FictionPress.com - let the words flow
| FictionPress.com - let the words flow |
|
| Home Just In Communities Forums Beta Readers Dictionary Search | Login Register Extras |
For those who don’t already no, I’m not sure if I mentioned, but A.M.H.Q stands for Anger Management Head Quarters. This is only for the other reviewers who already are not familiar with the Dragon Raiders Series. Thanks!
Two Months Later
“Ally…” A voice called out. Alabrith’s eyes flew open. Looking up she saw a dark ceiling. Listening more closely, she waited for that voice to call out again. After a few moments of silence, she flipped over onto her side and closed her eyes once more.
“ALLLLLLYYYYY…” The voice sounded out, this time louder. Alabrith shivered in her covers. “ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYY…” It called out again. Alabrith sat up quickly and noticed a floating figure at the foot of her bed. It glowed with a bright, white light. It appeared as a girl and it had straight, blonde hair that was tangled. The figure had a menacing look to its face.
“Cookie?” Alabrith asked as she tried to find a safe haven in the back of her head. The figure spoke no more but it moved closer to Alabrith. Alabrith moved herself against the headboard of her bed. The figure continued to creep up to her. Finally, it stopped…inches from her frantic face.
“ALLLLY!” It screamed as Alabrith screamed for help. Alabrith jumped out of bed and started running down the hall towards the door. The moment she got to the door and opened it, the figure was already there.
Running back down the row of beds Alabrith tried to find a way to escape this apparition or dream. Alabrith reached the wall and it was the end of the line. The figure was inches from her face as it glowed with a ghastly look.
“How could you do it…” It said. Alabrith shivered against the wall. “How could you ruin my life!” Alabrith screamed and fell to her knees. The figure hovered above her and reached out for her. Alabrith scrambled to her feet and faced the figure. “YOU RUINED ME!!” It yelled as it grabbed Alabrith by the neck. Alabrith screamed-
“GAH!” Alabrith screamed as she woke up. She breathed frantically and held her hands tightly against her chest. All of the other kids sat up suddenly and looked at her strangely as they awoke from their slumber. One of the boys, about ten or so, quickly ran to Alabrith and took her shoulders tightly. He was a short fellow who had sandy blonde hair, blue eyes, and a cute, warming smile.
“Alabrith…it’s all right…it was only a dream!” Alabrith calmed down slightly and nodded to the boy. He smiled.
“It felt so real…too real…” Alabrith paused then turned to the boy, “thanks Conan…”
“Don’t mention it.” He smiled weakly.
“I thought it was over…it felt like it…”Alabrith stated as she held her hand against her neck.
“Was it the same dream?” Conan asked concerned. Alabrith looked up from the floor and to Conan’s worried face.
“Yes…” With this Conan hugged Alabrith. Shockingly enough, Alabrith hugged him back, whole-heartedly.
Conan had been Alabrith’s first and only friend since she arrived at A.M.H.Q. He had been sent to A.M.H.Q. not because of anger management, but because he had been taken in by the organization. Conan’s parents had died in a fire that led Conan to become a homeless eight year old. One day a cheerful fellow, Shiken Forsworn, had taken him in. Later on, Shiken decided to help out angered and troubled kids. This led to the making of A.M.H.Q. With Shiken tending to other matters, Conan had no choice but to stay on Topaz Isle and live amongst the others at the establishment.
On the first day that Alabrith arrived, Conan noticed her from his bedroom as she cried into her bed sheets. Ever since that moment, he had always been there to comfort Alabrith, and bring her to realization of other people. For a ten year old, he was a bright boy. Alabrith looked to Conan for help with many problems. He even gave her reasons as to possibly why she had been sent there. Alabrith loved Conan dearly. After all, he had been Alabrith true, first, and only friend.
“WAKE UP! IT’S TIME TO ARISE! BRING FORTH THIS LOVELY DAY! IT IS TIME TO CEASE THE DAY AND ARISE!” One counselor yelled happily. All of the children were already awake so this wasn’t as painful as it would have been any other day. Usually, all of the children would scowl and throw whatever available at the counselors who shouted this. Most of the children weren’t morning people and didn’t like to wake up at dawn and ‘cease the day’.
All of the children stood at the foot of their beds. The counselors walked down the rows of beds making sure that everyone was awake; this was regular morning ritual for all of the kids. After the counselors had walked down the rows of beds and saw that everything was orderly, they went back to the door where they had come in and stood in front of it.
“GOOD JOB! NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE HAPPIEST AND MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY!” They yelled out. Alabrith rolled her eyes as she did every time she heard that phrase.
Following the other children out of the sleeping quarters, Alabrith eventually arrived in the mess hall. In the mess hall there were approximately twenty tables that could fit eight people each at them. Since there were only about thirty kids attending the camp, only a fourth of the tables were used.
Alabrith and Conan went to their usual table and sat down. All of the other cliques of teens and kids went their separate ways to their tables as well. After everyone was sat, all of the counselors, ten to be exact, came out with huge platters. Going to each table individually, they served out the dried, salty pork and water. Although this wasn’t exactly a delicious, mouthwatering meal, it satisfied the children enough to last them through the day until dinner time.
After the measly breakfast, the counselors appeared once again to break up the campers into their “MANAGEMENT GROUPS”. Alabrith was in a group of five teens her age, some a year or two younger, and a few older than her. At this time Conan had free time to do as he pleased since he didn’t need any ‘therapy’ or ‘anger management problems’.
“Welcome back everyone!” Alabrith’s counselor smiled. Alabrith twiddled with her thumbs as her counselor, Rostin, went through the usual questions about how everyone’s lives were doing, how they slept, and other pointless questions like that. How were their lives doing? In a place like this, it would be pretty horrible. Not many people can put up with continuous, stressed happiness for too long.
“Okay everyone...” Rostin started, “we are going to be doing a different kind of activity than you are used to.” Everyone in the group seemed disinterested. “This activity requires a partner, so everyone grab one.” It ended up that everyone else had their partners and Alabrith was left out, as usual. “Well then, it seems we are partners again, Alabrith.” Rostin smiled. Alabrith sighed at not only the fact that she was always left out, but the fact that she didn’t have any friends, besides Conan.
Rostin told the group what was to be done in the activity and the other two sections in the group were already at work on their activity. Rostin then turned to Alabrith and waited patiently for her to take part in the activity. He waited for a long time before finally ‘suggesting politely’ that Alabrith should participate to control her ‘anger issues’.
What a bunch of crap…
Reluctantly, Alabrith joined the activity. The exercise was to practice handling situations. Rostin represented a regular person. He would ask questions or make suggestions and Alabrith was supposed to reply in a positive way. She faked herself through this activity so that she could go talk with Conan.
“Good Job everyone!” Rostin said. “Okay, now you may return to your rooms for two hours of free time. After that, you all know that you are studying some plant life outside on the island with ‘Marshmallow’. Don’t be late. Once the sun is in that window, go outside to meet up for your horticulture lesson.” With that, their group was dismissed.
Conan waited for Alabrith near the door. Once she arrived, they immediately made their way outside. Once outside in the gleaming sun, Alabrith felt replenished. As they walked up to the beach, Alabrith looked far out to see and noticed the position of the sun.
I wish I was back at home…but I suppose they’ve forgotten all about me…
She stared at the ocean and sky longing to be watching within the comfort of her family. Conan watched her and knew exactly how she was feeling. He longed for his parents, although he knew that there was no way that he would ever see them again.