The Free-Fall Chronicles
By Benjamin Laird Troup
Prologue
“...and holes to heaven pointed out to us
from light-years away we're surrounded by a billion galaxies
things are not always
things are not always
how they seem
will you be ready
will you be ready?
the interim of life has got you
tiptoed and pinning your hopes
on the top dog of dreams
you're not alone in this
the polyfilla way
look strong in the weakness of the gaps”
from light-years away we're surrounded by a billion galaxies
things are not always
things are not always
how they seem
will you be ready
will you be ready?
the interim of life has got you
tiptoed and pinning your hopes
on the top dog of dreams
you're not alone in this
the polyfilla way
look strong in the weakness of the gaps”
Imogen Heap - 2-1 (formally Polyfilla)
The descending red sun bathed the forest in an eerie red half light; The type of shade that's only ever seen when the sun has reached the last phase of the day's cycle. All was still and not a sound could be heard: death radiated from the forest. Twilight fell from the shadow cast by ancient, dark trees, their slow, lifeless sway brought only from the shallow wisps of passing wind. Two intersecting paths carved thin lines though the forest, crossing in the middle. They were a transparent blue, the colour of ice.
A lone beetle, the sole survivor of the forest, scuttled across the forest floor. It's iridescent shell reflected the cold, blue light of the paths as it scurried closer. The trees swayed silently, urging the beetle on and, unaware of the danger, it clambered onto the path. A second passed and a empty shell surrounded by a mound of ash still letting of pale vapours of smoke was all that was left. The forest chuckled.
A pinpoint of purple light was born in the centre of the paths, slowly spluttering into life. The light slowly grew in size letting of streams of purple into the night. The deep purple was not a rich colour like one would imagine, but it was the deep purple colour of a bruise that instantly transformed the colour of the forest from red to mauve. A gateway slowly emerged in the centre the formless light, slowly seeping into the lifeless world around it. The image slowly resolved into focus, like someone had snapped a lense in place.
Silence flooded through the forest signalling that the deed was done and the price was paid.
A pinpoint of purple light was born in the centre of the paths, slowly spluttering into life. The light slowly grew in size letting of streams of purple into the night. The deep purple was not a rich colour like one would imagine, but it was the deep purple colour of a bruise that instantly transformed the colour of the forest from red to mauve. A gateway slowly emerged in the centre the formless light, slowly seeping into the lifeless world around it. The image slowly resolved into focus, like someone had snapped a lense in place.
Silence flooded through the forest signalling that the deed was done and the price was paid.
Now the mortal could enter.
Chap 1.
I'm not a stranger
No I am yours
With crippled anger
And tears that still drip sore
A fragile flame aged
Is misery
And when our hearts meet
I know you see
I do not want to be afraid
I do not want to die inside just to breathe in
I'm tired of feeling so numb
Relief exists I find it when
I am cut
I may seem crazy
Or painfully shy
And these scars wouldn't be so hidden
If you would just look me in the eye
I feel alone here and cold here
Though I don't want to die
But the only anaesthetic that makes me feel
anything kills inside
Plumb - Cut
Deep breaths, deep breaths, Daniel reminded himself. He sat alone in the far corner of the dingy yellow school bus. Fitful grey rain clouds hung thickly over the lush green landscape out side the window. Raindrops steadily showered the dirty windows of bus, replacing the scenery with a twisted picture.
For three days, an emotional hurricane had been terrorising his mind, leaving him wind swept and tired. He felt the melodic pound of his heart reminding him that he wasn't dead. Yet nothing could stop the bitter remorse that wrapped around him with its deadly blanket of hate, embracing him with tormenting images.
Daniel slowly closed his eyes to block out the world around him.
The slow beat of his heart vanquished as he heard the police sirens. The gleaming sun warmed his back: it was a beautiful day. The slow buzzing of a fan merged with the sirens forming a symphony of hurt. He raised his hand and saw scarlet red, the colour of blood. Tears welled in his eyes as the image faded into dark oblivion.
I am not going to cry. He inwardly promised himself, but failed as a tear drop tumbled down his cheek. A large knot had formed in his throat rendering his voice useless, when a girl asked if she could sit next to him. Turning his head to the window to hide the tears, he silently nodded.
+=+=+=+=
Jacob Fredwick was a man in his early fifty's and his pale brown eyes were slightly blood shot. He was sitting behind a large desk, busy in the art of picking nose when a knock came from the door. Startled, he momently lost his cool.
“Come in.” he answered in his raspy voice.
The door opened and a boy stepped in. He was about six foot and had broad shoulders, his hair was black with touches of white and his eyes were grey. He looked miserable.
Suiting isn't it? He silently chuckled to himself That it's a rainy day. The boy rubbed his left wrist, drawing Jacobs attention to it. There was an odd pattern it stood out because it was a deeper pink than the rest of his skin. From his elbow down the skin pattern seemed to be leading up to it and it-
“Um... Sir ?” the boy ask in a puzzled voice.
Jacob realised that for the past minute the he had been intensely staring at the boy's wrist. A flush of embarrassment slowly crept onto his face.
“Um... Daniel I assume.” his said trying to sound like the headmaster of West Durreen High.
“Yes sir.”
+=+=+=+=
ARGH Daniel thought to himself while silently rubbing with both hands his aching head. His backpack was hanging precariously by its strap on his elbow.
His head was bowed and his shoulder slumped with dispare as he walked into the park area. His walking sped increased as he spotted a vacant bench at the end of the curling path.
Well it could be worse... His thoughts ran free quietly chatting to themselves.
He sat down ...On a girl. Realising his mistake he quickly jumped back up and dropped his backpack into the awaiting mud. He could have swore that the mud silently mocked him.
Nope It just got worse. He thought as he bent down to retrieve his soggy, wet backpack.
He turned around to face the young lady, his face red enough to make beet root envious. He meet her eyes and mumbled an apology that sounded somewhat like a mixture of Is my hat on right? in Spanish. Mixed in with a bunch of random English.
The girl let out a nervous giggle.
“Don't worry, It happens all the time.” She said in a reassuring voice.
An oblivious lie. Wait... Didn't he know that voice? There was some thing so recognisable about the way she giggled when she was nervous.
“Do I know you?” Daniel finally put the question in the air.
“Um don't think so...” She answered.
“Wait...Elise?” Daniel realised as soon as the word left his mouth.
“Yeah?” She answered with a puzzled look still displayed on her face, until finally realisation dawned on her beautiful face.
“Hell no... Daniel?” She answered him with a question.
“How did you-” They both started of at the same time causing a round of laughs.
“Wow you have hardly changed at all over the what, five years?” She asked.
“No, it was four, I think.” Daniel answered as he took a seat beside her, and yes... It was vacant this time.
Her voice was lowered when she asked Daniel “I'm instantly assuming that you got new foster parents?”
His eyes instantly grew clouded, his expression, far away. He swallowed in attempt that it would clear the massive lump growing in his throat.
I am not going to cry. He promised himself for the second time that day.
Chap. 2
Look, listen to my voice
If you're making the choice
Tell me all the girls and the boys
Either scream or rejoice
Let's make that noise
Either move or we will all be destroyed
Move and show me what you can do
When you step into the circle and shake like we do
Move when you just can't take it
And move if you just feel like breaking it
Can you hear me? Stop, look, listen to my voice,
It was never my choice to feel all alone
This is my home
Back up , you don't know if you've never been here,
You've never been to the place inside, I face my fears
It takes everything I am
Thousand Foot Krutch – Move
The wind was howling its mournful cry. Its dead sound savagely crescendoed until it hit a windbreaker, the house was marooned in an endless sea of black. The sea never moved despite the hell-like wind that found humour in tormenting it.
“Why did this HAPPEN?” my scream pierced the the crying air. “What did I do to deserve it? They are dead.“ I continued to scream out the window that opened a gaping hole into the third story bedroom in which I lived. “I can't live.... I have to end this.” Another of my desperate yells followed through in vain hope that I would be able to pierce the mist-like veil that separated the living from the dead. “I'm sorry... That all everything that you hoped for me was false but this has got to end.”
I slowly lent over the window-sill just enough so gravity could take its toll.
It's time. I felt an unwonted smile cross over my tear-stained face, my only desire in life was to die like this, feeling the wind blowing through my hair.
My life flash before his eyes, reminding me of the life he had faithfully lead for my mere sixteen years.
I breathed in, savouring the feeling of fresh air and fell. The awaiting earth vortexed before my eyes, spinning and curling in a snowflake like pattern, displaying its beautiful art that would be the last thing I saw. The wind was warm despite the fact that a thunderstorm was brewing. I felt the warmness of the wind as it wrapped around my shoulders.
Just before I hit the land, the earth seemed to open up, forming a cave that never ended.
“Daneilllll” I heard the wind scream, tugging, trying to pull me back into consciousness and I opened my eyes. Elsie was standing in front, staring at me with concern in her chocolate brown eyes.
“Are they happening again?” she asked.
“Yes, I was dreaming.” Daniel answered, finding it uncharacteristicly hard to lie to her, even if it would temporarily protect her.
“Fine you-know, just don't thank me or anything.” She said in a joking way, as she started to walk away. Daniel swiftly grabbed her hand to stop her.
“Thank you.” was all he said as he looked into her deep eyes.
Only then did he realise were he was. He was in the school yard, on one of the metal benches. He must have been really tired to fall asleep on something as uncomfortable as that. His eyes slow drifted away from her as he took in his surroundings. He felt her soft hand slowly and regretfully pull free as the end of lunch bell rang.
My dreams are just getting weirder and weirder. He thought to himself as he got up from the bench and walked towards his class.
+=+=+=+=
I must not sleep. Daniel thought to himself as he paced his pale green bedroom.
