Destiny by Jinxrox (urban books to read TXT) 📖

his head on the aging wooden bunk above his and winced.


“Bill, I’m going to kill you!” Lea yelled and stood up on the soaked rug-covered floor with rage.


“Whoa! Dude, calm down! The Master told me to wake you up. We perform in 10 minutes.”


All the anger left Leo’s green eyes and he frantically searched for his performance ensemble - A blood red shirt with dark brown pants and gold adornments. He hopped down the stairs while putting on black boots. Leo grabbed his copper flute, and shot out the door into the waiting group of musicians. They walked through the city to the east square the dancers and musicians would perform here. A large crowd had gathered around the hastily built stage. Well warn down with age, including its once red velvet curtains, it felt welcoming to all. The East square had large apartment buildings that enclosed the small square. Numerous small passageways granted access to the square. The heat-filled crowd parted around a large and beautiful fountain, with a statue of a marble white angel protruding from it. The aqua colored water poured out of her eyes, to show that her emotionless eyes were crying. The fountain was a large contrast to the joyful citizens who came to watch them play.


Butterflies flew in Leo’s stomach as he walked the stage stairs. The curtains still hid them from the public, but Leo’s nervousness only grew as he took his place behind the dancers, but in front of the trumpets. On a black metal music sheet stand a small name was painted in white on the side. It read “Leo.” He breather in deeply as the rest of the musicians took their places. His palms sweated with nervousness and excitement. His already flushed face became red with heat as he remembered the grand crowd waiting just behind the curtains. They opened slowly, and at long last, the crowd was in full view. Leo started sweating. He took a deep breath to begin the show.


***


Melina let out her long held breath. Her purple leotard and tights were refreshing against the heat of the day. She had tamed her mane of red hair into a large slick bun. Shiny god eye shadow dusted her eyelids and faded into silver on her brow bone. Lavender paint in swirls decorated her cheeks and around her eyes. Silver and gold beads were sewn all over her lavender ensemble. He black soled flexible vaulting shoes made it easy to grip onto Pepper’s spotted back. She road Pepper over to the circus tent constructed in the main square. Large and yellow on the outside, it resembled a shining sun. In the interior, silver stars dotted the midnight blue ceiling, giving it the illusion of being outside at night. The large stands were covered by people frantically fanning themselves with any flat object they could find. The sandy terrain in the middle invited Melina to perform. The trapeze artists whizzed past her while she practiced, and the magicians were searching everywhere for a lost white rabbit. Melina dismounted and walked to the performer’s entrance at the back of the tent. After attaching Pepper to the horse’s wooden post, Melina went in search of Elena.


“Melina, you’re on in 5 minutes,” Henry shouted as he glided past to his spot as the ringmaster in the middle of the show ring.


“Welcome ladies n’ gents! Welcome to the Circus Fantasia!”


The crowd erupted in applause as a response. Henry lifted his hand up, directing attention to acrobats and trapeze artists above.


Pepper pranced out of the curtains, as the acrobats finished, with Melina on her back. A thin almost invisible but extremely strong cord that wrapped around her right wrist was the only thing keeping her from falling. She stood straight on the horse's back, and waved to the cheering crowd. Quinn's cheering face stood out the most to her, and she blew a kiss in his direction, making him turn bright red. Melina giggled.The music pumped in her veins as she started her first trick. Pepper went swiftly into a canter, and Melina did a graceful back flip, on the horse's back, much to the delight of the crowd. Still standing, Melina grabbed her foot with her hand, and put it above her head, before jumping into a split. The crowd roared. Melina sat on Pepper's back, in anticipation for her final trick. They neared a trapeze bar, and with her feet, Melina grabbed onto it after undoing herself from the horses's saddle. Pepper continued cantering, then changed into a gallop. Melina still hung on to the bar upside down, and as Pepper approached, she stretched out her hands and landed a graceful handstand on the still moving horse. Her ears split with the noise from the crowd. After a small front flip and curtsy, they exited the arena. Backstage, the hubbub of activity briefly stopped to congratulate her on her performance. Melina smiled at all the great feedback, and led Pepper to the stable hand, before running out to try to make Destiny's show.


***


Destiny quickly downed a flask of water to chase away the hot temperature. Mike had taken a swing at her arm during the fight, and it was bleeding all over her light blue shirt.

'Destiny, you have one more minute until you go back in the ring!' Adrian shouted. Destiny shook her head to get rid of her doubt. She HAD to win this, not just ti beat Mike, but to prove that someone with a disability could do the same things as everyone else. Just keep him pinned down for ten seconds, she silently thought. But Mike was good. Really good. His footwork was flawless; a,d his broad and strong body put her at a disadvantage. Plus, he could see.

'Destiny, time to go!' She made her way to the entrance of the ring, fairly large, and filled with hundreds of screaming citizens. She walked to the middle of the ring and waved to the crowd. They responded with louder cheers, one young black haired, light blue eyed woman in particular.

The bell sounded. Mike stroke first, with a swipe to her legs which she easily jumped over. He proceeded with a jab to her stomach which she blocked, and returned with a blow to his shoulder, which connected. She winced as a sicking crunching sound indicated that she had broken it. He roared in anger, hazel eyes flashing. Mike kneed her in the stomach, forcing her to the ground. The crowd went silent. Destiny felt the steel blade being knocked from her hand, and then his at her throat.

1...

Destiny, don't give up. Serendipity's now familiar voice screamed into her mind.

2.....

He has me pinned down, what can I do?

3....

Seredipity's voice laughed.

4....

Use your instincts.

5..

Power surged into her weakened body, and with one swift move, she disarmed Mike and put him in the same position she was just in.

1....

2.......

3.......

4........

5 , Mike squirmed under Destiny's hold.

6.....

7.......

8, Almost...

9...

.

A scream rang through the crowd, causing both Mike and Destiny to jump up. Mike pulled Destiny out of the way just in time, as a Burning Leo ran towards them.
Chapter 7

Chapter 7


The Burn Keepers, who were assigned in each town to deal with the Burnt children, gathered up all that was left of Leo. His ashes were cast into a small cloth bag, that would be sent back to his family, along with a letter of consolation. Not that this would change anything, Destiny thought bitterly. She missed Leo immensely, and when Melina heard the news, Destiny took over a motherly role to console her. Destiny however didn't cry. She couldn't, her soul felt numb with pain, and the slightest thing reminded her of her best friend. The worst part was she was expected to go on as if nothing had ever happended, they all were. This curse was a natural thing now, invetible, and nothing would change that. Destiny stood up, determination filled her body, and she yelled,


'I will break this curse!!!'


Several startled birds took off from the surface of the lake, chirping as they took flight. She sighed, before she could do anything, she knew there was one thing she had to do first. Tell the truth.


Rina (AN: Rina is Leo's mom, I know it has been a while, so here is a reminder) briefly paused washing the clothes to glance at their old clock. 10:43. Just fifteen more minutes until the mail comes, she thought, maybe there will be a letter from Leo.


Rina.

She turned around, doing so , dropping a shirt back into the bucket of soapy water.


'Sweetheart?' No answer. Rina shrugged.


RINA! A familiar voice shouted.


'Who's there?'


It is me, Destiny.


'Impossible, you are with Leo, on the caravan. Wait, why am I talking to myself, there is no one here” she scoffed. The voice sighed.


Rina, listen to me, the Elder gave me a device that can transport your voice to anyone else in the world. I am Destiny, Leo's best friend.


'How do I know you are not some sort of joke? That it is really is you?'


I know that when Leo was five, his older brother convinced him to eat a frog. There, satisfied? Destiny added impatiently.


'Okay, so let's say it really is you, then why are you talking to me?'

Destiny went quiet.


'Destiny?'


There was nothing I could do, you know no one can prevent it....


'Destiny, what's going on?'


Leo's dead.


A shrill scream of pain surrounded everyone who lived close to Rina. The neighbors stuck their heads out of the doors, and some hurriedly barged in to see what was the matter with Rina. They found her curled in a fetal position, the bucket of water splashed on the wooden floor, and her hands scratching at her face. She knew if she could feel pain then this is not a nightmare, this is reality.


Destiny heard Rina scream, but she knew it was better this way, then waiting for news from Leo, and instead getting a horrifying letter, and a bag with his ashes. She had already lost one child to the curse, and now another. Destiny slowly and reluctantly walked back to the caravan's tents. She then began searching for Melina. She found her in the stables, rhythmically brushing Pepper.


'Melina.'


She turned at the sound of her name. Her once joyful face was clouded with sorrow, her curly