Indie Ink Challenge: A Walk In The Clouds

This is my 2nd Indie Ink challenge. I’m crazy about doing these, it makes me so happy. Anyways, my challenge came from Sid at Creative Shocker…which, I can’t seem to get the link. The prompt simply stated: a walk in the clouds.
I was like…WHAT? Where can I go with this? I was stuck for a minute. Then I had this idea. If any of you have read my fiction before, you know I’m prone to crazy flights of fancy. Well, this is no different, of course. No title yet…because I have no clue what I’m going to do with it. Sorry it’s so long. I actually had to just quit writing because otherwise, it would end up WAY too long for a post. Would love to know what you think, over in the comments!

***************************************************************************
It was no bigger than a Tylenol capsule yet that white powder held unlimited, nameless powers. The effects were different on each person who ingested it. And they were permanent. Once you swallowed this little pill, there was no undoing it. You had to be certain beyond all certainty that you were willing to become what it would transform you into.

I held this rare and highly sought after pill in my open palm and marveled at its ability to create. What journey did this red and blue capsule take to reach me. How is one recognized as a worthy recipient? Why me?

There have only been six of these pills taken. Or at least documented as successes. These six are all teenagers with above average IQs who have been transformed into something beyond human. To call them superheroes seems so comic book-like. But the powers they possess since swallowing this pill are beyond comprehension.

I am number 7. After me, there will be 3 more. 10 pills from some unknown source with unknown ingredients and unknown effects delivered anonymously in a sterile, see thru ziplock baggy.

I couldn’t stop staring at this pill. Was it to be a gift or a curse? If I take it and give up everything i’ve ever known in order join the others at a special training compound built specifically for the pill takers.

Instead of being head cheerleader, president of the junior class student council and ivy league bound I would potentially embark on a journey into the unrevealed. If I chose to swallow this new destiny.

I wondered about the six before me. Was the decision easy for them? Did they feel as though they had much to lose or more to gain? Me? I was beyond torn. I didn’t want to leave the life I had but the temptation of all this pill could offer was very seductive.

I knew I had a 24 hour window in which to make my choice. The instructions were that if I chose not to accept then I should leave the bag with the pill by my door where it would discreetly be removed.

I was not permitted to tell anyone that I received this pill unless I decided to take it. Then, I would have 24 hours to say goodbye, a car would arrive for me and I’d be taken to the compound where I would await transformation and begin my training process.

I wished I could talk to my mom. She would be able to help me figure out the right thing to do. How would anyone ever know if i broke that one little rule, I wondered. This little tiny thing couldn’t possibly carry some sort of tap, could it?

Sighing, I lay down in my bed, holding the baggy up toward the light. The idea of having some sort of super powers was just awesome. The thought of not ever being a normal teenager again was bittersweet.

Prom and college. Future career and family. All replaced by something fantastic and otherworldly. And very foreign.

I laid there for hours, staring at the pill, weighing the pros and cons of a life known versus one with unrealized capabilities.

I must have finally fallen asleep because I awoke to my 6am alarm wailing Pinks latest and greatest. “Pretty, pretty please. Don’t you ever, ever feel. That you are less than, less than perfect”, she begged through Bose speakers.

I had 12 hours left to make my decision and to accept whatever ramifications accompanied it.

School crawled. I was tired, moody and not in an academic type of mind set. Mid physics test I decided my own destiny. I turned in my half finished exam and walked out of the school for the last time.

Stopping at the 7-11, I bought myself a Pepsi Slurpee and tossed the pill onto the back of my tongue. I let it sit there for a moment while I panicked at my decision. Then, with a big, brain freeze swig of the frozen liquid, I accepted my alternate future.

Feeling the need to spend every second of the next 24 hours surrounded by my family and friends, I ran the 3 miles home. Not knowing how long it would be until I could see them again…if I could ever see them again…was very upsetting.

The next few hours were emotionally exhausting. Then it was time. A large black car pulled up the drive. I kissed my family, grabbed my bags and went out to meet the car.

A hot guy about my age jumped out of the drivers side. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea at all, I thought. He turned and winked mischievously at me, as though he knew my thoughts.

“Hey there, Annie! We gotta getchya to the compound in time for dinner. Hope you like lamb chops. It’s what they’re serving. Oh yeah and I’m Owen.” he extended a hand and I met it with my own. ” Ready?”

I nodded “As I’ll ever be.” I felt so small, so helpless. So completely unsure.

He must have sensed my nervousness, “You’ll be fine. The changing doesn’t hurt, not really. Mine didn’t but I could feel it happening. The Founders make it comfortable. I promise, you’re going to be just perfect” he reassured.

The car came to a stop and I could only assume we arrived at the compound. The car door swung open revealing a modern estate set back in some sort of forest, surrounded by a tremendous stone wall. The whole outside area seemed liked an impenetrable fortress; impressive and imposing.

I had no idea what state we were in, the terrain was completely unfamiliar. I hadn’t been able to see anything of our one hour drive due to the car windows being blackened with some sort of film.

Owen helped me gather up my things, he gave my arm a reassuring squeeze, “Let’s go. Annie, you’re gonna really like it here. I was the first one here and really, I can’t imagine ever leaving. It’s become more home than my home was.”

Feeling like an ant approaching a tree, we walked toward the gigantic front door. Owen produced a key from out of his jean pocket and let us into a marble vestibule where he set my things down, grabbed my hand and led me to the dining hall.

“Let’s eat!” He dropped down into a seat and began filling his plate with aromatically appealing foods.

My mouth watering and stomach rumbling, I sat down in the empty seat next to Owen at the massive mahogany dining table which was surrounded by 12 matching chairs. There were 7 of us teen “recruits” and two very magical, ethereal looking adults.

Conversation lulled for a moment to acknowledge me, the newcomer to the group. The male adult greeted me with a musical accent, “Welcome, welcome dear Annie. We’ve been waiting a long time for you. Eat, enjoy! The transformation will begin shortly after dinner so we will lead you to your chambers where you will be most comfortable. There is nothing to fear, my dear. Embrace your destiny, you will become what was meant for you all along.” He smiles, his bright blue eyes crinkling endearingly in the corners as he continued eating and conversing loudly with the others.

After dinner, a staff member dressed in butler-like uniform directed me to my living quarters. My jaw dropped, it blew away my room back home. Plasma tv hanging on a cornflower blue wall. Fireplace, step-up four poster bed. A room fit for royalty. And a matching bathroom, to boot.

I plopped myself onto the huge bed covered in downy comfort. I was overwhelmed and suddenly more tired than I remember ever being in my entire 17 years of life.

I couldn’t keep my eyes open, I curled up into a ball and succumbed to the exhaustion, barely noticing the girl who had walked in and place herself on guard in the overstuffed armchair next to the fireplace. My sentry.

When I awoke, it was bright out. I had no idea how long I slept. Something felt strange and it took me a moment to realize that I was no longer safe and warm in the king sized bed because that was far below me.

I could see everything, the entire compound was spread out underneath me. I noticed people outside, staring up at the sky. Where was I? What was I?

I had become a wisp, a vapor. A small bird. A hawk, an eagle. I could feel myself changing. A shapeshifter gone rogue and out of control.

When I was finally able to gain control, I reemerged, in some semblance of my proper form. But not really, not completely. My real, regular, 11th grade self would never be living a longtime fantasy. Because this me, the one who swallowed that little pill and chose to take a different direction in life? A new destiny…she was high in the sky, laughing loudly while leaping and walking amongst the clouds.

Comments

comments