Fate's Fool

• Melinda Mortimer
• Short Story
• 2010

In the midst of a city town, a figure, not seen by anyone, sneaks into the darkness with the only source of light that will hit the ally walls for hours. Beneath her cloak reveals a sparkling blue, glass orb. As she brings it to her face, the lights within it entrance her. They seem so peaceful, so innocent, so vulnerable.
As the figure tears her eyes away from the orb, she squints into the darkness, determined to let go of what draws her in, so that she might be free. She hastens her steps down the corridor; no one must see her, the world must be rid of the hidden terrors forever. She breathes heavily and the icy air creates what feels like icicles in her lungs as she works the orb into a bin. Yes, that will work well. The rubbish will be taken out and the orb will be destroyed. Not by a human too, so the orb’s beauty will not save it as it had done so many times before.
She flicks her hair out of her eyes and takes a last peek at the orb. She then slips back into the street, feeling the weight of responsibility fall behind her and stay within the past of her very footprints.

* * *

Michelle knew she was in trouble. The results for her test had been terrible and she knew that she should have studied and put more effort into it. She hurried her way home; she might as well get over it quickly. She repositioned her bag on her back and decided to take a shortcut. Her alleyway would be the quickest way. But as she walked past, something caught her eye and she stood dazzled for several seconds.
The source was coming from the bin. As she rustled through it; she found a beautiful glass orb. She held it in her hands and gazed into it. For some reason, she didn’t feel surprised, she felt as if were in a dream. Was it a dream? No, it couldn’t be, you didn’t know a dream when you were in one. It was so beautiful, what could it be? Where did it come from? The question erased from her mind as soon as she thought it.
She was floating. No, what?! Floating? Get a grip Michelle! Snap out of it!
Half of her was telling her to let herself drift, but the other half was reminding her of who she was and telling her to go home.

In the opposite corner, the figure in the cloak cursed as she watched yet another victim, slowly being encased by the shimmering lights of the orb. The girl was totally oblivious to how her inability to fight it would change her life forever. All her work was undone and the entire planet would be in danger once more. To her, it seemed as if Fate had definitely made her its fool.