MALACHITE

CHAPTER I

He took his eyes off the road for a moment to smile ruefully at the radio as the DJ is talking about what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

“You hear that, Leilani?” Bubba scoffed at the bobble head on the dash as she shimmies and shakes. “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas? Right!” The trucker spewed bitterly.

“Tell that to my cheating ex-wife. It sure as heck didn’t stay in Vegas, I can tell you that, Leilani.” Bubba’s harsh laughter holds no joy for that’s how his last marriage ended, in Vegas.

 Suddenly, a blinding flash saturates the interior of his rig, causing him to gasp in surprise. Blinking several times as he lifts his eyes to the road before him, searching for the cause.

Bubba sees the woman, her body trembling as she drops to one knee, clutching a bundle tightly to her chest. Her wide, terrified eyes lock onto the towering rig bearing down on her, frozen in the fleeting moment of inevitability. Bubba slams his foot down hard on the brakes, his hands clenching the wheel in a white-knuckled grip as the truck resists his desperate attempt for control.

The massive load shifts with a guttural groan, the trailer yawing violently to the side. The weight of the container begins to pull, twisting the rig as Bubba feels the force wrenching through him. "Oh, God, have mercy!" The cry tears from his throat, a raw plea to the heavens.

MALACHITE

CHAPTER II

Malachite often had trouble fitting in. He had very little friends, and he had some difficulties that they deal with daily. His OCD tendencies and the need at times to do ritual soothing on the spot was challenging to say the least, particularly when they were out in public and something triggered him. His triggers were mostly specific sounds and tonal vibrations. Sounds like groaning, scraping, tortured metal to rapid bursts of pops and bangs, like fireworks or gunshots.  At night he had to check the locks at least three times before settling down after he had moved the curtain away from the window another three times.

                “Malachite! Come out here right now! “Saya's’ voice tierce

                The dark hair teen appeared in the doorway, slightly holding the door open. His face was sullen and pinched around the mouth. He pulled the headphones off of his ears, the hint of techno beat pulsed as he looked towards Saya with disinterest. The vibrations coming from him were palpable. Radiating anger and dissatisfaction with this latest antic.   

                “What.” He said softly and yet the inflection was rude.

                This incensed Saya. She took a step towards him, her voice stern “You are not to hangout with those two boys. You are not to talk to them or even look their way. Do I make myself clear? Do you understand! I do not need you getting into anymore trouble or else you will be booked at the station and do community service or even Juvie.”

                Getting no response, she took another step towards the tall youth standing in the doorway. “Do you understand what I am telling you, Malachite?” Her tone vibrating, she waited expectantly for his answer

                “Yeah.” He said softly, not looking at her, his attention drawn upwards to the cobwebs of the overhang of the porch.

                “What was that? I can’t hear you. I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation, Malachite. Now what are you going to do? Tell me!” Folding her arms over her chest, her foot tapping impatiently in the dirt casting plumes of dust in the still air.

                He snapped his face to look at the woman who raised him, but knew wasn’t his mother. He glared down at her “I will not associate with Micah and Jonah. There. You happy now, Saya?” He said, sarcastically

                Saya arched her eyebrow at his attitude, she twisted her head slowly around like a boxer before the bell rings. Her chin set, eyes narrowed; “Oh, you think I am joking. Alright Mr. attitude. You come home after school; you’re grounded!” her voice cracked like the sound of a gavel hitting the bench in court

                “I’m to old to be grounded, Saya. You can’t enforce that. You must go to work and there is nothing you can do about it to make sure I am here.” He continued in that soft sarcastic tone, his face stoic. For all his years he knew how to control a situation when he held all the cards, and right now he does so to speak. Saya could no longer control his actions for the simple fact that who was going to enforce her will? Not Alice. He did love the old woman dearly, but this wasn’t her business after all. She pretty much stayed out of their squabbles for the most part.

                “Oh, really?” she replied, her tone dangerously low

                “Are you challenging me? You know that this isn’t going to go down well for you” she watched him like a predator, calculating the moves

                “No, Saya. I am not challenging you because that would mean that we are somehow equal and we are not. We are not the same. I’d win.” He stared at her coldly, the words filled with disdain

                Saya stiffens at his disrespectful declaration, fists clenching at her sides as her lips tightens. She opens her mouth, but no words come. She is left there for a temporary moment, cowed but the petulant youth.

                With that said, he opened and closed the screen door softly three times before walking back into the house leaving Saya fuming in the sultry night air.

MALACHITE

CHAPTER II 

She usually practiced with the bow when a thunderstorm was brewing. Alice recalls seeing her on the hill, standing tall and proud. An air of confidence that was admirable, regal in fact. Upon drawing back the string of the sophisticated weapon, it came to life, emitting a glowing throbbing arc of celestial brilliance.

When she shot an arrow into a cloud, it crackled with electricity and thunder so deafening, the phenomenon made headlines. This was a thunderclap with attitude and this girl had plenty of it. She would also aim towards the other mountain and easily cause a mini avalanche of earth and rock that the news would attribute to a lightning strike, or strange lights seen in the sky.