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Preface and Chapter 1
I never really thought about death. Its not until you see those you care about pass on that you can even begin to imagine the horror and mystery of death. A wolf stalks its prey until the moment that it finds weakness and its prey’s guard is let down. The wolf strikes and attacks, feeding off the carcass, devouring all that it can, before leaving it, having eaten its fill and prancing away in triumph to kill again. Death is the same way. I know that now. But even now, as my attacker inches closer to me, gun in hand, I cannot convince myself to move or be afraid. A smirk crosses my attackers face as the steel gun is lifted and aimed. Eye’s shut tightly as I wait for the end, the gun cocking back. One…life. Two…love. Three…a crack of thunder and darkness.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and breaks their bands in sunder. Psalms 107:14
Chapter 1
I watched in pure disgust as my classmates devoured the meals placed in front of them. Bite by bite, taking each with there own individual satisfaction. The girl across from me took the most pride in eating slowly. Bite, talk, laugh, talk, gossip, and bite. Amazing how with as little as she ended up eating, she had the strength to carry on with her normal activities.
A groan escaped my throat as I buried my face into my pale, marble hands. The pinging high pitch sound of the bell brought relief to my quivering stomach, and as always, I was the first one out the door. Retreating to the safety of my locker, I emptied my bag and refilled it with the supplies for my next three classes. My eyes turned to the clock over my head. “Two and half more hours and I can leave,” I reminded myself and then headed off for class. I turned a sharp corner to see the crowd of students heading for their lockers and classes. They reminded me of a herd of cattle but without the mooing. Though I might have preferred that over much of the gossip and language I had to deal with daily. Perhaps you could maybe learn more from a cow than any ten students here. I entered the classroom quickly, swiftly, and unnoticed. Sitting in the steel stool arms resting on the black counter tops, I waited for the rest of my classmates. They entered in pairs except for the few, like me, who came in alone.
“Take out your text books, a piece of paper, and pencil” Mrs. Ierubino, the biology teacher, ordered. Everyone did so obediently, and with heads propped up high, class began. She had prepared PowerPoint notes for us like normal which we quickly took, though she always felt the need to ramble on about something related to it, or a student would ask and unrelated question and she would answer it as if it were normal conversation. My eyes wondered to the students around me, some watching the teacher, other giggling quietly with one another, and the more artistic, doodling on their notes. Typically high school behavior. “Can someone explain to me the difference between a haploid and diploid cell?” Ierubino asked the class. Dead silence. A sigh escaped my lips, which given the current circumstances, was a bad idea. “Mr. Sullivan, how about you” she ordered rather than asked pointing her annoying pointer stick at me. My eyes went to the papers of notes in front of me, acting like I needed to look when I didn’t. “A haploid cell contains half of the number of chromosomes. Which means they only have 23 chromosomes. A diploid cell has a full set of chromosomes which makes up most of the cell” I answered with little enthusiasm. She nodded and then turned to face the clock to her right.
“I’ll pass out your homework now, you have twenty minutes to work on it before class is over” she instructed and then passed out the golden pieces of paper. With their new gained freedom, desks squeaked as they were turned, and the room erupted in loud talking and laughter. I groaned and once again isolated myself from the rest of the students in the room. What point was there in trying to work or make idle conversation? None, absolutely none. My eyes drifted to the ceiling above, becoming transfixed the crack lines, angles, and occasional holes from where students had tossed up there pencils handing it amusing to watch them get stuck in the plaster. “Mr. Sullivan? Would you come here please?” Mrs. Ierubino asked beckoning me over with a slim finger and a stern look. I did as asked and walked to her desk. “Mr. Sullivan, you seem rather bored here in class. So I would like you to run to the office for me to meeting a new student. You may take your things,” she ordered without giving a chance or the time to reply or protest. A simple nod was all I gave before gathering up my things and heading down the stairs to the clear hallways. Always a pleasant sight to see.
I entered the office to be greeted with stares from the office women. I walked over to the women at the front desk. “Excuse me? I’m here to meet a new student?” She looked up at me then smiled and extended her hand towards a young girl sitting in the farthest corner of the room. Her short brown-layered hair covered the face slightly as she looked down at a book. I walked over to her and smiled extending me hand. “Welcome to Saint Walker High” I said trying to be kind and enthusiastic. Her head slowly lifted up and stared at my hand then up at me. Slowly she stood and took my hand.
“Thank you. I’m Ina Parks” she smiled half-heartedly at me. I smiled in return and recoiled my hand. I bowed out of habit, which by the sudden change in her features surprised her.
“This way please Miss Parks” I murmured before picking up her things and leading her out of the office. As we walked, an eerie silence fell between us. “So, where are you from?” I asked though certainly uninterested.
“I’m from Brunswick, Vermont. I came here to Washington because of the weather. Or so my father says” she explained not even looking at me.
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