow. They reminded me of the ocean, and the beautiful rivers.  

I had hopes he would notice me, but his eyes followed the others high in the sky. It only made me wonder why he never flew up to them. 

I began to see him pass by my home in the day time, he was much quieter, and didn't speak much to the other Praepes. That was what this race was called. They develop their wings by the time they are three and a half, but my wings never developed. 

"Mother?" I asked my mother who stood in the doorway with a basket on her hip. "What is that boy with the black wings name?" 

She didn't move, and looked up at him. "Connor Brandon darling," she said a little above a murmur. 

"Why are his wings black?" I asked her again. 

She closed the door and began to fold the clothes that lay in the basket. "His father darling. He trained him to be a murderer."

"I don't believe that.." I murmured to myself. I had heard the other girls talking about him only s day later. 

I had snuck back into my home, and stood by the door folding clothes. I hadn't moved enough for anyone to see my back, but was surprised when someone pushed me to the wall. "Shh!" They said covering my mouth. It was so dark I almost didn't see him. 

I noticed who it was that sat in front of me watching and four fairly large guys flew past my door. Slowly he removed his hand from my mouth, and smiled. "I can't believe they didn't see me! It's not like-" As he spoke his head turned to me. He stopped suddenly as he noticed the little details about me. "You-" he began. 

It was my turn to cover his mouth. "Shh! They'll hear you!" I looked out of the window directly over me. Three of the boys changed direction. "No, Ii don't have wings but you need to be quiet!"

He nodded, and removed my hand from his lips. His hands were soft, but his eyes were so intense I felt as though I would melt if he continued to look at me like he was. "Why?" He whispered. 

"I-" I began swallowing hard, while turning to look at him. "I don't know. My wings just," I paused looking at him. He shook his head no, and I cotinued to look at him confused.

"Why hasn't anyone seen you? I didn't even know Mr, and Mrs. Johnson had a child!" He whisper yelled to me. 

I looked at him and a small smile slowly crept onto my face. He noticed this, and smiled back. "I don't care if you have wings or not, I just didn't know you..." He trailed off.

I looked at the ground. "They were scared that if I was seen by the men or women of this town they would hate me." 

He laughed quietly, "If it's any consolation, I don't think they would. Besides you've seen them at night time, they're all too idiotic to notice one, nonetheless two, people staring at them."

I turned bright red. "You've-"

"Seen you?" He interrupted.  "Of course. You're the only person in this village that doesnt look at me like I'm some monster waiting to be hurled into space." 

I laughed quietly, "I think those guys are gone now." He was still pushed up against me from when he crashed into me from running into my house. 

He nodded, but didn't move. His eyes were sparkling with mischief, but also with something Ii had never seen in the eyes of a man. Wonder. He was curious about me. As I was him. We both seemed to be ok with being close, but we were also confused by each other. 

"Why..." I began, his eyes looked into mine with a hint of seriousness. "Why are your wings black? I've noticed you, you are..."

His head fell slightly, yet he didn't move. It felt as though something was in between us, that continued to stop us from moving. "My father, was an ugly man. A soul not worth saving... He beat my mother, and me, but one day..." His voice was much gentaller now. 

"You had enough, didn't you?" 

He looked into my eyes. "I did the worst thing possible. When he went to hurt my mother, I stood up to him. I fought back, and," he paused. "I killed him." He said barely audible. 

I looked into his eyes, and saw the  feeling that I knew all too well. The feeling o being alone. "At least you can go out. You can leave this town, if I even tried people would see me. I-" I heard the sound of footsteps. 

"I need to leave." Quickly he ripped himself away from me. 

"Come back tomorrow?" I asked before he could leave the door. 

He turned quickly. "You want me to come back?" He asked in disbelief. 

"Of course I do!"

He smiled. "Then yes, I'll come back tomorrow night. Goodnight- uhh," he paused awkwardly looking at me. 

"Bella." I answered his unasked question. My name.

"Goodnight Bella."

"Goodnight."

I watched as he made his way back into the streets and not far down the street and into a small home. Ii watched as he turned his head back to me. I could not see his face in detail, but I knew we were smiling to each other. "Sleep well..." I mouthed to him knowing he couldn't see me.