Writing Prompt

Penny Maggie Kasey Jaylin Ken Delvin Gg

“Slayer of monsters ?” Kasey giggled to herself as she laid Jaylin down on the bed on the ground.

Her mother drunkenly yelling something about bringing passed out girls home. Which she ignored, without much effort. Looking down at her new friend, the only friend who knew her secret.

Jaylin had shoulder length black hair on most of her head, the right side was shaved to her mocha skin. When her eyes were open they were a very vivid emerald green, with a hint of grey. Her tomboyish hoodie was mangled from her tussle with the demon beast earlier in the day. And her skinny jeans were ripped in a staggered left diagonal cut, four in all on both legs. Starting just below her thighs, which unlike her own were meaty.

“Wakey, Wakey” Kasey cooed trying not to frighten her to much, knowing that this girl probably wouldn’t want to stay the night again.

“Kasey” Jaylin grumbled rolling over onto her lap with her head. Sleepily yawning and wiping at her eyes, still not fully back from dream land.

“Time to get up sleepy head” Kasey said with a giggle.

Jaylin yawned and lifted her head up looking around the room. Kasey just watched her nearly fall as she stood up.

“We should go to my house…. I’m sure my grandmother is worried” Jaylin stretched out letting out another big yawn.

“It’s already dark out?” Kasey said haphazardly and laughed a bit.

“It’s funny how easily we hang on to the old ways” Jaylin mumbled as she turned and her mask started to form over her right side.

“You shouldn’t push it. Your new, I’d say give it a break” Kasey stood upright, but Jaylin had already slipped out the open window. “I don’t know where you live butthead”

It didn’t take long for Kasey to run after Jaylin. Who only made it out the window and out of the trailer park before nearly falling onto her face. Mask gone.

“Told you to rest a bit. It takes a lot of spirit energy to keep it up. Most people can’t even form their mask for days after the test….” Kasey grabbed her under her left arm hoisting her to walk. ”Also if it completely depletes… You’ll become one of them… permanently….” Kasey helped Jaylin to get walking.

“So don’t push it…. Or you’ll have to kill me….” Jaylin mumbled sarcastically and Kasey shook her head.

“The team is small…. Your the only other girl…. So please don’t push it.” Kasey said with a hint of sadness.

“Guess it’s been lonely”

“Very much so…. Even with a super drunk mom… can’t have boys sleep over” She laughed a bit thinking of Delvin. “Even if they don’t play for the right team”

Jaylin’s grandma’s house was a small two story on the corner, it was old looking stone with a small black fence like a graveyard. A wrap around porch was where the old woman watched them climb the steps. She gave them a smile, tossing her yarn and needles down on the table to her right.

“You ok dear?” Her Gg asked watching Kasey help her with walking. “You look like death”

“I’m ok grandma. Just been a long two days…” She gave her grandmother a quick smile.

“Sorry. I’m Kasey…. She was at my house last night. We had a group project for our science class…” Kasey tried to lie but her grandma just smiled a bit.

“You think someone of my age wouldn’t see the change in her” The old woman didn’t stop the knowing smile, her dark complexion and wrinkles showing off more as the porch lite brought them all to life. “I knew some witches at one point in my life. Called themselves voodoo priestesses but they weren’t like you two are now”

“Gg it’s been a really long two days… can I explain it to you later, please” Jaylin gave her grandma the same puppy dog face she’d used a million times before.

“At breakfast I will ask again” She shoed them away with a hand wave and picked her stuff back up.

“How did she?” Kasey questioned in a whisper.

“She sees auras…. Mine probably changed and ours look alike” Jaylin yawned. “I need my bed”

“I guess I’ll head home. See you in” Before she could finish, Jaylin was pulling her up the stairs.

“My house sleepover!!!” Jaylin howled up the stairs, nearly pulling her arm out the socket.

The next morning came faster then either of them realized. Of course Gg was up at the crack of dawn sitting at the round table eating breakfast and drinking coffee. She looked up at them as they walked in.

“I know… the explanation “ Jaylin yawned grabbing the coco puffs box and a bowl.

Kasey stood awkwardly at the tables edge before grandma started to chuckle.

“Sit down child. Eat” She said in a soft demanding motherly tone.

“So I was attacked by a spirit…. A low level demon…. And I now have the power to fight them” She crunched on a mouthful of hard chocolate pieces and gave her a smile.

“We’ll that’s quite a bit more than I expected “ She just continued to dip her toast in the egg yellow. “You two better stay safe. The demon may sleep but it’s never gone”

“Well with her on the team. We are going to do major damage to their numbers. She’s a natural.” Kasey beamed, grabbing two links of sausage.

“Our ancestors were well versed in the history of souls, I believe that is why I could see the difference in you two” GG spoke and looked at Jaylin with a sadness, even a hint of disappointment. “I advise you not to use that power to often. I expect that the soul can only tolerate so much corruption.”

“I think I’m going to head out. Ken will probably have something that needs doing…” Kasey said standing and taking her plate to the sink.

“That was to you too child. It will become a burden… no power from the spirits ever comes without a price” GG smiled at them both and started towards the dishes.

When I saw the scars I panicked. What was I supposed to do tell my friends, what would they tell me? Am I going crazy or do more people have them than I thought? When I get to school I ignore everyone around me, even my best friend. These people might not be people after all, there is way to many with the same long narrow scar behind their ears and under their chins. Is this even possible? I’ve gone to school with most of these kids since grade one and now I’m just noticing this. What if my parents have them to? My boyfriend since grade seven has them to; Ethen Loryol. When we kissed I never saw them. Maybe I’m the different one for not having them but it is possible something is taking over their bodies, like a weird parasite. And maybe the scars are where the parasite infects you and I just haven’t gotten it; yet.

    For the rest of the day I ignore everyone with the markings. I don’t want something to happen, but since this morning, more and more people have them. After I sprint home I go on my computer. There is news articles about it and towns are disappearing after everyone from it has been affected. Scientists can’t figure out what it is, but as I read more and more and it gets later into the night my mom comes in my room. 

“Hello Grace, it’s mom. You need sleep now. It may affect you as it has us.” She ruffles in a monotone voice, I nod my head and lay down with my curling wand in hand. That’s all I have to protect me. She didn’t act like that when I got home but I’m scared now so I try to sleep, but I can’t and my neck starts hurting again, pulsing, pushing through my veins. What is inside me!?

“It’s not personal - it’s business. And everything is business.” That’s the first thing he said to me when I arrived on the 50th floor. I was newly recruited and wet behind the ears. Not fresh out of college, but this was my second job. My first one was as personal assistant to the director of a small corporation; it wasn’t anything to brag about, but I chose my springboard well. As soon as my two years were up, I went fishing and the catch was good: Personal Assistant to Warren Cache, Tech Entrepreneur. He wasn’t a household name yet, but I’d seen his name on the cover of one of my brother’s tech-wiz magazines. Warren Cache Talks Cephi and the Future of Privacy in the Tech World. I’d read the article with bated breath and felt my legs quiver with the anticipation of being a part of something important. Excited to work closely with someone who could become the next big face of tech. The morning of my first day, I carefully slipped into my favourite pantsuit and pulled my hair up into a perfect chignon. “It’s very good to meet you, Mr Cache,” I practised looking into the mirror. I would never get to say those words. He looked me over and not in a professional manner. His eyes lingered around my breasts and crotch in what I would consider a very personal manner, but perhaps this was business to him too. “Ditch the pants,” he murmured. His eyes had that sharp look to them. “And the hair too. The whole ensemble makes you look too corporate, too business woman.” I didn’t know what to say, so I said I would. Inside I was reeling. None of this was in the article. “You know, you have that Norma Jean look to you. I bet your last boss was a happy man.” Again, I was lost for words, so I thanked him. Then, abruptly, he asked, “Do you use one of those period tracker apps?” I was confused by the sudden topic change but responded that I did and had done so for many years. “Which one?” I said that I used the one developed by this company. Then he laughed. He laughed until tears came into his eyes, shaking his head wildly. When he finally calmed down, he reached out and grasped my shoulder. His eyes hardened until they were narrow slits of flint. “Yesterday we bagged a million dollars sharing personal information with Facebook from that fucking app. Think about it. I made a couple cents telling Zuckerberg when you last menstruated, fucked, felt a little horny. How are you feeling now, Norma?” At this point, I didn’t need to say anything, so I slapped him and left the room. “The issue of privacy is one that we have to address here in the tech world. Too often we see developers disrespecting users and that fucking sucks. I’m not like that.” He was worse.