Bluebell
by Patricia Hatley
Shouts of anger boomed through the air, becoming louder with each growing footstep. I struggled to breathe, my chest tightening whenever the voices came closer. I felt a chill ripple down the back of my spine, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to perk up. I let out little gasps of air, regaining my strength slowly.
“She’s in here!” A gruff male voice echoed from outside of my door. I stopped, staring in a frozen bitter hatred towards the voice. Clenching my fists together, I slammed my boot down hard on the floor. My knuckles began turning a pale white as I bit down harshly on my tongue. Collecting my senses, I raised my neck upwards, letting out one last breath of air. I began to close my eyes, lashes daintily fluttering as I lolled my head backwards. The noise began to fade away, the only thing I could hear was my heartbeat thumping thoroughly against my chest.
Then, the light gray door slammed open, hitting the wall with vicious force.
“Move, move, move! Don’t let her get away!” The men yelled at the top of their lungs. They barged in, vests strapped to their bodies and guns gripped fiercely in their gloves. They ran towards me at such speed I was taken aback. Lowering my head and opening my eyes, I bunched up my muscles and fled. The footsteps grew louder and louder, smashing on the ground like monster trucks to a dirt road. Their yelling sounded so sharp I thought my ears were going to bleed. But I wasn’t going to panic.
Leaping over my nightstand, I reached towards my windowsill. I felt my fingers curling around it as I lurched myself out of my open window. I opened it to find out what the commotion was, knowing I would need to flee. I rolled onto the snowy ground, collapsing under my buckling kneecaps into a ball. The shouts grew softer and softer as the men rushed from my room and began clunking down the stairs. Shouts grew as I heard my parents rebelling, trying to push the men from the house. They knew my plan. But I didn’t know theirs.
I stood up and began brushing off my legs, sending snow flurries twirling to the ground. I held my breath and started to run once more. My once stiff legs were now full of energy, sending me soaring forwards with long slick strides. The snow crunched underneath my boots, crackling and popping with every step I took. My feet left a marked trail behind me, but there was nothing I could do. I had to keep moving. No matter what was left over, whether it’s just my footprints or my parents. I have to keep going.
A gunshot. Another one. Agonized screaming. Heavy breathing. I felt myself stop, the gunshot sound completely rattling my body. I froze, clutching onto my breath. The air became still and silent, only my panicked heartbeat thrummed in my ears. I placed my hand to my chest and tried to calm myself. But I was too weak. Tears began falling from the corners of my eyes, I could feel them as they slid down my cheek. They left stains of memories, pictures of how life became what it was. My parents, their smiling faces. Mom, with her curly hair and glistening blue eyes. And dad, with his neat trimmed hair tucking gently behind his ears and his oddly dark eyes.
I always remembered how I was able to see only the color blue when the world around me what surrounded with nothing but gray dark remnants of a once peaceful world. Everything had lost its color, except what I saw or touched. Nothing was colorful, nothing remained showing any signs of bright new dimensional colors. Not a single thing was colored with emotion.
Until I touched something, and made it blue again.
Everything that I could touch and turn colors began to glow white when I stepped near it, the aura forming neatly around the object. That happened multiple times when I was a baby, playing with toys that were once gray and turning them into dark blue patterns. My parents hadn’t known of my ability before and were so shocked. When I described to my mom her eye color she started crying. I complimented them and reminded her how beautiful they were. She would grow sad and frustrated that she couldn’t see them, but always urged me to keep trying to make things blue.
Then, I was jolted back into the horrible anguishing depth of reality. I snapped my focus away from the memories, my head pounding and my heart racing. The screams replaying over and over again, reminding me of how soft their voices used to be. The tears began to stream down my cheeks at a quicker pace and I began to sob. Choked little gasps of breath and weak muffled sounds only made me feel worse. Here I was, now realizing these crazed maniacs killed my parents, and instead of running for cover, I decided to stop and sob in the snow.
I wanted to collapse. I wanted to fall right there on the spot and pass out. I never want to wake up again. Never. I just want to be left to rot. I’m all alone. I let out another choked sob, pressing my arms against my chest tightly. I had never felt so heartbroken before. I was stuck to the spot. I couldn’t bear to leave my parents to just lie there. They need a proper burial.
Placing my arms down by my sides and catching my breath, I let out a dark sigh. The freezing temperatures of the snow didn’t stop me as I ran my fingers through my hair and bolted into the forest. I knew I had to get out of here, before I was next.
I don’t think I have ever run as fast as this before. I was pushing forward, using all my strength as I kept a strong durable pace. I swung my arms back and forth, the rubbing of my elbows against my jacket made me run faster, knowing the noise would stop when I stopped. My boots slapped the ground, sending chunks of dirt and grit scattering to the side. My breath turned to mist, dissipating behind me as I struggled onwards.
I let out a yelp of fear as another gunshot rang through the air, I ducked my head down, my long braid bouncing up and down on my small backpack as I ran. Another bullet, more yelling, then another one. My yelps grew louder as the bullets whizzed by my face. I gasped, feeling my throat tighten with despair and my eyes sting from the cold breeze. I rubbed my hands against my eyelids as I ran, only to make them sting worse. I let out a growl of pain, stumbling forwards as my breath began to run out.
I looked around desperately for something to hide behind. But there was nothing but the swallowing darkness of the forest. I was curious as to if I could camouflage within the shadows. But I realized that wouldn’t work. My footprints would give away my position. I was trapped in this endless forest.
Or so I thought.
“Hey! Hey you! Come here!” A snappy yet slightly soothing feminine voice hissed from afar. I jumped, feeling my eyes widen as I frantically looked around. “Come over here! By the tree!” The voice called, sharpening its tone. I stepped closer towards the voice, reaching in my back pocket. I slowly slid out my serrated pocket knife, unclipping it and keeping it closer to my side. I could feel my sweaty palms slip around the knife, as if wanting me to drop it into the snow. I refused to let it go and kept holding onto it, tighter and tighter. The girl let out a little surprised shock. “Woah! Easy there!”
The rustling of bushes made my heart pick up speed. Suddenly, a small figure began pushing itself from behind the bushes. It had the outline of a slightly curvy female, and it grew closer with her every step. The snow crunched, making me freeze. I stood there, ready to swipe. The girl, then stepped out completely, showing herself.
“You have to come with me.” She urged, panic and desperation flooding her gaze. “My name is Ruby. What’s yours?” She asked, stepping closer towards me. Her hair folded neatly into large curls and it bounced gently on her shoulders. It was long and wavy, and her clothes were still the same boring color as everything else. Except for a pin on her jacket. It was an icy blue-teal color, drizzled with more gray.
“Sky.” I answered, still drawing the knife. I felt my fingers loosen their grip when she smiled.
“Nice to meet you Sky. What a pretty backpack you have on.” She chuckled, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. I turned around, confused, and gazed at my backpack.
“What’s so different about a gray boring backpack?” I snapped, narrowing my eyes towards her. Ruby looked puzzled.
“Why, your backpack is a beautiful shade of strawberry red. Perfect little thing if you ask me.” She said, perking upwards, completely forgetting about the imminent danger. “Here, let me handle this.” Ruby nearly whispered. She leaned closer. I took a step back. Ruby stopped, smiling. I looked deep into her eyes. She was shorter than me, and looked quite younger as well. She looked around 13 years old. I decided to loosen up. As she approached me, I clipped my knife back into its case and shoved it back in my pocket.
But that’s when she touched my bag. Suddenly, a bright new shade of color filled my eyes, stunning me with shock and beauty. My bag looked completely different. I reached for it, touching it, and suddenly, colors flashed around me. I could see what Ruby said. I could now see the color red.
“Wow, red is a beautiful color!” I whispered in awe as I studied my surroundings. I noticed that Ruby’s shirt was a darker shade of this red color.
“I know right! That deep shade of red right there is what I call crimson red.” She muttered nicely, poking her shirt. I took a deep breath.
“Wow,” I breathed, still at a loss for words, “crimson. I like that word.” Ruby’s smile grew.
“Awe, me too! Now come on, let’s go meet the others-” Ruby began before she was cut off by a startling shriek of a crow. I stopped, reaching for my knife once more. Ruby shuddered beside me. “Heh, just a crow.”
BANG!
The sound of the gunshot roared in my ears as a sharp pain pierced through my stomach. I clutched my belly, letting out a shout of pain. Panic and horror flooded into Ruby’s eyes as she let out a terrified scream. I fell down to the ground, snow covering the side of my face and body. Ruby dropped down to her knees, shaking my shoulder yelling and screaming for help. I couldn’t breathe. I felt something sticky begin to roll out of my stomach and onto the snow. It was blood. But what I didn’t know, was that blood was a red color. Crimson red.
The shouts and screams coming from Ruby were faint and nearly silent for me. All I could hear was my own shaky breath. My vision blurred, and my heartbeat slowed down. More and more blood began seeping onto the ground. I began to release my grip on my stomach and my arm loosely fell in the snow. Ruby grabbed it, shaking it, tears beginning to cloud her eyes. The pain was unbearable, and the snow made it feel like icy daggers were tearing through my skin. My blood ran cold and my mind stirred.
I wanted to tell Ruby everything would be okay. But I would be lying. So, I grabbed Ruby’s hand. Ruby looked at me, nearing her face towards mine. I shuddered as more blood pooled around the corners of my mouth. The taste was bitter and tangy, making me want to spit it up more than ever. But I was too weak, too consumed with pain to move. I let out a shaky sigh and began to close my eyes. Ruby’s face fell and she let out an agonized wail.
“R-ruby...” I moaned in pain, fading in and out of black. “R-ruby… I’m sorry…” I coughed, splattering blood against my chin. A tear from Ruby fell onto my hand, sending a chill through my fingers. Ruby swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked weakly towards me. Ruby stopped, and stared at me, a sudden shock overwhelming her.
“Sky! Sky don’t leave me! Not yet!” Ruby said, frantically backing up. She threw off her jacket and began unzipping a pocket. She rustled through it, sending me panicked glances. Another gunshot went off. Voices became louder and clearer. I flinched. Ruby then pulled out something small from her pocket and thrust it towards me. “Everyone else can’t do it, but I believe in you! Please, show me a new color! Bring my mom’s flower to life!” She whispered helplessly. Ruby placed the flower in the palm of my hand and closed my fingers around it. She lowered her head to my fist and began to sob. I could feel my heart wrenching apart at the sight of her cry. I hated it when children cried.
I gave Ruby a small weak smile. I knew exactly what type of flower it was. It was a bluebell. I loosened my fingers and the bluebell perked up, shimmering a gentle dark blue. Ruby’s eyes widened and her face grew in shock. She picked up the flower and examined it. She mouthed words I couldn’t hear. My hearing was nearly gone. I was too weak to listen to her anymore. When she noticed I wasn’t responding, her eyes widened in fear. She opened her mouth to yell once more. When she shut it, I smiled.
“This Ruby, is the color blue. And that flower, is a bluebell.” I whispered, chuckling when Ruby’s tears began to stop pouring from her eyes. “Run Ruby run, take it with you. Tell everyone you know.” I gasped, feeling my vision turn white. I could feel the pain easing as the color nearly consumed my entire gaze. I clenched my teeth shutting my eyes for good. I couldn’t feel anything anymore.
The last thing I ever saw was the bluebell, lying motionless in my hand.
And then my vision faded completely to white.
“She’s in here!” A gruff male voice echoed from outside of my door. I stopped, staring in a frozen bitter hatred towards the voice. Clenching my fists together, I slammed my boot down hard on the floor. My knuckles began turning a pale white as I bit down harshly on my tongue. Collecting my senses, I raised my neck upwards, letting out one last breath of air. I began to close my eyes, lashes daintily fluttering as I lolled my head backwards. The noise began to fade away, the only thing I could hear was my heartbeat thumping thoroughly against my chest.
Then, the light gray door slammed open, hitting the wall with vicious force.
“Move, move, move! Don’t let her get away!” The men yelled at the top of their lungs. They barged in, vests strapped to their bodies and guns gripped fiercely in their gloves. They ran towards me at such speed I was taken aback. Lowering my head and opening my eyes, I bunched up my muscles and fled. The footsteps grew louder and louder, smashing on the ground like monster trucks to a dirt road. Their yelling sounded so sharp I thought my ears were going to bleed. But I wasn’t going to panic.
Leaping over my nightstand, I reached towards my windowsill. I felt my fingers curling around it as I lurched myself out of my open window. I opened it to find out what the commotion was, knowing I would need to flee. I rolled onto the snowy ground, collapsing under my buckling kneecaps into a ball. The shouts grew softer and softer as the men rushed from my room and began clunking down the stairs. Shouts grew as I heard my parents rebelling, trying to push the men from the house. They knew my plan. But I didn’t know theirs.
I stood up and began brushing off my legs, sending snow flurries twirling to the ground. I held my breath and started to run once more. My once stiff legs were now full of energy, sending me soaring forwards with long slick strides. The snow crunched underneath my boots, crackling and popping with every step I took. My feet left a marked trail behind me, but there was nothing I could do. I had to keep moving. No matter what was left over, whether it’s just my footprints or my parents. I have to keep going.
A gunshot. Another one. Agonized screaming. Heavy breathing. I felt myself stop, the gunshot sound completely rattling my body. I froze, clutching onto my breath. The air became still and silent, only my panicked heartbeat thrummed in my ears. I placed my hand to my chest and tried to calm myself. But I was too weak. Tears began falling from the corners of my eyes, I could feel them as they slid down my cheek. They left stains of memories, pictures of how life became what it was. My parents, their smiling faces. Mom, with her curly hair and glistening blue eyes. And dad, with his neat trimmed hair tucking gently behind his ears and his oddly dark eyes.
I always remembered how I was able to see only the color blue when the world around me what surrounded with nothing but gray dark remnants of a once peaceful world. Everything had lost its color, except what I saw or touched. Nothing was colorful, nothing remained showing any signs of bright new dimensional colors. Not a single thing was colored with emotion.
Until I touched something, and made it blue again.
Everything that I could touch and turn colors began to glow white when I stepped near it, the aura forming neatly around the object. That happened multiple times when I was a baby, playing with toys that were once gray and turning them into dark blue patterns. My parents hadn’t known of my ability before and were so shocked. When I described to my mom her eye color she started crying. I complimented them and reminded her how beautiful they were. She would grow sad and frustrated that she couldn’t see them, but always urged me to keep trying to make things blue.
Then, I was jolted back into the horrible anguishing depth of reality. I snapped my focus away from the memories, my head pounding and my heart racing. The screams replaying over and over again, reminding me of how soft their voices used to be. The tears began to stream down my cheeks at a quicker pace and I began to sob. Choked little gasps of breath and weak muffled sounds only made me feel worse. Here I was, now realizing these crazed maniacs killed my parents, and instead of running for cover, I decided to stop and sob in the snow.
I wanted to collapse. I wanted to fall right there on the spot and pass out. I never want to wake up again. Never. I just want to be left to rot. I’m all alone. I let out another choked sob, pressing my arms against my chest tightly. I had never felt so heartbroken before. I was stuck to the spot. I couldn’t bear to leave my parents to just lie there. They need a proper burial.
Placing my arms down by my sides and catching my breath, I let out a dark sigh. The freezing temperatures of the snow didn’t stop me as I ran my fingers through my hair and bolted into the forest. I knew I had to get out of here, before I was next.
I don’t think I have ever run as fast as this before. I was pushing forward, using all my strength as I kept a strong durable pace. I swung my arms back and forth, the rubbing of my elbows against my jacket made me run faster, knowing the noise would stop when I stopped. My boots slapped the ground, sending chunks of dirt and grit scattering to the side. My breath turned to mist, dissipating behind me as I struggled onwards.
I let out a yelp of fear as another gunshot rang through the air, I ducked my head down, my long braid bouncing up and down on my small backpack as I ran. Another bullet, more yelling, then another one. My yelps grew louder as the bullets whizzed by my face. I gasped, feeling my throat tighten with despair and my eyes sting from the cold breeze. I rubbed my hands against my eyelids as I ran, only to make them sting worse. I let out a growl of pain, stumbling forwards as my breath began to run out.
I looked around desperately for something to hide behind. But there was nothing but the swallowing darkness of the forest. I was curious as to if I could camouflage within the shadows. But I realized that wouldn’t work. My footprints would give away my position. I was trapped in this endless forest.
Or so I thought.
“Hey! Hey you! Come here!” A snappy yet slightly soothing feminine voice hissed from afar. I jumped, feeling my eyes widen as I frantically looked around. “Come over here! By the tree!” The voice called, sharpening its tone. I stepped closer towards the voice, reaching in my back pocket. I slowly slid out my serrated pocket knife, unclipping it and keeping it closer to my side. I could feel my sweaty palms slip around the knife, as if wanting me to drop it into the snow. I refused to let it go and kept holding onto it, tighter and tighter. The girl let out a little surprised shock. “Woah! Easy there!”
The rustling of bushes made my heart pick up speed. Suddenly, a small figure began pushing itself from behind the bushes. It had the outline of a slightly curvy female, and it grew closer with her every step. The snow crunched, making me freeze. I stood there, ready to swipe. The girl, then stepped out completely, showing herself.
“You have to come with me.” She urged, panic and desperation flooding her gaze. “My name is Ruby. What’s yours?” She asked, stepping closer towards me. Her hair folded neatly into large curls and it bounced gently on her shoulders. It was long and wavy, and her clothes were still the same boring color as everything else. Except for a pin on her jacket. It was an icy blue-teal color, drizzled with more gray.
“Sky.” I answered, still drawing the knife. I felt my fingers loosen their grip when she smiled.
“Nice to meet you Sky. What a pretty backpack you have on.” She chuckled, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. I turned around, confused, and gazed at my backpack.
“What’s so different about a gray boring backpack?” I snapped, narrowing my eyes towards her. Ruby looked puzzled.
“Why, your backpack is a beautiful shade of strawberry red. Perfect little thing if you ask me.” She said, perking upwards, completely forgetting about the imminent danger. “Here, let me handle this.” Ruby nearly whispered. She leaned closer. I took a step back. Ruby stopped, smiling. I looked deep into her eyes. She was shorter than me, and looked quite younger as well. She looked around 13 years old. I decided to loosen up. As she approached me, I clipped my knife back into its case and shoved it back in my pocket.
But that’s when she touched my bag. Suddenly, a bright new shade of color filled my eyes, stunning me with shock and beauty. My bag looked completely different. I reached for it, touching it, and suddenly, colors flashed around me. I could see what Ruby said. I could now see the color red.
“Wow, red is a beautiful color!” I whispered in awe as I studied my surroundings. I noticed that Ruby’s shirt was a darker shade of this red color.
“I know right! That deep shade of red right there is what I call crimson red.” She muttered nicely, poking her shirt. I took a deep breath.
“Wow,” I breathed, still at a loss for words, “crimson. I like that word.” Ruby’s smile grew.
“Awe, me too! Now come on, let’s go meet the others-” Ruby began before she was cut off by a startling shriek of a crow. I stopped, reaching for my knife once more. Ruby shuddered beside me. “Heh, just a crow.”
BANG!
The sound of the gunshot roared in my ears as a sharp pain pierced through my stomach. I clutched my belly, letting out a shout of pain. Panic and horror flooded into Ruby’s eyes as she let out a terrified scream. I fell down to the ground, snow covering the side of my face and body. Ruby dropped down to her knees, shaking my shoulder yelling and screaming for help. I couldn’t breathe. I felt something sticky begin to roll out of my stomach and onto the snow. It was blood. But what I didn’t know, was that blood was a red color. Crimson red.
The shouts and screams coming from Ruby were faint and nearly silent for me. All I could hear was my own shaky breath. My vision blurred, and my heartbeat slowed down. More and more blood began seeping onto the ground. I began to release my grip on my stomach and my arm loosely fell in the snow. Ruby grabbed it, shaking it, tears beginning to cloud her eyes. The pain was unbearable, and the snow made it feel like icy daggers were tearing through my skin. My blood ran cold and my mind stirred.
I wanted to tell Ruby everything would be okay. But I would be lying. So, I grabbed Ruby’s hand. Ruby looked at me, nearing her face towards mine. I shuddered as more blood pooled around the corners of my mouth. The taste was bitter and tangy, making me want to spit it up more than ever. But I was too weak, too consumed with pain to move. I let out a shaky sigh and began to close my eyes. Ruby’s face fell and she let out an agonized wail.
“R-ruby...” I moaned in pain, fading in and out of black. “R-ruby… I’m sorry…” I coughed, splattering blood against my chin. A tear from Ruby fell onto my hand, sending a chill through my fingers. Ruby swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked weakly towards me. Ruby stopped, and stared at me, a sudden shock overwhelming her.
“Sky! Sky don’t leave me! Not yet!” Ruby said, frantically backing up. She threw off her jacket and began unzipping a pocket. She rustled through it, sending me panicked glances. Another gunshot went off. Voices became louder and clearer. I flinched. Ruby then pulled out something small from her pocket and thrust it towards me. “Everyone else can’t do it, but I believe in you! Please, show me a new color! Bring my mom’s flower to life!” She whispered helplessly. Ruby placed the flower in the palm of my hand and closed my fingers around it. She lowered her head to my fist and began to sob. I could feel my heart wrenching apart at the sight of her cry. I hated it when children cried.
I gave Ruby a small weak smile. I knew exactly what type of flower it was. It was a bluebell. I loosened my fingers and the bluebell perked up, shimmering a gentle dark blue. Ruby’s eyes widened and her face grew in shock. She picked up the flower and examined it. She mouthed words I couldn’t hear. My hearing was nearly gone. I was too weak to listen to her anymore. When she noticed I wasn’t responding, her eyes widened in fear. She opened her mouth to yell once more. When she shut it, I smiled.
“This Ruby, is the color blue. And that flower, is a bluebell.” I whispered, chuckling when Ruby’s tears began to stop pouring from her eyes. “Run Ruby run, take it with you. Tell everyone you know.” I gasped, feeling my vision turn white. I could feel the pain easing as the color nearly consumed my entire gaze. I clenched my teeth shutting my eyes for good. I couldn’t feel anything anymore.
The last thing I ever saw was the bluebell, lying motionless in my hand.
And then my vision faded completely to white.