Shatterproof

The park was empty, when I woke again, and the bush was glowing in the moonlight. At first I felt as if I couldn't get a good view of my surroundings. Where is a flashlight, when you need one? I thought to myself as I gaze around. I try to move my foot, only to come to greeting with my red slay. So that's how it happened. I crashed into the bush. All of a sudden, a light comes back on again.

I blink my sensitive hazel eyes, which are normally always alert, watching, or calculating while holding an expression of knowing too much. I allow myself to adjust as I look up at the light next to me, and the bush.

What time is it? I wonder as my heart raced, I glanced down at my wrist to check the time on my watch. No such luck, the battery needs to be recharged. However, I cannot stop shaking. I need to get out, get home. If I don't...I fear the consequences, what would my mother say? We're having guests over for the winter holidays this year, the guests I have to put up with as they are invited. Even if I hate having them over.

I began to move the right sleeve of my jacket, when I noticed the vines from the bush making its movements. It was beginning to reach out in a snaking fashion, grabbing a hold of my wrist with its dark green as if they want to pull me back into the dirt, after I just got myself loose. I begin to move away a little more quickly, allowing the sleeve from my jacket to stop them. That's when the whispering voices begin.

At first, I imagined it to be the sound of the breeze, but the words were too clear. The words were nearly human. "It grows where no one can see, it grows in the dark."

"What the fuck..." I whispered, still shaking. I can't help myself, it's snowing out, and there is a chill in the wind. I tried to pull the vines off, but they wouldn't budge. I clutched my burning arm, as I kept on struggling, and then finally I got loose. I stumbled out of the bush, along with many cuts from the vines. I am marked all over. The cuts feel as if someone had jumped me, using a dagger in order to torture me. I feel as if I'm going to cry, but I decided not too. I just can't stand out here, in this dark opening.

I need to get home, find out what the hell just happened? My hoodie feels damp, heavy, sticking to my skin with sweat, maybe even blood--I didn't want to check. The streets were too quiet, making my ears strain for sound. My vision, and my breath came short, as I held a hand to my wrist, to squeeze the pain I feel away.

I come into my block, leading into my neighborhood, where I hear more voices breaking through my brain fog, involving laughter, loud and sharp, cutting through the click of a lighter. The rest of the Specks, are close. I hear Maya's voice in the distance, carrying on as if she owned the entire neighborhood.

If you must know, Maya's the leader of our gang called The Specks. S.P.E.C.K.S is an abbreviation for Savage Pack Of Engimatic Criminals Keeping Score, and she's an ally of mine. That's right I belong in the group, I am a member, known as her right hand kind-of-girl. It's can be an honor, but also kind of a pain especially around the holidays, when your mother expects you home at a certain time. I believe she has just seen me. Brilliant.

"Green!" Maya called out, as I glanced up, and noticed her leaning up against the graffiti-covered wall belonging to Tony's Liquor, with one boot propped up, as she adjusted her black jacket. A cigarette dangled from her fingers, as others clustered around her, passing a bottle of beer back and forth. "You look shitty," her dark eyes narrowed as she took another long drag, "Where have you been? You missed all the fun."

I pulled my hoodie tighter, trying to hide the tremble inside my hands. "Nowhere," I muttered, keeping my head down. My voice sounds thin, strained, even to me.

I kept walking, her laughter ringing in my ears. The vines still felt there, under my skin, a reminder that no matter how far I walk, I would not outrun whatever happened in that park forever. The vines I could sense, even if its not physically touching me. I hear Maya giving me a warning plea, as she moved quickly in-front of me, her boots crunching on the gravel and blocking my way home. "You're not ditching us, are you? We've got shitty things to do tonight, and you don't want to be on my bad side."

I clenched my fists. She's really starting to irritate me. Doesn't she see I am in no mood, for any games tonight?

"Not, now Maya," I say through gritted teeth, trying to remain patient.

Maya's eyes then flicked to my arm, for a second, as fear flashed across her face. She grinned, a slow-dangerous smile. "Whatever," she said, blowing smoke into the air, "You're acting weird Green, I don't love it when you do weird shit. Just don't forget who's got your back when shitty things go down."

I kept on making the decision to continue walking right by, as the dim glow of the street light catches the rings across her fingers.

Maya studies me, not answering back. She decided to jog up to walk right beside me, as her lips curled at the edges. "Yeah? Maybe you need a drink?" She lifted the bottle to me, I shook my head. The last thing I need is alcohol messing with my scrambled brain. The moment stretches, something unspoken hanging between us, but then Maya huffs and turns back to the others. The conversation resumes around her--laughs, murmured plans, the scent of smoking drifting between us. I take a step back, preparing to leave, but then a voice breaks through the haze. "Where'd you get that cut?"

I freeze. It's Alexa, she's leaning up against the brick wall beside Maya, eyes sharp in the dim light. My pulse stutters.

"What?" I say, too fast.

Alex nods toward my arm, like she can see through the fabric of my hoodie, straight to the vines twisting beneath. "You're holding your wrist like it's broken."

Heat crawls up my spine. I grip my hoodie tighter, feeling the pulse beneath my skin. "I tripped. It's nothing."

Alex did not look convinced, but before she could press further, Maya stopped in her tracks and shifted her attention towards the group as she yelled out loud, "Well, let's get going on those shitty things we're going to do, are you in or what?"

I swallowed hard, I hate it when she does that. Yelling questions at the top her lungs, making the group hold onto their expectations which press against me similar to heavy rocks. I hear the whispering voice again, the one I can't escape. It grows where no one can see. It grows in the dark.

I hesitate. My arm throbs, slightly as if I'm standing on the edge of something. Maya's gaze is sharp, as the others watch in silence waiting for my answer. I can continue walking on home, let them assume whatever they want, on why I look like hell tonight. That's not how things work here--however, unfortunately not with the specks especially if your a well-known member.

If you pull away, they'll notice. If you disappear, they'd come looking for you. I really cannot make up my mind, I could end up disappointing both them and my folks. I need to make up my mind.

I think if I had to chose between them, I'd chose my gang, rather then be at home during Christmas. I hate my relatives. I hate everything about them, they do not respect me, and always think I'm some kind of puzzle who needs to be fixed, as if I'm always an issue. I shove my hands deeper into my hoodie pockets, forcing my posture into something resembling an ease. "Fine, let's go."

Maya smirks, lifting her bottle in a mock toast. "That's the spirit."

The group starts moving, spilling into the dimly lit streets as restless ghosts. I fall into it beside them, ignoring the green stains on the skin of my arm beneath my sleeve, as the whispers have finally quieted, I know better than to think they're gone. They'll come back, they're just waiting, and watching.

As we walked, Maya slings her arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer as she murmurs, "You sure you're good, Green? You look haunted."

I force a grin. "Guess I just don't sleep enough."

She snorts, releasing me as we turn a corner. "Welcome to the club."

We step deeper into town, as the shadows stretch much longer.