Caged in Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page A

the house
I tended to have panic attacks. He learned that the hard way when
he came home with Maye from seeing a movie, to find me curled in
fetal position in the kitchen pantry. When they tried to comfort
me, I slashed at them with my nails, while letting forth a growl.
My mind simply wouldn’t process who they were, and as cornered
animals do… I viewed them as a threat. Ash managed to lure me out
of my internal rage by singing to me. When my mind began to process
who I had been slashing at, I broke down into tears. They made a
point not to leave me home alone again.
    “Mmmm… nope.” I avoided his eyes, as I
shoved my books into the tote at my feet. “I’m not going to be home
anyway. I promised Izzy we could go dress shopping today.” I rolled
my eyes at Izzy.
    “Well, if I am going to be seen with you two
wallflowers, you can’t look like you just rolled out of bed. It’s
either wear my clothes or buy something new. Since you and Willow
insist my wardrobe is too garish for your complexions; that leaves
shopping…” Izzy shrugged with a smile and walked off towards her
first period class.
    Ash blocked my way when I tried to follow.
“You’re going shopping?” He laughed, “To a mall… to buy real
clothes?” Amusement and disbelief ran rampant in his voice.
    I shoved Ash gently against the locker.
“Yes, to the mall for real clothes. What kind of clothes did
you think I was going to buy?” I crossed my arms and gave him my, be careful what you say or you’ll regret it stare.
    Griffin came to Ash’s rescue by shouting
that they needed to get to class or they would be late. Ash glanced
at me, shrugged and said “Guess I can’t answer that question. Talk
to you tonight, S.”
    I looked in the direction that Izzy had gone
and slowly ambled forward. This was going to be a long day. Not
only did I have to worry about a calculus test and the inevitable
bruising from self defense class, but I had to worry about shopping
too.
     
    Ash
     
    When Savannah turned, her hair grazed my
face and brought the fresh scent of strawberries. I thought it was
ironic that she was firm in her decision to be anti-feminine,
considering that she added small accents, which were very much
feminine. Savannah had been that way since the first day I met her.
She fought a war within herself; always trying to be someone she
wasn’t. She was beautiful, but she hid it behind baggy clothes. She
was smart, but she never opened her mouth to show it. She was
insecure and yet she deliberately took the lead, as if daring her
personality to deny her anything.
    At first, I was jealous when Savannah came
to live with us. I had been uncomfortable with the idea of sharing
Maye since she was the only family I had left. When I thought of
the look in Savannah’s eyes the night she showed up on our lawn;
the vacant cavern of emotion behind her gaze, I wanted to rescue
her.
    I was a child when Savannah came to live
with us and didn’t realize that she couldn’t be fixed. She wasn’t a
disease or a broken computer; she was a girl who had endured the
nine circles of hell and survived. I admired her, but more than
that I loved her. I had to share Maye, but I gained so much
more.
    I couldn’t help but feel protective of
Savannah; it was in my nature. I was an Emmons; it was in our blood
to protect our loved ones, just as it was in our nature to descend
into a poisonous rage when those loved ones are threatened. The
thought of the trials Savannah endured, was enough to make me
lengthen my fangs and hiss.
    I walked to English, and went to each of my
classes, but they were more of a formality at this point. Other
than first period English and fourth period gym, I had enough
credits to graduate. Rather than taking a course load of unneeded
electives, I choose to go home directly after lunch.
    As a senior, I sat in the first cafeteria.
My small band of friends took up the table in the middle of the
room, which meant that we were the object of many