Guarding The Fated

I woke to silence, like any other Wednesday.

Silence; a juxtaposition like no other. It provides comfort, yet it makes me vulnerable. But silence is the world I live in. I receive no “good mornings” or welcoming smiles. There is no clatter downstairs from the kitchen. I am alone in my family home. If you could call us a family. Workaholics for parents has not granted me that picket fence lifestyle.

I begin my morning routine in silence, featuring only the sound of running water. Once dressed and ready for school I grab my pre-packed bag and a breakfast bar and begin my journey to school. I don’t bother glancing to the kitchen counter to see if a note has been left for me. If there is, I know what it will say. I live in a constant cycle of routines, nothing changes.

Systematically, I walk with my head down, I’ve walked this route for seven years, the scenery no longer interests me. Although, within moments, I cannot help but feel that something is off. In particular, something doesn’t sound right. The silence has followed me out of the house.

Without fault there’s always people making noise on the streets, from parents and kids arguing with one another to the excited giggles from children fully prepared to enjoy their day. There is no chatter, no footsteps, no people out on the street. My footsteps slow steadily until I am standing at the corner of the street. I spin around, study my landscape. No one is in sight. I stop.

Quickly, I draw out my phone to check the time. It’s 8 o’clock, same time as always. My eyes then flick to the date, perhaps I’ve lost track of time, maybe it’s actually the weekend. I doubt that through, of course, because it’s meant to be midway through the week, not the beginning. If I had woken up believing it’s Monday, I would be less certain. My phone indeed confirms it’s Wednesday.

I’m confident that the Easter holidays don’t begin for another two weeks. This could be a weird occurrence. Should I overthink it? I shake my head. I don’t let myself dwell on it. I decide to continue with my routine, my solid routine that I know so well. The school might provide me answers. Gingerly, I continue my journey, my steps a little more cautious than usual.

My morning tactic to school life is to arrive as one of the latest. It allows me to merge into the crowds and remain unseen. Immediately, at the school doors, I realise my strategy is ruined. I have no cover. The corridors are empty.

Tentatively, I nudge the door with one hand. It’s open. If the school was closed, that door should be locked. Right?

Part of my mind is screaming at me to run home, but logically I cannot work out what it wrong, why is today different from normal? I work by logic, by systems, and all of that is telling me I should be in school today, so why is nobody else? Should I search for people?

My default brain and settings wins, I step into the school building. I walk down the main corridor, aiming for all the communal areas. The canteen is my first location. There’s windows from this corridor, enabling me to take a peek inside. The first window has the blind down, but I can gaze through the slots.

Straight away I discover I am not alone. There is a small group in there, all sat on the tables rather than the chairs. From the faces I can see, none of these students are people I speak to. I pull myself away. There’s no way I can join them, I don’t fit in with the likes of them. I’m a loner in school. I have friends but no solid friendship group, and I’m certainly not part of some kind of cliche like those in the canteen.

I back myself to the other side of the corridor and continue walking around. Unfortunately, I have no luck in finding other people. Including the teachers, that fact alone tells me there will be no learning today.

Ironically, I have always had my place in the sport’s hall. It’s ironic because I don’t partake in sports. But, during breaks this place is quiet and empty, the perfect place for me. I need a place like this right now to gather my thoughts. Desperately, I want to scream out my frustration. Where does my thought processing even begin? My mind is just full of curses, because this is a shitty situation.

Where is everyone?

My mind goes blank. I’m sat in utter, utter silence, I don’t even have myself to talk to. What do I do? This silence is far from comforting.

I’ve lost sense of time. I’m lost, despite the familiar environment surrounding me. That is until I hear a male voice, getting louder, getting closer as it says: “I know. I’ll look, it’s my responsibility.” It’s growling it’s words out. It’s frustrated.

I know I don’t want this boy finding me, especially in my space. It’s private. I scan around the sport’s hall and stop upon an up-folded trampoline. For the first time today my lips make up a resemblance of a smile. Leaving my bag hidden under the bench, I move to squeeze between the trampoline and the cold brick wall. I shiver from the temperature. I hope my shivering stops before he enters the hall. But with my history of being unable to acclimate to different weathers my ruin my chances of staying hidden.

The gym doors are forced open. I only know this because they hit the wall with a resonating bang. In response, my heart starts beating my ribs. The following goran of exasperation feels like it’s aimed at me. I gulp. This guy is very agitated. I fear why that may be. I concentrate on listening to him, working out what he might be doing. Next, I hear a thud, it vibrates along the wall against my back. I take a sharp breath through clenched teeth. It’s not a silent breath. Oh crap.

I must have blown my cover. I’m certain.

“Thalia?” The voice asks. Oh holy crap. He knows. He definitely knows. He 100% knows.

But how does he know it’s me? What has given my identity away? Anyone could be here. Did I mishear in paranoia? No it cannot be a mistake. It’s weird. Completely incomprehensible. But it’s already become Weird Wednesday.

My worries become pointless as the trampoline is yanked away from the wall. My mouth falls open. I don’t aim to make a sound, but I can’t seem to shut it. The mystery guy, who I now recognise as Ryan gives me a relieved smile. Wait, rewind, seconds ago he sounded angry, what’s that smile doing on his face? I tense up more.

“I was worried you were never going to turn up!” He exclaims with enthusiasm.

Sorry? I straighten up and finally manage to shut my mouth. I force myself to blink several times to be clear Ryan was directing that sentence towards me. I’m the quiet girl. He should know I won’t respond. Especially considering we’ve never had a conversation before. I talk to a selected few.

“You alright? You with me?” He questions as he waves his hand in my face.

I slap it away.

One, that is invading my boundaries. Two, who does he think he is?

My stare of shock and surprise morphs into one sterner. I still remain tight-lipped, not making any sound. But my thoughts are racing. Is this some alternate reality? It could be why everything is different. Am I sociable in this reality?

“Thalia. Listen to me. This is important, are you okay?” He emphasises every word. I’m not hard of hearing, I just choose not to speak. Why do people always presume that? I’m not a child either. I don’t appreciate it.

I snap. “Why should you care? Leave me be.” My low, rough voice stresses every word like he did. Maybe he needs help understanding people and that’s why he feels the need to talk to me like that. In any case, I storm pass him. He can pretend to care, but I won’t bother with that.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Why you patronising son of a-

No, Thalia, don’t let yourself go there. I ignore him. Why entertain it? It is just going to make it worse and more unfair to me. I grab a hold of my bag and dump it on my shoulder and head to the doors. Then he’s in front of me, before I can take even one step. His hands clamp down on my shoulders, preventing me from going anywhere.

“I’m not certain if you may have noticed this but there will be no school today. Instead you are going to want to come with me, after all, I’m sure you want to know why?”

The manner he speaks in easily winds me up. “Why what?” I stubbornly question him.

“Why has everyone disappeared?” He says sweetly.

My hand twitches on my bag strap. I really want to cause some damage, and not to the school property. “Am I to believe you’ve made everyone disappear?”

He smiles as he realises I’ve decided to play and entertain him. “No, you’re not, because it is not directly my fault.”

I sigh, I don’t have time for this. Technically, I might, because now I have no plans for today. But I am not prepared to spend my day like this. I default to my natural communication method, staring. I emit as much hostility as I can through my eyes.

He just laughs. “Calm down, I understand you are angry, frustrated and upset. It’s not obvious at all.” He remarks sarcastically. “But, here’s the catch; if I let you go, you have to hear me out. I will let you in on what’s happening before anyone else is told. I suspect you are someone who likes to be in the know. You’re a clever girl afterall. But I cannot let you leave here without me, understand?”

“What?” It slips out of my mouth without any control. He’s confusing me. This must be a dream. This is not usual. Dreams don’t make any sense, so this theory makes perfect sense. Although, why would I dream of Ryan. Maybe it’s because I’ve heard a lot about him. He talks a lot himself. Or my subconscious could be bringing forward the obvious; Ryan is a good-looking guy with his contrasting dark brown hair and bright blue eyes, or are they purple? Purple, that’s a strange colour. Now, that I’m this close, though, I can see hints of purple. It’s a fascinating colour.

“Why am I here. Why have you chosen me?” I whisper, my voice suddenly weak.

He releases me with a scoff. I don’t take the opportunity to move. I can’t. I’m too curious. “I haven’t chosen you, Thalia.” He pauses looking my straight in the eye “Let’s not get

that

muddled up. It’s just been down to chance. It’s because like me, you are different to everyone else, They’re human, and we… we’re not.”