Beneath the Balloons: Anger’s Hidden Birthright”
“It’s time to get up for school honey,” Ravyn’s mom called out from the bottom of the stairs. Rayven shot up in her bed, it was officially her 16th birthday, and she felt different but she didn’t know how. Just then she remembered the dream she had last night, or was it a dream? It burned like fire and it felt so real, like nothing she had ever felt before. She lifted her arm to see a mark that looked like flames. “What is going on?” She whispered to herself.
Before even bothering to get dressed, she ran down the stairs and saw her mother standing in the kitchen making breakfast. “Your breakfast is on the table if you’re hungry,” said her mom without ever turning around, “oh and happy birthday,” she added. Looking down at her arm and seeing the bright reds and yellows, she didn’t even know how to approach the subject to her mom. Is she going to think I’m crazy? Or think I went behind her back and got a tattoo? She thought to herself. So she decided a direct approach was best.
“Mom?” Rayven asked shyly, not confident like she normally was. “What is it Rayven?” Her mom asked as she turned around. Rayven was holding her arm out to show her mom the symbol. Rayven saw her moms eyes widen, and Rayven got scared. “What is it mom?” Rayven asked. “Listen Rayven,” her mom sighed, “we have a lot to talk about.” “Did you know this was gonna happen to me mom?” Rayven shouted. “Not exactly her mom said but I guess I should have put two and two together.” She added.
“Come sit down Rayven,” her mom said softly. Rayven sat down cautiously next to her mom, she was worried about what her mom was about to tell her. In her head she just kept replaying the fact that her mom knew this might happen and didn’t tell her. “What is going on mom, you’re freaking me out,” Rayven said anxiously. “Well i’m about to freak you out a whole lot more,” Leia thought to herself.
“Listen Rayven, this started in our family a very long time ago. One of our ancestors somewhere way down the line was cursed.” Leia said. “A very very long time ago, one of our ancestors became angry and murdered someone.” Her mom said solemnly. “This murder was witnessed by a witch, and she was a witch that tried to lean farther from the evil side of things,” she added. “So when she saw the events unfold, she placed a curse on our entire bloodline, that every fifty years a child would be born that personified wrath, our deadly” -. “Wait a minute,” Rayven cut her off “didn’t grandma have a fire tattoo?” Rayven asked. “Well as I’m sure you’ve now figured out it wasn’t a tattoo” her mom snorted.
Rayven looked confused and stressed as she tried to process all this information that was being thrown at her at one time. “So all because somebody that was alive a long long time before me murdered someone, I have to deal with this crap?” Rayven shouted. “Every fifty years,” Leia said solemnly. “So what one of my grandkids is gonna have to deal with this?” Rayven asked getting more and more angry with every answer she got. “More than likely yes,” said Leia. “Fuck that,” said Rayven, “i’m not having kids, and i’m not going to school either!” she yelled as she ran to her room and climbed in bed.
When Rayven woke up it was 2 pm, and her friends had been blowing up her phone all day. She picked her phone up and looked at it, 19 missed calls, 32 text messages, 54 Facebook notifications along with so many more. After everything she had been through and found out today, she just didn’t want to deal with anyone today. She drug her feet as she went downstairs to get something to eat.
She could hear her mom in her office hard at work. It had only been her and her mom since her dad and brother died in a car accident when she was 5. Rayven had always been angry and she thought she knew why but she found out the real reason today. She admired her moms strength and really tried not to take her anger out on her, but it didn’t always work. Sometimes it felt like the universe was against her, and now she knew that it was.
Her stomach was growling loudly as she grabbed a hot pocket and put it in the microwave. Rayven’s mind kept drifting back to the mark on her arm, why me she thought, why do I have to deal with their crap? Beep! Beep! Beep! She was pulled out of her thoughts by the microwave. Rayven grabbed her hot pocket and sat down at the table to eat.
While she was eating her mom entered the dining room. “Hey kiddo she said sweetly, I thought I heard you in here,” she said as she sat down at the table across from her. “Hey,” Rayven shrugged. “Well I know this isn’t the birthday surprise you were hoping for”…. She paused, “but I do have one more for you.” “What’s up?” Rayven asked nonchalantly. Leia handed Rayven a small neatly wrapped box with a big red bow on it. “Awww thanks mom this is cute.” Rayven said as she began to unwrap it. Once she got the box open and saw what was inside, she jumped to her feet and took off running.
When she reached the front door, she took a deep breath and flung it open. Sitting outside in the driveway was ravens dream car, an ’04 mustang, white with pink racing stripes. While Rayven wasn’t really one for pink she fell in love with it the minute she saw it. “Oh my god mom,” Rayven screamed as she turned around to hug her mom super tight. “You are the best and I don’t know how you did it.” “I’ll do anything for you baby,” her mom said as she held Rayvens face in her hands. They embraced once more before Rayven ran to inspect her new car.
“Mom this is the best gift I could have ever gotten,” Rayven exclaimed from the front seat. “This definitely makes up for the secret. I have got to call Zeke.” Rayven said. “Maybe that isn’t such a good idea today,” her mom said solemnly. “Why not?” Rayven asked seriously. “He’s my best friend and we tell each other everything and do everything together. Why would today be any different?” Rayven exclaimed. “Rayven, today has been a lot, why don’t you wait until tomorrow honey?” Her mom asked. “Whatever mom.” She said abruptly. After that Rayven was to upset to even be excited about her car anymore, so she got out and went back inside to her bed. She planned to stay there until someone forcibly drug her out of bed or until tomorrow.
Leia felt terrible about Rayven not being able to talk to Zeke today, but she knew what his family was dealing with. She couldn’t let Rayven find out this way, and she knew how pissed Rayven was gonna be when she found out that Leia knew and didn’t tell her. Right about then Leia’s thoughts were interrupted by her phone buzzing. She picked up her phone to see who was calling, she answered.
“How’s it going today Leia?” the woman asked and Leia could clearly hear the worry in her voice. “It’s going fine over here,” Leia responded, “but you don’t sound like you’re fine,” she added. “I don’t know how much longer we have,” the woman said. “Whoa whoa whoa, I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself.” Leia jumped in. “What are you talking about?” she asked worriedly. “Yes you do,” the woman said. “I know we’ve tried to live normal lives, but you also know that it only lasts so long,” she added. “I’m going to continue to live the exact way I have been until I have a reason not to.” Leia barked. “Leia, look at the sky, and look around, you’ll have all the reasons you need. Look at Rayven and you’ll feel it, you know i’m right and you can’t stop it forever, we’re going to be found and we have to leave before that happens. When you have decided to stop being stubborn, meet us at the place, do not bring anything, just meet us. I love you Leia, stay safe till you get here.” The woman said before hanging up.
Leia ran to the window and moved the curtain when she looked outside and saw the sky. She knew the woman was right, and they were in danger. Suddenly Leia felt like she was being watched, she didn’t like it and she knew it was time for them to leave. “Rayven!” Leia shouted from the bottom of the stairs. “What?” Rayven yelled back. Leia texted Rayven, we have to leave now. Don’t grab anything, just get down stairs so we can leave, i’ll explain everything in the car. Rayven ran down the stairs, and they got in their car and left. “Now what is going on mom?” Rayven asked in an unsettling tone.
Hey guys let me know what you think. This is the first chapter of many so be on the lookout for that.
