The Institution
He hit the ground hard, his body thudding against the concrete. The harsh laughter of the other boys echoed through this concrete jungle of a hall like crows mocking their prey. The boy glanced at one of the guards in the distance, his chin bleeding from grazing the hard floor. They locked eye contact for a moment before the guard swiftly looked away as if he didn’t witness everything that just took place - or maybe he just didn’t give a shit.
“I catch you stealing one of my cigarettes again; you’re dead Jack,” the lanky guy spat angrily as Jack was still lying on the floor, now covered in bruises.
The 16-year-old boy let out a frustrated sigh as the group jogged back up to the basketball court outside.
“Prick…” he exhaled under his breath.
“You know, you really shouldn’t keep messing with Kieran,” complained an irritated voice nearby.
“Great, here comes Mother Theresa,” mumbled Jack, “hi Cole.”
“Say what you will, but you’re the one keep aggravating The Institution’s finest male, Kieran Karter, the great, the glorious!” He threw his arms up in true theatrical fashion. “Or should I say the asshole?” He pondered sarcastically, smirking.
Jack didn’t bother responding. His strawberry blonde hair hung loosely just above his brow, which he softly brushed out of the way and looking into the distance.
Cole lent him a hand which he grabbed as his friend helped him up from his position.
Both boys were familiar with the status quo at this place, almost as much as The Institution itself. They both knew Kieran Karter was the chief’s son and rightful heir to the government-run corporation. The Institution was more like a prison for juveniles than anything else; though officially they were known as a safe haven for all children born after 2030, the year of the economical and social collapse of society.
“Come on,” said Jack, “let’s get out of here before they come back for round two…”
He stormed off, closely followed by Cole in tow as they approached the library - which was about the only place into which Kieran and his hounds wouldn’t be stepping a foot.
The Mirror
I never wanted it to be this way.
It was not in my interest to push everyone I knew away. Although my condescendingly sarcastic tone was in my nature to begin with, this was not the reason I ended up alone.
Nor was it to do with my bitter, baneful attitude or my lack of a likeable personality. No. Not completely. Those were all things I’d carried with me my entire life and not once did it cause me an issue larger than not being able to find anyone to tolerate me.
Until that one night, where I decided to piss the wrong people off…and now I’m paying for it.
I stare at the piercing light reflecting off the dusty old mirror and onto the wall. It’s getting brighter. Yes, much brighter. I don’t even notice the ugly peeling wallpaper in the corner anymore.
Dust falls from from the ceiling. They’re getting closer now and it’s only a matter of time before they find me; this is the end of the road for me.
I take one last shaky breath and clench my fists in an attempt to hide the tremble that’s suddenly overtaken my body, despite the fact there was no one left to hide from. Then, in a pathetic leap, I disappear into the mirror.
Forever.
Darkness falls
“I love you too, goodnight.”
The words still ring in my head, my heart throbbing with the memories.
Sweat trickles down my face as I cut through the thick vine blocking my path. Nothing can stop me now. As the sight ahead comes into view I stop dead in my tracks. I feel a slight smile climb onto my face as I’m flooded with relief. I go to move toward her before my mouth gapes open and my legs start to tremble. There she is, standing in the middle of the woods, looking right at me.
But something is wrong.
My hands still shaking and my feet frozen to the ground, it takes me a minute to gather my thoughts, and really look.
It’s the eyes. They aren’t quite right; too black. In fact, upon closer observation, I realise they are completely black. My heart sinks. I fall on my knees with the knife still in my tight grip. It feels like my soul has left my body. I feel empty.
She is gone. The demon inside has taken over and a dark thought is starting to creep in. I know what I have to do.
I somehow drag my body back up and straighten myself. I can’t look at her anymore; it’s too devastating. The black eyes are still staring at me and she is now slightly levitating, her hair blowing around in a blur of black strands.
Tears are streaming down my face, although I feel nothing. My heart is broken, to the point I can’t feel anymore. It’s so surreal, like it’s not actually happening right now. I look at her once more, but she is nowhere to be seen. It’s just a demon now, her soul is lost forever. All of a sudden, I am all too aware of the pain in my stomach, the bitter ache in my heart which now feels like it is on fire. But this isn’t the time to deal with emotions.
I stare back and slowly raise the knife...
The Rapture
My head was pounding as I slowly opened my eyes. I inspected my surroundings. I was outside in a field, the sun gleaming, making sweat drip down my face. I carry on looking around and find three things laid out neatly beside me: a bike tyre, glass bottle and the Holy Bible.
“What is going on?” I thought to myself. I didn’t remember any of last night’s events. I was wrecking my brain for the slightest slither of anything but nothing came to me. I scampered onto my feet, momentarily falling over before quickly picking myself up again. I felt dizzy.
Since the milk bottle was empty and the tyre would be useless without an actual bicycle, I decided to leave those behind. I picked up the Bible and started walking, although I did not recognise this place and I had no clue where I was heading.
After about 10 minutes of walking, a cliff which gave an overview of a small town emerged in front of me. As I continued to observe the streets and buildings before me, I realised there was no one there. The roads were completely empty, and as I looked closer, I could see cars, but they looked...weird. They looked as though they had crashed or stopped mid-driving.
The town looked completely abandoned. The breeze from above made me turn my head slightly and that’s when I saw it. A plane wreck. I’m not quite sure what, but something told me I needed to look down at what I was still holding on to with my left hand. I lifted the book up, my hands shaking, and opened it towards the end. The corner of the page had been slightly folded in to mark the page number. I always do this when I find a significant part in a story that I know I’ll need to find again in the future.
My heart dropped as I read the verse.
“Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.” - 1 Thessalonians 4, 17
Payback
“I do not regret killing my father’s murderer.
I did what I had to, to protect my family and to honour him. He didn’t deserve what that monster did to him. No one deserves to have their skull smashed to pieces.
When I finally found him, after months of searching...I stared in the eyes of this ruthless bastard and I asked him the questions my mind had been so desperately clinging on to; I asked him why he did what he did…
And he just laughed. Laughed and laughed and didn’t stop. His haunting, hollow eyes were gleaming with malice, darkness. I felt my fury rising. I must have carried it from the day I witnessed my father’s death because it felt almost wrong to have so much contempt in my body at one time.
I raised my gun, the cold metal like ice against my skin, and without even thinking, pulled the trigger at once. I silenced the evil and it felt right. It felt like I did the world a favour.
So ask me again why I have no remorse.”