Shadow Man; A Dark Story of Jude Rutherford

Academic Shatters

Silence ruled the dining room as I sat to dine with my father, his wife and my half siblings.

I could not remember when last I sat down like this, around a large table surrounded by people who were supposed to be family, having dinner. It felt so weird and I almost choked on the food. It didn't taste that good too, only made me start to miss my mother all over again.

"So where were you all day?" Father broke the silence. It was always going to be him. Without his presence, we all had nothing to actually discuss. I would be in my room by now, door locked till the next morning.

"I was handling some personal business." I was trying to enjoy the meal at least, I did not appreciate the questioning.

"We are a family, Jude." He continued, his voice thick across the room. "We should be open to one another. We don't just disappear and appear whenever we want."

See who was talking. He literally disappeared and appeared anytime he wanted since the day I was born. Now he thought he had the moral high ground as a parent to stop anyone from doing the same.

I could feel my step mother's eyes piercing into my skin. She was not a mutant but it felt like her eyes shot lasers at me where I sat. Why was she looking at me like that now? I always knew she hated me, but at least I should be allowed to finish eating before expressing the dislike.

"Personal issues? You mean following that girl home from school?" Melissa spoke at last, my step mother. But what girl was she talking about? "Dylan, what did you say the girl's name was?"

"Ariana... Ariana Ricochet" I heard my half brother chuckle in his breath as he filled his mouth with a spoonful.

"Yes, Ariana. That is the reason your son always returns home late from school. And oh dear! She is probably the reason why his grade scores are always so low."

The table went into a wave of silent laughter. Everyone laughed at my terrible academic performance, except me of course... And my father. Of everything he despised, he despised low grade scores more.

"I saw your results, Jude. They are a catastrophe. A blind man would do better than that."

Yeah. I knew. My academic life was in total shatters. Every aspect of my life was in shatters actually. Compared to Dylan and Denise, I was having a horrible teenage experience and I knew it.

Denise was the smartest of the family. The quiet super nerd genius who scored A-plus without having to study. She was my father's new pride. I mean, there was still a time I used to be his pride even though I was not bright, but that was when I did not have a brother and a sister.

And Dylan... The biggest thorn in my flesh. At least I got along with Denise every now or then when needs be, like when I needed her to help me with some hard core assignment, but Dylan? Never!

He was one of these guys who always got the attention of the ladies without having to reach for it, and he was aware of himself. Towering height, beautiful face, glistening hair and all of that injustice of nature. He was full of it all. He was just too lucky.

"I am just too good looking to be ignored. I am sure your crush wants me too. She will have a hard time picking between I and Shadow Man". He always said that to pick on me. He was the only one who knew about my likings for Ariana. And now the entire family knew about it. Dylan sold me out! That ugly looking dumbo of a brother!Now there could be nothing to make us get along anymore.

I clenched my fist in annoyance, the food in my mouth struggling to pass through to my stomach. I did not feel like sitting there with them anymore as they all began to pick on my weaknesses.

"You should spend more time studying than running after some girl who does not even know you exist. I work hard everyday trying to make sure I help us to a good life. Do you know how hard it is to work away from home, staying away from my wife and children? Only to come back and meet you a failure."

Father's voice was raising now, and I could feel his anger reach the brim. I was angry too. I could not sit there anymore, I had to get away.

"This is pathetic, Jude. Your mother would be disappointed in you."

That was the last straw. How dared he speak about my mother?! When she was dying, he was nowhere to be found. He married again a few months after she died. I was certain she would be disappointed in him! I rose from the table in fury, storming away from their midst.

"Don't you walk out when he is speaking to you!" I heard Melissa's voice follow after me as I drifted towards my room. Shutting the door firm behind me, I dropped down behind the fall, falling into a deep trance of memories.

My mother's death kept replaying in my mind. Again. Again. And again. I could not stop it. It was just on replay.

I had always thought that I would move past her. I had always tried to move past her. That was why I became Shadow Man after discovering my powers. I wanted to get busy with dangerous things. I wanted to rid my mind of her memories. But the truth was, I was never able to.

I grabbed the bracelet on my wrist. It was the last thing that reminded me of my mother. Yet I had decided to keep it no matter what.

Seven years ago, as she was dying and I was paralyzed, still struggling to move, she pointed towards something behind me.

As I turned around, this bracelet was standing beneath my bed. It was black in colour and had a golden line running in the centre of its length. I took it out and I was finally able to move. Then I moved towards her and had her in my arms.

She took the bracelet from me and wore it on my wrists.

"Keep... It.." she said. And those were her last words.

Now I felt like throwing it away. Maybe that would help me to completely forget about her.

I returned to my feet and stumbled towards my window. Twillightoria spread across the surface of the earth, bathed in street lights and several houses.

I stared at the bracelet for the last time.

"Goodbye." I took a deep breathe and let it slip down my palm away into the dark lighted streets. Maybe I did not throw it faraway because I knew I might change my mind later.

As I turned back, I met a note on my bed.

"What?"

It was not there this morning when I was leaving to school. How was it right in the middle of my bed now, waiting for me?

Picking up the mysterious note, it read.

"Come to the Twillight Passersway tonight. I will show you something. - Han Eduardo".

"Arrgh..." I groaned. What did this imposter want from me this time?