Young Writers Society

Part One

Chapter One

“He called you a bad word.” I told her. I was sitting in a room full of colourful books and Be happy boards on the wall.

“He's here right now?” The therapist asked, she was tall, with big round glasses and a tight bun.

“Yes.” Lu was telling me exactly what he thought of my new therapist Dr. Aaron.

“What does he call himself?” She asked, her huge curious eyes staring at me intensively.

“Lu.” her head now turned to her notepad, scribbling long loopy words. They were always the same questions, the only difference from each new therapist was the medication and the size of the bun tucked behind their head.

Why don't we just storm out? Let turtle neck write something new in your file.

“How does he behave? Is he nice to you? Does he talk a lot? Describe him.” She asked, her pen leaned on her chin.

“He's very chatty. Never shuts up.”

I never shut up? My ass, you enjoy my company. “I would also like to add that he's very cocky.” I smiled.

I'm rolling my eyes, Ede.

If you only had eyes Lu...maybe that would be a little more impressive...

“Now Eden, do you feel obligated to do everything he asks? When he says something in your head? Does he order you to do any specific tasks?”

“Nope, never. Just friendly conversation.” I said, smiling innocently.

I knew that wasn't what she wanted to hear.

“Okay, but imagine you're at school or home, and you're too busy to talk to him, can you ignore him?”

“Well, if I can mute him? No, but ignoring is easy.”

“What about Lu? Is he the only voice in your head? Does anyone else speak sometimes?”

“No, one voice is enough. Thank you very much.” I say, smiling.

See, you just admitted it! All you need is me!

No, I would be very happy with you gone. What I would like is to have only one voice in my head—my own.

You just can't admit I'm a delight.

“Now Eden, imagine you were stuck on a desert island—” she starts to say, when she was interrupted by a knock on the door. Finally.

Is this woman a therapist or does she want to host twenty questions?

“Your next patient is here.” the secretary said at the door.

“Oh, seems it's time. Well, Thursday then?” the therapist asked.

I nodded and bolted outside the door, rushing past the next sad and depressed kid walking past me.

Why did we have to leave? I was really starting to like that therapist. She had some sexy glasses.

“Shut up!” I huffed.

With a scarf around my neck and big winter boots on, I stepped outside into the snow.

No, I mean it, Dr. Aaron is fine.

I could tell by how you called her turtle neck in there, I said, walking through the streets back home.

No, no, that was me flirting.

Oh god no, the last thing I want in my life is a love triangle with me, you and Dr. Aaron.

Hey, why are you involved in our romance?

Last time I checked, you can't really leave my head, can you? I taunted. Lu didn't say a word and I smiled.

Suddenly a frail old lady runs up to me. Her skinny knees sticking out of her night gown as she grabs my hands. The woman eyes were wide and she shook all over. She seemed terrified.

“Arnold! Arnold! Arnold!” she yelled. Her screams echoing around the street.

“Who's Arnold?”,

“Arnold! Arnold! Arnold!” she yelled louder.

“Please, who's Arnold? Where's Arnold?” I tried to ask calmly, but a sudden chaotic wave of heat threw me and the woman on the floor. My head hit the pavement as I watched the small white house burn.

“My grandson...my grandson..” she mumbles quietly. Her arms were trying to get herself up but all she managed to do was tremble and mumble. I thought about helping her, but my gaze was stuck on the house. It was in flames. The baby blue curtains turning into a chaotic black. Smoke was errupting from the house and everything was crumbling.

“Arnold...” the old lady mumbled again.

I ran to the already burned down door, looking inside.

“Arnold? Arnold?” I yelled inside. The smoke already making its way to my lungs.

I took a deep breathe, and ran inside.

“Stop that! Little girl! Hey!” people screamed.

Bit late now, ain't it?

Through the smoke I could still make out that I was in a hallway, to the left I think I saw a kitchen, maybe through that door was a living room? It was impossible to tell. Where was I supposed to check first?

Where would you hide from fire?

My dads room.

I staggered slowly to the stairs in front of me, as I tried to climb on the first step, it broke. My knee scraped against the staircase as I fell to the floor. The staircase cracking beneath me.

Breathing heavily, I forced myself up, my hands burning against the floor as I touched it. I grabbed the railing and pulled myself up. I was already sweating, my heart beating in my ears, and it felt like someone had sucked all the oxygen out of the air and left me with nothing to breathe. I slowly walked up the stairs, pushing my shirt over my mouth. It didn't help, I was still coughing like a 70 year old chain smoker. My throat burning.

“Arnold?” I called out again.

Was I too late? I couldn't be too late. I took a sharp breath and pulled myself up to the second floor. My hands were red and black, my shoes felt like they were melting and my head was hot enough to cook an egg. Pull yourself together. Come on.

Coughing loudly, I walked to one of the rooms on the left side of the hall.

Get out of here. Seriously, why did the therapist ask if I do stupid things? You can easily do them without me!

“Anyone...anyone in here!” I could barely hear my own voice. “Hello!” I called out again, the beating in my ears getting stronger and stronger. On the floor there was a small pink elephant doll burning, it's ears black from the flames. It just lay there in the middle of the room, staring at me, it's beady fake eyes aligned with mine. Was there a kid sleeping in this room?

“Hello! You don't have to be scared if you're in here! I'm here to help!” I scream. Hoping to see anything move in between the black smoke fogging the whole room.

“Arnold?”

I stopped myself from coughing just long enough to hear a small unsteady noise. It was coming from under the bed. I basically dropped myself to the hot floor and let my already bloody knee become a burned one too.

I looked under the bed.

It's impossible to see anything here.

I steadied myself and closed my eyes, then pushed my arm out and reached for anything or anyone. My fingers stretched out in the fire when I felt a small hand reach out to me.

For a second, everything was silent.

The small fingers wrapped around me. He couldn't be more than four years old. I pulled him out with all my strenght. Through dust and scruff I saw two brown eyes emerge and dark brown hair. He looked too small and too skinny and too frail to still be alive. I pulled him tight to my chest and stood up one foot at a time.

Get out. Get out now.

I coughed my way out of the room, feeling Arnold weakly holding me too.

Suddenly, the roof cracked. Instinctively I look up and see the ceiling collapse on itself, smashing me down. I tried moving my arms, but my whole body was pinned to the floor. I opened my mouth, ready to scream for help, ready to yell out, but no noise came out.

Eden, come on, pull yourself up. You aren't going to die like this! Come on.

My head was spinning, I couldn't move, I felt my heart race slower and slower, my eye lids were closing, I can't die now. No. No. Stay focused. The kid...the kid...think about the kid... my eyes were blurry and slowly closing...and then everything went pitch black.