Hi there,

I was suggested to post this sample on this site to see what people think of it.
I'm not a writer, and I've never really been creative, but I wanted to see if I could get some feedback for this story.

This is the story about Jacob Parnival. Jacob is a normal teen, and he has a twin sister, and an adoptive mother and her wife.
One day Ellen, Jacob's sister asks him for what she thinks is a very docile favor, but this leads Jacob down a spiral eventually leading to risks that endager his life.

This is intended to be for late teens/young adults.
The format is something that makes sense to me, this is not a traditional format for literature. I've been writing in this format for about 5 years.
I hope you enjoy it.

―――――

― Prologue ―

I can’t remember much from when it happened. Some screams, shallowed breaths, some muffled shouts, and a crazed woman, pointing a gun at my mom. I sat there, behind my mom with a dull pain in my head, in my twin sister’s dress that she’d prepared for me. I could hear the gun’s cylinder clicking as it turned, the hammer striking empty chamber after chamber, the barrel pointed shakily at my terrified mother. Yet my mom wasn’t scared for herself. She hardly ever was. No, she was scared for my sister and I.

But then, right after the gun’s hammer hit nothing but air for a fifth time, I felt the need -- no, the Urge -- to get my adoptive mother out of harm’s way. One of my arms wasn’t working at the time, I wasn’t sure why, but that didn’t stop me because everything inside told me that I had to make amends for something.

I don’t know what it was, but it felt like something dark, and virulent, enraging and silent. The next thing I know, my feet had moved faster than my head. I clawed at the ground, pulling myself upward with my working arm as if everything had depended on my actions. I took my mother in an embrace, attempting to shield her from the terrible thunder of the insanity before her, then it happened. Just before the flaming roar of the hand cannon was nothing. I felt as if time slowed to a crawl as the slowed bullet pierced my chest. The last thing I heard was a scream from her.
―――――

Chapter 1
― Jacob ―

― 14 hours ago ―
I woke up from a dream where I was watching a soap opera or something about a pair of twins arguing about an estate. I was in my bed, in my customary boxers and t-shirt. My room consists of some rock posters, as well as a computer, a desk and a bed with white-tan walls, and Mr. Quackers, my favorite duck plushy on my nightstand. As I began getting out of bed, my sister barged into my room causing me to quickly cover myself once again.

“ELLEN! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE BEEN THROUGH THIS!” My sister barged into my room wearing her pink pajama shorts and top, seemingly glaring at me. I knew that despite my plea for privacy, that she won’t listen, I’d say that that’s just like little sisters, but she’s actually the elder of the two of us. Not that I’d ever admit that to her.

“What is it Jacob? It’s not like you’re a girl or something! You don’t have anything to cover up.” I groaned at her sexist behavior as I pinched the bridge of my nose. She and I have already covered how that behavior is not acceptable, but she still does it, men, women, and everyone in-between or beyond have the right to privacy.

“What is it this time?” My older sister started to give her customary puppy dog eyes, as she indicated to me that she’s wanting to ask me to do something for her.

“So, you know how you looooove your big sister riiight? Super duper looooove right?” I groaned again at her frustrating behavior as she waggled her eyelashes. She was born first, but only by a few seconds.

“I keep telling you! even if you were born first, which you weren’t, it was only by a few seconds! It doesn’t matter!” My sister huffed at my response.

“Right right! But I was still born first, so there! But since it doesn’t matter, it’s not worth arguing about… right?” But while I see her point, I stubbornly but intentionally sidestepped it.

“So what do you want? Can’t it wait until I get dressed?” A light bulb almost audibly pinged in my sister’s head as she realizes that I’m still waking up.

“Oh! OH! Sorry! SORRY!!” I’d excuse this behavior once, but no no. This has happened hundreds of times this year alone. My sister tries to squeak out an apology as she shuffled out of the room, closing my door. Just as I was about to uncover myself with my blanket, she opened the door an inch and ekes out another apology before closing the door in a half-slam, as if this wasn’t a daily ritual of hers by now.

I don’t think I’ve introduced myself. My name is Jacob Parnival, and that girl you saw was my sister Ellen. Even though we’re both Parnivals’ by blood, our mom adopted us when our real mom and dad disappeared. Our mom, Gaby, adopted us years ago, but we never found out what happened to our parents.

But both moms have been awesome, even if they look and act like they’re my age, even if a little more responsible. I have two moms, they both adopted my sister and I when we were 2. Gaby, she’s very “business business.” But I just call her mom and Charyl, who puts food on the table. Mom tries to look more professional and generally wears lawyerly vests, white blouses, and black skirts. One of these days I’ll have to ask her what happened. I think she knows, but I’m not sure how. I dismissed the thought as I got dressed in a tan and red short sleeved shirt, with blue jeans.

― Living Room ―

I walked down the steps to the living room as I heard my mother arguing with someone over the phone.

“No! Look! I-” The person on the other end seemed to interrupt mom.

“If you’d just let me explain-” Mom seemed to be cut off by someone on the other end of the phone again.

“It’s not about the money! I’d pay the cost!” I couldn’t hear who was on the other end of the phone, but it sounds heated. I walked over to the kitchen counter, and sit by the bar behind the living room. The living room and the kitchen are directly connected by a walkway. The kitchen isn’t super big, I’d guess about 12 feet by 15 square feet, shaped like a square message bubble. Maybe it’s a little bigger. Soon my mother slammed the phone down on the analogue receiver, screaming out in frustration before finally slumping on a stool in front of the counter opposite of me without noticing that I’m here.

I cleared my throat, trying to not sound expectant of her, but poking her shoulder might frighten her after that conversation. Seeing no other option, I finally poked my mom’s shoulder as gently as I could, causing her to scream, not expecting my soft tap.

“AHHH!” Despite my best efforts, mom being the scatterbrain that she is, fell off her stool, and soon scrambled upwards, her focus turning towards me.

“Oh, it’s just you Jacob. I’m sorry, I’ve been so in-depth with my err… research and… business. You know me, business business business and all that!” That got me curious though, what is her business, like what does her business do?

“Mom, what is it that you do exactly?” Mom didn’t really respond to my question, she just kept eating her food that had been prepared well before I walked downstairs.

“Business,” mom said nonchalantly before she left the room to gather her supplies for the day. It’s not like I expected a different answer really. I’ve asked her about it before, and she’s never given me a straight answer. I think the most I’ve ever gotten from her was that it’s something about the military. I stopped asking just as she comes back from her office. While I got the hint, I just didn’t like it, but I’ll stop for now, I guess. I retrieved a glass of water from the cabinet, as she returned from her office, letting me ask something else instead.

“Mom? Have you heard from Charyl lately?” Mom shook her head briefly.

“Charyl’s out and about, globetrotting and archaeolo… gizing? As usual.” Mom seemed to question her phrasing before repeating it to herself, as if rehearsing it. Ellen and my other mom’s globetrotting is what puts food on the table. But I suspect that my mom has to have SOMETHING more interesting than “business” all the time.

“Jacob, I need to go out for a while. But I’ll be at your school later today as a prom chaperon? OK?” Mom said startling me.

“I’m sorry… what?!” I choked on the water as I try to muster shocked outcry, but my drowned shout concerned my mom.

“Jacob? Your sister asked me to make sure that it’s OK with you before I go.” It was then that Mom started looking around, as if she felt something, that she hasn’t felt since… I don’t know. That’s just how she looked. I guess I was sort of concerned.

“Mom, are you OK?” She looked sort of like that old space opera from the late 70s where people just look around randomly. I’m not sure why, but she continued peering into the strangest of things before replying in the most non-committal tone one could think of.

“Yes, I’m fine. More than that… are you alright with my chaperoning your prom?” I thought about it, and realized that I’m not even going to prom, so I don’t have a problem with it.

“Yeah Mom, I’m not going though. There’s nobody really to go with.” Mom didn’t seem to like that response, I could tell because she put her hands on her hips, and pursed her lips somewhat.

“You could go with your sister and just have fun?” The thought makes me pale. I figured that she’s probably got some boy to go with instead.

“Nah, she’s probably got some new boyfriend to go with.” Mom gathers her car keys and her satchel as she kisses my forehead and hurried outside to her car.

“Tell your sister that I’ll help her get ready for the prom later. Have a good day at school!” It was then that my sister Ellen decided to make an appearance, dressed and ready for school, wearing a casual pair of jean pants and a salmon colored button up blouse with a clip in her hair.

“MOM! WAIT!” She stopped short of the door, and stamped her foot angrily before turning to me with a smile that I’m not entirely pleased to see.

“Sooooooo. Little broth-” I cut her off before she can continue with her begging.

“Whatever it is, the answer is no.” She groaned as she frustratedly cried out in an over-dramatic fashion.

“Can you just listen to me for 2 seconds before denying me vindication?!” Ellen shouted at me, leaving me confused and somewhat frustrated.

“Vindication?” I thought to myself as I wonder if that’s the word she meant, while I silently asked myself what it is that she wants.

“Fine, what is it this time?” She instantly brightened her demeanor as she began to explain her request.

“So, you know Brent?” Ellen interlocked her fingers behind her back, stretching as if trying to appear innocent.

“Brent? I’m aware of her fling and a half plus three quarters of 1 half, minus five eighths.” I thought to myself before I ask out-loud.

“Brent? You mean ‘The Brent-man?’ What about him?” I shivered to myself, having unintentionally used that ridiculous nickname. I know about him, and I don’t like him at all. He’s as scientists might say, a jerk. Ellen puffed her cheeks before continuing, rolling her eyes at the infantile nickname that ‘The Brent-Man’ employs.

“Yeah, him… so I… uhhh want to break up with him.”

“Again?” I thought to myself as I wonder what caused it this time.

“So, what do you want me to do about it?” I said nonchalantly, as if it had nothing at all to do with me, because frankly, it didn’t. But this, of course, wouldn’t fly well with my sister, but she seemed to be trying to hold her temper.

“So, Brent really crossed a line this time.” I sighed to myself, not taking it seriously. This had happened several times before after all.

“What did he do? Eat your marshmallows? Drink your cool drinks?” Ellen seemed concerned about something, whatever it was, it wasn’t about me, as arrogant as that may sound.

“He uhhh… threatened me.” For the second time this morning, I choked on my water, as I stared at my sister incredulously.

“The Brent Man is a jerk, but is he THAT much of a jerk?” I thought to myself as Ellen fiddled with her thumbs nervously, again.

“So… I was uhhh… thinking that you could break up with him for me?” For a moment, I thought I misheard her.

“You’re asking me to break up with your boyfriend for you.” Ellen nodded emphatically, and left me to my thoughts as I’m thinking this thought right now that I’m thinking. This current thought echoes in my head, but it slowly, but surely disappears, eventually leaving me only a single thought. A single word. “What?” As I continue staring at Ellen.

“Why do you want me to do it?” Ellen fiddled with her thumbs yet again, obviously concerned about something. She looked around warily, hinting with her hands to come closer. I set my water down, as to avoid sipping and choking a third time, and stepped forward, allowing her to whisper in my ear. This allows me the opportunity to once again echo my previous thought. “What?” It’s a good thing that I set my water down because I would definitely choke again, were I drinking it.

“You want ME, to dress up as YOU, and break up with YOUR boyfriend?? Why can’t I break up with him for you as me!? No, better question! Why can’t you break up with YOUR boyfriend!?”

“You can’t! If you do then he won’t take it, and he might hit you or something!” I roll my eyes at Ellen’s wording.

“Better me than you apparently!” Ellen continued fiddling with her thumbs trying to come up with an excuse to avoid saying that she’s terrified as an alarm clock sounds. She looks at the clock and then looks at me warily.

“Think about it,” Ellen said worriedly as she ran off to our shared school, East Point High. Not wanting to be late, I grab my skateboard, and start riding to school not far behind her. I don’t know why, but I felt like everything was going to change pretty soon. Something was going to change. Something big.

― City Streets ―

I started riding to school wondering about things as I often do, dodging varying pieces of traffic and thought to myself things like “Ooh yeah, only an expert could do this.” I passed by several construction yards, and some arcades, as well as some residential areas on my way to my school. Eventually though, my thoughts reconnect to more pressing matters, like what am I going to do with my sister? She’s such a scatter brain like mom is. The better question though is how am I going to handle this request, read as demand, of hers?

Honestly, even if I don’t want to admit it, we do look alike, even if we’re 18, it wouldn’t take much to make me look like her, but because of that, I’m not very popular with the girls. If I did as she asked, I’d need a pretty hefty reward. Mom’s going to be there, and I don’t want to make her think the wrong things, but then again… I mean, it’s not like I don’t want to wear a dress. Although I prefer slacks, I’m actually very comfortable in dresses. It’s more that I don’t want to wear my sister’s dresses and I don’t want to deal with her drama.

My thoughts eventually turn to 2 of me in my head, like the angel and devil thing in cartoons. It went something like this; “Angel-me said that ‘we should do it to help our sister.’ But devil-me countered by saying that ‘sis should fix her own problems, but dresses are nice.’” The two seemed to argue and bicker, until they both trailed off agreeing that dresses are nice. What I don’t notice however, at least until it’s too late, is that I tripped over the fire hydrant just in front of the school. This caused my skateboard to clatter against the wall, and slammed me to the ground. But luckily, a friend of mine, Noodle, rushed up to help me up, seeing me in my hour of need.

“Well crashed my good dude!” Noodle said in a medieval knight voice that has no business being anywhere except a Magi & Monsters session. He extended his hand to try to help me up, and gives me my skateboard that happened to be rolling by.

“Yeah, thanks Noodle.” This is Noodle. His real name is Ned Schafer. His friends, that being me, call him Noodle because he has hyper-mobility in his joints, allowing him to do some weird stuff, like that old movie. The Mattress, with the god of sleep.

“You’re mightily welcome my good dude," Ned once again said as if he was some kind of a surfer-knight.”

“’Ned The Noodle’ is here to help!” I rolled my eyes as we look around, finding no one present to see the tragedy of my immense wipe-out. Before either of us could take another step, the classroom warning bell rang. This caused the both of us to rush to our respective classes.
―――――

Chapter 2
― Jacob ―

Classes let out for lunch, and as soon as I walk out the classroom door, my sister approaches me. She asked me the same thing as earlier today. I look at Ellen sensing a migraine coming on, as I wonder what it is that my sister wants and soon she replies removing all doubt.

“Did you think about it?” I groaned to myself.

“Come on Ellen, I’ve barely had any time. Besides, what’s in it for me?” She looked confused, as if such a thing wouldn’t need a big reward. I look around, seeing that a majority of the students have left for the lunch room, and those that remain are not in hearing range.

“Look Ellen, Mom’s gonna be chaperoning, you want me to dress up as you, and break up with YOUR boyfriend. I mean, it’s a fair question of compensation.” Despite my fair point, my sister looked around, and found nobody nearby the two of us. She flashed 2 tickets to a concert from her bag. I couldn’t tell what concert it is, so I asked her about it, but I suspected that this is the reward. Before I can ask however, she started explaining.

“I got 2 tickets to the Anima Power 6 concert, to celebrate the pre-order for the treasure chest in a few months.” I stared at her incredulously as she waved the two tickets in barely within my personal space.

“What? But those are sold out online! How did YOU get not one, but two?”

“Never you mind the details LITTLE bro, I’ll give you one, if you can do this TEENSY favor for me.” I groaned at her “Little” quip as I think about her request, coughbribecoughcough and I finally make a decision.

“I’ll pass.” Ellen seemed to feel some amount of shock, and her reaction was delayed slightly.

“WHAT!” Ellen nearly screamed as her voice deafens everyone within a 5 mile radius.”

“What else you got?” Ellen looked impatient and angry with me.

“That’s not enough?” Sis tapped her foot multiple times impatiently against the checkered flooring, and expected a different decision from me.

“Look, Mom’s going to be there, and I don’t want her to think I’m Trans." I said to Ellen.

“Now, there's Nothing Wrong With Being Trans mind you, but I’m not. But I’m not not trans… I’m something in the umbrella, I just don’t know what.” I thought to myself unintentionally rushing my thoughts for some reason while Ellen ups the ante.

“OK, I hear you, but what if in addition to the tickets, both of them, I’ll do your chores for a month.” It was my turn to appear impatient, and tapped my foot, mimicking my sister’s earlier actions.

“And?” I say hungrily wanting to go to the lunch room as my stomach grumbles, but my sister wants to nail this so she continues giving leverage away.

“And I won’t argue when you want to go somewhere for our birthday dinner, if we have one.” I looked at her skeptically, as I think about it.

“Alright, fine.” Ellen perked up immediately upon my accepting her terms.

“You’ll do it!?” I sighed, knowing something bad was probably going to happen.

“Yeah, yeah, but don’t make me regret this.” I really hoped that I was wrong.

“YOU ARE THE BESTEST!” Ellen screamed out and jumped, giving me a hug, even if it was a little too tightly, but soon she backs off.

“Yeah, whatever. I know I am. But how are we going to do this? It’s not as simple as me putting on a dress. Even if we look similar.” Ellen looked at me with that sisterly smirk, somewhat frightening me, putting her index finger to her lips.

“Let me worry about that. I SHALL AWAY!” She runs off, but trips on a trash-can on the way, she doesn’t fall or anything, but she does stumble.

“I’m OK!” Ellen shouted as she rushed off to… I don’t even know where. Sooner or later after mulling over what I’ve agreed to, I walked towards the lunch room too, ultimately following Ellen, wondering what will be available for lunch, from the hot dogs to the... bleh... potatoes.

― Lunch Room ―

The lunch room is a pretty ordinary, if spacious lunch room. There’s a line of things to get like an all you can eat restaurant, and then you check out with a register, and finally you sit at a table and eat. You know, normal stuff. I spotted Noodle at the end of the line, and I joined him as he waits for his time to shine.

“Hey Noodle, thanks for your help earlier.” Noodle seemed preoccupied with trying to see what lunch is, but wanted to be polite as he peers down the line.

“Think nothing of it knave, for I, the knight Noodle, was just doing his duty.” I raised an eyebrow.

“Knave? Sometimes I worry about you dude…” Noodle gave me a look, as if to say that he’s just trying to goof off, and to leave him to his devices while I rolled my eyes and continue as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

“So what do they have in line?” Noodle redirected his focus back to me.

“Looks like they’ve got mashed potatoes, and cauliflower, as well as some melons.”

“No meat?” I wonder to myself, as I peer down the line.

“It’s less that and more that they’re out of hot dogs.” Noodle said, uninterested in the meat, causing me to shrug my shoulders.

“Aren’t they always though?” Upon seeing me shrug my shoulders, Ned tries shrugging as well, but shivers slightly.

“Yeah, but this time Brent took a lot more than his share. Either that or he took the potatoes… again.” I groaned inwardly for what felt like the hundredth time.

“Ugh… Brent. What did my sister ever see in that guy?” Noodle stares towards the end of the line, dreaming of the potatoes.

“The potatoes are gonna be so good dude. A drizzle of butter and cheese. Maybe some steamed broccoli. Like, you have no idea.” I never understood why Noodle likes potatos so much, so I just shrugged again.

“You mean like every other potato?” I roll my eyes at his name-brand Noodle foolishness.

“Hey man, don’t knock it til you’ve tried it.” I glare at Noodle, as he full well knows what happened last time I ate them…

“Come on Noodle, you know what happened last time I had potatoes.” Noodle smirked to himself, obviously aware of the potato incident, as I call it.

“Yeah dude, I know about your whole potato incident. Or you might even call it a ‘Potato War’” I roll my eyes again, and soon we get to the counter for the lunch room.

― Lunch Table ―

Finally, we sit down at an empty table. Or at least, it was empty until we had an uninvited guest, as a girl sat down on the opposite side of the table.

“Hey, sorry. Is it OK if I sit here?” The girl sits down before waiting, but looks as though she feels bad for having done so.

“Yeah, that’s fine, we’re just probably gonna talk about weird stuff like Magi & monsters.” Ned seems to smirk to himself, almost like he didn't want the girl to sit there. But that somewhat confused me.

“Oh, OK. That’s cool. I’m just gonna sit here in the meantime. I’ve got nothing to do for the moment.” The girl looks down and starts reading a book and for a few moments, I don’t know what to say, as a nervousness envelops me. Noodle elbows my side, manipulating my one weakness, causing me to laugh.

“What’s funny?” The girl asks warily. I glare at Noodle, as he points at the girl with his head, gesturing for me to make a topic.

“Oh I was ummm… It’s an inside joke, you’d have to have been there. Sorry. So, what’s your name?” The girl stares at me curiously.

“Me? I’m Julia Floyd. What about you?”

“What an average sounding name.” I think to myself as I continue trying to think about that inside joke, and making something up, in case she asks me to explain.

“I’m Jacob Parnival and this is Ned, but our friends call us Jake and Noodle.” The girl looks at us strangely, until she smiles, as if thinking of her own inside joke.

“Why do they call him Noodle? That’s a strange name.”

“Well…There was one time that we were doing the limbo, and we found out that Noodle has hyper joint dexterity or something," I hesitantly said out-loud seemingly causing the girl to smile to herself.

“OH! So that means he can do weird stretches right?”

“Yeah," I said with a matching smile because I thought I had made a friend for once.

“So what do you like to do for fun? This is my first year here, I’ve kinda just been keeping to my own," Julia says suddenly, despite my attempts at thinking of something to do, I blurted out my own habits.

“I mostly just lay around to be honest.” Julia stares incredulously at us, somewhat confused.

“So, are you… two going out or something?” I embarrassingly look from her to Noodle and back several times with a blush before I reply.

“Uhhh NO!? Why would you think that?” There’s nothing wrong with Noodle, I mean… I kinda wish we were both older, so we could get a place together, but… he’s not my type of guy… or girl… I don’t even know if I have a type at all.

“Well, you just lay around, and… errr sorry, it was a bad joke.” Noodle sees the frown on Julia’s face, causing him to pipe in, but at the time, I was surprised he didn’t say anything sooner.

“Nah, it’s OK, it was sorta funny.” I however, wasn’t a fan of that response…

“Speak for yourself. So, what do you do in your off-time Julia?” Julia’s face brightened considerably as I asked about her hobbies.

“Oh, I like to play some games, and stuff.” Ned seemed as if he almost vanished. Not literally, but he stopped talking for a few minutes as I chatted with Julia.

“No way, what do you like to play?” Julia’s smile turned upside-down before revealing a game she likes and her enthusiasm spikes into the stratosphere.

“I like Anima Power as a franchise. The Appendexology of Souls is so cool. I’m really looking forward to Anima Power 6 and it’s treasure chest pre-order.” The girl seemed legitimately excited, maybe more than me.

“I heard that there’s a physical book for the Appendexology being included in the treasure chest, and the soundtrack is in the back of the book," I supplied the info mostly because I wanted to make her happy, I don’t know why, but I feel like she’s had a tough life.

“WHAT!? NO WAY! THAT’S SO COOL!” I think I remembered seeing it somewhere, but I didn’t know if it was true at the time. Julia and I started to talk amongst ourselves about the soon to be released Anima Power 6, as Noodle slowly sinks in his chair, watching us chat about random things that he seemingly has no interest in and soon the warning bell rings once more. Julia freezes for a moment, before frantically waving in our direction and retreating to her next class.

Noodle stares at me with a smirk, causing me to return a glare, for an entirely different reason however.

“What did I do this time?” I said with sweat forming, but Noodle arches an eyebrow before he says anything, making an L-shape with his hand on his chin.

“Nothing nothing, I, The Knight Noodle, just never knew the knave knew how to flirt, so says I Noodle the Knight!” Noodle says with his fist in the air, as if holding a sword.

“That wasn’t flirting! That was…” I wracked my mind looking for some kind of explanation for the conversation, as I legitimately didn’t like Julia that way. But I’m not sure why, I don’t really like anyone 'like that.' She just seems cool.

“That was just talking about a shared interest.” I almost started sweating to myself again.

“Uh huh… sure it is. I’m just a simple Noodle, so oodliness is everything to me.” I shrugged my shoulders and darted off as the final warning bell sounded.

“That doesn’t even make sense! Come on, we gotta get to class!”

― After Classes ―

After I got out for classes, yet again, no sooner did classes depart, than was my sister in my face… again.

“Come on, we’ve gotta go prepare.”

“Ellen! Wait! I…” I see Julia, but before I can say hi, Ellen grabs my arm, pulling me all the way home.

“No bro, we don’t have time for your flirting with a random girl!” Honestly, I don’t flirt with random girls, so I don’t know what she meant by that, but I was surprised nonetheless.

“What!? I don’t do that!” Before I could stop her, she drags me back home, and subsequently to her room causing me to groan loudly.

“Oh stop it! I told you, you may even like it. This could change your life!” I groan to myself at her claim. Sure dresses are nice, but not hers for sure.

“Not likely!” I snort in my arrogant expectation that I wouldn’t like any of this.
―――――

Chapter 3
― Jacob ―

― Home; Ellen’s Room ―
Ellen draged me all the way home, making sure that I wouldn’t run off, and forced me to sit down in her makeup chair. Ellen’s room looks similar to my room, in overall structure. Instead of a computer, it has a vanity with some makeup strewn over the top of the desk and a swivel chair that looks like it’s from a hairdressers business. The mirror had a small crack in it too, but I’m not going to say anything if you won’t. She also has a bookshelf filled with manga, but I generally don’t read any of hers.

“Come on, sit here," she said forcefully. I wasn’t a fan of makeup regardless of the situation, so I was dreading that more than the dress.

“Ugh… can we move this along? I want to get this over with.” Ellen frowned at me, specifically that kind of frown that said exactly what she’s about to say.

“Don’t be a stickler! You might even like it.” Ellen opened a drawer and pulled out a brush and some blush as she dabbed the makeup brush in it before she started with my cheeks, not that I’d need it after this. My cheeks will be red enough.

“You’re saying that I might like putting on YOUR dress, acting as if I’m you? Fat chance of that…” Ellen rolled her eyes and started putting other varying forms of makeup on me, in an act that I could only assume that made me look like a clown. An hour later, she finally spun me around in my chair, making me look in the mirror. I look at the mirror, and see the same smoky eye-shadow that Ellen used half the time for fancy events, the blush that I mentioned earlier, in which she often tried to use when impressing a boy, and my admittedly somewhat long hair was done up in a bun, with me in a prom dress.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding. I do look like you. Wait, let’s see…” I tried various pitches by manipulating my voice until I found one that sounded similar to my sister if she was always sarcastic and had a head-cold, causing her to frustratedly respond.

“Alright alright, enough games.” Over the next couple hours, she taught me about some mannerisms, and skills that I might need, as well as who her friends were in-case they go to prom too. You know, for authenticity. I sat in her prom dress, as she sits there in my clothes, frustrating me as much as she was before, if not more.

“I look like a girl, specifically you.” I groan to myself.

“I look like you from every angle… why did I agree to this…” I groaned angrily retaining my sister’s tone.

“You also sound like me sort of.” Ellen says to herself. I continued groaning, not liking this in the slightest. Again, I don’t have a problem with girls. I don’t have a problem with dressing like one. My problem was that I had to act as if I’m my sister.

I wasn’t kidding when I said my sister and I look alike, we even have the same scar on the bridge of our noses. That however did not make this better. My sister tried to rationalize my actions for me, despite knowing that she would do that.

“You agreed to it because you… uhhh Love me?” Ellen fidgeted with her thumbs, hoping that I had forgotten about her end of the deal.

“Yeah, that must be it, nothing about the Anima Power tickets, or the food, or the chores.” Ellen snapped her fingers, as if her hopes that I’d forgotten those things had been dashed. Ellen’s door was knocked on, and mom comes in thinking that I’m Ellen. I panic slightly as I look around nervously realizing that the real Ellen has started hiding in her closet upon hearing the sound of mom’s knocking.

“Oh dear… Ellen, you look beautiful! My little girl going to prom…” Mom starts fanning her face with her hands, as if that would dissuade her eyes from tearing up.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry!” Mom then started taking pictures of me smiling, still thinking that I’m Ellen.

“Ummm Mom…” I said to my her, as I hope that she doesn't catch on to who I am.

“Yes dear, what is it?” I eyed the closet, trying to think about what Ellen might ask, but I draw a blank.

“What’s… ummm… Jake doing while we’re at prom.” Mom followed my eyes, noticing the closest, where Ellen tried to stay as still as possible.

“Well, he’s probably going to be here, but never-mind about him for the moment. A girl’s first prom is important… at least that’s what I’ve been told. I never had one.”

“I gotta be the hippest mom you know!” I stare at mom, thinking about what Ellen might say, but I started saying what I believe instead.

“You know that you’re right, right?” I could almost hear a smack of Ellen’s forehead as mom appeared speechless.

“I’m what?” Mom looked at me confusedly, questioning the legitimacy of my compliment as if mentally repeating my words, trying to detect some kind of snark. I looked back at her, mentally preparing something to say.

“You are the hippest mom I know.” Mom stared at me skeptically, as if I’ve done something to around suspicion.

“Why do you say that? You never say anything like that.” I floundered for a brief moment with a stammer, and I just… winged it.

“Well… I… uhhh…” Realizing that I’ve been possibly caught, I started thinking about things Ellen would actually say.

“Have you seen this makeup? It’s phenomenal. I couldn’t have done that without your lessons and teachings.”

“Look at me! I’m in shape because of our morning runs. I’m just so grateful.” Mom looks like she’s going to cry for real, but she’s still skeptical.

“Come here… oh… Ellen.” Mom walked over and sat down next to me, and starts talking about more serious topics.

“I… appreciate you and your… brother. I know I’m not your ‘real’ mom, but I want you two to know that I’m here for you two, if you need me. Some form of me is always going to be watching over you.” Some form of her? That makes her sound like some kind of Divine goddess from another world or something, at least that’s I thought to myself. Mom took my hand and continued trying to reassure Ellen, and by that, I meant me.

“Life will get tough sometimes. And that’s OK. We all have to have balance, but I’m confident that you two will get through life and you two are going to be amazing.” She leaned in and gave me a hug before getting a good look at my face.

“Something’s wrong…” I started sweating lightly, and mom leaned in to whisper something in my ear. I expected her to have caught me, but she says something else instead.

“Your… brother is in your closet, isn’t he?” I stared at my mom in half confusion, and half relief.

“Is he?” I whispered back trying to sound angry.

“I told him to stay out of my room…” I repeated what I’ve heard Ellen say dozens of times as I started cracking my knuckles out of habit with my gloved hands before mom pulled my shoulder.

“Don’t ruin your makeup, at least until after Prom. But we can touch it up before you go in too.”

“I have to go get ready too. I’ll come get you in an hour.” Mom reached forward to tussle my hair, but then pulled her hand back realizing that my hair was just expertly styled.

“Thanks mom," I said nearly in a whisper, unsure of how to comprehend this immense difference in behavior from my maternal parent. Mom left Ellen’s room. I waited a moment, as if instinctively waiting for my sister to open the door offering her apologies again before half-slamming the door closed. A minute passes and I release a breath that I didn’t know I was holding, as I let Ellen know that she can come out of her closet. I pat my nervous chest, reminded of the breast forms in the dress that I’m wearing, and subsequently, of the dress itself, all of its frills, and what I need to do tonight.

“You can come out now Ellen.” I guessed that my sister gets it from somewhere, but I didn’t realize that behavior was from our mom. I open Ellen’s closet door causing her to tumble to the ground, almost like a ball, before standing up in front of me.

“Are you OK?” I say to her incredulously.

“Never-mind that! What did mom whisper in your ear?” Although Ellen said not to worry, sorta, she did seem to be holding her back, but I soon dismiss my concern as well at her walking around normally.

“She said that you were in the closet.”

“Wait really?! How’d she know?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. I don’t get any of this.”

“What’s not to get? She thought you were me!” I groaned, not understanding how someone could be so entirely different between two people.

“So what do I do for now?” My sister looked at me confusedly, but this only frustrates me.

“About what?” Ellen asks, somewhat numbly causing me to stamp my foot in protest.

“About what? About what?! How about that I look like a fairy princess from every little girl’s dreams, and mom’s coming to get me in an hour! Can I play some games or something while I wait?” Ellen shakes her head rapidly from side to side, meanwhile, I wonder what else I’m supposed to do.

Wait! No! You can’t go back to your room! She’ll know!” Ellen walked towards the chair, opting to sit back down, but this left me in an inconvenient place.

“So what do I do then?” Ellen shrugs to herself nonchalantly.

“I dunno, read some of my comics?” I grimaced to myself as I realize that she’s entirely serious.

“But you have all the girly ones…” I sigh heavily as I walked over to her bookshelf, defeated, and I picked out a random book labeled with a “1.” on it.

“‘That time I got reincarnated as a monster tamer, and my girlfriend is a slime, but we’re both girls for some reason.’ That sounds as good as anything on the shelf I guess.”

“Charming, to say the least,” I thought to myself as my sister seemingly read my face.”

“Hey! That’s a good one! It’s better than the surprisingly good ‘That time I got reincarnated as a Tank Engine.’”

“Seriously? That’s a thing?” I say skeptically, causing my sister to show me the comic book, detailing the adventures of a girl reincarnated as a tank engine, and the surprisingly deep lore of tank-engine-opolis. Meanwhile, I inwardly ask myself why I bothered asking.

Let me summarize for you, because Ellen did not make it easy to understand. So the story for that goes like this: A long long time ago, an evil tank engine was born from the ashes and melted remains of the 7 most vile tank engines in all of existence. But little did the evil tank engine know, his ashes and melted form is not from all of the 7 most vile tank engines. Some of those were used for transplanting material to two specific tank engines. One from a rich noble and another from a small poor family. Now, If I were you, I’d say “This is a prince and the pauper situation right?” That’s where you’d be… ummm right actually but there’s a twist. It’s later revealed that the prince as the pauper was actually murdered by the evil tank engine. So it’s up to the pauper to masquerade as the prince and take down the evil tank engine. I couldn’t make this up if I tried… but it’s admittedly not a bad idea. But why tank engines? For that matter, why does it matter that the girl was reincarnated?

After Ellen’s explanation with lots of whiteboard writing and graphs, she lets me choose a book and I spent the next while reading her, admittedly engrossing, comic about monster tamers and slime girlfriends. Note to self; find next volume from after they get to the cave of blessings. Before I knew it, mom knocked on the door looking to retrieve me for the prom, causing Ellen to scramble back into the closet. Mom walks into the room intending on taking my sister, or rather me, to the prom, despite my regret.

“Wow mom, you look hot.” Mom stands at Ellen’s door wearing a business casual dress that can function as a business suit too, but she seems to hesitate for a moment before responding.

“You too Ellen!” I have to wonder if that’s something that moms say to their daughters regularly, or if she’s just trying to sound cool.

“Mom, are you OK?” Mom laughed a little and then answered me in as non-committal of a tone as one can think of.

“Yeah, I’m just your 'hip-happening kool' mom.” Mom said in an overly silly tone.

“Mom… stop…” I comment as if embarrassed while I hide my face behind my gloved hands wondering how girls handle gloves like these. The next thing I knew, mom was prompting me to follow her to the car.

“Alright Ellen, let’s get going.” I looked back at Ellen as I leave the room in the begrudgingly comfortable dress, but Ellen looks back to me with her thumbs up.

“How encouraging of her…” And soon we walk out the front door, and finally to mom’s car.

― In The Car; At Prom ―

Mom parked the car in the school's prom’s outdoor parking lot. Mom’s car is a pretty regular 4 door black car. I’m not sure if it’s a fancy car, or just ordinary, but it’s always seemed kind of standard for me. I’m not really sure what the brand is though. I fiddle with my thumbs, and unbeknownst to me, my mom tries to talk to me, but instinctively I think that she’s talking to Ellen, but after she taps my shoulder, I realize that she’s trying to strike up a conversation.

“So Ellen, are you excited about prom?” Mom pulls her hand back, somewhat concerned about her “little girl,” which is something we share at the moment.

“Yeah mom, just jitters and all.” Mom looked around the car, seemingly frustrated at her inaction.

“Ellen.... You know, if you need help with something, you can always ask. Both of you can.”

“Does mom know something?” I thought to myself before asking what she means.

“What do you mean mom?” Mom fiddled with the car's windshield visor, despite it being pretty close to being in the early evening. I'm reasonably sure she doesn't know that I’m not Ellen, but that makes me even more worried somehow.

“I know about what’s going on. I heard the two of you talking.” I almost jumped in my seat.

“You… you know?” I started to sweat to myself for real as mom touches my makeup errr... up.

“Yes dear, I didn’t hear everything but I know that… you’re going to break up with Brent.” I swallow hard, not knowing if she means me as in… me, or me as in Ellen.

“Are you alright… Ellen? You know you can talk to me about anything right? I just want you to be safe. If we go in, Can you promise me that you’ll be safe?” I reached over to my mom’s shoulder with my currently gloved hand, and squeezed gently, as mom looked into my eyes.

“Yeah mom, I’m just having butterflies.” Mom grabbed my hand and squeezed back, before leaving the car.

Mom touched up my makeup like she promised. Despite my internal complaints, I get that in order to keep this up, my makeup should probably be touched up before entering the proms school grounds.

― Prom; Inside ―

The school is pretty heavily guarded, with brick walls, metal fences, you know, the works. Mom and I walked into the school’s main building entrance, and we came across a small registration area with some metal detectors and two separate check in booths for students, and staff. Inside the prom was plenty of flashing lights, like a rave, with plenty of students getting punch, heavily guarded to prevent potential spiking.

“Ellen, I’m going to go check in as a chaperon. But, if you need to, be sure to kick butt.” I look around as mom goes to the check-in booth for chaperons while I went to the check-in booth for students. I checked-in and walked through the metal detector and finally made it through to the main area for prom, which surprisingly isn’t the gym, much to my curiosity. I see plenty of students trying to spike the punch, some even with overly complicated contraptions that drip a single drop of booze at a time to avoid suspicion, from the ceiling no less.

Mom seemed to have caught most, if not all of them, and acted like she had no idea where I was, even though she clearly knew. Over the next half hour, I’d sit down, and look around, until I got the biggest scare of my life as a girl sits down next to Jacob, wanting to rest her feet.

“Excuse me?” I look over to the girl, and jumped slightly, finding the girl to be Julia. The girl I met just earlier that day.”

“Have you seen…” She stops suddenly, as if surprised by my makeup and dress. Almost as if she was just as scared as I was.

“OH MY GO-” I almost forced my gloved hand over her mouth before she can continue her shout, as I could feel my face heating up, embarrassed that I’ve been caught so soon.

“Look, I have a reason for it OK? I don’t do this a lot. Well, I mean. I’d like to, but why can’t I stop talking!” Julia took my hand off of her mouth, as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

“It’s OK, really. It’s 2053. I’ve met Trans people before.” I swallowed hesitantly, exhaling yet again with a breath that I didn’t know I was holding.

“But I’m not Trans.” Julia stared at me for a few moments before she asks me a pointed question.

“Are you sure about that?” I nodded to myself, but found myself almost having to force my head downward.

“Y-Yeah.” Julia shrugged to herself.

“That’s OK too then. So, what’s the story? I was really just surprised at how amazing you look.” I groaned to myself, finally feeling half-comfortable given the situation, allowing me to be honest with Julia.

“My sister wants me to break up with her boyfriend for her.” Julia purses her lips, somewhat frustrated for me already, her and me both.

“Who’s her boyfriend? And what’s in it for you?” I exhale forcefully yet again.

“That’s what I said!” I half-shouted, but moments later I hoped that nobody heard me. I sigh, knowing that I’ll need to explain a lot about this situation.

“Maybe I could explain… over dinner?” Julia looked at me with a half-lidded expression.

“You’re asking me out on a date? In a dress, looking like a really cute girl?” I started to stammer to myself as I looked away briefly.

“Well, it’s not a date per se, just… wait you think my sister is cute???” Julia laughed at my response, but I can’t really blame her.

“Yeah, but so are you with that makeup, and dressed like that.” Julia winks at me, but honestly, I don't know what to say, so I simply affirm.

“Then, yeah? I guess?” Julia stands up, looking at me carefully.

“Hmmmm…. How about next Thursday? It’s my birthday on May 6th, so my family has this big thing on Tuesday.” I considered if I had any other plans, and I find that I have nothing better to do, and I accept her invitation.

“Thanks Julia. I look forward to it. I… don’t have to dress like this on Thursday… right?” Julia looks contemplative, as if she can’t decide if she likes me better as a boy or a girl.

“Hmmm… WEEEELLLL!” Julia made a circle with her hand and looks through the hand-gesture, but this only left me at a distinct unease.

“Julia!” I quietly half-shout with a thick blush forming on my face from her teasing.

“I’m just kidding! You don’t have to, if you don’t want to. But I wouldn’t be opposed to it either. So if you wanted to wear one of YOUR dresses, instead of your sisters, that’d be cool.” She winked at me before looking over at the punch bowl.

“I’m going to go get some punch. Talk later?” I didn't really see her after that, I guessed that she had to be picked up shortly after she went to get some punch.

“You know it. Oh and happy birthday!” I say trying to sound courageous, but I probably just came across like a dork, and I’m not even sure if she heard me over the rave music. As Julia was leaving to get her punch, I thought I saw my mom, but when I looked back, she was gone like out of a cartoon.

― A Half Hour Later ―

I continued sitting on my chair, but before I can stand up, the lights turn off suddenly, as if the power just went out. The music died down, and the lights shut off, causing some students to turn on their phones flashlights. One student even pulled out a flashlight screwdriver combination for whatever reason. I will say, it was overly bright.

“Why was it so bright?” I had to ask to myself about the flashlight.

“What happened?” A few of the students called out. Suddenly a loud roar of a single gunshot is heard echoing the halls.

“Come out, come out wherever you are! Gary!” A woman called out from the end of the hall, as if hunting this Gary guy. All of a sudden, mom appeared next to me, as if she teleported.

“Ellen, go to the car! Now!” I stood up, but too suddenly causing blood to rush to my head.”

“Mom, who is that?” I say with my normal, albeit terrified voice. But I’m not sure if I can be blamed, as I didn’t know what was happening or who that was with the gun. Mom soon answered my question after she hesitantly, but audibly gulped.

“An old enemy.” Mom doesn’t say anything else, as if trying to hide something.

“Enemy? What are you talking about? Aren’t you an ordinary business woman?” Mom laughed. The kind that said that she desperately tried to do something, but failed.

“Business, yes. Ordinary, despite my best efforts, not a chance, ordinary is also subjective. I could go a million years and never be ordinary.” The next thing I knew, mom pulled out what had to be a pair of custom transparent ice-like swords, visible just barely by the glinting reflected light bouncing off the blades.

“Why can’t you just leave us alone Liza!” mom called out bluntly and angrily. As if I set fire to a rug. Despite my fear, I finally got the chance to ask….

“Liza? Who’s that?” As if in a direct response to my question, mom started shouting at me, revealing that she did know.

“Jacob, do what I said and go to the car!” Having never seen mom like this, I panic and flounder, gaping at the “Ordinary Business Woman” summoning and wielding a pair of swords like it’s nothing special.

“Wait, she knows?” I thought to myself as mom ran towards the roaring of the so called “Enemy.” Mom again shouted towards me as she ran away from me.

“GO! NOW! You can’t get caught up in this!” Even with the apparent danger, one thought kept running in my head. “My mom? Dangerous?” I rushed to the car as fast as my legs would let me, as I pulled up the skirt of the dress, like I’d seen in some movies.
― Outside ―

Outside, I saw tons of students on their phones calling the police, but despite their best efforts, they’re probably tying up the line. Just when I least suspect it, Brent walks up to me, trying to make sure that Ellen was OK.

“B-Brent! Just who I was l-looking for!” I fumbled, trying to convince him, but he stopped me, placing his hands on my shoulders, trying to calm me down.

“Look, whatever it is, we can wait til you’re safe. The biggest thing is, are you OK?” I looked at Brent, wondering if this is the same guy that Ellen said had threatened her, but the reality about mom slapped me in the face.

“Wait, that’s not important right now. My mom is in there. She made these weirdo Ice Swords or something!” Unfortunately, it was at that moment that we were separated from each other as groups of frantic students running from the school. Fear was in all of us that night.

“ELLEN!” The violence of the frantic students had broken us apart, slamming me into a nearby car’s window and finally to the ground, knocking me unconscious. Sometime later, a roar of the crazed woman’s gun jostles me awake as it fires once more, followed by a loud, high pitch clinking sound. It was as if a bullet hit a strong metal force.

“What… happened? How long was I out?” I looked around the area, guessing I’d been out for only a couple minutes, as the police had not been able to set up barriers yet. I figured that they must be holding Brent back. I heard the roar of the hand cannon from the crazed evil that mom was facing, resolving to go towards it to help her. I slowly step in the direction that mom had gone, with a dull ache in my head from the cracked window, unable to think straight. I struggled to stay conscious, having never been hit on the head before and I use the walls to remain within the land of stability.

― Gymnasium ―

With a great amount of effort, I finally entered the Gymnasium, inside it looks like any other gym, sort of like a basketball court, but indoors. This large room one has a lot of tables overturned on their sides, giving me plenty of cover. But the gym didn’t take any of my steps though.

Even with my dizzy state, I sneak by each table, and sooner or later, I find myself crouching behind an overturned table, peaking over it. A woman with an over-sized pistol, aimed it at my mom’s head, but they were both just… talking. My mom seems to look around the room suddenly, just like she did at home.

“What… are they saying? Why can’t I hear them?” I thought to myself, as mom continued peering around.

“I just need to get closer.” Slowly but surely, I managed to sneak closer to my mom, completely ruining Ellen’s dress. Suddenly all I knew was pain knocking me to the ground, literally knocking the wind out of me. I cried out in pain, amidst the echoing roar of the hand-cannon that the woman is wielding. My mom rushed to my side, dropping her blades from earlier causing them to clatter to the ground.

“Why… what? I…” I failed to understand what was happening as I fell to the ground, reaching for my shoulder, and my hand passed through a gaping hole through it, left by the bullet, and mom rushed over to me.

“Jacob! JACOB!! No no no! Not again! JACOB! DAMMIT LIZA! Leave us alone!” Liza walks up to my mom and I.

“You know what I … you know how to make…” I can’t hear everything she said because I was fading in and out of consciousness, with a ringing in my ear.

“I don’t know alright! I don’t know where he is, or where the Goddess of Bitterness is! They haven’t talked to me for decades! The last time they did was when I adopted my kids! Please just stop this!” My hearing and vision fade as I start to black out.

The next thing I know, I woke up what seems like moments later, I suspect my mom propped me up. It felt like seconds, but because I was falling in and out of consciousness, I’m not sure. I didn’t know what mom was talking about or who the goddess of bitterness was, but all I could do was stay in the same place, feeling my arm numbing up. I sat there, behind my mom with a dull pain in my head, unable to move my arm. I could hear the clicks of the gun’s cocking mechanism as the shooter faced my terrified mother. She wasn’t scared for herself, she never is, but she’s always been scared for me and my sister. I don’t know why, but I feel like she’s courageous for a reason. Not just because she’s selfless.

Sometime between the 5th and 6th click of the hand cannon’s impact against the empty bullet rounds, I felt the need, no the urge to get my adoptive mother out of harm’s way. I felt as if time slowed down, as if there was something I had to make amends for. Something dark, and virulent, enraging, but silent. I didn’t know what it was, but it felt like something important, like this was my responsibility. The next thing I knew, my feet had moved faster than my head. I clawed at the ground with my remaining arm, pulling myself upward as if everything had depended on my actions. I took my mother with my arm, attempting to shield her from the terrible thunder of the insanity before her in the form of the large revolver and the woman wielding it.

“JACOB! NO!” And then, nothing.
―――――