『these marks!』

Here's the first chapter! Enjoy!    

Chapter 1

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What?

I stared at the phone incredulously. "Um,.. please repeat that." I hoped with all my might that I just misheard what I thought I heard. It wasn't possible.

"Your family died in a car crash. We're really sorry-"The rest of the nurse's words did not reach my ears. I dropped the phone, my hand trembling.

No. This couldn't be real.

I dialed my father's phone number with my own phone. No one picked up. I tried at least three times. Then I tried calling my mom. She didn't pick up too.

I swallowed slowly. My palms were sweaty. My parents and little brother had gone grocery shopping two hours earlier. I impatiently brushed my fringe away.

After another three hours, I collapsed and cried, fear and shock gripping my heart. I cried like it was the end of the world. I didn't scream out loud; I never cried that way. Bucketfuls of tears just streamed down endlessly. Whenever I wiped them away, new ones would emerge immediately.

I lost my family.

I lost my family.

By now, I was crying to the point that I was hiccupping badly. As I went to get a box of tissues from the living room, I nearly tripped due to my body which felt heavy and my reluctant legs. I spotted a leather bound book deep in the cupboard which contained many tissues and wrapping papers. I flipped through the book once. It was my mom's schedule planner which she'd used around twenty years ago.

Suddenly, a photograph fell out of one of the pages. It was a picture of my parents, before they were married. My tears were starting to cry again.

I tried to compose myself, and failed miserably. It was then that I noticed something. From my father's back, two, large, pure-white feathery wings protruded. I stared and stared. I rubbed my eyes. It looked extremely, nerve-rackingly real. I doubted that photoshop existed twenty years ago. I sighed. I didn't get anything. I put the picture away, tears still flooding my vision.

I stood up. I decided that I needed some fresh air to tidy up my thoughts. I put on a coat and locked the house door with the spare key that was always at home. I closed the gate and clicked the elevator button. I lived in a condominium which consisted of eight floors each. I exited the condominium area, and started walking towards the shopping complex downtown, which was nearby. A close breeze brushed me on my face. Maybe I should have worn a slightly thicker coat.

As I started walking in an alleyway, I heard catcalls and whistling coming from not far from where I was. I felt myself stiffening. I fastened my walking pace and avoided eye contact with any of those lowly men.

I came out of the alleyway, breathing out a sigh of relief. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I slapped it away instinctively, and turned to face the owner of the hand.

It was actually a tall boy who looked around a year or two older than me, to my surprise. He looked equally surprised at my reaction. I'd slapped his hand. "Could you please tell me where the coffee shop Starbucks is?" he asked. He had silver hair, and curious blue eyes. Just like the deep, blue sea. Actually- when I looked properly, I saw that his hair was actually golden; it looked like platinum blond on closer inspection.

"Oh.. sorry.. It's that way. You just have to keep on walking north. It's not far from here." I pointed at the direction. Although I was relieved, I was still on my guard and cautious of this person.

"Thank you". He started to walk away. Suddenly, he abruptly stopped. He turned to look at me. 

"You… you're not human,"he slowly said. His blue eyes seemed to stare right through me.

You... you're not human.

The words hung in the air, echoing in my mind. My long, wavy hair swayed in the cold, winter air. I blinked.

He had disappeared into the crowd of people in front of me. I turned to look for him. I was near a couple of malls near the alleyway from before. He was gone.

I decided to go home.

I desperately hoped that they would be there. My mom, who I fought with often, but had fun times with too. My father, who was always there for me, and understood me the best. My brother, who I always teased and found annoying, but nevertheless, loved him.

If I had known that this was going to happen, I would have been a lot nicer. I would have been a nicer daughter. A better sister. I was starting to cry again. Deep inside, I knew that they wouldn't be here anymore, but I still wanted to hope.

Hope…

The house was empty and vacant as I entered it. I swallowed slowly, a lump forming in my throat.

That night, I cried myself to sleep. I fell into a dark abyss as I felt my mind slipping away.