Screaming. Why was it always screaming.
Luce thought as she sat up in bed. It was the same way she woke up every morning. When she slept the barriers she kept up against the spirits came down, all she could hear was the restless spirits screaming and wailing about their sins. It drove Luce crazy, she could not remember the last time she had slept uninterrupted. Dragging her self out of bed, Luce opened the curtains. The sun was just rising in a glowing orange haze across the horizon, its gentle tendrils of lights sweeping through the streets of the town. The birds began to chirp and fly around in the sky, cars began leaving their driveways as people commuted to work. But most people would not be awake for at least two hours as they savoured their last few days in bed before school started. Luce loved this time of day, everything was so quiet and undisturbed, but it also left the remnants of the nights mischievous antics. The drunkards staggering home, the secret lovers and one night stands slipping out before they're caught, the nights crimes are discovered. Therefore Luce slipped on her leggings, t-shirt, trainers and pulled her thick mane of hair into a pony tail, Luce loved to run first thing in the morning, it got her ready for the day ahead and helped bring her barriers back up quicker.
The house was silent as she slipped into the light of the morning sun. She began in a steady jog to warm herself up as she headed towards the high street. It was slightly busier here as the locals opened up their stores and received deliveries. Aware that everyone in the town knew everyone and there would be someone that would eventually recognize her, she kept her head down, picking up the pace as her feet rhythmically hit the uneven ground beneath her feet. Feeling the weight lifting off her shoulders Luce sighed as some of the background chatter that was always in her head died away. Realizing she had now completed a circuit Luce ran back up the drive to the house. Luce saw that her Aunt and Uncle's cars where no longer on the drive, so she must be home alone for the day. It was almost as if Luce was back in England, home alone again.
Merlin was lying across the front door step as Luce walked up to open the door, waiting for her return as he brushed his head against Luce's legs.
"Come on buddy, lets go get some breakfast."
And their it was, the routine, waking up from the screaming, going for a run, breakfast and the constant lonely silence that Luce seemed unable to escape. It had always been there.
***
Luce wasn't scared of many things, she didn't see the point in wasting her time on such petty things, why would you be afraid of a little spider that is probably more scared of you. Or be afraid of the dark, there's nothing different about the dark than there is in the day, well for ungifted humans anyway. But for some reason Luce was scared of first days. First days terrified her, and she didn't know why, because each one went exactly the same. It was always the same routine in the morning, then turn up at the school, be ridiculed and judged before coming home at the end of the day hating life with a few bruises, only to complete the same cycle the next day. Granted Luce hadn't had a first day for two years now, she still couldn't help but dawn on the fact that everyone at Winters Hollow High was going to hate her. No matter where she went it was always the same comments, the same pushing, shoving, the same isolation. Not only that, but she could no longer avoid everyone that could of possibly known her parents.
She kept it simple today, wearing her favourite black skinny jeans, her Nirvana top and black hoodie, before lacing up the laces on her combat boots. Turning to look at the clock on the wall, Luce realized that if she didn't hurry up she was going to be late. Rushing to put her make up on, Luce poked herself in the eye with her eye liner.
"Well done Lucinda, how smart of you," She mumbled under her breath, cursing herself for being so clumsy.
Luce heard a chuckle from the door behind her, "Your mum used to do that all the time," Beth smiled.
Smiling at the memory of witnessing her mum do it herself, Luce turned to Beth, "Can't help it, I'm going to be late at this rate."
Beth jangled her car keys in front of Luce's face, "Relax, I'll drive you in."
The school was as old as the rest of the town. It was beautifully constructed, not a millimeter had been left to the imagination of the builders. A stain glass window was on either side of the large glass doors that led to the main office. The student car park was filled with cars and people ran around everywhere greeting her friends. The grass was freshly mowed and the gentle breeze carried the scent to Luce, taking her back to the hours she had spent in the English countryside. The excited chatter of friends talking about their summer vacation filled Luce's mind, their thoughts as they saw people they hadn't seen for two months, some filled with hatred, others with happiness or lust. Luce's powers were buzzing inside of her with all the frequencies of peoples minds, auras and spirits.
"Honey you OK?" Beth asked from the drivers seat.
Luce nodded, "I'll see you tonight."
Moving her way through the crowds, Luce attempted to make herself look as invisible as possible, not wanting to draw any attention to herself this early in the morning. No one wanted to cross a grumpy Lucinda Winters first thing in the morning.
Brown eyes that were set in a face of soft wrinkles looked up at Luce as she approached the secretary. The woman smiled kindly at Luce as she walked into the room that was painted a bright lemon colour that made Luce's eyes hurt.
"Hhhm, I'd recognize those grey eyes and dark hair anywhere, you must be a Winters."
Luce sighed, "Is it that obvious. I was hoping to stay invisible."
"Sorry love, maybe, maybe not, I've just seen the Winters boys in this office many times, and I was friends with their father and his brother." The woman said. Luce looked into the woman's soft brown eyes and picked at the woman's thoughts, her name was Lavender.
"I never met my Grandfather George." Luce stated as she filled in the paper work. She waited for the information the click place in Lavender's mind, and felt the shiver down her spine as Lavender's aura filled with sorrow. Luce looked up and met the woman's gaze.
"You're Lewis and Maria's daughter?" The woman said, Luce couldn't depict whether it was a question or a statement.
Luce nodded, "Did you know them?" Curiosity had filled Luce as the woman's mind filled with many memories and sorrow.
She nodded, "Your dad was always in my office, troublemaker that he was. Your mother used to help me out in the office too." Lavender paused to study Luce. "I hope you're not a troublemaker like your dad."
Luce smiled, "I try my best, sometimes I just can't help myself."
Luce handed over her papers and Lavender said, "Spoken like a true Winters."
Well so much for being invisible, at least the first person that recognized her was nice, if only the rest would be.
The bell had already gone by the time Luce arrived at her homeroom, therefore there would not be the inconspicuous entrance she had been hoping for. Taking two deep breaths Luce turned the door handle that felt like a block of ice under her hand. The whole class stopped talking as Luce walked through the door, all eyes where on her, and normally Luce would want the ground to open up and swallow her whole, but not today.
"Nice of you to join us Miss Winters, would you take a seat please." Sneered the teacher who's glasses were only just hanging on to his fat greasy nose. At the mention of Winters a low mutter had broken out across the class and Luce blocked out the thoughts, she already knew what they were all thinking. There was an empty seat at the corner in the back of the room and Luce slipped into it, just daring one of her fellow students to turn around and say something to her. Yet despite the constant murmurs, quick glances and thoughts no one said anything to her face yet. That was one of the downsides to being able to read certain peoples thoughts, you had to make sure to answer their words and not their minds.
