Shadows

Prologue
“Please Rach, I beg you.” The woman pleaded. Outside the terrace, rain poured heavily, splashing on the solid asphalt as they talked.

“Just… Come in. We can talk about this inside.” The redhead said, worried. The sky rumbled with electricity, lightning flashing on the rainclouds, and the baby in the blond woman’s hand started to cry. Gently, she pulled the baby into her hug and kissed her cheek. “No.” She replied, “I have to go soon.”

“Don’t make me do this.” The redhead said desperately, “I have lost my husband, my parents, and now I have to lose you?”

“I have to. This is for the world’s sake. I beg you.” She pleaded again, tears of desperation flowing down her pale face. “Please Rachel. I don’t want her to grow up an orphan. At least she will have you if I’m gone.”

The redhead opened her mouth to speak, but the woman cut her off. “I have to go soon. The battle will commence. Please. Tell her stories, the ones about the great heroes of the Greek mythology. Don’t let it fade from her mind, or the world’s. Protect them, protect those precious stories.” Gently, she handed the sleeping baby into the arms of the redhead.

“Promise me you will return.” The redhead wiped tears off her face.

“I-“

“Promise.”

“I can’t. I’m sorry.” The blond turned around to hide her tears. She quickly ran into the heavy rain, fading into the shadows, leaving the redhead with the baby in her arms alone in the darkness of the night.

Chapter 1
“Please fill in this form, and all the registration process will be done.” The old woman said in her high-pitched voice.

“That-That’s it?” The woman arched her eyebrows.

“Yes, yes it is.” The old woman said impatiently, sliding the white paper onto the woman. The woman awkwardly took out a blue pen and wrote on the piece of paper. Smiling, she handed it back at the old woman.

“Now, your child err…” She looked at the paper, “Leah, isn’t it? Can go to school starting next Monday with all the other kids.”

“Thank you, so much.” The woman shook the old woman’s hand excitedly, sending the old woman sighing in annoyance.

“Okay. Now you may leave.” She politely said, hiding her anger. The woman smiled, and walked out of the room, slamming the wooden door with excitement.

“They have accepted you!” The woman squealed, popping a pink bubblegum into her mouth. No matter how much she’s grown, she could never erase her well… Hobby.

<p style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt">“Uh-huh, and they’re gonna kick me out like all the others. Yippie.” The girl rolled her blue eyes.

<p style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt">“Oh come on!” The woman hugged the girl. “What could go wrong?”

<p style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt">“Lots of stuff. For instance, me being a kleptomaniac, and having dyslexia.” The girl huffed.

<p style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt">“Oh, and ADHD.” The woman added, chewing the bubblegum. Her eyes widened, realizing her mistake.

<p style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt">“Thanks for reminding me.” The girl grabbed her Ripcurl backpack and walked away gruffly.

<p style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt">“Wait dear, I’m sorry!” The woman hurried towards the girl, who stopped and rolled her eyes for the thousandth time.

<p style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt">“What do you say… We drive home, buy some Baskin Robbins, you know, chocolate chip, and stop by at Burger King?” The woman offered. The girl’s eyes widened, and the woman, being a psychologist, sighed, trying to lure her into reverse psychology. “But you know, if you don’t want to and you’re still angry at-“

<p style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt">“No! No I’m not! Let’s go Mom!” The girl’s eyes glinted with joy.

<p style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt">“Okay then.” The woman smiled, pleased, and took the girl’s hand. They walked towards the silver Volvo parked just outside of the school and went inside.

<p style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt">WIP