Raven

Street to street, city to city, I wandered. Without any destination in mind, I went further and met so many people living the same lifestyle as me. People who society once abandoned and weren't able to get back to their previous selves, people who tried to make a living while everyone had forgotten them. Living in the shadows of the street was how they had decided to survive. Even though many of them were starving and had no roof on their head, nobody seemed to care about them. The good guys of the society would see them and leave right away, as if they were some sort of disgrace to the society. But they were still surviving, because they were other residents of the sacred place where happiness was found, the home that I talked about.

After wandering around, my supplies and most importantly my money were about to reach an end. I had forgotten about money, so I had to make a move.

While I was looking for a job, I found a very attractive cemetery. It smelled like life. Even though it was the home of dead bodies but it was full of life. The area was decorated with white flowers, they were beautiful. I got dragged in by its beauty. The air was clean and wasn't heavy to breathe. It was joyful, being in such a place with no human around.

While I was looking around, I found a small house. It seemed to be empty. It could have been a good place to reside in until I could earn enough money and move away. I knocked the door but no one responded. I opened the door, surprisingly it wasn't locked. It wasn't a very good place to live in, but it was the only option I had, even though I had lost my emotions, I hadn't lost my mind.

The cemetery had no visitors that day, and heavy silence was ruling over. Night followed me fast and alongside the silence, darkness came. But I did not fear. Darkness and silence were no problem for me, I was used to them.

I found some food there and started to eat, it wasn't warm and I had no idea how to cook food but it was good enough to keep me. After my cold dinner, I found some blanket and made a bed. Since my departure, that was the first time that I had a proper bed. While I was wandering I would sleep anywhere that caught my eye and the society wouldn't kick me out. The bed I had made was nice but it was no different to me, since I felt nothing. Even when the bed was hard, I slept. I went to bed, then I heard footsteps in the house. I raised up and looked for something as a weapon to defend myself. The funniest part was I was somehow happy to knock some people down and I wasn't terrified at all. I hid and waited for them. I couldn't see them in the dark, but once they came in my direction, I sensed them. They started to talk in a low tone: "We're not alone."

From their voices I found out they were two men and seemed to be young. I was waiting with a stick and they came nearer. I got ready to hit and when I hit, my stick got thrown away. At the same time, the lights got turned on and we saw each other.

There were two young men in front of me who were startled. One of them who had hit my stick back, grabbed my hand quickly. I tried hard to release my hand but he was a lot stronger than me. Then he asked me What was I doing there.

I looked at him and then the other person and responded: "Nothing."

He got angrier and said: "What the hell is with you?"

I looked emotionlessly at him and didn't bother to respond. The other man came nearer and said: "Maybe she's scared, are you living here?"

He seemed kind but his kindness was meaningless to me. I looked at him then answered: "For a short time."

Then he asked again: "Are you a runaway?"

And I responded: "No"

"We need to talk, okay? So when he let go of your hand don't cause any trouble and sit here. We don't wanna hurt you."

He released my hand and I sat down. Then our conversation began:

-I'm Jeremy, what's your name?

-I don't have one.

Jeremy: Are you an orphan?

-No.

Jeremy: Then you do have a name.

-I don't.

I could see how he was fighting back his rage.

Jeremy: Then how old are you?

-18

Jeremy: What exactly does an 18-year-old girl is doing here while she's not an orphan?

-Living, I guess.

Jeremy: Tell us your address and we take you there.

-Don't bother.

The other man who was there got really angry and grabbed my neck. He wanted to kill me for sure. I stared at him with my cold eyes, it made him worse. Then, Jeremy rushed in and separated us.

Jeremy: Don't kill a random child, Dilan.

Dilan: What's the use of a rude brat like her?

Their arguments over me was nonstop. I took a look at my neck. A bruise was already there. My skin was always sensitive, so I wasn't surprised. Even though it had gone through harsh situation and was covered in bruises but it never adapted. Then Jeremey pointed at me and said: "Look at what you have done to a girl's skin. How can you call yourself a man?"

Dilan: Fine, fine, sorry lass.

I looked at him and said: I don't need your apology.

Dilan: What? Who taught you, your manners?

Jeremy: Dilan calm down, kid your attitude towards elders is not proper. We want to help you.

-I don't need your help.

Jeremy: Fine, what do you want?

-Sleep.

Jeremy: You need a place to sleep, am I right?

-Yeah.

Jeremy: This house is ours, so you need our help. You seem to get the idea, that's good. You have a reason that you're here instead of being with your family.

-Yes.

Jeremy: Do you want to go back to your house?

-I don't have a home to return to.

Jeremy: Do you like to talk about it?

-No.

Jeremy: What about college? You must be in college right now.

-I quit.

Jeremy: Any friends to live with?

-No one.

Jeremy: Do you have any skill that can come in handy?

-Don't know.

Jeremy: What kind of life were you living up until now?

I remained silent then again he said: "Do you like coming with us?"

Dilan was annoyed by his suggestion and opposed but he got persuaded to stay calm.

-I don't know who you are, so why would I come with you?

Jeremy: Do you like to starve in the streets?

-I don't seek human's help.

Jeremy: What's with that belief? I think I need to approach in another way. You broke into this house, so I can sue you, then I can find your family and you will be given back to your family, which you seem to hate the idea. SO you should come with me. You get to have a place to sleep in and food to eat.

Dilan: He's not usually kind, so accept his offer, or you're gonna go back to that garbage life of yours.

-Okay.

Jeremy: Very well, now about your name. You don't want to be called with the name your family gave you so how about you decide on your name?

-I'm fine with no name.

Jeremy: You do block any way that I use. Ok how about I name you? Let me see, black hair which are short, a face as cold as stone and eyes with deep meanings and tons of stories hidden in them, and an average height. What would suit you better?

I couldn't get him why was he so fixated on me having a name. I had abandoned my name because it was useless. I mean what can a mere name do when the person is present? He was indeed a nosy one but I dare not tell him because he would have lectured me all night. He kept on looking at me and then finally made his mind. Then said: I found it, you're Raven.

The name did sound nice to me but I never said such words.

Jeremy: Ok, Raven will you come with us?