Ugly

by J M Bingham

“What has happened Aria? Eleanor said finally breaking the silence. “Why does the old woman have such an interest in me? .”

  The woman of the wood looked in a pool of clear blue water nearby, holding in her long gold staff in the water, she stirred the pool until green light emanated from it, revealing Eleanor's past and future.

  “Hortensia, desires one thing child, began Aria, and that... is to regain her powers” “The only way... she can achieve this... is through... you.”

  “But why me? Replied Eleanor in a confused voice.”

  “Because.... replied the woman of the wood, you are the one person that has suffered the most heartache.” “You are the one, that she can use to get what she wants.”

  “And what is that? Said Eleanor in a quiet voice.”

  “ Power, the woman in the wood said in a grave voice.” “If... Hortensia can gather one soul who has seen enough anguish, hatred, and heartache, then she can regain all her powers of darkness, and she cannot be stopped. “

  Eleanor stood up looking in the pool of water, swirling images of people she had seen before in her dreams, going in and out of focus.

  “The only way to defeat Hortensia, replied the woman of the wood, is to regain your memories and embrace them, one... by one... if you do not embrace them, and let them anger you then she will have won, and we are all in her power. “

  “But you can stop her Aria, replied Eleanor adamantly, surely, your power is greater than hers. “

  Aria shook her head.

  “I wish that that were true child replied Aria with a sad look, but her dark magic is far more powerful and I am unable to stop her.”

  Aria pulled he staff out of the water, and slammed it hard into the small pool. The water parted and a large swirling howling vortex appeared.

  “You must leave our world for a time, yelled Aria above the noise, for your safety, and for ours, follow your heart, and all will be well.” “In time you will be ready to return.”

  “But how will I know!!! yelled Eleanor back, shielding her eyes, from the force of the winds.

  “I am frightened.”

  Before Aria could answer, Eleanor was sucked into the vortex, the last thing she saw of her world

  was Aria's purple eyes , gazing back at her.

  America 2003

  A loud clang signaled the end of Algebra class and freedom for April. Slamming her Algebra book shut, April rushed out of class dodging the Senior class cheerleaders, putting up posters for the upcoming pep assembly. The head cheerleader, Bonny Knight, stuck up her nose making a nasty remark towards April.

  “Watch where you going Sophomore! Barked Bonnie.

  April smiled.

  “Lay off, Bonnie, April snidely said, and you might... want to think about looking at the huge zit on your chin.”

  Bonnie let our a little yelp, pulling out a small mirror from her purse, all the other girls gathering around her.

  April turned around laughing and walked toward her friend Tory's locker down by the school swimming pool. The stench of chlorine filled April's nose as she saw her friend Tory from a distance, reapplying her makeup.

  “So... how was Algebra asked Tory shutting her locker.

  “First of all said April with a smirk, what's this?.”

  Tory had applied tear drops to the sides of her eyes, and wore dark red lipstick.

  “Oh, nothing replied the girl with a mischievious grin, just something else to make my mom even madder at me. April giggled.

  “Or is it a certain Todd Atherton that is the most gorgeous guy on the football team.

  Tory blushed.

  “No way! She said, why in the world would I do that, just for a boy.” “C'mon!.”

  Both girls laughed.

  “C'mon said Tory, I”ll drive ya home. “

  April followed Tory to her car a 1979 baby blue Toyota Tercel with rustcicles on the sides.

  “Tell me this isn't the car your mom said she was going to buy you.... is it?.” said April in a disappointed voice. “I thought she was getting you something.... newer.”

  Tory rolled her eyes.

  “C'mon Ape, said Tory with a smile, it's the new fashion trend, driving ancient cars from the stone age, but most importantly, I have wheels, that's all that matters. “

  April couldn't argue with that.

  Tory started up the ancient car, the whole automobile rumbling to the rhythm of the engine. The seats weren't all that comfortable, and April struggled to find a comfortable spot where the springs didn't dig into her backside. Rolling down her window, April let the window rustle through her short brown hair as she watched the small houses near the High school pass by.

  “ Did you ask Chad to the dance yet? Asked Tory anxiously.

  April looked at her friend in amazement.

  “What makes you think I'd take him back Tor, April said in an annoyed voice, plus I heard he's going out with Rachel Mcmurry now.”

  “Ewwww, said Tory making a face, that troll?.” “You're way prettier than her.”

  “I know right? Answered April with a laugh.

  As Tory pulled up the short drive way, April gathered her backpack and looked toward the door

  seeing the top of her step-dad's head. With a sigh April slammed the car door.

  “Call me later tonight!.” called Tory as she pulled out of the driveway, the rumbling car driving noisily down the street.

  April trudged towards the front door, pulling the screen open, trying to make it past the couch before her step dad noticed.

  “April! Came a muffled voice, is that you?.”

  April tiptoed down the hall towards the kitchen but it was too late, the old man had heard her.

  “Hey, the game's almost on, hurry and make me a sandwich.”

  April groaned and headed towards the kitchen. The sink was piled to the brim with dirty dishes, the counters covered in sticky grease and food residue. April pulled the bread from out of the cupboard and proceeded to spread the mayonaise and mustard over the bread. Once the sandwich was finished, April put it on the plate and placed it on the small table near the couch.

  “Don't forget to clean before your ma get's home!, her step-dad yelled from downstairs.

  April sighed once again, heading to her room and loudly slamming the door shut, took out her hair tie, and plopped on her water bed. Looking at her poster of her favorite band the Slash, April dreamed of the day when this nightmare would end. It had been three years since her parent' s divorce, and Greg her step dad had seemed like a nice guy until he moved in , and since then, he made April wait on him hand and foot while he sat on the couch all day watching tv.

  Making herself get off her comfortable bed, April gathered all her cleaning supplies including her CD player and started cleaning. Humming to the beat of the drums, she didn't see the strange shadow on the wall. Eyes popped out from the wallpaper gazing all over the room watching April closely. With her music turned to full volume, April didn't notice the strange occurrence. Unbeknownst to April, the strange shadow had been watching her for some time.

  Finally after an hour of cleaning April was done, and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Loud snores rose from the couch. Creeping silently, April tiptoed towards the kitchen trying not to wake the sleeping man. A woman stood doing the dishes, her long hair unkept, her blue uniform covered in grease.

  “Mom? Said April perplexed, “You're home early.”

  The woman barely turned, noticing her daughter standing in the doorway.

  “I... .got off early April, that's all”. replied the woman in a snide tone. “What of it.”

  “C'mon mom said April, don't tell me you lost this job too?.”

  April's mother became irate, turning around her tired face becoming red.

  “ Don't... lecture me April!! barked the woman raising her finger, I do... the best... I can!, and you know that.”

  “Do you? Said April shooting back angrily.” “If you want to do what's best for this family, then you need to get
Greg off the couch because, I'm tired of him taking advantage of me and you.”

  “Don't you dare! Screamed April's mother talk about Greg like that.” “He's a good man!”

  April started to laugh.

  “Wow mom, said April sarcastically, that's pretty sad if you think that Greg is anything close to what you just said.” “He just lays around all day doing nothing, while you slave away, trying to make ends meet.” “It's crap mom!.”

  “That's enough April said her mother turning around, I'm tired of arguing, just... go to your room.”

  April stormed out of the kitchen and up the stairs rushing to her bed and burying her head into her pillow. Hot tears flowed quickly, April chest heaving up and down, finally letting go of months of frustration. Getting up from her bed, after drowning all her emotions in her pillow, April went to the far window on the other side of her room, pulled it open and disappeared into the night.

  Climbing down the large oak tree beside the roof, April carefully shimmied down the trunk, the bark scratching her chest and arms. When she reached the ground, she ran towards the park across the street, a place, where she always went to be alone with her thoughts. The streetlamp by the rusty iron gate flickered on and off, the air was brisk, the smell of wet grass filled April's nose. Sitting on the turn around , April delved into thoughts that became darker and darker by the second. Something inside of her began to awaken, feelings of anger filled her entire being, the anger turning into a maddening fury, like a beast that had been slumbering for ages, but finally awakened.

  No way!” said April the next day as her and Tory were eating lunch... Chad Milton, is not even cute at all, what about that guy in your chemistry class, the one that always helps you with your homework you should ask him”

  Tory rolled her eyes, stuffing a twinky in her mouth.

  As April took a sip of her cola, she felt a cold surge run through her lap, looking up she saw none other than her arch nemesis Bonnie the head cheerleader laughing hysterically along with her other cheerleader cronies.

  “Seriously Bonnie! Barked April standing up looking at her drenched jeans.

  “Yeah... said Bonnie in a snide voice, Seriously making a horrible imitation of April, her friends cackling behind her.

  Look, you sack of dog crap said April balling up her fist, if you want to go, let's go.

  Bonnie looked April up and down with a haughty look of disgust on her face.

  “You're not worth my time Baxter, was all the cheerleader could say turning around quickly and walking off.

  April grabbed her can of soda ready to chuck it in Bonnie's hair, but Tory's hand stopped her.

  “She's not worth it Ape, said Tory sadly, just let it go”

  April's red face turned back to it's normal color, as she cooly sat down at the lunch table, the whole student body staring and then going back to their usual conversations.

  “One of these days Tor, said April fuming stuffing her food in her mouth, I'm gonna get that girl.”I don't know what her problem is”

  “She's just jealous, said Tory, you're actually normal, and she's some being from another planet.

  Both girls laughed.

  , April looking down at her plate, “Bonnie has it all, and what do I have, I don't even have a boyfriend”

  Tory smiled slightly.

  Your week long relationship with Tony Burton was pretty close.

  “Funny, said April snidely, that... was definitely a mistake”

  The bell rang loudly, everyone scurried to drop off their trays and make it to class on time. April and Tory gave each other a quick hug and went their separate ways, April to Algebra, and Tory to Chemistry. April huffed her way down the long hall to the other side of the school building towards room 102, the Algebra dungeon as April called it.

  Sitting down at her usual seat next to Gilbert Garrett, a sweaty bulky boy with bad hygiene, April took out her notebook, tapping her pen waiting for the torture to begin.

  “Hey,” came a voice next to April.

  April looked over to see the cutest boy she had ever gazed on her life.

  “I was wondering if you had a pencil I could borrow?.

  April mouth seemed to be frozen in place, like a zombie from a movie, April dug in her bag, her eyes glazed over, and pulled out the extra pen she had in her purse.

  “Thanks, replied the young man, I always forget mine.”

  “Uh, no problem” said April, turning around quickly before the boy could see her red face.

  All April could think about through her Algebra teacher Mr. Grainger's lesson was the boy next to her. Occasionally she would sneak glances at him through the corner of her eye, hoping he didn't notice.

  As the bell rang, April gathered her things, accidently bumping into the boy she had been admiring.

  “Holy cow, I'm so sorry said April, “I can be such a dunce sometimes.”

  The boy just laughed.

  “Hey it's no problem”, the young man replied, “my name's Aaron by the way.”

  “April, the girl said almost too quickly.

  “What was that? Asked Aaron.

  “It's April, the teenage girl replied trying to regain her composure.

  “Nice to meet you, and... thanks,

  As Aaron waved goodbye, April almost floated up to the ceiling. Rushing through the halls, April hurried to the girl's bathroom, seeing something she had once seen a long long time ago. There was a girl standing in front of the mirror, the girl looking like Bonnie, but somehow different, her hair was tangled, and her face as April crept closer was definitely not Bonnie, but a witch out of a fairy tale or something.

  The witch groaned as her shape changed, the long blonde hair falling off in clumps and melting into nothing.

  “What the... April muttered underneath her breath.

  “Hello.... Eleanor.” Came a scratchy high voice, or is it... April now?.”

  April stepped toward the tiny old woman, her face growing more and more surprised.

  “How the heck did you find me? Demanded April.

  The old hag smiled wickedly licking her fat lips.

  “Oh there are ways, my dear sweet... princess.”

  April glared.

  “Look, just stay away from me, I don't want anything to do with you.” April barked.

  “Oh... cackled the witch, I'm afraid it's too late for that my dear, you see, before you came to this world, I gave you a potion that will eventually.... destroy you.” The witch laughed maniacally.

  April's face dropped.

  “What do you mean destroy me!!!.” yelled April, What the heck did I ever do to you?.”

  Hortensia came closer to April licking her lips.

  “Nothing... absolutely nothing.... you see... you were the most miserable person in the

  kingdoms, I need your misery to complete my plan.”