Chapter 1--Shali

Chapter 1--Shali

Dad came back out of the kitchen a minute or so after Mom stopped choking me. He had a weird look on his face, a mixture of being excited, nervous, happy, and wary. I wondered what could do that to such an airhead.

“Got an ear infection?” she asked idly. Dad nodded, walking to the door.

“Yeah, I’ve, uh, got to go get it checked out. Be back soon!” He smiled and waved as he rushed out the door, almost hitting himself in the face with it. I shook my head. How I was related to someone so ditzy, I didn’t know. Another thing I didn’t know was the secret. It wasn’t just any secret. It was the secret. They’d kept it that way my entire life. I could tell from the way they were talking that it was a part of the secret. I narrowed my eyes. I was determined to find out exactly what it was.

“Mom, I’m gonna go feed Dolly.” I didn’t wait for her to answer, walking out the front door. The sun was setting, turning the small town a dark, hazy orange. I made a mental note to get a shirt in that color. Dad can’t have gotten too far, I thought. I should be able to spot him pretty easily.

Of course, my luck--he was nowhere in sight.

Then, beside me, I heard a loud bellowing sound, which echoed throughout the small area. I smiled and faced Dolly, my turtle. I laid my hand on her thigh, which was next to my head, and chuckled.

“Hey, girl. Ready to go for a ride?” She responded with another bellow, leaning down for me to hop onto the saddle on her shell. Gripping the reins in my hand, I swung my leg over her, lightly tapping her long neck. “Hut hut! After Dad!” I pointed dramatically, waiting for her to take over, bounding through the dusty streets--but she didn’t. She yawned, turned around, and headed toward the small barn.

“Hey, hey, hey, no! Dolly! Come on!” She laid down, munching on the hay next to her. Of course. Hey. Hay. Thanks, Dolly. Listen to me now, why don’t you. I grumbled angrily, hopping off and kicking her shell, then stalked out of the barn. I’d walk if I had to. I needed to know.

• • • • • • • • • •

As I walked angrily down the dusty road, arms crossed and perfectly plucked brow furrowed, I realized that Dad was probably just hiding. Somehow, the idiot had anticipated that I’d follow him, and hidden himself so I couldn’t. I glanced around, my bleached-blond tips waving in front of my face in the breeze. The wrap that hung loosely off my shoulders flapped as well, sending the chilly air up my chest. Stupid man, I thought, trying to throw me off. I’ll show him. I’ll find him. As per usual, I closed my eyes, focusing on finding Dad. I knew that it was fate for me to know everything, especially the coveted secret my parents shared. My feet began to move, knowing the path they needed to follow. I figured that people were staring at me, either admiring my well-groomed appearance, or wondering about the older teen with a slim, feminine figure and impeccable taste that was wandering down the road with his eyes closed.

After a few minutes of wandering, at which time I would’ve guessed I was nearing the edge of out dear little Gaithersburg, I was tapped on the shoulder. I sighed indignantly, opening my eyes to look. A young woman looked me over, trying to decide on my gender, apparently. I’d love to know how my parents never figured me out.

“Yes?” I sounded annoyed. I was annoyed. I’d have to focus all over again, and it wasn’t always easy. She raised a badly plucked eyebrow, crossing her arms.

“Um, what are you doing?” Her tone pissed me off. I crossed my arms as well, standing up straighter.

“I’m walking. Why the hell did you stop me?” I tapped my carefully manicured nails on my arm, impatient. Like they say, impatience is a virtue.

As I say, anyway.

She scoffed. “You had your eyes closed. I figured you for a crazy. Pardon me for being curious.”

“Well, fine. You’re pardoned. Now get out of my way, peasant.” I shooed her away, closing my eyes again. It’s just fate that I know everything. It’s in the stars. In the cards. Imminent. Divine will. It’s friggin’ predestined that I hold all possible knowledge. Now, which way will lead me to my destiny?

An hour later, I opened my eyes, smiling broadly. “Now, where is that bastard?” I said, before seeing where I was. Dad was nowhere in sight. All that was in sight were trees. Tons and tons of trees. Green and brown everywhere. Birds sang in the branches, water rushed nearby, but really, who card about nature? I was unhappy with the fact that I couldn’t find Dad. I needed to know what they’d been hiding all those years. I wouldn’t be able to really rest until I knew. I almost closed my eyes, about to try again, when I heard it. The voice that would change my life.

Ears perked, I followed the sound eagerly. It as a strange, haunting voice, singing a strange, wordless tune. It was deep, and dark, and rich. It was a deep burgundy scarf made of velvet, being wrapped softly around one’s neck. I could almost reach out and touch it, feel its soft, undulating waves in the breeze, but instead, I walked. I had to find its source. I needed to know who was creating such a beautiful melody. In my mind, I envisioned a tall, handsome man, maybe wearing a tuxedo, performing for an expansive audience in a city just outside the forest. Perfectly tanned skin, not too dark, not too light. Tall. Short black hair, parted on the left. And blue eyes. He had to have blue eyes. He’d see me, instantly fall in love, sweep me into his arms, and tell me that he’d never love another. I could hear the voice was getting louder. I was getting close. I prepared to see my vision, surrounded by adoring fans, getting roses and “I love you’s” from any and everyone. So I really didn’t expect to see a grungy man, sitting on a rock, singing as he fished. His hair was a mousy brown, like it was faded as well as unbrushed. His long trench coat was similar in color, and rather old-looking, as was the slightly crumpled top hat atop the messy, mid-back hair. He wore severely faded dress pants, and shoes to match. Altogether, adding in the fingerless gloves on his hands, he looked like a hobo. How could that beautiful sound be coming from him?

“Um, hello? Sir? I need some help.” If he was a hobo, he was bound to know the way out.

He turned his head, and what I saw shocked me. The first thing I saw were his finely shaped lips. They were just perfect, smooth and full, but not fat. I then looked over the nicely browned skin, clear and soft-looking, however dirty. Then, I saw the eyes. They peered through his scraggly bangs, white and pupil-less. No iris. No pupil. Just white. Still, somehow, it wasn’t creepy. Just strange, like the rest of him. Just gross, like the rest of him.

“Help with what?” When he spoke, there was no doubt that he was my mystery singer. His voice was just as rich and smooth, like dark chocolate. It was disappointing, really. He was just so dingy; it didn’t seem to suit him.

“I’m lost, and I thought you might be able to show me the way out.” I wanted to get out as quickly as possible. It was getting rather late, and the hobo was kinda weird. And I was asking him to escort me. Genius, Shali. Genius.

He scratched the back of his head, stretching. “Well, I don’t really know the forest all that well, but I can try, if you really need me to. There aren’t really any other sentient beings that would help you around here.” He stood up, picking a strangely shaped cane from the ground. It was a faded black, faded just like the rest of him, but it bowed out, and the top was curved and bone-white. Where the black met with it, there was a dot, so the top looked like a big, white question mark. The bottom sloped down, and the tip curved up. He leaned heavily on it, and I noticed a thin string going from the bottom of the question mark, down to the bottom, like a bow-and-arrow. I then noticed the small pack of arrows that was attached to the bag he picked up from the ground. What was I getting myself into?

“Uh, actually, I think I changed my mind, I think I know the way out--”

“But do you know the way out?” His gaze...it was piercing, but not harsh. Curious, but not nosy. Knowing, but not haughty. I felt his voice resonating in my chest, watched his lips move.

It was really those two things that made me say, “Lead the way.” It was those two things that changed my life forever.