Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 3 2018 | Page 96

Infinite Identities
Harrow International School Hong Kong, Chao, Catherine -13
I
never intended this to happen, I'm sorry.
I have a secret. A secret that no one knows except for me. I'm standing in the centre of the
empty field, gazing up into the starlit sky of the early morning. I rubbed my fingers against the ring in
my pocket. The sun has yet to rise, and the stars are still glowing above me, beaming into my eyes.
"Christine!" I heard a faint voice calling behind me, it was Kate. She eyed me suspiciously, as if she
could see right through my mind. I sighed, I can't possibly tell her, it's too difficult, too complicated, but she
ought to know somehow. Suddenly, I was disturbed by a loud clatter along the street. I looked around, but
nobody was there. I hesitated. Kate glanced at my ring, her head tilted slightly. "It's…… magical?" Kate
asked. I nodded. She stood there, her glassy blue eyes staring into mine. Silence echoed around us. "She
must be insane." Kate murmured under her breath. There was a sharp pain in my ears. I stared at her, hurt.
"No, I'm not." I was aware that there was an edge in my voice. "I'm not a freak!" I shouted, my tone as hard
as steel. Her concern immediately turned into rage. "Oh please! We both know you're not three!" She shot
back, sharp words thrown out at me like swords, each one stabbing right through my chest. She grabbed my
ring and tossed it into the distance without a hesitation. I gasped, staring at her in shock. I wanted to yell, I
wanted to scream, but nothing came out of my mouth. Kate looked as horrified as me, she went too far and
we both knew it.
A gush of wind brushed past me, chill creeping down my spine, waking my nerves. Kate flinched,
she felt it too. I stood still, listening attentively, but there was a deathly silence. The eye of calmness didn't
last long. Without a warning, the wind started again, but this time stronger, louder. I lost balance and fell to
the ground. Panicking, I struggled to stand, but Kate didn't move, nor did she twitch. She just stood there,
frozen. "It's a tornado." She whispered. The words echoed in my head as I looked up, a rush of terror
washed over me. Voices in my head are telling me to run, but my legs have completely given up. Then
everything went black.
I heard a scream. I heard a cry. But then there was silence. For a second I thought I might be dead, but my
heart keeps pounding rapidly, nonstop. I was disrupted by a sudden light, beautiful colours poured into my
sight. I'm surrounded by an ocean of blue, fluffy clouds of every size floating past me. There's a fragrance of
fresh roses following me like a trail. I've never been here before, but I recognise this place somehow, a place
I vaguely remember. Kate was standing next to me, her face as puzzled as mine, but it didn't take me long to
figure out what it meant.
I'm in a different dimension.
Without the ring, my life will gradually fall into a million pieces. I might die in the next hour,
minute, or even second. Finding the ring isn't a choice. I turned around and ran as fast as I could, heading
towards the West. I'm not going to waste my breath, and I'm definitely not going to waste any of my time.
I sprinted towards the distance, following my senses wherever it takes me, but I honestly have no idea where
I was heading to. I could've stopped, I could've asked for help, but I have no time to pause, nor to think.
My heart is beating rapidly, the blood crashing in my chest like tides in the ocean, so strong I could hear it
like drums in my ears. I have no idea where Kate was, but I couldn't care less. She was the one who created
the fire, yet I'm the one who's cleaning the mess. My lungs are crying out in pain, but I refused to stop.
Time seems to be running ahead of me, racing towards the finish line, but I'm struggling to catch up no
matter how hard I try. It's as if I could see the hands of a clock slowly ticking towards the end, and I can't do
anything about it.
Suddenly, a tiny light appeared in the distance. I took a closer look as my eyes adjusted to the light. A smile
grew on my face. It was my ring. I walked towards it, each step attentive with caution. Tears that I have
held on was finally let out in relief. The knot in my stomach seems to be released, weight from my shoulders
eased away. I relaxed my clenched fists, but the eye of calmness didn't last long. Suddenly, the light dimmed,
and then darkness. I looked around in confusion, but nothing was left except for the cold fear creeping in
my heart once again. I panicked, I have to find it before something goes wrong. Suddenly, an image flashed
across my mind. I saw my parents. I saw a car. I watched as the car raced at full speed, heading closer
towards them. I tensed, my heart stings. I put my hand on my chest, praying for it to stop.
Then it crashed.