Light and darkness.

Subject: Light and darkness. Sun Sep 07, 2008 1:01 pm

Name: Rema Dabatos
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Physical Description: Rema normally likes to look and act different then those around her,
her hair long and black, almost always covering a lot of her face. Her eyes were a piercing green, and her skin was very pale, no matter how much she seemed to be out in the sun.

Even when not going to/from school, she carried her backpack, which held her books to read and write in.

On her neck always hung a pendant with a strange symbol, the only thing she ever got from her family.

History: she had something everyone else didn't, and a lot of them knew it too, which made them scared of her, but no one would talk about it.

She grew up in several different foster homes, never knowing her parents or any siblings, which was normally why she was so distant to others.

Her last year of highschool was just about to start, which she both dreaded and enjoyed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rema was packing up her things into her backpack, trying to ignore the other two girls sitting in the room talking very loudly to eachother. She never liked them, as they barely let her sleep, when she could actually fall asleep.

She left as quickly as possible, even though the sun was just coming up, it was only about 6am, and just a 10 minute walk to the school, but she went the opposite way, going to the nearby park.

Her black clunky boots were strangely quiet, wearing her usual black shirt that now had a few holes, and a long black skirt, the shirt a bit small on her, showing her stomach.

As she sat at a swing, she pulled out a book, and began to read, waiting for a couple more hours to pass, and go to the only place she had ever been at for more than a year, school. She was coming up on her 4th year, her last year. The first day would start soon enough, and she didnt even think for a moment on her future

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Sun Sep 07, 2008 7:42 pm

Name:Kalbert Stein
Age:18
Gender:Male

Physical Appearance: Kal while growing up looked like he could have been a college professor. Beige slacks...twill vest...glasses..even a pocket protector his mother insisted on. Until he started his second to last year of high school. Then he usually always wore black jeans,a random t-shirt that was always a little grungy and well worn, and black hiking boots that looked like they could have been from a police officer.

His hair is cut short and always a little messy, the dark brown lock didn't quite make it low enough over his forehead to reach his glasses. More often then not his backpack [and old green Swiss military pack from World War 2] was filled with text books and other books that he tries not to get caught reading.

History:Kal grew up in what was a mostly normal home. or so he thought. His parents kept him home and did not like public schools. He was home schooled until middle school where at his father demanding, he go out and make friends and see the world. However, half way through middle school, something happened in his family and he didn't return to school.

A few years later, he reappeared again, looking and sounding different on his second to last year. He was withdrawn and those who remembered him from middle school or ignored. Most of his time, he was reading int he books he kept in his bag and whenever someone would try to see what they were, he would hide them and try to get away.

There were rumors ranging from his parents just up and left him behind and moved to Egypt to they both killed each other under the weight of raising a child. No one's parents spoke of it and Kal became shunned and avoided by most people.

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:02 pm

Kal -hated- school. Most kids say that, sure, but he hated it for more than bullies and homework. He hated that the teachers who held themselves so high, never taught them anything he really wanted to know. So what Pi is 3.14...who cares about how much force it takes to push a ball up a 70 degree incline.

He didn't mind the literature classes so much, and part of him deeply wished he could go to college to learn more...but there was other, more important things to do. Today was the start of Grade 12. Senior year as the Americans called it.

He closed the door to his house, earlier than most other kids but he didn't like to be seen. In fact he was happier when not being noticed at all. Kal decided to take the long way to school. He very much doubted the library would be open that early and even if it was, it wouldn't have any new books for him to read. So he went the long way that took him in front of one of the old playgrounds...

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:18 am

Rema slowly swung back and forth, smelling the dew in the grass as the sun was finally coming up a bit more. She was deep in her book until she heard footsteps and looked up, seeing a boy, she had seen him here and there but never really talked to him, or anyone for that matter.

Her eyes simply went back down to her book, reading the stories she always tried so hard to get lost in, until she was brought back to her harsh reality.

But then she heard the laughing that sent chills down her spine, some of the more popular kids seemed to decide to go early today too, probably just to get a good seat to poke fun at the freshmen.

Almost immediately, her book was in her bag, and she was off the swing, walking past the boy, accidently bumping into him but not turning to say sorry or anything

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:51 am

Kal was deeply engrossed in his own minds, lost into fantasizes and dreams that he guessed would scared most other people. At least until he was bumped and stumbled slightly and was also brought to reality.

With a few blinks of his blue eyes he stared after the girl who hurried onward. He tried to remember where he had seen her before, was it at school? Yes...it was probably at school, but he couldn't place her name or picture what her face looked like. He always made it a note to learn a person's name and put it on their face. He always felt it important too, to listen to the way a person said their name and try to say it the same.

In any case, he wasn't overly offended that she didn't apologize, he was a bit happier for it. Though, he looked at his arm where she had touched him and he seemed to blush slightly. He wasn't fond of being touched by others.

At any rate, the more popular kids were getting closer and unnoticed by Kal who was losing himself into his fantasies again...

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:51 am

Rema tucked her hands into her pockets, her shoulders hunched up a bit as she sped towards the school, not looking up from the sidewalk directly in front of her, not wanting to make eye contact, even with the friendly people who were getting up to water their lawns who flashed her a smile.

--

This group of 3 people, who were in the same grade as Rema and Kal, were talking loudly despite it being so early. 2 girls, one guy, each one known throughout their school, always thinking they were better, as all the new girls wanted to be just like them despite them being so mean.

Both girls had blond hair, one with it tied back into a very neat ponytail, and both girls had the stink of perfumes and hairspray, while the guy, who was captain of the football team 2 years in a row, and had an almost sickening smile, just listened to them talking.

They then saw Kal, and one girl pointed to him, their voices dying down, as they all suddenly surrounded him

-"Hey freak, hows it going?"-

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:56 am

The one thing Kal hated more than the lack of subjects at school...was the football team and what personalities it took to have in order to be on it. Naturally, the Captain of the team was the worst one of the lot. So when Kal pumped into the bigger boy he blinked and groaned a little, still his mother had taught him to treat everyone with politeness.

"Oh...Hello and good morning...are you three excited for our final year?"

His voice was soft and almost innocent sounding but he knew it'd more likely get them to tease him even more but he really didn't want to be picked on this morning...

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:18 am

They all just laughed and shook their heads

-"Excited to almost be away from people like you sure."-

One of the girls grabbed his bag, and tossed it to the male

-"Paul, catch!"-

As he caught it, he promptly dropped it onto the street into a nearby puddle

~Oops.. My mistake, so sorry~

They all laughed, but then one girl pointed behind Paul. He turned, and standing there was Rema, glaring at them all

~Aha, the freaks unite apparently~

And even though he teased her, the girls went quiet, not saying another word. Rema walked over to them, but Paul just walked past her, bumping into her, as the girls quickly followed him, watching her as they walked past, but still didnt say anything. She looked at Kal

"You alright..?"

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:32 pm

As the bag splashed into the puddle, Kal seemed to deflate a little and frown. Maybe he'd be lucky and that would be the worse they'd do to him today. He rarely seemed to get out of those situations without pushed pushed around and his things ruined.

Strangely enough however, the girl he couldn't remember the name of seemed to have an effect on them. The girls especially didn't seem to fear much when it came to hazing others. Kal looked at her, she didn't seem so bad to him, and now that he could see her face he seemed to recall her name was Reba...or...Rela...or Rema or something...

He looked down a little and moved over to pick up his bag which was now soaked through. He stole glances at the girl, not answering her just yet as he opened the bag and rifled through it. From the sounds of it most of his things were inside plastic bags but he didn't comment on it. Finally he nodded a little.

"Y-yes...Thank You...everything seems to be in order and unharmed..."

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:57 pm

Nodding to him, she turned away

"One day they're going to get whats coming to them.. "

And then she simply walked away. She hated to see people be bullied, and helped when she could. But then would always leave, saying the exact same thing.

As she walked along, she glanced at her watch. It was still about an hour until class, but at least the school would be open. She picked up the pace, and got to the school within a few minutes, quickly going to the basement of it where there were only a few classrooms and some dirty lockers, but she sat in a corner, where the cheap security cameras didnt point to, its where she always liked to go

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:51 pm

"Oh...well Karm-..."

Kal blinks as she seemed to vanish down the road. He stared after her but finally decided to leave well enough alone. He hurried on to school and went straight to his locker without incident. It was strangely bare even for the first day of school where many kids had already stuffed books and pictures and other colorful bits into theirs.

However, Kal didn't do anything to his, which was on the bottom floor close to the basement steps. He looked around the hall to make sure no one was noticing and then leaned in to his locker and pulled out a pencil from his bag and drew something on the very bottom. Afterwords he pulled out a book that was indeed wrapped in a plastic bag and set it on the bottom over whatever it was he drew. He took a deep sigh, not realizing a few kids down the hall were laughing at how he wrapped his things in plastic.

He didn't mind it though and looked down to the schedule he was mailed where he also got his locker location and combination. He sighed again, this time in frustration. Physics. He hated that class but slung his backpack over his shoulder and closed his locker, heading down the hall to find the room.

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:54 pm

A student came down to his locked which was right near Rema, and looked at her strangely, but she didnt pay much attention, reading her book again, but jumped as the student slammed his locked, then laughed at her.

Out of her book fell her Schedule, and she picked it up, looking it over again. She hadnt really before, and blinked. Physics? When the hell did she sign up for that?

She groaned and stood up, brushing herself off and tucked her paper into her bag, as she went back upstairs, wanting to get to class early. She then saw that boy from before just as he was leaving his locker, and she stopped, waiting for him to be out of sight, but then realized he was headed where she needed to go.

With a slight sigh she followed, but slowly

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:26 pm

Kalbert didn't pay much attention to anyone in the halls. He rarely did. He bumped his way through larger crowds and ignored people calling out insults at him. He had gotten used to it last year. At first, due to the rumors, everyone had avoided him as if he might hurt them, but slowly they more popular kids found it more fun to tease and pester him, seeing that he wouldn't do anything about it.

The most recent rumor had hit him worse than the usual insults about being a freak or their names for him home-schooled-Kaly and Mama's Kaly. The rumor went, his parents had killed each other for reasons that ranged from being unable to afford raising a teenager, to just hating their son so much they'd rather be dead. It was so cruel that over the summer Kal almost put one of the kids in the hospital, and he had never fought anyone before.

`"Kaly-orphan! Kaly Kaly Kaly-orphan-free!"`

One of the jocks sang to the tune of 'oly-oly oxen-free' before throwing a wad of paper at the back of his head. His lips twitched a little but he said nothing. Kal just continued walking until he found the class room and doing his best to not show his sadness and anger sat down in the back corner by the window and busied himself with getting out his notebook and getting ready to take notes.

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:44 pm

Rema walked into her classroom, sitting closest to the desk the teacher would be at. It generally saved her from such abuse from the other students. She pulled out her book, and the one she had been reading on and off all morning, the fantasy stories she let herself get lost in, wanting so hard to be in them instead.

One by one students began to come in, filling up the seats around them. In amongst them, were the girls from that morning, who sat the the other side of the room from Rema.

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:56 pm

Kal barely looked up as the classroom door closed and the bell for the class period to began sounded. The few other kids in the back row started messing around almost immediately until the teacher got up and started speaking. Kal didn't pay much attention until...

-"Kalbert Stein! Pay attention!"-

He jumped a bit and looked up from the doodle he was working so hard on. It was actually a pretty good sketch of the girl who somehow saved him just an hour before. He set down his pencil and whispered a 'sorry' and feigned attention to something about gravity and fulcrums and things he cared less about.

Then he glanced to the middle of the front row. There she was, just half a room away, staring into a book and he was surprised she didn't get yelled at. He frowned a little, wishing for once he paid more attention so he could have gotten her name, so he didn't let himself slip into daydreams but watched the girl and hoped the professor would yell at her using her full name as well.

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:34 am

She was so deep into her book until the teacher yelled and she looked up, seeing the boy from earlier yet again. Once he turned to look at her, she looked quickly back to her book, but the yard stick suddenly hitting her desk startled her and it dropped out of her hand

-"You too Rema! We wont have any mishaps this year"-

She rolled her eyes, and tried to suppress a grin remember a biology experiment that went terribly wrong.. in the teachers eyes.

She picked up her book and put it into her bag, before pulling out her notepad to get ready to start taking notes.

She glanced over her shoulder at Kal, winking at him with a grin. Obviously her mood had lightened, remembering the year before and the fun she had with this teacher, even though he looked at it as her being disruptive or not listening

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:36 am

Rema! Rema, Rema, Rema! That was her name. Upon hearing it he was surprised he could forget it so easily. There wasn't much he knew about her. She was an orphan...and she was living with foster parents...anything else no one really knew. Aside from everyone thinking she was creepier than him, and he had to admit until that morning he was a little glad there was someone people shunned more than him.

He started to return his attention to the teacher when he caught her looking at him, as if she had been the whole time and he never noticed. She winked and he just looked at her confused and not realizing he smiled a little and blushed when she did. at that moment to he realized exactly what he had been doodling. He grabbed his pencil and quickly wrote out the name Rema in script under the face and decided he'd try to catch up with her later and give it to her as a thank you.

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:58 am

Rema watched the teacher, she took down her notes. She was actually a very good student, never failed a class, never missed a class, never been late, yet still, the teachers didnt like her because she was so different. As the class bell rang, she seemed to be out of her seat and out the door in a second, moving onto the next class.

She heard over the speaker system, someone from the office, saying "Could Rema Dabatos please report to the office immediately."

She sighed deeply, not knowing why they were calling her down. She went through the crowd of students who were pushing and shoving, and got to the office. Standing there was her mother at the moment, at her foster home

"..What are you doing here?"

-"Rema.. What did you do this morning before you left for school.."-

The principal said, coming out of her office. Her foster mother had tears in her eyes. Rema was so confused but said

"I packed my books and walked out.."

-"What about your sisters?"-

"Gabbing away loud as Banshees."

The principal sighed, and pointed behind her. Rema turned, and saw 2 cops there

"..Whats going on.."

~"Would you please come with us ma'am.."~

The one said. Rema turned to her foster mother, who was now crying. She shook her head quickly, not understanding the situation. It was just supposed to be her first day of her last year. And here she was, no one telling her something that obviously was bad that happened

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:38 pm

Kalbert packed up as quickly as he could, but still Rema was gone before he even slung his backpack over his shoulder. He had the picture carefully placed into his text book and he hurried into the hall to find her, but there was so many people moving about he couldn't spot her. He sighed a little, thinking it was stupid anyway, she wouldn't want to be bothered anyway. She'd probably think the picture was creepy.

With a small sigh he hoped no one notice, he started his way to Remedial Algebra. Math was his worse subject and he gave up trying in it a long time ago. He heard the loudspeaker crackle and sputter something, but the one by him was broken. He shrugged to himself but as he got to the classroom which wasn't far from the main office he blinked at 2 police officers.

He wasn't usually curious but he also spotted Rema looking at a woman crying. For reasons lost to him, maybe it was because he recognized one of the officers from a few years ago or he just wanted to find a way to repay Rema for that morning, he inched closer to try and overhear what was going on. He unconsciously held the book a little tighter as if fearing somehow Rema would see into it and see the picture.

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:51 pm

The principal spoke to Rema, with a very dissapointed look on her face

-"Both girls were killed this morning.."-

The mother weeped a bit louder, and Rema backed up, looking shocked

"And you think I did it?!"

She said loudly, looking at them all, unsure of why they would even think she would do something like that.

-"You were the last one to be seen with them.. Now.. please go with these officers.."-

One walked up behind her, grabbing her hands and pulling them behind her back to cuff them, but she jumped forward

"Hell no"

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Tue Sep 09, 2008 1:06 pm

Kalbert seemed to pale, and a few of the kids who hadn't gotten to class yet stopped to watch. Some grinning and laughing, while others were looking scared. Kal, however, seemed to just stand there looking upset and worried.

He looked at one of the officers. Jim Brandon was his name and he had a kind face, though at the moment it looked as sad as it did the day he took Kalbert away from the home he grew up in. Of all the social workers, cops, and government people to talk to Kal, Officer Brandon had at least listened to him when he told him what he saw that day...

Taking a deep breath, he walked over to the policemen and spoke up a little.

"Officer Brandon...she couldn't have...s-she was with me this morning."

He heard one of the kids watching mutter something about freaks banding together but he ignored it and hoped Brandon would listen to him.

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Tue Sep 09, 2008 1:14 pm

Rema looked up and saw Kal. He was standing up for her, something she wasnt used to, but she stayed quiet. The principal looked at him, then at Rema, raising her eyebrow

-"Is this true?"-

"Yes! I left early to go to the park.. I do it every morning when schools in session.. "

The principal knew this, having seen her several times, and she slowly nodded

-"They still need to talk to you Rema.. In my office. Kalbert, if you could take a seat here"-

She walked into her office, and Rema followed, but first looked back to mouth 'Thank you' before walking in, followed by one cop. The other who Kal had addressed, stayed there with him, sitting down beside him

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:05 pm

Kal shuffled his feet as he sat down. part of him was thinking he was crazy for speaking up...another part of him was very glad he did. He held his physics text book tightly in his hands and stared down at it as Officer Brandon watched him. The man didn't offer anything on what happened, or ask about that morning but when he did speak his voice was jsut like Kal remembered it.

="How ya doing Kal? Been getting along ok at your parents house?"=

After the incident in middle school, Kal had been taken in by an Aunt and Uncle who were more different than any parental type he had ever encountered. They were very kind, loving and barely seemed upset by what had happened. They hadn't believed him either but when he told them he wanted to live in his parents house, by himself for his last two years of school...they let him and paid for it.

"Yes, Sir."

The cop nodded with a small strained smile.

="That's good. Been meaning to stop by and check on ya but well...been pretty busy lately. Is Rema Dabatos your friend?"=

Kal blushed a little and shook his head.

"No, Sir but I saw her in the park this morning and she..."

He blushed a bit more and couldn't find what he wanted to say exactly but he finished with.

"...helped me get away from some of the other Seniors who like to pick on me."

Brandon nodded as if mentally noting everything he said and how he said it.

="Well I can't talk about what happened or what was found...but you may need to tell other people you saw her this morning, ok?"=

Kalbert nodded and didn't say anything back. The Officer smiled a little and placed his hand on the boys shoulder and looked towards the door of the principal's office.

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:52 pm

The officer talked to Rema, explained how they found the girls. Both of them had been killed in a way that left no mark. They hadnt been strangled, if anything, they were in their beds, looking like they fell asleep peacefully, and their hearts stopped beating.

She shook her head slowly, she didnt like them much but she didnt understand who would kill them. The principal let her go after she just said she had no idea what happened since she had left early. She went out and saw Kal still there. The principal waved him over, and as Rema walked by him she smiled a little at him

"Thank you.. For sticking up for me"

She then walked out, and instead of going to class, went outside, sitting in the grass, laying on her side, just confused

Subject: Re: Light and darkness. Tue Sep 09, 2008 4:03 pm

Kal smiled a little too at her but didn't say anything. He stood up, looking slightly embarrassed and bashful...and a little scared as he walked over to the Principal. He wanted to say something...anything...condolences to Rema's foster mother...or something that might help but all he could do was stare down at his shoes.