The Shadow

THE SHADOW

         When everything goes wrong, and people beat you bloody, where do you turn? Your best-friend? Your parents? Your lover? Have you ever turned to something sinister, something deep with-in yourself? Ever turned to revenge? For every lie they have ever told you. For ever punch, kick, and taunt. Have you ever thought of what you could do? To show them what your made of? To prove to yourself you don't deserve this. Well this is a story of a girl who did. She turned into a monster she swore she would never be. She turned into The Shadow.

         There was a young girl. A while ago. She was different and had a secret. Magic at her fingertips. She had promised her mother that she would never use it to hurt someone. And to this day she had kept the promise. It had been hard to keep but she had, but just a few days before, her mother had slipped from her life. Her father was never home, he was always... disappearing. Like looking at her was painful. The young girl's name was Maggie.

Chapter one: Maggie's secret

         The alarm screamed in my ear and I forced my eyes open. Tears were running down my cheeks. The bruises still hurt. I could only open one of my eyes fully. The other was swollen. I could feel my lip, fat and bloody. I tossed the covers off my body and turned off my alarm. My beagle, Sophie, wiggled out of the covers and licked my face encouragingly.
         “Time for another day in Hell, Soph.” I whispered scratching her ears.
         It might not be that bad, maybe they will leave you alone today. Her quiet voice bloomed in my head. Sophie was always trying to look on the bright side. Lately it’s been getting harder to do. I come home bloody more often than not, crying on the other days. At least Sophie is there for me.
         Quickly I looked myself over in the mirror. Fat lip, swollen and bloody eye, bruised jaw, and bruised arms and legs. My silver hair was matted with blood. I turned on the light to see that my dark blue night shirt was also covered in blood. Walking closer to the mirror I peered into my light green eyes. With a nod of my head I reached into my drawer until I found my faded baby blue dress with a white ribbon around the middle. I grabbed my other things and walked outside my room. Sophie followed close behind. I rushed down the stairs, not caring if I made noise or not. My father left the house an hour ago or so. He might of just stayed at work all night. My father worked in a potion store. Well he owned it. He sold to our kind.
         I walked over to the door and let Sophie out and walked back to the bathroom. I set my clothes on the floor and turned the shower on to let it heat up. I went to the bathroom and then walked out and let Sophie in. She followed me back to the bathroom and laid down on the fuzzy green mat. I pealed off my bloody clothes and tossed them. I stepped into the shower then and looked down. Between my legs was bloody. I counted in my head and knew that it wasn’t my time of the month, then I remembered. The guys who beat me, two of them held my legs while the other kicked me. I thought they were going to rape me but they thankfully didn’t, though they have before.
         I washed the blood from my hair and the rest of my body as well as I could. I stepped out dripping. Towel drying the best I could. I got dressed and brushed through my silver hair. Stepping out of the bathroom I walked over to the cupboard and got some breakfast.
         Hurry or you’ll miss your bus. Soph whispered. I nodded and set a bowl of Rice Crispies on the floor for Soph. Grabbing my backpack and locking the door I rushed out to my bus stop.
         “Hey Maggie.” The girl at my bus stop said cheerfully.
“Hey June.”
“How are you today?”
“Fine I guess. You?”
         “Perfect! It’s Friday and Johnny is coming over! I hope we don’t have homework because me and Johnny just won’t do it. We’ll be watching the new movie that just came out! Then we might take a walk and-“ I stopped listening. The bus was coming and panic took me by the throat. They are going to hurt me. They are going to kill me. The fevered thoughts swirled in my brain. Finally the bus stopped just in front of us. Silence rolled from the bus like a bad smell. I took a deep breath that seemed to get caught in my throat. June got on the bus first still chattering away.
         I picked up my foot and stepped into hell. As I walked up the stairs, no one spoke. I looked through the seats, looking for an empty one. The boys seemed to have disappeared. I started my way back. I passed the first seemingly open seat, a small girl sat there not looking at me. I kept going. By the time I reached the second one I knew he was waiting. A boys hand shot out, grabbing me by the waist and pulled me next to him. His hand covered my mouth and I couldn’t make a sound. He let me go when we started moving. I turned around to see who it was and saw it was Tyler.
         “Well hello my sweet silver moon.” He whispered into my ear. “Why don’t you come closer, my slut.”  He continued and pulled me on to his lap. I started squirming as his hand worked it’s way down my stomach and unbuttoned my pants. I started to pull his hands away but he took his other hand and pushed as hard as he could into the place between my legs. I let go, wanting to scream in pain.
“Now, now, Maggot, you don’t want to get hurt now do you?”
“You ass!” I whispered.
“Now, now, be a good girl.” He whispered and put his hand back between my legs. The other hand grabbed my boobs.
“Why can’t you guys just leave me alone!”
“Poor little silver-hair.”
         Finally we got to the school. He sighed and buttoned my pants back up. I was the first one off. I ran into the school and up to the library. I sighed in relief and rushed back to my hiding spot. First and second period flew. Then it was lunch time. I grabbed some pizza and, careful to make sure no one followed me, rushed back to the spot I had been sitting at for the last few days.

Chapter 2: Maggie fights back

         “Hey, Maggot! Think you could get away from us?” The voice shocked me. I turned to see Tyler. He had three other boys with him: Mason, Billy, and Keith. As they got closer I looked for a way to escape. There was no way in sight. Mason came up to me and pushed me on the ground. Billy kicked me. I wanted to scream but I wouldn’t give them the pleasure. Hauling myself back to my feet I came face-to-face with Billy. Billy wasn’t handsome. He had brown eyes and messy brown hair with a too large nose.
         Billy grabbed the bottom of my shirt and started to pull up. I panicked, that’s the only way I could explain it. My mind reached out, calling for Sophie, for anybody. Pulling back my fist, I slammed all my weight into a punch aimed at Billy’s face. I could feel my fist connect, could feel wet blood, could hear the snap of his nose. Everyone stood there, staring at me in shock.
         “You little slut!” Mason shouted at me. Mason, like Billy wasn’t very handsome. Well, none of them were. Mason had messy blonde hair with too small eyes and a wide mouth. Keith had dirty blonde hair and smelled like urine. Tyler was the only one who was decent, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He had a baby face.
         Suddenly a big russet hound dog was in front of me, growling at the four guys. Around his neck was a blue collar and attached to it was a chain. The chain was broken, like he had been pulling on it. He backed me into a corner still growling at the boys. They all laughed and Tyler barked.
         “Mason, Billy, get the dog.” Tyler growled. The two boys got closer and the russet dog snapped at the two boys. As they got closer the dog jumped onto Billy. He bit into Billy’s leg and shook. Billy screamed horribly. Terrified I dove into the dog’s mind.
         What are you doing? I asked
{indent}You need protection! I am protecting you! You called for help! His deep voice boomed in my mind.
         Stop! Stop! They are going to kill you! I screeched in his mind. The russet dog let go of Billy’s leg, who stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. The russet turned to face Mason, snarling at him. Suddenly the dog jumped at him, latching his teeth into the boy’s shoulder. I… I ran. I took off. I was so scared. I didn’t go back to the school. I just started running. I rushed into the woods, trying to find a place to hide.
         I heard something following me, crashing through the trees. I didn’t want to turn around. I didn’t want to see what it was. I just wanted to keep running. Suddenly a branch seemed to jump out in front of me. It smashed into my chest sending me flying on my back. I blacked out. When I woke the sun was going down and curled around me, as if to keep me warm, was the russet dog.
         Oh good, your awake! His booming voice screamed in my head. The name’s Russet.
         Um… hello Russet, nice to meet you. I told him timidly. I could tell he wasn’t going to hurt me though. There was a fox curled at my feet and a squirrel sleeping on my chest but other than that everything looked okay. I laughed quietly and picked up the squirrel, cuddling it to my face before setting it on the ground. The fox came up to me and demanded my attention.
         After awhile the animals, that had decided that I must pay attention to them, allowed me to get up. Looking around I couldn’t tell where I was. All I knew was that I was far from home. I started walking back the way I thought I came. Before I got more than three steps Russet barked. I turned to face him to see he was walking in the other direction. Sighing I followed.
         Home is this way Miss. I heard him say with a chuckle.
         “Smart ass.” I muttered but followed him anyway. The woods were getting darker, and I didn’t want to be left alone. I started to get cold as the night air climbed up beneath my skirt. “Oh Mama, where are you? If you were here this never would have happened.” I whispered quietly. Sorrow was rolling through me like rain-clouds. 
         Russet stayed quiet the entire walk back to the school. Once we got there he simply turned to me and said, where do we go now, Miss Maggie? It surprised me at first that he knew my name but at the same time it didn’t. I was an ‘animal speaker’, as my father called it, so most animals knew my name. I turned and started the long journey home. I have walked home before, though not before night fall. The first day that I had walked home my mother had freaked out. She had the police there searching for me. As I walked up to the house she had fallen to her knees crying because there I was, perfectly fine. Well almost, that was the day that I had first been hit, the day that Billy had stuck his hand up my skirt.
         I could still see her face, smiling in relief as I walked up the driveway… could still hear her voice, as she laughed when I told her I walked home. I should have told her about Billy right then, but she looked so happy to see me, I didn’t want to make her upset. The very next day she got me a cell phone, that way I could get a hold of her. I loved my mother so much. I never told my mother what was happening. She got very sick a few days later and soon enough passed away.
         I should have told her, I thought quietly to myself fingering one of the scars on my face. Finally we made it home. Russet trotted up to the door and tried to squeeze through Sophie’s dog door. I laughed quietly and opened the door to help him get his head unstuck. Sophie came rushing up to me barking. Before she could warn me my father stepped out from behind the wall, the one leading to the living room.
         “Maggie. Your home late. Why didn’t you call?” My father asked me. His face was in a frown that I had come to know and hate.
         “I got lost.” I lied. “This is Russet.” I told him then started to walk for the kitchen. He grabbed my arm and turned me to face him.
         “What is this?” He asked tracing the scar on my face.
         “A scar.” I told him pushing his hand away from my face. I continued to the kitchen, Russet and Sophie following.
         “From what?” He asked following me. “From what!” He shouted when I didn’t answer.
         “It doesn’t matter.” I told him and grabbed a hot pocket. Throwing it in the microwave I turned toward him.
         “There is blood in the bath tub. Don’t tell me you are on your period! There is way too much blood for that!” He shouted.
         “I got cut! I’ll clean it up!” I screamed back.
         “Maggie I’m worried! Why the hell did you bring another dog home! I shouldn’t even let you have Sophie! You’re irresponsible! You don’t know how to take care of her, how are you going to take care of him!” He screamed back.
         “Sophie is very well taken care of! She is a healthy weight, gets enough exercise, and never shits in the house! Why the hell are you screaming at me for doing nothing?” I screamed, tears starting to fall down my cheeks.
         “Don’t you use that language with me young miss!”
         “Why do you care? You’re never home!” And with that, forgetting my dinner, I stormed upstairs. As I got up to my room I waited a few moments for both Russet and Sophie to get in and slammed the door, locking it behind me. I could hear him climbing the stairs and quickly turned on my radio, full blast. I should have known I couldn’t keep my father out of the room. Not while he has more power than I do. With a flash of white light my door swung open, and my father stepped inside.
         “Are you going to tell me where you got the scar?” My father screamed and, when I shook my head no, smacked me across the face.
“How dare you! Mother would never have let you do that!” I screeched. The walls started shaking. “You think you can beat me to? You think you can hurt me! Damn you! Damn you to hell!” The walls wouldn’t stop shaking. Russet sat right next to me growling at my father. I could see Sophie sneaking behind him. My father turned seeing both the dogs ready to attack.
         “Call off the dogs and fight your own battles you coward!” He screamed at me. Reaching out I simply flicked my hand and Sophie attacked his ankle. Russet then took a leap and tackled my father to the ground. Russet stood over him growling and Sophie came up to stand by me.
         “You will never touch me again. Do you understand me?” My voice scared even me. “Do you understand me?” I screamed.  The wind whipped the room, my silver hair flying around me. With that my father scrambled out from under Russet and ran out of the room.
         “No.” I sobbed, falling to my knees. “No he will not beat me to. Not him. Not my father. Don’t I mean anything to anyone?” Tears were flooding my face. I could hear bottles breaking downstairs and knew with a sinking heart that he was drunk. Getting off my knees I walked back down the stairs Russet at my side. He barred his teeth at my father, daring him to come any closer.
         “Come see me when you’re sober.” I told him and walked into the kitchen. Grabbing a water bottle an extra bowl  and my hot pocket, I climbed back up the stairs. In the corner of the room was Sophie’s dog dish, quickly I filled it and one for Russet before eating my dinner and climbing into bed. In a moment I was gone.
         I woke to the sound of my father entering my room. Pretending I was asleep I rolled over into a wall of fur. Russet was still fast asleep. I could feel Sophie lift her head to look at my father but she didn’t make a sound. He’s sober. She told me quietly; as though she was afraid he would hear.
         “Maggie? I’m so sorry baby. I can’t believe I hit you. I’ve just been so lost without your mom. She would usually handle things like this. I can see you’re hurt though. I can see your scars. Are you doing this to yourself? Is someone hurting you? Is there anything I can do? I… I love you baby girl.” He whispered. I could feel his hand gently move across my face, and him gently kissing my forehead. I drifted back to sleep.

Chapter three- Maggie’s relief

         The next morning I woke with a smile. It was Saturday, no school, no bullies. I got up and quickly let Sophie and Russet out and took a shower before finishing up my other morning things. Looking at the table I saw the shopping list I had made a few days ago at the table. I had left it there to see if my father wanted to add anything. To my delight he had, and left two one hundred dollar bills on the table. I quickly finished the regular shopping and started the shopping for potion ingredients.
         The shop owner was an old friend so shopping there was usually a breeze, not today though. As I was walking out of the shop, viles and all, I saw someone. It was Billy. His leg was bandaged and wrapped and he was limping on it badly. I rushed behind the building, hoping he didn’t see me, but he followed.
         “Hello my sweet silver moon.” He said with a sneer.
         “Stay away from me. Russet isn’t far away.” I told him with a shaky voice. I looked around with horror. I had backed myself into an ally, there was no way out. My hiding place turned out to be my death bed.
         “What do you got there whore? Did you steal something from that poor crazy old man’s store?” He laughed and limped up to me. “Oh don’t worry Maggot, I know that I’m the only one here, and you my sweet whore won’t have all the sex you usually get. That’s okay; I’ll make up for it.” And with that he pushed me to the ground. The ingredients scattered.
         “What’s this?” He asked, picking up a vile of frog eyes that had rolled to his feet. “Oh are you hungry Maggot?” I could hear the bottle pop open and he sat down on top of me. “Open wide,” he told me with a wicked grin. I tried to keep my mouth closed but he squeezed my nose until I couldn’t breathe. All the frog eyes went right down my throat.
         “Russet! Sophie! Anyone,” I screeched “help me!”
         “No one cares Silver. No one cares,” He told me and ripped my clothes off. It happened so fast, I closed my eyes and I could feel him plunging into me. He always made sure it hurt. Tears poured down my closed eyes. It’s burned and I could feel myself start to bleed.
It seemed to last so long but finally it was done. He pulled himself off of me and left me there, bleeding. I cried for a while longer and tried to get up. It hurt badly but I managed to put on what little there was left of my clothes. I gathered up the rest of my clothes and stumbled home. On the table was a vile and a letter. Drink this; it’ll make you feel better.
         I picked up the vile and threw it against the wall. “I don’t deserve relief! I deserve to hurt! I am nothing!”  I screamed and fell to the ground. I was crying very hard. I crawled over to one of the drawers until I found a knife. I didn’t even have to pick up my shirt. It was gone from the ribs down. I drew the knife quickly across my stomach and sighed in relief. I sat there and did it at least twenty times before passing out.

Chapter four- Consequences

         I awoke that night in a pool of my own blood. Sophie lay just a few feet away from me and Russet was licking my wounds. I pushed myself out of the puddle but fell back into it. After a few minutes I was able to get my head back and I pushed myself back up. Sophie looked at me but didn’t say anything, Russet wasn’t as kind.
         What the hell were you thinking! We can’t leave you alone for two minutes! What were you thinking? Why would you cut yourself? What will everyone think? Maggie, do you know how serious this is? He screamed at me.
         “I wanted the pain to stop! I deserve the pain! I deserve to be hurt! Everyone else can do it to me, so why can’t I?” I screamed back. I’m weak! I’m weak! I’m weak! I’ll never be strong! My head screamed. I knew that Sophie and Russet cared about me but I didn’t understand why. Quietly I turned and walked up to my bed room. Soph and Russet followed. Quickly I changed and trashed my faded blue shirt and grey skirt.
         Soph and Russet each jumped up next to me and snuggled close to me. I was glad. I need their warmth. As I sunk into sleep I heard the door slam downstairs. My father was home, and drunk.

***The Dream***
I was sitting in her garden. My Mother’s garden. I tend it every day, like my mother will come home and thank me for taking care of her garden. Suddenly my mother stepped out from behind our tree.
“My Darling.” She yelled to my and rushed to put her arms around me.
“Mama!” I yelled.
Blood started gushing from my stomach and arms. My eyes swelled to the size they are when I am awake.
“My Baby, you mustn’t hurt yourself like this. My sweet child you are your father’s only hope.” She whispered to me.
“Father hates me.” I told her.
“No my precious , you will see what you will soon become if you continue on this path.” She whispered again and with that she disappeared.
Suddenly in-front of me a coffin appeared. HERE LIES MAGGIE WELLS A WITCH OF HER OWN.
My body started to shake. Next to the coffin a shadowy figure appeared. The shadow reached for me. I screamed and threw my hands up but it was too late. The shadow griped my heart, crushing it. Slowly he pulled my heart out and continued to squeeze, my heart slowly turned black. It then crumbled.

         I woke screaming. “Sophie! Russet! Help!” I screamed. Russet jumped up and started growling. Sophie wiggled out of the covers and started looking around. Nothing was there. No dark shadow. My chest was burning though. I flipped on the lamp next to my bed and pulled off my grey t-shirt. Where my heart was a black spot covered the skin. I put my shirt back on and went back to sleep.
         The next morning weak light poured through my window.