Post by annelisecampbell on May 1, 2008 20:37:19 GMT -5
It was silent at the Campbell’s dining table, which wasn’t exactly abnormal, however there was something tense in the air that floated about, something obviously tense. Annelise sat back into her chair, gazing down the runway of a table at her parents who refused to look at anything but their china plates. There were four seats spread apart symmetrically to their opposites, though it looked like there was room for seven others to be seated in between the gaps. She could feel the sole clanks of their forks and the dishes being washed by the maids in the room over getting to her, ricocheting off of her other thoughts. Annelise rose a sole eyebrow as she drank the last bit of water in her cup, which was instantly refilled by a pudgy woman who stood towards the back of the enormous room, “So, Daddy,” she repositioned herself to be more comfortable, “you mentioned word of good news earlier?” A smile rushed to the Reginald’s face. He nodded and dabbed the sides of his mouth with his napkin before readying himself to speak.
There wasn’t much that Annelise loved more than her father. She couldn’t help but see all of his great successes and miss the details within the cracks. Of course, everyone had a few darker things about themselves, whether they are big or small. Regardless, there’s almost always someone on the sidelines there to admire. Most flaws about Reginald that were pointed out could always be made into something that could be loved, for that was the man he was. He could charm, work diligently, and persuade. And there was no one that Annie loved more. Every single trait or aspect couldn’t be distorted into a bad quality- the man had it all. Money, an amazing house, a lovely family and people at his hand, who jumped when he said, ‘jump’. Everything one could need and more.
“I’ve scheduled another promotion get-together to be held here,” Get-togethers usually meant another raging business party minus the business, “I’ve moved Victor, the one who deals with the funds that are sent my way, up to billing commissioner. Yes, but it’s going to be a particularly exclusive get-together, not like the others.” A smile graced the teenagers face as she thought back to the past parties thrown at their exceedingly gigantic house. It was filled with so many people that she could drink as much champagne as she wanted without either of her parents noticing. Her father was always in the dinning hall speaking with the most important people of the bunch [truth was, he probably didn’t even know half of the people who showed up], and from far away, Annelise could’ve been just another person, “Only of few of the head men I appointed to vice will be allowed to come. And, of course, you, darling.” He nodded as gesture to Annie who smiled widely and nodded back, feeling like the privileged girl that she was.
“Well, Mother will be there too,” Annelise confirmed for her mother, the tension that once saturated the room returning, “won’t you?”
The woman inhaled deeply and cleared her throat before choking out, “No, I won’t be able to make it.” With her nose in the air, she forked in another bite of salad and sipped at her wine.
“Why not?” There was a slight anger in the voice of her daughter that was both threatening and aware. Elizabeth knew that Annelise was fed up with her absences at events that she felt really mattered [most of these events being her father’s], though every time she spoke out, the woman was always slightly taken aback.
“Don’t raise your voice, Annelise,” Her daughter rolled her eyes, “And I’ll have you know it’s another business trip, is all… I’m actually scheduled to take off to the train very soon now.”
“This evening?” Annelise’s mouth hung slightly agape. She felt under appreciated and unimportant. Why did no one feel at liberty to tell her when they were taking off for said business trips?
“Yes,” her mother swallowed and looked away from her daughter, “Don’t pout, it makes you look like a dog.”
* * *
Had it been weeks or months since her last meet with her parents? She lost track of the hours she’d been stuck at the lab… She was also beginning to lose hope, but had yet to sink that low. Annelise had never been in a position where she had to think optimistically [until now, of course] because she was used to whatever s he wanted being handed to her. It was never a matter of wanting; it was a matter of how soon it was able to be within her clutches… But now… Now everything changed. She hated nearly every second spent around these plain white walls, not because she was kidnapped and forced to stay within them, but because they were boring now. Even with all of the experiments and injections that consisted of unknown substances that had given her things she knew she hadn’t had before… Certain… abilities… When she was really focusing, or angry, she could control the light around her (artificial light); anything electrical, it seemed. And, on a very rare occasion, she almost felt like she warp what the people around her were thinking… Not change it completely, but alter it, and she’s guessed that was what they were using all of the kids here for… Annelise hated the idea of being some scientist’s lab rat, which had actually gotten her into trouble a few times over… The doctors here had made a mental and external note that she’d been branded slightly dangerous- she was definitely one to fret.
Today, a gloomy day like the rest, she spent on one of the swings at the playground on the grounds the lab. What a pathetic idea it was to place a child’s entertainment in vicinity for manically depressed teenagers, she thought. And yet, there she was on the swing set alone, swaying back and forth, listening to the chains creek in unison. Annelise sighed, bit the insides of her cheeks, and stared down at her feet.
There wasn’t much that Annelise loved more than her father. She couldn’t help but see all of his great successes and miss the details within the cracks. Of course, everyone had a few darker things about themselves, whether they are big or small. Regardless, there’s almost always someone on the sidelines there to admire. Most flaws about Reginald that were pointed out could always be made into something that could be loved, for that was the man he was. He could charm, work diligently, and persuade. And there was no one that Annie loved more. Every single trait or aspect couldn’t be distorted into a bad quality- the man had it all. Money, an amazing house, a lovely family and people at his hand, who jumped when he said, ‘jump’. Everything one could need and more.
“I’ve scheduled another promotion get-together to be held here,” Get-togethers usually meant another raging business party minus the business, “I’ve moved Victor, the one who deals with the funds that are sent my way, up to billing commissioner. Yes, but it’s going to be a particularly exclusive get-together, not like the others.” A smile graced the teenagers face as she thought back to the past parties thrown at their exceedingly gigantic house. It was filled with so many people that she could drink as much champagne as she wanted without either of her parents noticing. Her father was always in the dinning hall speaking with the most important people of the bunch [truth was, he probably didn’t even know half of the people who showed up], and from far away, Annelise could’ve been just another person, “Only of few of the head men I appointed to vice will be allowed to come. And, of course, you, darling.” He nodded as gesture to Annie who smiled widely and nodded back, feeling like the privileged girl that she was.
“Well, Mother will be there too,” Annelise confirmed for her mother, the tension that once saturated the room returning, “won’t you?”
The woman inhaled deeply and cleared her throat before choking out, “No, I won’t be able to make it.” With her nose in the air, she forked in another bite of salad and sipped at her wine.
“Why not?” There was a slight anger in the voice of her daughter that was both threatening and aware. Elizabeth knew that Annelise was fed up with her absences at events that she felt really mattered [most of these events being her father’s], though every time she spoke out, the woman was always slightly taken aback.
“Don’t raise your voice, Annelise,” Her daughter rolled her eyes, “And I’ll have you know it’s another business trip, is all… I’m actually scheduled to take off to the train very soon now.”
“This evening?” Annelise’s mouth hung slightly agape. She felt under appreciated and unimportant. Why did no one feel at liberty to tell her when they were taking off for said business trips?
“Yes,” her mother swallowed and looked away from her daughter, “Don’t pout, it makes you look like a dog.”
* * *
Had it been weeks or months since her last meet with her parents? She lost track of the hours she’d been stuck at the lab… She was also beginning to lose hope, but had yet to sink that low. Annelise had never been in a position where she had to think optimistically [until now, of course] because she was used to whatever s he wanted being handed to her. It was never a matter of wanting; it was a matter of how soon it was able to be within her clutches… But now… Now everything changed. She hated nearly every second spent around these plain white walls, not because she was kidnapped and forced to stay within them, but because they were boring now. Even with all of the experiments and injections that consisted of unknown substances that had given her things she knew she hadn’t had before… Certain… abilities… When she was really focusing, or angry, she could control the light around her (artificial light); anything electrical, it seemed. And, on a very rare occasion, she almost felt like she warp what the people around her were thinking… Not change it completely, but alter it, and she’s guessed that was what they were using all of the kids here for… Annelise hated the idea of being some scientist’s lab rat, which had actually gotten her into trouble a few times over… The doctors here had made a mental and external note that she’d been branded slightly dangerous- she was definitely one to fret.
Today, a gloomy day like the rest, she spent on one of the swings at the playground on the grounds the lab. What a pathetic idea it was to place a child’s entertainment in vicinity for manically depressed teenagers, she thought. And yet, there she was on the swing set alone, swaying back and forth, listening to the chains creek in unison. Annelise sighed, bit the insides of her cheeks, and stared down at her feet.
