TIMELESS

Mundane

SELENE

I was running out of breath, but i couldn't stop. If I did, that would mean my demise. I didn't know how many they were all I could focus on was the sound of paws and snarling. It was dark out and the fact that the forest trees obscured any of the moon's light made it harder to see where I was headed. run run run... the voice in my head chanted. My legs were on the verge of giving out and my lungs were on fire. The path before me seemed to stretch for miles as the trees seemed to look down on me as if disgusted by my attempt to out run the beasts behind me.

Every nocturnal animal was silent, watching as I only postponed my inevitable death. The moment I turned my head, something caught my foot and I lost my balance. My body was sent tumbling to the forest floor followed by a sickening crack. I screamed at the top of my lungs until my throat hurt. When I rolled over there it was, fangs bared at me snarling and yellow eyes that glowed with murderous intent. A sudden ringing invaded the quiet forest and my eyes snapped open, revealing my bedroom.

I sighed in exasperation and threw the covers to the side. I went to my closet and picked out something to wear today. It was simple, just a black and red tennis skirt and a white button down shirt. After that, I did my morning routine and proceeded down stairs. The house was quiet which was strange because my parents never left earlier than me. I know what you're thinking, why would I leave two hours early for school? Well it was because I always wanted to get some reading done before class but the main reason was I avoided people like the plague.

"surprise!!" They shouted making me choke on my coffee. "Happy birthday Selene," my mother and father told mw with big smiles on their faces. For a moment I was taken aback until I realized I did not remember my own birthday. No shocker there, it was a day that never really excited me. I thanked my parents and they looked at me expectantly, "what?" I asked with food stuffed in my mouth.

"Selene, you're 18. Don't you want to tell us your plans for today?" It amused me to a certain extent how my parents hoped I would be like other kids my age. It never happened though, Everything about people for some reason just seemed very mundane to me and as such it was in my nature to avoid it.

"As a matter of fact I do have plans," It was their turn to choke. It was not a complete lie, I did have plans, those plans just didn't involve other people. They tried to conversate more but between my zoning out and monosyllabic answers it didn't go far.

In no time I was out the door and on my way to school. Most people my age had cars and there was nothing wrong with that, but I preferred something more....daring for lack of a better term. I hoped onto my motorcycle and sped off to school. I forgot to mention I had just got this one as an early birthday present from my parents and there was no word that could describe it.

The birthday celebrations and talk with my parents got me behind schedule and the traffic didn't help with that either. Still, I would not break my habit of stopping by the library. After handing in the previous books I borrowed and reading some more, I realized I had only 20 minutes to get to school. I cursed silently, so much for avoidance. The school parking lot was packed by the time I got there and because of my shiny new toy, everyone and by everyone I meant every guy looked at me. "Is that a Kawasaki ninja H2R?" someone asked the person they stood next to as I parked my bike. It was in my best interest to tune out their conversation because well, what did it benefit me?

The hall wasn't any better because of the lustful looks I got from guys and the looks of envy from girls. Once again I sighed. Putting my bag in my locker and retrieving the books I needed, someone slammed my locker shut. Could today get any better? note sarcasm. "Looks like you got a lot of onlookers today Selene," her high pitched voice pierced my ears. "Shut it Laura, your voice makes my ears hurt," I told her with an expressionless face.

As anticipated her face turned red, Laura always wanted to assert dominance but was the easiest to get to, stupid b***h. She started to talk but I couldn't hear her, and I was thankful for that. I only tuned in when I heard the word freak show. "Is that so?" I asked as my eyes narrowed into slits. For the first time I was actually proud of all the possible scenarios going through my head all of which involved her death.

In the corner of my eye, I saw her boyfriend Trevor and a smile crept on to my face. I walked to him completely ignoring her rants. He noticed me and stoped talking to his fellow jocks. "Hey Se-lene," he stuttered. I held his cheek delicately as if he would crumble under my touch and stood on the tips of my toes placing my lips on his. Almost immediately he kissed me back and I broke away. When I turned to face Laura her eyes were lined with tears and her face was redder than I had ever seen. "Can a freak show do that?" she answered me with silence, "yeah that's what I thought."

The warning bell rang and I proceeded to my first class, not before hearing her yelling her head off at her so called boyfriend. I don't mean to gloat but I was very attractive and my unique hair and eyes made me more alluring. I sat down and paid attention to my teacher while I ignored the whispers around me.

Suddenly, I wasn't in my seat anymore; instead I was in an arena facing a man who's face was blurred. I looked at my hands only to see them chained. "What is this?" I demanded. The man was spoke something I could not hear because it was muffled, he then raised his hand and gates opened on the sides of the arena and animalistic sounds came from those cages. "Kill her," he commanded. I found myself gasping for air as the scene melted back into my classroom.

Lucky for me no one had noticed. When the lesson was over I continued to my next class. The day went by in a flash and before I knew it, it was time to go. I hoped on my bike but someone stopped me. "Selene..." his voice trailer off. Sigh, maybe I shouldn't have kissed him. "yes, Trevor?" He shuffled his feet before speaking telling me about how the kiss felt and how he wanted us to get to know each other better, there were other things yes but i drowned him out. "I only kissed you because I wanted your barbie to know her place."

Without another word I turned on my motorcycle and sped out of school. I rode to my secret spot; it was in the middle of the woods and I had stumbled upon it when I was on a forced girl scout camping trip. I laughed at that, the futile attempt of my parents to make me more social.

It was a beautiful place, with a little pond in the middle that never seemed to dry out. Something about it felt.. safe. "Chirp!" I yelled and the little bird came out of it's hiding spot. I had found chirp here almost two months ago and he developed an attachment to me. More often than not he would fly home with me and was the closest thing I had to a friend.

I sat by the pond, reading and playing with the strange little bird. What a way to spend my birthday, but I had no issue with it. While I was feeding him, a sharp pain invaded my head and I held both sides in an effort to make it stop. Tears blurred my vision as masses of unclear images invaded my thoughts. A peculiar scent enveloped my senses and I started to panic more. For whatever reason this was my biggest fear, I cried for a reason unknown to myself for what felt like am eternity.

All of the sudden arms wrapped around me and pulled me into a warm embrace. A new scent washed over me, orange blossoms and damp earth. I opened my eyes but couldn't see clearly through the tears. "hush now," the voice said and everything went dark.

When I woke up the sky was covered in streaks of orange and pink quickly turning to evening. There was no sign of the mysterious man, no evidence of whatever happened. Only chirp who c****d his head from side to side. It was just a dream, man my dreams were the epitome of strange. I said goodbye to chirp who flew back into the trees. Looks like I'm riding solo today.

By the time I got home, the sun had completely set giving way to the night. There was a certain chill in the air, like something bad was lurking around the corner. I walked into the house only to hear voices. It was easy to recognize those of my parents but the other two I was unsure of. "Are you sure, about this father?" A feminine Voice asked. There was silence for a moment until someone replied, "Yes, he will not participate in the ceremony so this is the only way."

I coughed making my appearance known. Everyone turned to me, my parents' faces were stuck on a frown and the girl's eyes lit at up the sight of me. It took me a moment to register her face but when I did happiness bloomed in my heart. "Juliette!" I exclaimed and went to hug her. She was the only other person I loved in the world besides her parents. It had been so long she could not even recognize her at first glance.

The man coughed drawing everyone's attention. His aura was...well it was something. It's good to see you again Selene, please sit. I was under the impression that my parents had brought her here for my birthday but I couldn't have been more wrong...In the next moments everything I had known my entire life fell apart.