I'm on a cliff. That's all I know. My hair dances with the wind and I close my eyes trying to remember how I got here. A copper smell wafts up my nostrils and I wrinkle my nose in disgust.

"Madness!"

My heart hammers mercilessly in my throat when I hear that sinister, sickening voice. I force my eyes open and take in the sight in front of me. The first thing I notice is the green, pale hair.
Then painted red lips stretched in a grin which looks child-drawn.
And finally, I'm met with green eyes with charcoal rings around them, standing out against pale, chalk-white skin.

Shrill laughter comes out of him as he continues, "-as you know!"

The laughter abruptly stops. The chills tickling my spine seem to travel through my whole body as I start to shake.

The next words are sung like a tune, ",is like gravity."

The chills make a home in the space around me as he starts skipping towards me in a disfigured manner, moving sideways, backwards and forwards like a dance. Havoc and chaos twinkle in his eyes as his tongue swiftly swipes his bottom lip preparing for the last line I know is coming.

"All it takes is a little..." My breath hitches when he stops so close to me, I can see his scars.

"Push." He finishes but I'm already falling and the tangy smell becomes stronger. I see legs swinging on the cliff edge playfully before my back is wet and blood splashes around me.

My room welcomes the sunlight like an old friend but nausea curls in my gut. I imagine it is not only caused by my dream.

l lethargically raise myself and stalk to the bathroom where I confirm a horror greater than the nightmares I've been having.

-

"Why are you so moody today?" Jiaying questions as we walk under the familiar bridge in Orabelle's area.

"I got a bloody gift this morning," I simply answer. Jiaying frowns in confusion.

"But if you've got a gift then why're you so- oh. I get it. Sorry girl." Pity creeps onto her face.

I tend to be out of focus when I'm on my period which is why I get an idea.

"You're right!" I say. My knee's hit the ground, my hands join together, I look up to the sky, change some of Bieber's lyrics and sing.

"Is it too late now to say sorry? Cause I, want to cut off a part of my body."

"Er, is that supposed to be praying?" Orabelle approaches us and waves. She's wearing a blue denim dungaree with a plain white shirt under it. Her braids are put into two big plaits, each are draped over a shoulder. I sport some ripped jeans with my classic red hoodie, addition of my aviator glasses and my usual messy side pony which showcase my split ends. Jiaying has a black off-shoulder sweatshirt and a dark blue denim skirt and is rocking her signature lazy bun atop her head.

We are going out today since it's Saturday and honestly, we are in denial of how much homework needs to be done.

"My motto is put pain on pain to get rid of old pain but that,"

She stretches her palm and gestures to me. "That don't seem right."

I look towards my so called best friend to defend me but her eyes are widened looking somewhere else.

"Ow! What did you do that for?" I whine rubbing my arm from the random slap Jiaying just gave me.

"Get up, the bus is coming!" Hastily, she and Orabelle pull me up by my arms- and I'm sure something has snapped.

We sprint towards it almost in slow motion because of the strong wind.

When we get on, I lazily slump onto my friends who protest and whack my back so I look like one of those inflatable men at the beach.

A tsk comes from a lady in the single seat of the bus behind the driver. Scowling as if we've touched her, she moves away to the priority seats.

"Lets go to the top deck today," Jiaying begs when the bus starts to move.

I moan in response, "Apologies but my legs can't seem to cooperate with your wish." My friends grunt as they attempt to push me up the stairs whiles holding onto the railing to stop from swaying as the bus moves.

"Dangerous," the lady from before mutters and tsks again.

"Sorry to say ma'am but I don't think you're closer to getting out that Amazon rainforest stuck in your teeth," Jiaying states.

The woman rolls her eyes and huffs.

"... and puff and blow the bus down!" Orabelle and Jiaying say in unison.

I try to cage my laughs behind gritted teeth, scolding them, "Guys!"

A warning is evident when the lady stands up.

Jiaying and Orabelle drop me and flee so fast I see the imaginary butterflies like a halo around my head when my head hits the railing. Through them I still manage to see the glare of the lady and awaken my inner Usain Bolt, running and almost tripping up the stairs.

"Peek-a-boo, I see the shit in you!" I have no worry shouting at my 'friends' as they fail to hide behind the seats. The top deck is empty except for me and the traitors.

"Sorry we left you there Jackie." 

"Yeah well now you don't get to sit with me."

Orabelle's eyebrows knit together in confusion. "Is that supposed to be a punishment-ow!" Jiaying didn't elbow her subtly enough for me, or on time.

I slump onto one of the seats behind the stairs and close my eyes. Soon, the vibration of the bus lowers and I feel someone sit next to me. After a while I start to hear soft snores. I tilt my head, opening my eyes and face a silver stud. It's the guy Jiaying believes was low key flirting with Orabelle on the bus on Friday. I use the opportunity to analyse his facial features. He has beeline honey-coloured curly hair on the top in rolls and faded at the sides. Soft arched eyebrows, long eyelashes and honey caramel skin. I lastly look down to his pink lips- which are slowly curling into a smirk.

"I'm surprised," he says. Is he sleep talking?

"You're not that slick." He opens his eyes as my own widen. His eyes are blue, infused with green. Neither of us look away like it's a staring contest. 

His eyes moves down to my lips and remain there as he speaks, "I'll save you the embarrassment." 

He gets up and starts going down the stairs, he winks whiles doing so. My body jerks around as I hear a scream, no doubt from Jiaying, "Jacklynne's got a boyfriend!"

I roll my eyes but laugh at the sight of Orabelle eating popcorn, wondering where she got the packet from. And hoping it wasn't a random one that she found on a seat because when she throws some at me I leap to catch one in my mouth.  My chest ends up stunningly landing on the top of one of the seats. Both of my friends wince but I can see the slight shaking as they try to hold back laughter.

I smile through the pain and force a chuckle, "I'm fine. Haven't you ever heard of the healing power of laughter?" 

Aasim 

The neon lights slightly irritate my eyes as they flash around like spotlights.  I almost smile with pride as I bang the last key of the music on the piano. Enthusiastic applause fills the club but I can feel one less clap. Actually a slower clap, and the source it's coming from steps forward. Mason.

My apparent friend from school whose eyes gleam with envy whenever he see's me. I seem to be the only one who notices that in my group of 'friends'.

Right now, an angle of his lips are lifted into a smirk. His hands are crossed over his chest, trying to assume a genuine look, while he speaks, "That was really great mate, it's nice how you share your wonderful music around."

"Thanks-"

"Kind of like how your mum shares her body around right?" he interjects. To that I frown and shake my head, trying to get rid of the fact that it might be true even though I know there's a great possibility. 

Practically speechless, I attempt to gulp down the dryness in my throat, remembering that there are still people around. A snarl visibly forms on his lips. 

"D'you know what I like to share? Facts." I feel my jaw set. I also feel like a gun has been pointed to my head and the bullet has rattled it with so many emotions. My fists clench and unclench trying to hold all of them together; or perhaps I'm trying to make them disappear like a magician trick.

"Facts like, sluttiness could be in your sister's genes." My feet are off of the stage as soon as I hear 'sister'. I lunge at Mason but he ducks and snorts.

"Look, I'm just trying to warn you- hey!" An unexpected chuckle rumbles from my chest as I'm now straddling Mason on the ground. 

"Wow! What a family. Are you gay now mate?" Everything he says tempts me to staple his mouth.  But I don't have a staple so I use my fists instead. A scream from the fire igniting inside me comes out and in this moment my eyes seem to be clouded with hot steam, signifying my rage. 

"I don't want anything about my little sister coming out of your mouth again!" I wait for an answer before gripping Mason's collars, lift them, then drop them so that his head slams onto the floor. The thump sound is pleasing to my ears. 

 "DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" My fist connects with his cheek- repeatedly.

And the clubbers-crazy as they are- throw up their fists in support chanting, "Fight, fight!",  until someone pulls me up by my shirt. I mentally panic when I recognise the deep tone of the managers voice.

"Hey, hey! What's going on here?" I curse at myself when he finally turns to face me with a surprised expression on his face.

"You?" I shrug off Mr. Mane's hand on my shoulder, accepting that I've ruined my chance to make money and protect my sister.

An audience member steps into the scene, his beard is dirty as well as uncombed and his clothes are scruffy. All people are allowed here but the homeless man's stink is unwelcome because I see everybody's nose scrunch.

Mine does the same automatically  when he speaks; his breath penetrating. "Excuse me sir, but it is not the fault of that talented boy you've got there."

I fight a grin when he points to Mason. "It's his fault. He said something insulting about that boy's sister."

Mr. Mane nods, believing the homeless man. "I see, thank you." 

He jabs a finger at Mason's chest. "Get out and don't bother coming back here if you're just looking for trouble." I catch the glare Mason gives me before stepping back. Mr. Mane must have seen it too because he raises his pierced right eyebrow in warning, making Mason finally leave. I let the idea that my manager may have based his decision on believing the homeless man also on the fact that he might trust me stick in my mind. That is important to me since I think I need a raise now and being paid as young as I am- sixteen- is a bonus to having a job. 

Mr. Mane pats my back and clears his throat, "I think it's time for you to go home pal."

I nod at the homeless man to show my gratitude before walking away. 

I don't get to take a breath fresh of air when I get outside because a sudden tightness squeezes my heart and I feel strangled. Panic swims in my blood like poison as breath doesn't come into my lungs. The air in my throat thins and with every breath I'm desperate; it shows in my vigorous trembles. Whimpers involuntarily escape my throat as I clutch my chest and close my eyes, leaning against the wall for support. My breaths become rapid gasps, the shallowness scaring me. Dizzily, I look around- somehow managing to make out figures coming at speed.  

"I think we're late because of your laziness!" I hear.

"Jacklynne! It's your fault we missed our stop because you were busy slamming yourself onto bus seats to notice that we missed our stop!" The high-pitched roar flies towards me. I drop to the floor, sliding down the wall. My fate seems to choke me.

"Hold on, don't poop your shit yet! Do you see that?" The sound of footsteps become more clearer but I don't bother opening my eyes. I feel like it's pointless. Just like my efforts of getting this job here because I'm going to die now.

I suck in a shaky breath when I hear a gentle, whispering voice, "Hi, my name's Jacklynne but you can call me Jackie right now. You might remember the name Oral B more though, from the bus. She's here with me."

In the pause, I try to lock my fear away to search for the name in my mind. My brain can only reach for a thread of recognition. 

She continues, "Can I touch your arm? Is that okay?" I nod, my breathing still fast and raspy. My shoulder welcomes the comforting touch.

"Focus on the touch on your arm okay? Just that. Now I want you to look at me; focus on my eyes."

I open my eyes and look around dazed, then my eyes land on Jacklynne's green ones and stay there; the same unique eyes I stared into earlier in the bus. Glasses rest on her head. A smile forms on her face and my heart tightens- but not because of the panic. I suddenly want not just the touch of a comforting hand, but the comforting hug I haven't been given by anyone but my sister for a very long time. I focus on that thought: the slight burn of hope lighting inside of me like a candle.

"That's right. Okay listen, I want to tell you a secret so listen carefully. Have I got your full attention?" I can't help smiling back. I take in more breaths before answering, causing the trembling to come back. But they're less robust. 

 "Y-yeah." Pride swells in my chest and takes out most of the tightness as I manage to speak.

"Good. So, the secret is, there's air all around you. And guess what?" 

My chuckle comes out raspy but my voice is clearer when I answer, "What?"

"It's free! So you better take it all in." I laugh at the reply.

"Thanks, Jackie."

-

I ignore the wetness of my little sisters drool which I feel leaking through my shirt onto my shoulder. Leyna's small legs loosely hug my torso and her arms are wrapped securely around my neck. As I walk up the stairs, the steps make a symphony sound of shudders and croaks- protesting against the silence I'm trying to keep. The top of the stairs is right above me so I decide to take a risk and go for a leap of faith. I land on my feet creating a thud I hope will not cause the sprawled figure on the couch to awaken, broken glass unintentionally decorated around it like an artist's work.

I inwardly scold the creaking floorboards as I open the door to Leyna's room. Even though I am upstairs now, I tiptoe across the room and lay my sister on her bed. I smile at the smudged paint on her cheek knowing she enjoyed herself at the art and crafts club I left her at in the library. I kiss Leyna's forehead and pull the butterfly decorated covers over her before stepping out of the room to go and get a wipe from the bathroom.

But when I hear the familiar creak of the floorboards, I stop outside of the bathroom door. The wobbling figure of my mum staggers past me. Even though it's dark, I see the same look of dullness in her eyes as the day dad left when she turns to look at me. I remember that the dullness terrified me when I was younger- when I was nine years old. There was no emotion at all, no grief, no affliction, no resentment. 

Nothing. You could tell, that he had completely blindsided her.

So whenever my mum comes home like this: drunk and useless and my little sister asks me, "What's wrong with mummy?"

I simply reply, "Nothing." She doesn't have to know that dad left right when mum announced that she was pregnant with Leyna. I keep her in the dark about these things because if I show her the light, she might be blinded.

As my mum moves on, I slide down the wall for the second time today, forgetting the wipes.

*******

Anyone spot the reference to Red Hood? The person the Joker was before before he became the Joker.

Bible Verse- Job 6:15

But you, my friends, you deceive me like streams that go dry when no rain comes.