Struggling For Existence

Headphones in.

World mute.

I got my letter from school today and found out that I got accepted into the art college I really wanted desperately.  Right now, you guys might be thinking I am over the moon…..I would be, if England weather wasn’t so gloomy (rainy) .The blasting beats coming from my head phones were penetrating through my ears, which drowned the sound of rain hitting the ground. I walked steadily along the narrow pathway, it was getting dark and quite late, I blame the damn teachers for talking so long .They know walking through the secluded streets of London isn't entirely safe.

Would it be weird if I said I’ve never been called a nerd, I don’t have a reputation at school, but I keep a low profile. I bet, most of the class don’t even know I exist.

I trotted along for another ten minutes. Now, here’s the hard part, there’s an alleyway- which is a shortcut to my house, and a really long way-but not as creepy as the alleyway. I tapped my feet as I had a little conversation in my head. The weirdest thing was I felt like the good angel and the bad angel on my shoulders were mentally speaking to me. 

I silently prayed as I walked through the alleyway.

Yes, I have made my decision. 

Do you ever get that feeling were is someone is watching your every move? I shivered a little as the wind slapped my cheeks. From a distance I perceived with my eyes, a man who was injecting himself with some kind of drug, (I got scared and stood eyeing him) he saw me and froze and his eyes widened for a second and his face turned back to usual; a mask of a dispirited man.

I shot a sympathetic look at him and kept on walking casually past him like nothing happened. Ignoring him as usual.

“If I was you Raven Isaac, I wouldn’t go that way” I turn around slowly facing Mark. I knew Mark because his daughter used to come to my school and she sadly past away. He and Isabelle were in the car crash, he survived but Isabelle didn’t. I pitied him, because since that day onwards he blamed himself and started taking drugs – apparently , to make all the pain in the past go away.

‘I’m already running home late, I need a shortcut, and me having a conversation, will make me more late” I replied hurriedly.

He started laughing and said “you could always keep me company”

I smiled and replied playfully “sorry, I don’t do drugs”

“Your loss “he muttered while he shrugged his shoulders and went back to his business. I rolled my eyes and kept on walking.

As I kept on walking, I still felt cautious; as if someone or something was watching me, this whole sinister alleyway was frightening the hell out of me.I started walking rapidly as I kept my gaze fixed on the ground.

Out of nowhere, someone roughly bumped into me, making me stagger and fall flat on my butt.

I’m I supposed to be scared or humiliated? Maybe both.

In a flash, I stood up and got into my ninja stance, a man in a black cloak greeted my vision. He looked like he was in his late twenties; with brown hair, and weirdly his blue eyes looked like they were shining in remembrance.

“Don’t you dare come near me? I swear I’ll karate your face!” immediately I got into self-defence while saying this bravely. For a few seconds he was silent, and then he started laughing. What gave him the audacity to laugh? This man needs serious help.

“You watched too much movies “he stated casually.

Is this man serious?

“And for the record, Jackie Chan is my uncle, so I suggest you do not mess with me” I accusingly pointed a finger at him. I’m a professional at lying.

“Oh, is that so, I’m so scared, someone please help” he replied sarcastically, while waving his arms frantically. I dropped my arms down, staring at him bizarrely.

“This may be an odd questions but, do you know Mark? “I thought that someone had drugged him to act very strange.

“Who’s mark? “He asked confused.

“Forget it” I shake my head. My eyes widened for a fraction, I realised I’m supposed to be heading home, and here I am talking to a stranger in the middle of the alleyway.

“Excuse me, but I have to head home “I turn to the side but a rock-hard arm deliberately stopped me dead in my tracks. Oh no, is he going to kill me?

“Are you going to kill me? “I asked stuttering. The man looked shocked at first but then shook his head. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you, but can I ask you something?” he said studying me for a bit.