Jessica walked down the hall at school slowly. She was very conscious of her armband. People kept looking at her. She entered the cafeteria to find it very quiet. Whispering at every table. They were whispering about her, she knew it.

She had been late, Daddy called a taxi for school. He promised that he would be there to pick me up after school. When she visited the office, they all looked at her weird, like she had something on her face. She checked it in the bathroom later so she knew it had to be the armband. Then she got to Ms Everett’s class, her chair was moved.

She tried to sit next to Maddie and Megan like always but… “Miss Adams, The seating order has changed, please make your way to your seat.”

Miss Everett pointed to a really small table, one of the ones used by the older classes that you could open, and her glasses flashed with the order. She looked at Maddie, who didn’t look back. She didn’t want to get in trouble so she moved. She was sitting next to the window, far from any other table.

Then the work came in and Jessica finished quickly, but instead of drawing she found her tablet only had books. She raised her hand but Miss Everett just told her to read. Jessica knew this was about the armband, cause one of the books had a boy wearing one on the cover. She’d never heard of these books before, or seen them available. She read it, but it wasn’t very fun.

Now it was lunch and her glasses were directing her to a certain table that made her want to cry. It was the detention table. She tried to ask a teacher but they weren’t any help. The table was in the corner, and none of the chairs faced the room, just the wall. She sat down and ate, trying hard not to cry.

She finished and got up. She left for the gym. She did her lap and walked towards the climbing wall. She scanned her wrist and a red message popped up.

[Student {JAdmas3} is not able to use CLIMBING WALL while other students are using it. Please choose another activity.]

She looked and saw some older students using the taller walls. She scanned her wrist again.

[Student {JAdmas3} is not able to use CLIMBING WALL while other students are using it. Please choose another activity.]

She stomped off, not even bothering with the teachers. She tried the running course.

[Student {JAdmas3} is not able to use OBSTACLE COURSE while other students are using it. Please choose another activity.]

She tried the ropes

[Student {JAdmas3} is not able to use ROPES COURSE while other students are using it. Please choose another activity.]

Every time she tried to use something it would be red words over and over. Jessica screamed when she tried the climbing wall again and the same thing happened. She didn’t understand. She heard laughing behind her. She turned and saw Maddie laughing with Megan as they threw a frisbee around. Jessica was angry, she was so angry. She stormed out of the gym and left the cafeteria. Her glasses flashed, telling her to return to lunch. She ignored them. She locked herself in the bathroom and cried as quietly as she could.

A teacher came to get her, but when she tried to tell them what happened, he simply said, “I’m sorry, but you’re bound. We need to think of the other kids too.”

He kept not answering her questions as he led her back to class. She got in trouble for leaving, of course. She stood by the doors and kept still, facing the wall. She just wanted to know why this was happening. Everything was fine yesterday. Why did everyone seem angry with her? Why was she in the corner? Why couldn’t she climb?

“What did you do?” It was Maddie. Jessica looked at her glasses, she wasn’t told to be silent.

“I don’t know, I was told to wear this stupid armband and now everyone seems to hate me.” Jessica managed to be quiet, but her tears were audible in her voice. If it was yesterday, Maddie would give her a hug, but it was today so Maddie didn’t.

“I’ll ask my sister,” Maddie said, and Megan added, “I’ll ask my mom too. She works for the council. She knows everything.”

Jessica smiled, her friends hadn’t abandoned her. Something was alright. Naturally, that didn’t stop Jessica from telling her dad everything. They stayed late at school, and Jessica talked to the driver, it was a real person. His name was Michael too, but not a bad Michael. He was funny and told good jokes. He had a son who had a purple armband too. He works for the council and Michael is super proud of him. Jessica never thought about working for the council. She wanted to do art for the billboards around town.

Her dad came back looking mad and Jessica was worried that she had done something wrong, but her daddy hugged her and said, “You can climb tomorrow, and if you can’t then you tell me.”

He then held her face and said, “I’m on your side, OK? I’ll fight for you, just tell me.”

They went for ColdCream and by the time they were home, she had almost forgotten the day she had. Daddy needed to make a call so Jessica read that book from earlier since her drawing app was still gone. It was about that boy in the armband. He was being shown the Walls as part of his new job when it was attacked. The book called the attackers the barbarians. She had to look up the word. It meant uncivilized, which she also looked up. She stopped when it was a third word that she didn’t know, and just thought of them as the bad guys.

The boy was captured, the barbarians were trying to get him to touch his Entity. The Entity wanted the boy to touch him too, promising power to kill the bad guys. The boy refused and was in the middle of an escape attempt when Daddy called her into the living room. She left the tablet on the table. Daddy smiled as she sat next to him. “Are we going to watch Captain Buck now?”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Daddy nodded, “Soon, but there’s something I need to tell you.”

Daddy rubbed his eyes, he looked really tired. “Princess, I know you’ve probably noticed mommy isn’t home.” She had, but she just figured that Mommy was working late.

“Is she OK?” She asked, suddenly worried. Daddy nodded and Jessica gave a big sigh of relief like Daddy does. It made him laugh. Then he looked tired again.

“Well, I need to tell you that… Mommy won’t be coming home tonight. We’re separating.”

Jessica opened her mouth to ask questions but Daddy stopped her.

“Jessica, please wait. I will answer your questions soon I promise.” He took a deep breath, “Mommy and I, we have been fighting a lot recently, and not just last night. I stand by the fact that we shouldn’t have done it in the living room in front of you.”

Jessica tried to say something again but Daddy continued, “At the end princess. We’ve been seeing a therapist, but your mother stopped going. Last night was just… proof, I guess.” Daddy rubbed his head where the bandage was.

“So mommy went to a hotel and she’ll be getting an apartment. I’m talking with someone to work out everything. So far, we agreed that you would be staying with me for the most part.” Daddy held her face, “and this next part is important, OK?”

Jessica nodded. She pushed her feelings aside and focused. “My parents separated too, when I was only a little older than you. I remember feeling so confused, and hurt. So I want you to remember 3 things for me. I love you. Your mommy loves you so much. This is not your fault.”

Jessica just stared, and Daddy asked, “Can you say those out loud for me please.”

Jessica opened her mouth, and with a voice far calmer than she felt, she said, “You love me. Mommy loves me. It’s not my fault Mommy is leaving.”

Daddy nodded, he was crying a bit. He hugged his daughter tightly. Jessica hugged him back, and asked, “Can we watch Captain Buck now?”

The rest of the night went by with pizza and a Captain Buck marathon.

_________________________________________________

Jessica sat in her living room, which Daddy had decorated last night. It had pink and blue streamers with balloons and everything. It was after lunch now. Daddy was in the kitchen, on the phone.

“Come on, you RSVP’d. Please, she’s all alone. Of course it’s safe. No I- That’s not fair.” He didn’t say anything for a bit, then in a tired voice he said, “Ok… Ok I get it, goodbye.”

Slowly, Daddy walked in, looking over at the streamers, balloons, etc…

“Well, Maddie’s mother isn’t letting her daughter over today. They had a change of plans and Maddie said happy birthday.” He rubbed his eyes again, he’s been doing that a lot.

Jessica didn’t say much, she couldn’t. Last night she saw King again, he didn’t say much besides. It wasn’t like in the book at all. She was scared he would try to touch her light again, but he didn’t. He said a little about the book, she tried to look up the word but “Propaganda” wasn’t a real word. She figures it was a word from King’s place.

“I’m sorry princess. I know you wanted your friends here.” Daddy sat next to her. “But we can still have cake and ColdCream right?”

Jessica shrugged. She didn’t want cake right now. Daddy looked at her, then he smiled, “Well, at least open your present.”

He handed Jessica a card, it was a real paper card. She smiled and opened it. Inside was a card, a real paper card. And inside was a slip of plastic with a bar code that read, ADMITS 1 : Romeo & Juliet. Jessica screamed happily and hugged Daddy around the neck jumping up and down. He put the plastic ticket in his pocket and all of a sudden, Jessica really wanted cake.

That night, they took the bus and walked for a few minutes. Jess looked out at the walls again, she wondered about barbarians and savages, and if they were really out there. Then the ice rink came into view, and she raced Daddy to it. She won of course, Daddy wasn’t all that fast. They walked in and he handed Jessica her card, they scanned it and their wrist and went inside.

They bought a snack, a gummy candy you could pull and eat the strings it made. They took their seats and soon the lights dimmed. Then she heard Daddy say something. People in costumes came out and soon started to sing, then another man said a bit loud, “I’m sorry, you will be refunded.”

Swords were drawn in the dance as the people skated around like they were flying. “Please, it’s my daughter’s birthday. It just happened yesterday. She’s not a danger to anyone.”

Jessica turned and saw a man dressed in red talking to Daddy, “Again, I apologize, but no one hear signed waivers, and the business will not accept liability for accidents,”

Daddy responded, looking angry, “I’ll accept liability, please I ordered tickets a month ago.”

“You will be refunded, and we’ll add some sweets for the inconvenience. Now please leave before we call enforcement.”

Jessica’s eyes widened, “But we can’t leave, Juliette hasn’t come out yet!”

Daddy looked back and forth between Jessica and the red man. Finally, his shoulders slumped, and he stood. “I’m sorry Jessica, we can’t stay.”

“Why not?” Jessica asked loudly, upset and confused. This was just like school. “We’re being asked to leave. I’m sorry, we’ll come back another day, I promise.” Daddy said, that calmed her down some.

She looked out at the ice, hoping to see Juliette. She wasn’t out just yet. Jessica followed her father out, and a woman glared at her. She froze, the woman was nothing like she had ever seen before. The woman herself looked normal, small face, tight mouth, brown hair. No, it was the look, like she was happy Jessica was crying, and she was crying now. That woman, Jessica knew, hated her. It was so heavy a look that Jessica burst into tears on the spot.

Daddy grabbed her and picked her up. He held her close, “Ignore her, she’s just a bad person.”

He carried Jessica to the bus stop and held her on the bus. He held her all the way up the stairs, long after Jessica stopped crying. He helped her undress and get into PJs. Jessica lay in bed. “This was the worst day ever,” She declared.

Daddy nodded, “Yeah… Yeah it was.” He was rubbing his eyes again.

“It was the arm band wasn’t it?” She asked, she knew it was true, but she hoped she was wrong. Daddy nodded, and Jessica held back tears.

“I think…” Daddy started, then stopped. Then he started again, “I think we need to talk about it.”

Jessica waited, maybe, just maybe, Daddy could make it all make sense. “You know King is an Entity, and that you are what is called Bound right?” A nod.

“Well, Entities… They scare people. And now, there’s one nearby whenever they see you, and it makes people scared.”

“Why?” King was scary but not if you couldn’t see him.

“Entities can do things, things other people can’t. They can do things like pick up cars and throw them, read people’s thoughts, and even… They can kill people if they’re strong enough.”

Jessica’s eyes went wide, “I don’t know if King can do that. Maybe he can only cause spoons to change color or something but people, they think only of what could happen if… if King were to get out of you.”

“A long time ago, before the walls and the council, Bound were very rare, and could be very strong. Some Bound used their power for good, but a lot used them for bad things. Many made kingdoms, and then there was a war.”

“I know,” Jessica said, “The Last War, the one that ended the kingdoms.”

“I think it was a bit optimistic to call it that, but yeah.” He shook his head, “I wasn’t alive for it but my grandpa was. He… told me stories, princess. Gave me nightmares. People are terrified that it would happen again. The Bound broke the world, so some people are scared of them.”

He put a hand on Jessica’s head, “I will never be scared of you princess, but others. They’ll treat you different now. I can’t stop them. Some people, like that lady, will say and do awful things. But I want you to know, it’s not your fault. No one can know if they will become Bound or not. It’s random, and there are a lot of good things you can do as a Bound. A lot of people will still be nice to you.”

Jessica sniffed, “Like Michael?”

Daddy looked confused so she added, “The taxi driver from yesterday. He said his son was Bound and he worked for the council. He was really proud of him.”

Daddy smiled and nodded, “Exactly like Michael. I am also very proud of you. You have been so strong these last two days.” He kissed her forehead, “You know the best part about Worst Days Ever?”

“What?”

“Tomorrow has to be better, cause it can’t be worse than the worst day ever,”

10 years later, Jessica punched Maddie in the face.