The crisp, brown leaves swept gracefully
along the sidewalk. The last remnants of the sun had just disappeared leaving
nothing but a sky as black as ink. The streetlamp outside the house was
flickering. She edged closer towards it. There were goosebumps on Clodagh’s
arms; she had no jacket. She ran from the orphanage as soon as she had realised
what happened.
Clodagh’s
dark hair almost camouflaged into the night. Her deep, blue eyes glistened with
fear but also a fierce determination to save her brother. Her only
family. The only person in the world who cared for her. She knew there was
absolutely no chance she could ever actually save him though. He was the brave
twin, not her. He was the strong twin not her. All Clodagh wanted to do was to
see her brother, at least one last time. If she didn’t, it would be as if a
piece of herself died.
If
Clodagh died she wanted to die looking into her brother’s big hazel eyes. They
were the only thing that made her feel safe. When Clodagh was a child her
parents were as normal as any parents. Bringing their children to the park,
buying them ice-cream. But unfortunately for Clodagh and Matthew, their parents
lost those qualities when they were around five. They started experimenting on
them. Somedays the pain would be so unbearable Clodagh would hide in her ‘Panic
Room’ in the basement for hours on end. But not Matthew. Matthew would face whatever
problem life threw at him, no matter how impossible it may seem. Clodagh had
always been in awe of this characteristic Matthew possesses. Through all her
screams and agony Matthew would never shed a tear. All Clodagh did to calm
herself down was look into those hazel eyes and it would be as if she was
transported somewhere else.
After
a year or so the twin’s parents got what they wanted. There plan was to develop
a serum that would make someone into a ‘superhuman’. They tested it on the
children but, of course, they planned to use the real thing on themselves.
Matthew being the ingenious person he was figured out their plan and used the
serum himself to save the world from what could've possibly led to his
psychopathic parents ruling the world.
Clodagh
and Matthew made a run for it. They were two seven year old twins roaming the
streets of London for around four months until an orphanage rep swept them away
to this orphanage uptown. Even at a young age the pair knew it wouldn’t be safe
staying in one place. They knew their parents wouldn’t stop hunting them until
they found Matthew. They moved orphanages every six months for nine years;
living in perfect peace and harmony. Until a few hours ago. Matthew was gone and
Clodagh knew exactly where to find him.
Clodagh
normally couldn’t bring herself to even go near this estate, let alone stand
outside her childhood home. But this place was no home to her. This house was a
source of constant abuse and suffering. The sounds of her own screams rang in
her head. She thought of Matthew and his bravery. He was okay. She knew it. Clodagh
had to get him back. It was her time to be the hero. Her time to be strong.
Whether she liked it or not.
Clodagh
circled the house cautiously not to disturb or catch the attention of anyone
who might be inside. There was a second floor window open but there was a zero
percent chance she would be able to get up there. Clodagh scanned the backyard
for something she could use to hoist herself up. No bins, no coal bunkers.
Something did catch her eye though. The moon’s argentous silver beams sent a
reflection off the handle to the basement door right in Clodagh’s direction.
Perfect. She hurried over to the basement door. She hesitated to see if the
door was unlocked. What if she had made a terrible mistake? Was it worth
risking her life for the sake of her brother? Clodagh dismissed these
thoughts as quick as they came. “Stay focused. Find Matthew” she whispered
softly to herself and swung the door open.
A
smell of must and dirt came to greet Clodagh as she peeked her head inside. She
looked down but she couldn't see the ground. She hesitated, pulling her body
back slightly and then sprung off the ledge into the darkness below. She fell
with a great crash also resulting in her knees buckling from under her.
Pain shot up Clodagh’s body and she crumpled to the floor. ”Is someone there?!”
said a familiar voice Clodagh knew all too well. Her mother. Footsteps echoed
behind a door next to Clodagh. She had to hide. Quick. She ran into the corner
to her old ‘Panic Room’; a little shaft in the corner of the basement which was
just big enough for a sixteen year old girl. Clodagh’s heart raced and she had
a lump in her throat. The basement door creaked open. The harsh sight of a
flashlight cautiously scanned the room. Clodagh knew if she moved a millimetre
she would be caught. She also knew if she was caught there’d be no chance of
her escaping. It’d be game over. She held her breath, afraid the slightest
sound might draw attention to herself. All of a sudden the flashlight was gone
and the door slammed shut.
A
wave of relief swept over Clodagh. Yet, it didn't completely wipe her fear away.
Her brother still needed her. She started to open the little door ever so
slightly, cringing as it creaked. She stood up and walked up to the basement
door, putting her ear up to it. Nothing. Clodagh opened the door ever so
slightly but was stopped in her tracks. At the end of the corridor, there sat
her mother, with her back turned, reading a book. Clodagh’s adrenaline was
beginning to kick in now. What she did next was undoubtedly the most surprising
thing Clodagh Fiske had ever done. She noticed a baseball bat leaning against a
hall table. Careful not to make a sound, she picked it up. She walked at a
quick pace; baseball bat in hand. Before her body gave her a chance to think,
Clodagh swung the bat, knocking her mother unconscious. Clodagh felt a tinge of
guilt but it was quickly washed away by her brain reminding her of her mantra;
Stay focused. Find Matthew. She bent down and checked her mother’s pulse.
It was normal. Clodagh moved up slightly and whispered into her mother's ear, “You
brought this on yourself you know. Never, and I mean never, mess with me and my
brother”.
Clodagh
left her mother and headed for her father's’ old lab upstairs. As she went to
enter the room she felt a fist connect with her cheek. The world went black.
Clodagh
woke up in a heap on the ground. Her vision was attempting to focus but wasn't
doing a very good job. She tasted blood. She made out the figure of her
father over her, fixing and adjusting pipes that were connected to a seemingly
lifeless Matthew. Clodagh’s heart sunk deep into her chest. She struggled to
take a breath. Matthew’s chest rose and fell again. He was alive. This gave
Clodagh something to fight for again. She brought all her strength together and
charged at her father. But he was prepared. He was much stronger. He sent
Clodagh flying across the room. Her face was now covered in blood. “You won't
get away with this” Clodagh burst out. ”Oh but sweetie, I already have”
Clodagh’s father said with a smirk on his face. ”In exactly four minutes and
thirty-six seconds your precious brother’ s powers will be mine and I will be
the most powerful person on this planet. And what are you going to do about it?
You pathetic excuse for a child.”
That was the last straw. Clodagh was no longer scared. She was no longer weak.
She was ready. She launched at her father, knocking him to the floor. He landed
with a great thud. His head hit the floor so hard he was knocked
unconscious. Clodagh swiftly jumped over her father’s limp body and ran to the
table, to Matthew.
There
were at least 15 tubes protruding out of Matthew’s torso. Clodagh removed each
tube with precision, not to hurt her brother. The second the final tube was
removed, Matthew sprung to life, taking a massive gulp of air. “Clo….you saved
me..” Matthew said, his chin almost touched his chest in complete awe. “Quick
we have to go,it's not safe here ” Clodagh was interrupted. “But.. but” Matthew
stammered ” You're Clodagh Fiske. As in my sister Clodagh Fiske who normally
wouldn't answer a door because she’d get too nervous, and...and you just saved
my life! “Matthew was in complete awe of his sister’s incredible feat. “Yeah I
know. Thanks and all, but we need to leave. Now”
And
that’s exactly what they did.
Anna Kinsella, Rang Áine (Bl.2)
No comments:
Post a Comment