Chapter 9

The sun rises to greet the day everybody loathes. The worst day imaginable. Grewsome and horrid. Monday. 

I watch the rays of the sun reach out and cleanse the sky of the sweet darkness of the weekend. It drowns out all the stars leaving just a large ball of fire on the horizon. Saying goodbye to sleep and rest I tumble out of the bed. I didn't sleep much anyway. 

Washing my face half a sleep my eyes in the mirror glare at me still the same purple. They send chills down my spine. The teachers in my school won't let me have sun glasses indoors. I'm bound to get discovered. 

Guess I'm skipping school today. Mom's home this mourning so I'll just wait till she leaves and go back in. She still hasn't said anything about the eyes. 

My nails dig into the porcelain sink. Does Mom knows? She has too. My grandmother did too. Should I confront her? What difference would it make? 

Pans clutter and eggs sizzle in the kitchen, their aroma spreading through the house. Mom looks worried as ever. And smiles even more. Already dressed and ready to go. 

Breakfast. Not really something that's more then a yogurt typically. And yet for some reason moms making fried eggs. She smiles even wider when she sees me putting a cheer on. 

"Good morning."

Her tone really brakes character. She obviously finds that nothing is good about this morning or good in general. Either she doesn't notice how she sounds or pretends not to. 

"morning" 

My reply is short and brittle. I get served eggs as mom sits down. 

"So I've planned the whole moving thing, why don't you take the day off to pack your things." 

That was faster then I expected. Surely it takes months to plan a move to a different country. She is definitely aware of me being an Unexplainable. At least I've got an excuse to stay home. 

"cool"

Nodding a few times we eat our breakfast in silence. Its a bit over cooked. A crunchy dark brown layer around and beneath the egg. I like it. 

After eating mom stands up making no utterance, takes her plate to the sink and starts washing it. Awkward silence all too common for us stretches through time and space. 

"Mom." 

"Yes?" 

I want to ask her so many things. About myself, my father, grandmother, everything and anything. So I say the one idea that connects those things. 

"Do you keep secrets from me?" 

We gaze into our eyes for the longest of time. Shifting uncomfortable her gaze wavers against mine. She bites her lips.

"I- I'll tell you when your older-" 

So she is. I knew it. 

"But its affecting me now is it not?" 

"Your not ready to know it." 

And with that she leaves, not letting me speak another word. She slams the front door with a loud thud making me flinch and the pictures on the wall shake. 

What the hell does she mean that I'm not ready to hear it? Does she seriously think she can baby ME? Doesn't matter. I'll find out weather she wants it or not. 

Not bothering to put my plate away I stand up nails digging into my palm. Out of frustration I kick the wall. It hurts a lot. I'm too angry to be bothered and it only adds fuel to it. Stupid wall. 

I spend the rest of my day packing. Sorting through wardrobes and cupboards, finding things I forgot about for the longest of times.

Badly made ceramic statues I did with Bridgit's grandmother (that women really can do anything), clothes too small to wear now, books I reluctantly read due to a school project but ended up loving. 

A photo from half a year ago. Bridgit, Daria, Zoya and me sitting on a bridge during the summer break watching the sunset. Bridgit just started taking an interest in photography and found an old camera at home. 

Every thing used to be so simple so snug. Full of joy. I wish I could go back in time to when it was as simple as watching a summer sunset. 

Under a stack of clothes, a drawing that I made in second grade. Red and black scribbles cover it. A circle in the middle and lines reaching in all directions. It looks like the orbs I see...

I drop the paper. It was made after I got into a fight with one of my classmates, and was waiting in the principles office for my mom to come and talk to him. 

They kept asking me why I started it. Not a word came out of. I didn't cry or show any emotion. Thoughts of my grandmother flooded my mind. That I was monstrous and horrifically heinous. 

It never was as simple as looking at the sky was it? It never went away no matter how much you pretend. A part of you is what it is. Won't go away. 

I look at the kitchen clock. Time slips by when you let it. I should get ready to leave. Positioning the picture on the kitchen table for mom to see and leaving it there without a second glance. Though out of site it definitely isn't out of mind. 

I travel the same journey as before, through all the layers of society. A drunk guy sings in the bus, if it can be called anything more then ape mating calls. He tries to talk to me. 

My glasses are lowered and when we make eye contact he sees the Unexplainable colouring. Fear goes through his face and he leaves the bus without another word. That's one positive for today I guess. 

The motel is easier to find. Neon signs brighter then ever contrasting everything. A group of people- Unexplainables stands before it the light making them even more eerie. 

 "Oi over here." 

This guy again. I can see were they are he doesn't have to call out. If he says oi one more time I'll gut him. The sparks in his dark eyes dance of excitement tail swishing side to side. 

Behind him frog like eyes shine covered by tangled beard and hair the colour of murky green water. They belong to a large man, not tall enough to be by default an Unexplainable. With his scales no one would think of him as human. 

7 women surround him. They're skin is mostly covered by long robes, but the ones I see are pale and- transparent? The moonlight glows of they're skin like it would over a pond. Shades of blue and green eyes look at me with playful curiosity. 

The Oi guy clears his throat to get our attention and speaks. 

"Now that were all here, lets go to the meeting point yeah?"

The large guy makes a croaking sound and we head through the streets, our feet crunching in the snow. Well the Oi boy has hooves so they crunch as well. Everyone is barefoot. Are they not cold?

I hoped to get this over, with minimal interactions but apparently the Oi boy had a different idea. 

"Hi" 

Smiling in a way my mom never does he seems genuinely happy to talk to me. Maybe a bit childish showing his front fangs. They're crooked and not exactly the whitest. 

"Good evening" 

He extends a slender hand with sharp black nails. With a chirp in his voice he announce:

"Vid" 

I stare at him for a while not know what to do. The hand stretches further to me. 

"That's my name" 

Right. Introductions. We shake hands for a bit too long awkwardness evident. 

"What's your name?" 

For a brief moment I hesitate. I don't want these people to know my name. What if they use it against me? The look on Vids face says his just being friendly. Against all my wishes it does make me feel more at ease. 

"Lenna Raud" 

He grins even more. Yesterday I compared his smile to the Hags. I don't think it's anything like it. 

"That's a... cool name. Nice too meet you." 

Then he hurries of to talk to the women with water like skin. They look hostile when spoken to. I bet they dance in the moonlight on a pond. Luring people to join them just to dance them to death or drown them. My teacher told me that in third grade. 

After a while he gives up talking to them due to their unresponsive nature. He tries throwing some words at the large man, who croaks back, but nothing really sticks. 

Finally with a look of defeat he doesn't strike up any conversations. No one else attempts to. The ladies with water like skin sway as they walk in the dark with a sort rhythm to it. Everything falls into calmness. 

To my horror, Vid looks back at me, waits for me to reach him and starts talking. 

"So Lenna what kind of deal do you have with The Hag?" 

Deal? How does he know about that? He sees my frown and starts to clarify. HIs voice is more high pitched and talks with a faster pace. 

"Not that I know anything I shouldn't. I mean I really don't. It's just that The Hag has deals with everyone and you know... I was curious to know yours."

A few more bumbling incomprehensible sentences and he falls silent. So that's how it is. She didn't tell me what I wanted because she makes deals with everyone, uses them for- something. I need to be careful.