No White Flags - A Novel

[Mad-Hatterette1]

DEFINITE work in progress, but I'm very proud of it.

Chapter 1:

It was unbelievable that the sun had risen through the grey clouds that filled the dull winter sky. Sheer ice sloped the ground, giving the impression that the season of snow wasn't going to end any time soon. The months had been like layers, continuing to cover each other with a series of sleet and ice. No foot prints trailed anywhere across the terrain, and it wasn't hard at all to understand why.

Through the windows, Branwen could see nothing. The unending fog that lined the pane and outside of the house matched the color of her eyes; smoky. There was no color, no beauty, no revolt. There just wasn't.

She sighed, unable to see her breath as she did. But somehow she knew it was there, just like she was. Just like the chair was there, and the window, and the trees outside, and everything else. Just like the world was there. And God. She tried to remember the last time she'd prayed, not that time really existed to her. Had it been yesterday, the day before? Last month? She didn't know. She turned from the window, placing her arm on the spine of the chair to pull herself up. The wood creaked as she shifted her knee and rose from her place, stretching her stiffened arms. She grinned, thinking of the trees outside. They seemed so lifeless without the sound of leaves rustling in the soft breezes of autumn.

The sudden bell of the house phone startled Branwen. Her heart pounded so thunderously, it nearly tuned out the phone's tone. She followed the noise, then shuffled her arms across the counter until she "spotted" it. Pressing the TALK button, she hesitated, then spoke with a shiver in her voice. "H-hello?"

"Branwen? It's Shane. Remember me, we were in high school together. Sophomore year?" She tilted her head to the side, holding the phone to her ear with her shoulder. Fibbing, she replied, "Oh yeah, hey Shane." She rolled her eyes as his voice appeared again, only paying attention to every other word as she tried to figure out who he was. "Anyways.. volunteer job...I was wondering... so are you interested?" Catching the last few words, she nearly blurted HUH? into the speaker. "Oh... sure, but.. I can't drive in this weather, so maybe next time?" She groaned, knowing that she couldn't drive anyway, with her vision. "Oh, I can just pick you up! Where do you live?" She placed a hand over the speaker and muttered to herself. It was impossible to say no, so she waited patiently for him to grab a pen and paper, then she gave him her address and listened to make sure he recited it right. She hung up without saying a word, and took in a deep breath, fluttering her eyes. It doesn't matter she thought. At least I'm being rescued from this place.

Within seconds, there was the sound of the doorbell and a knocking on the frozen wood. Branwen jerked around and slowly made her way to the door, then felt around for the latch and pulled the door open. Shane smiled and cleared his throat. "Ready to go?" Branwen nodded, hesitant to close the door behind her. She stood on the porch as Shane made his way to his truck. He turned around, glancing at her in confusion. It was as if she could feel his eyes, and she sighed,"I can't see.." He kept the door open and jogged back over to her. "Just follow my voice, alright?" He walked backwards toward the truck, joking around and continuing to say "Marco" as she made her way through the ice. When she reached the truck, she was shaking, partly from the temperature. She grabbed the handle to the door and slammed it shut when she finally climbed up. It had been forever since she'd gone anywhere in a vehicle.

There was silence, other than that of the engine starting and revving. Branwen didn't know if it was peaceful or awkward to her, or Shane for that matter. She tried to pretend that she was glancing through the window, taking in all the white scenery. Shane must have noticed when he said,"It's all the same out there. You won't see anything but snow." She rolled her eyes and continued to stare at the window.

[Mad-Hatterette1]

Any thoughts or comments on it?

[king_bear]

Cool

[Mad-Hatterette1]

Thank you. I shall be adding more soon.