Valerie Woods
It's really hard to concentrate in class on what our teacher, Solayo Ender is lecturing us about. My chair is hard because it's wooden so my backside is becoming quite sore and I feel restless from the storm outside that's brewing even though it's just mild right at the moment and lastly, I'm far from interested in this class. I want it to be over and done with!
"Valerie, can you please sit up straight and pay attention. This will be on the test." Solayo interrupts and then he goes back to dictating straight out of a text-book as he walks around the class, absent mildly, going up down the rows between us, students, especially my friend, Luis and his friend, but not my friend, Kelsey. She's touching his hand every so often, fluttering her eyelids and pursuing her lips, showing off her not over-done makeup and then begins to play with her long, blonde pig-tails that are littered with colourful scrunchies and hair-clips, trying to get his attention.
"What page are we on, Luis?" She flirts. "Uh, 53." He answers, reaching his hand over to turn the page of her text-book for her. Why can't she do it her-self?! It infuriates me and then to really put the point across, her arm that's also littered with scrunchies slips her arm through his to stop him from turning the page. "Kelsey?" He whispers, confused.
I scrunch my hands up, feeling my anger seething. She's all over him, every day, all day long. I wish he was gay so he'd reject her, but he isn't sadly. Infact, every girl in this class likes him. It doesn't make sense! He's not the only male here and... I like him too. How can I even deny it?
His smile, chubby cheeks, piercing, but also dreamy green eyes that compliment his skin, his broad shoulders and fairly athletic frame and lastly, his soft, flyaway blonde hair with brown high-lights is all beautiful. What does he see in Kelsey? What does Kelsey see in him? What does Louis think of every other girl in the class? Most importantly, what does he think of me?
I touch my sides, feeling how much chubbier I am than Kelsey as she's beautifully thin and my wavy, raven hair is not quite at my feet, but it's longer than Kelsey's hair. If Luis had to choose what he prefers, me who's chubby, tall with long wavy raven hair that looks like a birds nest and dark almond eyes that wears all black who's pale as can be or thin, short, lightly tanned Kelsey with her caked-up face and abundance of accessories to go with her pig-tails and all pink fashion sense?
And then I see it, his looking over in my direction right at me. I struggle to compose myself, keep my breathing in sync and thoughts rational and accidentally knock my text-book off my desk which grasps all attention in the room on me. I begin to sink into my chair, wishing I was invisible and feel my sloppy, over-sized cape curl around me, having touched the floor and my pointy hat I'm wearing tilts to the side.
Back a few years ago, apparently the school's uniform used to be different, but it was changed after the fall of this city's former ruler to be less rigid, magic was no longer out-lawed amongst alot of other changes such as Solayo Ender returning to us after a long absence, but I was far too young then to know what was going on and the school here is split into two, allowing for magical studies and Solayo insists we look the part, having told us about fashion of the past, were able to interact with non magical students as not everyone shows potential and we can take off our gowns and hats outside class, allowing the new school uniform to show, but Solayo can be strict and old fashioned sometimes which is fine as his a good teacher and fair alongside honest, kind and caring.
"Valerie Woods?"
I accidentally hit the base of my desk with my knees from jolting suddenly and I see my textbook gently placed onto my desk. Looking up gently from my hands, I see Cloud.
His Solayo's in-class assistant here to support us, but really I know it's because one needs more than one set of eyes on the lookout for a class of 31 students.
"Do you need help?" Cloud whispers as to not disturb the lesson further than I already have, but I scowl, cross my arms and look out to the window. He sighs and heads back over to stand by Solayo's desk.
I can see the faint outline of above the clouds. We used to live in the sky before, there's a city up there, but after the fall of our previous ruler, land was discovered beneath which is where we are now. We can still go up there any time we want, but it's no longer used, just for tours now.
The City has changed alot over time, the nature of what when done, war in a sense. It's taught freely as it's our history, but not everyone talks about it understandably, especially Princess Sophie Golding to this day.
Her own Mum was a tyrant ruler and she kept Sophie a secret for many years. I can't begin to imagine the pain and suffering she went through in secret, but now Sophie's free. It's been 5 years since the day everything changed.
I heard Sophie suffered from poor mental health as a result of her Mum, but also the war. She's getting better and now a young woman who's looked up to at the tender age of 20 by many, including me as she's beautiful amongst many other qualities, but she's hardly ever seen around.
She keeps to a small close-knit circle of friends and spends many hours researching and learning many things, one of the biggest being magic even though her powers burnt out at one point apparently, keeping herself hidden from the public eye in the City's central offices as she still has some challenges to work through, but I do know she spends time outside the office, but it's not on the street unfortunately.
I shift my textbook aside and open my journal an inch to look at the covered pages. I can't imagine what it's like to feel good, not want to die.
Sophie tried to commit suicide many times amongst hurting herself over the years.
Written repeatedly on the pages of my journal is my inner most thoughts which is only one thing:
I want to die.
I can't imagine what it's like to have a family because I'm an orphan, well, a majority of my classmates all know the feeling as the City has orphan numbers, but it's lessening now as were often matched up with family's rather than to be left to langish in a system.
Langish in a system...145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz9iwMoFR7
That's what my life is like now. It is a system and the odds are always against me. My magic is weak, classes are boring, I have no goals, few friends and no family.
I wonder what it's like to be in love... Well, loved back I mean.
I feel my shoes tapping on the ground lightly and it feels hard to breathe. I pull hard on my cape and cloak to lesson my fabric. It works, but I feel a minor tension headache form. I lower my head to my desk and close my eyes.
---
"Valerie? Valerie, wake up."
Lifting my head, I see class has finished. "Class has been over since 5 minutes ago." Solayo says, shaking my awake. "I'm awake." I tell him, sniffling and wipe tears with my arm.
He gestures to my cloak, cape and hat. I stand up, remove them and hand them to him. He takes them to the cloak room and returns as I'm packing up my desk.
"Valerie, can we talk?"
"Uh-"
"You've seemed distracted, not focused all lesson. What's on your mind?" He asks, pulling a chair over to sit on, the wrong way, at my desk and I take a seat. "Uh, just other projects and homework I have. School stuff, life, nothing much really. I'm fine." I tell him.
"Oh, yeah?"
"Yes-"
"That's bullshit and you know it young lady. Couldn't be furthest from the truth." And then he places a hand on his mouth, realizing what his done.
"Pardon me and never repeat the bad word I said. But I do want to help, I'm your teacher, Valerie. I can see your anxious, but also feel it. I'm an empath." He tells me.
I nod slowly. "So, tell me. What's really on your mind?"
I shrug and he starts to reach his hand over to my textbook. I realize I left it open. He scans it for just a second, then promptly closes it, laying it back down.
"Valerie, do you understand the gravity of what you've written?"
His caught me out, there's no denying this, talking my way out. "Hmm, you look a little on the thin side." He says, pinching my ribs. I let out a squeal and shove his hand off.
"No, I'm fat!"
"I want to help you." He challenges. "What did you have for breakfast?"
"A handful of grapes..."
"Any water?"
"No..."
"And I can see your hair is brittle. Feels it too." He says, touching a strand, but then lets it go to fall, curling again.
"I'm fine." I tell him again.
"I'm sorry, but I don't believe you and won't be taking your word for it, Valerie. I can see your starving and so, it's no wonder you're feeling unhappy too if you're deprived of adequate dehydration and nutrition. One's body needs fuel so you can function physically and emotionally-"
"Please leave me alone."
"I can't do that, Valerie. I have obligations to you. I'll talk to the King and Queen, we can get you a bed-"
"No!" I shout, shooting straight up to my feet. He stands up slowly as his rather old.
"Valerie, The Hands of Healing Hearts Unit is no longer an Institution where one is placed and the key thrown away. It hasn't been for quite some time.
You have rights, some of which include protection from physical, emotional and sexual abuse from staff and residents. You have the right to food and hygiene, a room with a bed and amenities of your own and there are programs available to you and time outside.
No treatments are not unorthodox or experimental anymore. But medication and some practices can help. There is trained staff, you will be supported.
We can look at what can be done to help you, what's at the centre of why you feel this way." He explains, tapping my book.
"No, I'm not going!" I cry, flinging my arms, but his quicker than me and grasps them. "Now, this isn't up for discussion. You stay here and I'll go see the King & Queen."
"Evil takes many forms!"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXMufUEyxn
I tell him. He looks rather hurt and I see the disappointment in his eyes too.
"Not anymore it doesn't, although I guess it could be said Humanity's far from perfect, but we try alongside doing our best and we'll reach a standard someday. Now, I'm going to get you some help and I'll send Cloud down here to sit here with you, okay? It'll be alright, I promise."
And then he teleports from the classroom, using his powers and I see the door slam shut, a clicking sound and his keys from his desk in a small proof of smoke. I run to the door and press down on the handle, but it's locked and I sink to the floor, back against the door, kneels pulled up and start to cry, letting my tears run free.
---
Solayo strides down the hallway of City office, his white with green trail robe sliding along the floor after him. He places a hand on his nearly balding aqua blue head and smooths out a few fly away strands. He sighs to himself and heads to turn the corner, bumping head first with someone.
He and the person he ran into doesn't fall over, but they do need to rub foreheads to make the slight pain go away. "Solayo?"
Looking up, Solayo sees it's his friend Cloud he ran into. "Do you think we could talk? If you have time that is." Cloud begs.
"I'm sorry, no. I'm rather pressed for it right now-"
"Please, it'll just take a minute!"
"Cloud, I have a student who's suicidal. I need to report to Zane and Binta."
"Oh..."
"Uh, alright. You have a minute, she's locked in the classroom so I suppose, not much harm can come to her there. What would you want to talk about?"
"Y-you remember my daughter? A-and our friends."
"I do, indeed..."
"Do you think..."
"I'm afraid not, Cloud. I know this is painful friend, but sometimes death happens for a reason. It's inevitable. Just because I have the ability to bend worlds to my will because I'm Kiki & the Core who's the foundation of this world and many others biggest advocate, doesn't mean it's okay for me too. And anyway, it's been far too long now. Had I been around when your daughter passed away from the illness that swept through this city back when June Bendixen was in charge, I could have revived her.
Her soul has been long gone onto another world."
"But I'm her Dad-"
"And you'll see her again one day. We reincarnate a select number of times which is unique to an individual till Kiki judges were done and have learnt everything we needed to learn and experience. There are more souls than we can count and you'll never know when you'll come across one or them again.
Give it time."
"And our friends?"
"Grayson, Mikey and Ester."
"Yes."
"They don't need me this time around, they're okay. There's nothing wrong with helping, but if one's okay, then would it be right for me to interfere morally? I'd end up directing their life and I don't want to do that."
"So why did you let me back in on who you are, allow me to have the knowledge I now know if it's against the rules..."
"There are other rules too and sometimes rules should be broken, but I'd recommend on an informed conversation regarding that with Kiki. And you? You need a friend right now, Cloud.
If I can help, I'm not going to leave you to struggle on your own."
"I just want us and our friends to be a family again."
"And we will be, but not in this timeline and world. Now, can you please go to classroom my friend and sit with the student? It's Valerie Woods. I'll be right back with help, I promise."
"Okay..."
"Thank you friend, now come here. A hug for the road?" Solayo asks, pulling his friend into a hug. "Thank you..." Cloud whispers, trying to fight back tears. "Anytime, friend." Solayo responds, handing Cloud his keys, then they part ways. Cloud to the classroom and Solayo to the King and Queen.
Solayo finds the board meeting office that the city's council often congregants in and gently rasps on the door with his knuckles. "Come in!" A voice calls from the other side of the door.
Solayo pushes open the door to see the room somewhat full. Not everyone is sitting at a long table in the centre of the room though. "Solayo, what brings you here?" Says a voice. "You knocked."
"Ah, Jordan! Yes, hi, I did knock." Solayo responds, greeting Jordan who's a treasurer for a living. They both shake hands and Jordan gestures to the far end of the table. "King, Queen." Solayo bows, addressing the two. They look at him oddly. "Solayo, no offense, Sir, but I'd prefer you didn't call us that. Just say Mayor." The Man responds. "Oh, of course, my apologizes Zane, but it's rather easy to be stuck in the old ways, you know? And two people can really be, 'Mayor' though." Solayo comments.
"I understand, but not all old ways and I don't know what you want me to say, but Mayor is not a dictator and till I think of a replacement word for King & Queen, well, there's two Mayor's."" Zane adds on, shuffling uncomfortably. "Uncle?" The woman next to Zane speaks up. "Uh, yes, Binta?" Solayo answers.
Binta gestures to behind her, pointing over to the large window. A young woman is standing there. "Sophie?" Solayo calls out and the woman looks over her shoulder, hair slightly longer than her shoulder, but not at her feet and loose, but with a plait down the middle of the hair. She turns around the dress she's wearing with boots move every so slightly, tamed by a blue jumper with a round yellow moon on it, featuring the silhouette of a dragon.
She doesn't say anything, but visibly relaxes a little bit. "Still not much of a talker, hey?" Solayo asks, gesturing. "Uh, I wouldn't go as far to say that. She does talks and you know that as before was a ruse, it's just been hard on her now though on her over the years after everything changed... She's better than she was, but I'm not about to push her in a way that it becomes detrimental to her psychological health." Zane tells him.
"Dad?" Sophie whispers, coming over to her Dad's seat and he gently pulls her onto his lap. "Yes, honey?" He responds, eyes cautious and Sophie starts stroking her hand, running her fingers through it. She then looks up. "Go on." Binta smiles gently.
"Can I go out and play?" Sophie asks, tilting her head. "Of course you can! You don't need to ask my permission to do something. Well, provided it's not something dangerous that is." Zane responds.
"Habits..." Sophie whispers. "Old ones..."
"I know." Zane tells her. "Now, where do you think you wanna go?"
"Garden, my friends are out there. And Lillian's out there too!"
"See them outside the window do you?"
"Yes!"
"Well, have fun then. Go on, just you and them all be back for tea-time, alright?"
"Yes!"
And Sophie leaps off his lap, rushing out the door and gives Solayo a small wave on the way out. He waves back, but then he hears two small ouches and Sophie comes stepping back in, but backwards and someone else is with her.
"S-Sorry!" Sophie apologizes, bowing. "What? Oh, no. It's okay, Sophie. I didn't think to knock is all. Don't mind me." A man apologizes.
"Still..." Sophie whispers and the man gently places his hands on the side of her arms. "Where you off too?" He asks.
"G-Garden. I-I want to see my friends." Sophie chokes out. "Oh, cool. You go see them then." The man smiles. "Thank you, Rylan- Ryland. I mean Ryland." She says quickly, stepping around Ryland to leave and he lets go of her, but then she stops and looks back to him.
"Yes?" He says, raising an eyebrow.
"Will..."
"Will I what, Sophie?"
"Come play later with all of us..."
"If you want me too."
"I do."
And then Sophie's gone. Ryland closes the door behind her and then takes a step forward to address the office. He smooths out his pants and blazer and makes sure his badge that's in the shape of a crescent moon is on straight. "Zane?" He smiles.
"How did patrol go?" Zane asks.
"Uh, everyone's good. Not much is going on, city's fairly happy, you know. Just what we'd expect..." Ryland trails off. "You know, all these years before if you had have told me our lives would be very different, but better, I wouldn't have believed you."
"And do you detest it?" Zane enquirers.
"No. I like how my life is now, I'm glad people are happy, especially Sophie.
Our relationship is better, infact my relationship is better with everyone around me! I'm happy here with the way things are!"
"Then I must be doing something right, Rylan."
"And I'm thankful that you allowed me to remain in charge of a force, even if it's not the same one I grew up, commanding- I mean managing."
"Police, not Guards." Zane comments. Ryland nods his head rapidly.
"Now, uh, I've finished my list for the day. Do you have any other jobs for me to carry out?"
"Uh, no. I think were all good here-" Zane begins, but Solayo cuts him off. "Actually, I have something I could use your assistance with if you don't mind helping..."
"Oh? Sure! What is it, Mr Ender?" Ryland responds, turning to face him. Solayo takes a deep breath and then looks around the room.
"There's a student in my class, young girl. Her name is Valerie Woods, in foster care if that's relevant to mention."
"Yes...?" Zane asks, gesturing for Solayo to continue.
"I'm kind of just holding her in the classroom. I sent Cloud to go sit with her."
"Why?" Ryland asks. "Well, I need an escort. I have reason to believe that she's a danger to herself right now." Solayo announces.
"Oh, that's not good. Well, we can certainly do an assessment and talk to Valerie if she wishes to speak with us." Zane murmurs.
"Yeah, so, uh, can I borrow you Ryland just to help transport her down to the Unit? She's a little agitated and doesn't wish to go willingly." Solayo explains.
"Sure, I can help with that. We'll take it slow in bringing her upstairs." Ryland answers. "Go easy, alright? I may allow you all to carry weapons still, but I don't want you using undue force, especially on a child." Zane says, narrowing his eyes.
"Wouldn't dream of it, Sir." Ryland responds, saluting and then he turns to leave with Solayo to head back towards Solayo's classroom.
Binta and Zane share a concerned glance, but then they stand and head over to the window with Jordan, looking out at Zane's daughter, Sophie playing with her brother, Zane's son, Finn and her wife, Lillian and friends, Mia, Ace and Scout.
Ryland is there too and so is Lisa, Mum of one of Sophie's friend, Scout enjoying themselves in the rain that is no longer heavy and turned to a rather light pitter that's great for running around in and splashing in muddy puddles, ruining their clothes.
"Should we go down there?" Binta asks, eyeing her friend, Zane and hubby, Jordan. "Absolutely." Zane responds. "Let's find out where our daughter, Meredith is. Maybe she'll want to play too? Last I knew, she was running around the place." Jordan suggests, taking his wife's hand and they leave the room with their friend, Zane.
---
I sniffle in the corner, unable to control my tears and repeatedly dry my eyes, wiping snot in the process onto the sleeve of my cloak and cape, point hat titling again.
And then I hear the classroom door creak open an inch, but I don't look up and stay bunched up on the opposite wall to the classroom that's near Solayo's desk. "Valerie Woods?"
"W-what?" I choke out and whoever it is gently closes the door behind them.
"It's me, Cloud. The teachers aide-"
"I know who you are!" I snap and he shuffles his feet along the wooden floor, coming over to me and bends down, a hand placed on my knee.
"Valerie, look at me."
So I do, meeting his eyes. "No one said life was meant to be easy and while I realize you're rather young still, when you're older, you'll understand why suffering exists, but you'll also understand yourself better.
For now though, I want you to know that you can overcome this and even more so with help, Valerie."
I shrug. "Now, do you think you could let me in on what Solayo is worried about, enough that's he'd go to the heads of the city and send me here, asking me watch over a student, you."
I shake my head. "Not feeling too crash hot, ay? That's okay. There will be plenty of time later for us to get to the bottom of this."
And his really starring in deep at my soul. "Cloud, what is it? Why are you starring?" I ask.
"S-sorry!" He apologizes. "It's just... Do you remember me mentioning a few times that I'm... Widowed. Lost my wife and our little girl to the illness that swept through the city a few years ago?"
"Yeah...? We learnt about that."
"Well, today's my little girl's birthday. She'd be around your age today if she was alive."
"What? Really?"
"Yes. Now, Valerie..."
"Why don't we have you taken upstairs now? It's goanna be okay in the long run, you know. There's so much to experience in life. Our own Princess is living proof of that, an example for us to see that. She's alive today."
"I know. Princess Sophie..."
"So, what do you think?"
And then I hear a click and something solid hitting the floor. Looking over to near Solayo's desk, there's a metal brief case with locks on the chair, but it's open when I sware it wasn't a minute ago and I see a ball sitting on the floor, rolling slightly.
"What is that? It looks like it's made out of stone..." I murmur.
"I don't know, but I'd agree..." Cloud responds. Concentrating on it, I feel like it's calling out to me. Saying my name.
"Valerie." Cloud calls, placing his hands on my shoulders to hold me back. "It's speaking to me." I tell him, smiling.
"What? Oh, that doesn't sound good. Valerie, listen, we shouldn't dabble in any private business of Solayo's.
He's a teacher who knows many things, but also an explorer who's witnessed many events first-hand and is more experienced than us."
"It wants me to hold it." I insist, breaking free and reach for it, picking it up in my hands, slowly making my way to stand. Cloud stands up too, right behind me for support. I turn it over in my hands, marvelling at how smooth it actually is in my hands.
"Valerie, listen to me as your student support aide! Place it down right now."
And then I hear the door of the classroom burst open and I see Louis standing there with Kelsey, out of breath. They look up and quickly enter, closing the door behind them.
"The head of the police force is on his way here with Solayo! Valerie, everyone's talking, saying there is a suicidal student. Is it true, it's you isn't it?" Louis enquires, stepping forward to bend down and approach me.
"Valerie-" Kelsey begins. "Can you guys hear it? He can't." I state, showing them the ball and gesturing to Cloud.
"Her what?" Louis asks. "That looks like a Core Control Panel. A few weeks ago, a few juniors went missing. They were playing with it so Solayo started to keep it locked up." Kelsey announces.
"Ah, shit, fuck! Now I know what it is! I forgot about that incident!" Cloud panics.
"Did they ever come back?" I ask. "No." Cloud says, shaking his head. "Where did they go?" I ask.
"Well, according to Core methodology, there are other worlds. They're likely trapped and won't ever come back. They'll die, lost out there in another world. Weather from old age or a bad entity..." Louis trails off.
Another world... I don't like my life now. I'd be more than happy to trade it in for something else, provided it's better or not, but a stepping stone in my own character growth.
Then why don't you? Take a chance.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEXhUM19OW
I feel the ball say to me and I press on it.
Valerie Woods registered.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAvNRUKm6g
Appears on it.
"Valerie, stop, now!" Cloud cries, tackling me and trying to rip the balls from my hands.
Destination selected!145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpIkZ4f8w5
Appears on the ball and I see a circle with an intricate design all over it, appear beneath me and Cloud and it's turning rapidly into a glowing white light that's engulfing the room. Kelsey and Louis step back as they're outside the circle, looking like they're about to run for help.
And then I see them exchange a look, nod and Louis places his hand out and Kelsey grasps it with her hand and they both run straight for us, their capes blowing in the wind that has now entered the room from nowhere, clinging to me and Cloud.
I feel the ball slip from my and Cloud's hands, watching it rolling away, outside the circle and then the room is gone, replaced by darkness and a brief moment of silence.
Then I feel a stone floor beneath my cheek, no longer the wood floor of the classroom and realize I'm lying down. Sitting up slowly, I see a corridor that stretches for a distance to infinite filled with what looks like gateways similar to the star gate we have back home, but not star shaped. Rather, vertical.
"Were no longer home..." I murmur. "Woah, really?! Whatever gave you that idea?!" Snaps a voice beside me. It's Cloud and he helps me up, pulling me to my feet.
"What is this place?" I hear two other voices say and then I see it's Louis and Kelzey, looking all around themselves.
"A gateway between gateways?" Cloud suggests. "Maybe..." I murmur.
"Question now is, how did we get back home? You let go of Solayo's artifact." Louis points out. "Do you think without it, were trapped?" Kelsey suggests.
"I hope not!" Cloud responds. "Why don't we scope this place out? There may be another way out..." Louis speaks up.
"Perhaps. Suppose you're right, we won't know till we try." Cloud answers. "Alright kiddo's, follow me!" He says, gesturing for us all to follow him down the corridor.
We begin to and as I take a step, I feel like the room has just titled slightly, a minor headache forming and my mouth feels dry and I almost fall over, missing my footing all together.
I clutch my stomach. It's been a little over 24 hours since I've really had a proper meal and even some water...
"Valerie, you okay?" Louis calls out to me, holding hands with Kelsey. "Uh, yeah!" I answer.
"Then keep up, I don't want us getting separated from each-other." Cloud snaps and I run to keep up with them while dealing with a now mild burning in my chest and ache in my stomach alongside my other symptoms and we begin to disappear down the hallway together as a newly formed group.
No, family. A Dad and three kids in a weird way...
145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH9S4FLtQk
