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Risen (Working Title)
By. Brian Cook (CrimsonGamer96/Crimson)

Chapter 1. New Blood

It barely hurt the first time. It felt so wrong,yet so right I remembered as I gently and methodically lowered the blade down to my pale white skin once again. Then with just the tiniest flick of the wrist, the precious life-giving crimson hued liquid came flowing out of my arm. It felt so relieving, so...freeing. It was like all of my fears and worries were washed away. I felt like a junkie chasing that ever escaping high.
After a few moments of my makeshift high, I finally came back to my senses. I felt so ashamed as I got up and started washing off the self-inflicted wound on my arm. Luckily for me I don’t have to worry about scars since for some God-forsaken reason I’m a freak, and all of my wounds heal completely in just mere moments leaving no trace on my body. Some of my other freak-like qualities include my ability to run insanely fast to the point where Usain Bolt looks like the short fat kid in middle school phys ed, and my ability to lift 500lb objects with relative ease even though I’m built like your average seventeen year old high school female.
I guess I should explain a little more about myself huh? My name is Vivian Blackwell. I’m the daughter of a mother who wasn’t around, and a bum father. Unfortunately my mother left without a trace when I was only a few months old or, so I’m told. So I’ve been stuck with my alcoholic father who made me get a job as soon as I was old enough, so he could get wasted until he passes out in his room everyday. My usual day is wake up, take a shower, go to school, go straight to work, come home and do my homework, then finally sleep so I can do it all again the next day. I only occasionally hang out with my lone friend Ashley on the weekends when I don’t work.
I looked up at the old bathroom mirror, and stared at my deep blood-red eyes. Yet another interesting freak-like quality about me! I looked over my soft white face. Ashley claims that I have the face of an angel, but I don’t see it. My long black hair gently fell over my face and covered one side so my eyes weren’t so obvious to the world. All in all if I had to rate myself, it would be a 7.8/10 not ugly, but not particularly stunning either. Just too much weirdness.
Because of my freakness I was never the popular girl at Apocrypha High School down here in Apocrypha Illinois, In fact I was the complete opposite. I was always hated and alienated by my peers. I met Ashley during my first year of middle school when my powers first started to manifest. She was the only one who thought it was “cool”. She was the only one that made me feel like I was normal. Just then my phone started to vibrate interrupting my thoughts, and signifying I had gotten a text. I looked down to see that It was from Ashley. “Speak of the devil.” I muttered to myself as I read the message.
“Yo Viv, get out here, you’re riding with me to school.”
“But what about work?” I replied back to her.
“No worries! I’ll drive you there too, and after you get off we’re gonna hang out back at your place.” She messaged back.
“I dunno I have a lot of homework to catch up on.”
“I’ll help you with it! C’mon plz it’s Friday. We haven’t chilled in a while.”
“Ugh fine Ash, you win.” I finally texted back after being defeated. I knew there was no point in trying to say no to the most stubborn girl on the planet. I quickly got dressed into my usual black t-shirt and jeans, stuffed my work clothes into my backpack, and headed out the door being careful not to wake up my already passed out father. The first thing I noticed as I walked outside was the old rusty truck that was Ashley’s vehicle choice. The next thing I noticed was Ashley’s own little brand of strangeness. Her hair was an obviously dyed cyan color that went perfectly with her sky blue eyes hidden behind her nerdy glasses.. She was wearing a white t-shirt and black and white checkered miniskirt. She looked like a hipster geek mixed with a little otaku, but that was just Ashley Winters in general.
“What’s up Ash?” I yelled while walking down my porch stairs.
“Like the new ride?” She yelled back.
“Well...err..um it’s interesting to say the least.” I replied back with a smirk on my face.
“Oh c’mon! It only cost me seven hundred.”
“Well I guess that’s a decent deal.” I got into the truck while chuckling a little to myself.
“Oh shut up.” She replied scornfully as I shut the door. “So how you been girl, I haven’t talked to you in a while, is everything okay?” She was concerned, that much I could deduce from her voice.
“Yeah, Ash I’m...perfectly fine.” I stared out the window not wanting to bore her about my life.
“Then explain this to me.” She yelled while grabbing my arm and pointing to the quickly fading scar that was present. “I can’t believe you're doing that shit again. You promised you wouldn’t Viv!” She was upset. Honestly I felt kinda bad.
“Hey, don’t get pissed at me! It gives me a release, plus its not like it hurts me anyway.” I yelled back. Ashley sighed in frustration.
“I’m just trying to look out for you Vivian Blackwell, it’s what friends do...I hope you realize that someday.” She replied softly as we drove into the parking lot of Apocrypha High. She reached into the glove compartment of her truck, and handed me a protein bar as she knew that my regeneration ability drained me of a lot of energy.
“I know..thanks.” I said as I got out of the truck and started making my way into the school. I grabbed my iPod, put in my earbuds, and fell into the gentle embrace of music As I walked past the main ofiice I noticed a new student sitting in there looking out the window. He had shoulder length black hair, a slight amount of scruff on his chin, and pale white skin. He was wearing a plain black t-shirt with matching black jeans with holes in them. I only caught a glimpse of his eyes before he noticed me staring and looked away, but I could swear they were a deep red like mine. “No, I’m sure I was just imagining things. It’s just not possible, I’m the only one with my abilities. What would be the chance of finding another person like me?” I tried to reason with myself, but the thought still lingered in my mind as I grabbed my books and headed to class.
My first hour class was photography with Mr. Daniels; a fairly young teacher fresh out of college. Truth be told, he always seemed to me like he was a creep. all the girls except Ashley and I swooned over him simply because they were wannabe models, and he had the experience. I walked into the spacious room with professional pictures of models, buildings, nature, and just about everything else lined against the walls. I slowly walked over to my desk that was right beside Ashley’s while receiving stares from the rest of the class. It really didn’t phase me though as by this point I was fairly used to it.
I sat down next to Ashley, and we started having our usual conversation, and me apologizing for earlier when the new kid came walking in. This time I could get a better look at his eyes, and they were indeed blood red like mine. I stared at him for most of the class period until Mr. Daniels came behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. The new kid immediately looked my way.
“Isn’t that right Miss Blackwell?” Mr. Daniels’ voice said from behind me. I turned my head around and looked at him.
“Umm..what was the question sir?” I said sheepishly.
“Figures you wouldn’t have any idea, oh well perhaps you can come in after school, and….work something out to raise your grade.” Mr. Daniels slowly moved his hands down my arms, and I froze in fear. At that moment the new kid sprang up from his seat and pushed the teacher off of me as his hair flashed bright red, and his eyes glowed unnaturally then changed normal in an instant.
“With all due respect, I think you should leave her alone sir.” The new kid said in a deep intimidating voice. The entire class gasped as the teacher got up, and brushed himself off.
“I don’t think we’ve met before Mr…”
“Morningstar, Damien Morningstar.” As soon as he said his name the bell rang and all the students left the class.
“I’ll be sure to remember such an...interesting name Mr. Morningstar.” Mr. Daniels walked to his desk. “Oh and Miss Blackwell, you’re off the hook for now.” Ashley and I were gathering our stuff when Damien shot me a glance.
“If he bothers you again let me know.” Damien said as he walked past Ashley and I.
“Just who is that guy?” Ashley said in a hushed tone.
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” I replied in a more serious voice. as we walked out of the classroom, and continued with our normal school day.