Secrets That Lie Within Us

Chapter 1: The Beginning

                                                              POV- NARRATOR

“A girl?! Please Mary, do you seriously think that a GIRL would EVER apply for a job like….that?” yelled Ottomas, formally known as Mr. Orenstead. “Otto, do you really think it matters? This isn’t the olden days! We may have different ways than modern people, but we are still in the century where nobody cares about a girl applying for a man’s work and I’ve never recalled you caring either!” Mrs. Orenstead exclaimed washing clothes in anger. “I cannot believe you right now Otto! Our daughter wants to make a difference in the world and you forbid her because it’s not what women do! She is old enough and perfectly capable to make her own decisions in life.” Otto was too dazed to hear anything his wife said. “Mary calmmmmmmm downnnnn would youuuuu!” Otto’s words were starting to get fuzzy as the drinks started to kick in. “Oh Otto! You need to stop going to Barry’s and start doing something useful! Now get to bed before you pass out.” Mary said infuriatingly. She’s even more infuriated at the fact that he’s been at Barry’s, a good friend of the Orenstead’s tavern, again. Mary respects Barry but will need to tell him he’ll have to lose a daily customer because she is getting worried about her husband and his friends going over there daily. She believes she’ll have to consult Mr.Wenston, the town’s doctor about his drinking habits.

                                                                         1 MONTH BEFORE

Today was the day Mary and Otto’s first daughter became an 18 year old. She could now have a full time job, move out of the town, get her license, and more. In the town of White Ash, an 18th birthday was the most important and stressful. You had many more responsibilities and you have to make life changing choices in the 1st month of being 18. Luckily, their daughter had it all worked out since she was 14. Heather was always a planner, indeed. She had planned out all her birthdays, all the gifts to give at Christmas, before Easter, and she ALWAYS has to plan her day accordingly. If she’s off schedule she’ll rearrange her schedule and rearranging her schedule would be on her schedule. It seemed time liked her as she was never late, but never early. She always arrive exactly on time which is good because if she was late to The Questioning, you were sent to….jail. White Ash’s laws were strict, but it was for the town’s sake. The Questioning was the event that took place at the end of the month that you turned 18. It makes you decide your fate and life or death. It is quite intense, but with lots of planning, it ends up well as for all the adults that still live in White Ash.