Kaleidoscope Origins Issue 1

Seven O'clock.

That's when the streetlights turned off and the street was bathed with darkness for almost half an hour.

Seven Fifteen.

That's when the bus that would take us to Atlantic City,New Jersey pulled up to the stop next to the neighborhood and waiting for exactly 5 minutes for passengers.

Penni Sherwood opened up her bag and took one final look through its contents to make sure everything was there. All of the food and money she had left was stored for the trip and afterwards, but she made sure to take out $20 and store it in her shoe just in case. She went through the layers of her clothes and made sure her favorite and most expensive clothes were accounted for. She confirmed the presence of her two favorite books and then zipped up the bag. Standing up from her bed, she walked to a giant mirror that doubled a a sliding door for her closet. Penni did a mental check as she looked at herself, making sure she was prepared for the trip ahead of her. Suddenly, she was struck with fear as she noticed her necklace was missing. She frantically searched its most likely hiding places, but could not find its whereabouts. "Where is it..." she said impatiently before discovering it underneath her bag, sitting neatly on top of her beanie. With a sigh of relief, she picked up her bag and set it down next to the door to her bedroom, then returned to gently pick up her necklace. Wandering back to her mirror, she gently fastened it around her necklace and then quickly hid it beneath her shirt so that nobody could see it. She walked back to her bed, quickly slipped on her jacket, and put her beanie over her recently "styled" hair, which was an ebony nestle of dreadlocks. Looking over her room one last time, she picked up her bag and walked out of her room.

The house was dark and empty, almost lifeless. The electricity had shut off earlier that day, and the evening's cold had already begun slipping into the house. The house itself was quite small, containing only two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a single large room which was the kitchen and living room combined. Penni walked down the hallway that connected all the rooms together, with the bedrooms on opposite ends and the bathroom facing the living quarters.

Penni opened the door to the other bedroom and saw her little brother stuffing the last bit of possessions he could into his little bag, clutching his music player in his hands, a pair of earbuds filing music from his device to his ears. Penni walked over and tapped on his shoulder, causing her brother to jump slightly, completely oblivious to her entry. Pulling the earbuds out and storing them away, he looked at Penni with heartbroken eyes.

"Do we really have to go? Papa really loved this house..." he said.

"I know. I'm just as sad as you are but you know we can't pay for the house without Papa, Roland. Do you have everything you need? It's almost Seven."

Roland nodded and zipped up his backpack. He slung it over his shoulders and hopped out of bed with a heavy sigh. Neither of them wanted to go, but if they didn't disappear, too many bad possibilities would close in on them. Leading the way, Penni walked to the front door and looked carefully out of the curtained window. Looking down to her wristwatch, she saw it was Six Fifty-Eight. "Remember Roland, keep close to me, move very fast, and be very, very quiet." Penni whispered. Roland nodded his head just as the streetlights shut off.

Quietly opening the door, Penni slipped out as a spectre, Roland close behind. Closing the door quietly, Penni dashed across the dark street as a shadow in the moonlight. The moon was very slim that night, and kept Penni and her brother hidden from any eyes that might be looking through their windows. Quickly crossing to the main street that would lead out of her neighborhood to the bus stop, she stopped and looked back for Roland. He was lagging a little bit behind, but was still keeping up with Penni quite well. They both quickly darted along the street through the remainder of the decently small neighborhood and arrived at the bus stop. The main street was still busy with cars, continually flashing light across the two siblings standing with their only belongings on their persons. They made good time. It was only Seven O' Eight.

7:15:07 PM
Saturday, July 28th, 2300
New Eden

The large bus rumbled as it pulled away from the bus depot. The interior was darkening but nearly empty. At the very back a man in a coat sleeping beneath a hat pulled over his eyes and near the front a middle aged man and what was probably his daughter playing on a small hand-held video game console. The driver was a burly old man with a thick moustache covering his upper lip and sunken eyes.

The windows of the bus were tinted, and couldn't be seen through but as Penni and her brother were taking their seats she could have swore a man in the darkness of the bus depot was staring straight at her, but that must have been paranoia.

As the bus drove on, the night getting darker, the street-lamps whizzing by, gently illuminating the interior of the bus every few seconds as opposing cars occasionally drove past along the empty highway.

Seven Fifteen.

The bus pulled up to the bus stop, the doors extending themselves welcomingly (or threateningly) outwards. If Penni and Roland stepped on this bus, there would be no returning back. The future was as bleak and dark as the night sky, but Penni knew it was the only choice. Roland huddled close to Penni, pressing himself against her as they walked up the bus.

The bus driver looked them up and down with a weary eye. He was aged and worn. "The only two major stops on this route are Atlantic City, New Jersey and Crookland, Pennsylvania." He said with a tired voice.

Penni nodded and replied, "We'll be getting off at Atlantic City." The elderly man examined the two once more and then looked back towards the street with a sigh.

As Penni and Roland took there seats in between the two passengers (both distant enough to be unable to hear Penni and Roland's whispers.), Penni heard the bus doors fold shut with a hiss. Penni looked at Roland and noticed that he was gazing out towards where there house was. "You should get some rest, Roland." Penni suggested, only to get a head shake in response as Roland still looked out the window. "You can't be tired when we get to Atlantic City, Roland. I'll watch over our stuff while you sleep."

Finally Roland looked back to Penni with tears in his eyes. "Why do we have to go? And if you are watching me, you won't get any rest. Penni, I don't think we can do this! I wish papa was here."

"Quiet down Roland. Don't let the others here you." Penni whispered fiercely. Roland turned away and looked out the window once more, crying silently. Sighing, Penni put her arm around Roland and put her head on his. "Roland, I knew I needed to tell you this sooner or later. I really wish I could shoulder all of the responsibility, but I need you to understand why we have to run. I wanted you to stay innocent as long as you could." With this, Roland looked back at Penni.

"Listen carefully. I need to be quiet because I don't want any of the other people on the bus to know. They don't need to know. Let me start when papa first died."

-----

Two months ago, I told you that Papa died of a heart attack unexpectedly late at night. Papa told me to tell you that. He didn't die of a heart attack. He was shot.  Two months ago, I was reading in my room after tucking you in to bed. I had just checked you and you were sleeping sound. Suddenly, just as I started on a new page, a heard someone knock at the door frantically. Worried you were going to wake up, I rushed out of my room as silently as I could and looked through the window. What I saw was horrifying. I instantly started crying when I saw Papa standing there, leaning on the door, with one hand to his chest. Blood was splattered over his shirt and pants, and his hand was slick with it in the porch light. I opened the door and Papa stumbled in and fell into my arms. I struggled him to the couch and he was breathing heavily. I sat next to him, our dad, and asked him, "Papa, you're going to die, aren't you?" Although I choked on my tears, he took a deep breath and nodded. I think it was that instant that he realized he needed to tell me everything. With a great amount of effort, he struggled upright and asked for his phone. Dutifully I brought it to him. He sent a text message to his boss that he was quitting. He then told me what happened.

Our Papa, the man we loved so much and thought was so great, told me himself that he had put his own life in risk and terror so that he could support us.

"You're lying!" shouted Roland with renewed tears.

Pale faced, Penni looked sternly towards Roland and whispered, "Keep quiet! And it is not a lie. I wouldn't lie to you, Roland. Not about something this horrible. Please, listen to what he told me. I need you to know if we are going to make it. Taking a deep sigh after calming Roland a little bit, Penni continued.

I didn't think I can forgive Papa for the lies he told us. I didn't want to believe it. Through the smiles and presents, the love and hugs, he was involved with evils I didn't want to know about. Now, though, I realize that he held our best interests at heart. He started to tell me from the beginning. The things Papa told us about Mother were all lies. Papa didn't save us from our Mother in a legal battle that left him poor. Mother simply vanished in the middle of the night one night. Without her flow of money, we had to move to a more affordable home. The harsh transition from our two lifestyles left us distraught in our young age. I barely remember the time. Our old life seems like a distant memory and I don't remember what our mother looked like. Papa knew he had to find a way to make money fast and so her joined a criminal ring in our city. He never wanted us to be introduced to his crime life so he showered us with hugs and kisses and smiles. We were young, and didn't care where our spoils came from. I feel so dumb now.

-----

As Penni shook her head in disappointment, the bus driver spoke to the passengers via intercom.

"We are pulling up to Redwash Avenue. There are a few restaurants nearby. You all have 20 minutes to get food or walk around or whatever and then get back on the bus. We are obligated to leave without you. Pay at the front as you get off."

Penni looked around, seeing that the man in the back had not stirred and the man near the front had awoken and was now preparing to take his child off the bus. Maybe food was a good idea. Who knew when the next opportunity would present itself in a peaceful manner. Penni looked at her watch: Nine O' Eight.

9:08:53 PM
Saturday, July 28th, 2300
New Eden

The outside air was brisk and chilling as a light breeze crawled it's way across the near empty streets, a street lamp flickering occasionally along with the roar of a car as it sped down the nearby roads. The middle-aged man escorted his daughter off the bus muttering about getting her a candy bar or a wrap or something from the nearby Quick-Mart. At the sound of the announcement the man in the back peeked out from under his hat, a rugged, leathery face, it's angles emphasised by the shadows inside the bus.

Nearby there were mainly closed darkened silent buildings, along with a 24-7 burger joint, a corner store and far down the street what seemed like a bar or night club, a dulled thumping of music echoing down the avenue. Coming out of the burger joint was a young man, around eighteen, probably finishing his shift and heading to the parking lot. There was also a man in an old, used, coat shivering on a bench 50 yards or so down the street towards the club.

Penni and Roland grabbed their small things and got up. Penni slyly threw a glance towards the back of the bus. Another lost soul moving to a better place, hopefully. She shuffled Roland out in front of her and followed suit. As the duo exited the bus onto the sidewalk, Penni shivered from the cold wind that was blowing through the city. Penni looked around and took everything in. She had already formed a plan of escape in case something went suddenly wrong. She led her brother over to the restaurant, bringing her things closer to her. She saw Roland mirror her actions.

Penni pushed into the restaurant and quickly shuffled over to a seat near the door. She set most of her stuff down and said, "I want you to watch our stuff. What do you want?"

9:11:12 PM
Saturday, July 28th, 2300
New Eden

The restaurant was well lit and relatively empty. It looked like a simple diner, a counter top extending along the northern wall of the restaurant, stools lined along it, and benches lined along the windows on the south side of the diner. The floor was your stereotypical black and white tiles. Behind the counter was a young lady, probably eighteen or so, wearing a white apron atop a red dress, she had blonde hair tied in a long ponytail. On one of the stools was a large man in a chequered vest, with a rough beard and rugged scarred hands, probably a construction worker or something of the sort.  And at the back of the diner on one of the benches were two women in their twenties chatting away about this and that.

The man that had been in the back of the bus stepped into the diner a minute after Penny and her brother, he had his hat in his hands and was rubbing his eyes, adjusting them to the light. He was middler-aged, probably in his early forties, had a thin, black goatee and hair with some grey streaks in it. He walked up to the counter and spoke to the waitress, "I'll have a coffee, black. You have a phone?"

"Yes sir, in the back." she replied pointing to the far end of the diner near the bathrooms. The man nodded before walking over there. The lady put the coffee pot into the machine and then walked around the counter and towards Penny, with two glasses of water. She set them down at their table, "Can I get either of you anything?"

Penni saw the waitress walking towards them as she stood. Caught off guard, she sat back down, waiting for the waitress to arrive, which did not take long.

"Can I get either of you anything?" the waitress asked with a smile.

Penni looked over at Roland who quickly sputtered out "Can I have eggs and bacon?"

Before Penni could tell him it was night time, the waitress said, "Sure! I'll get it out to you right away." Turning to Penni, the young woman said "And for you?"

Penni ordered the same dish and the waitress left. Sitting in the nearly empty diner, Penni and Roland waited looking at each other. After a sudden long sigh, Roland mumbled, "Penni... I'm tired." Penni smiled.

"I know Roland. Don't worry, you can sleep on the bus."

Roland quickly looked down, took a deep breath, and then looked Penni in the eyes. "I wanna know the rest of the story when we get on the bus.

Penni was about to respond when the waitress returned and served them. Penni looked at her watch mid-way through the meal. Nine Twenty. Penni quickly went over to the counter and asked the waitress for take-home boxes, noticing the shady man come forth from the back of the diner, done with his phone call.