The Exclusive

By Marwan Elfakharany

I used to be weak, I would fall for anything, cry from the most simple cut. You could hurt me with the slightest touch; make me love you by just a look. But breaking me doesnt hurt me anymore. It strengthens me. This mistake only makes me stronger. I am dangerous.
Olivia Williams is exactly how she described herself: dangerous. Shes got blue hair, a strange marking and strange abilities. Do you think that will stop her from living her life to the fullest? No. But what else does it bring? A battle, heartbreak and a whole load of excitement.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Jun 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514460818

Marwan Elfakharany

Marwan Elfakharany is a 14 year old student. When he isn’t writing, he dives into the world of books, likes to draw-never said he is good, and he likes to swim. The Exclusive is his debut novel.

Book preview

PART I

NEW GIRL

CHAPTER

1

A New Beginning

My feet were racing through the brick walls surrounding me. The monster was pursuing me as I ran away from it, until I reached an immense, heavily coated black gate. It got closer and closer, and an invigorating pulse of fear surged in my veins. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, my vision became hazy. I’m not used to this much running. I tried to open the gate but failed while trying; the only progress was shaking the gate more vigorously. The monsters razor sharp claws were inches away from my face. But I am stronger than to let a monster get me and indulge me into its powers and soul. I then lifted my hands, as it began to open its jaw, waiting to devour my small body, and concentrated. I opened the gate. I am safe. A human can’t do that. I am not just a human. I am not just a girl. I am power itself. I am a controller.

I woke up with a sudden jerk and a deep gasp. The scent of buttermilk pancakes soared across from the kitchen and into my bedroom. My contact lenses sat on the table staring at me, waiting for its command, so I lifted it up and placed it perfectly over my sky blue eyes, looking at the reflection in my phone. Whipping my long, curly, brown hair, I sat up and stole a glance at the cracked mirror. I looked like a mess. My hair looked like the aftermath of a war, my face looked smudgy, and I sweated a lot during my sleep, so I smell terrible. I quickly gathered my clothes and headed over to the showers.

After stripping down, I pulled away the shower curtains, revealing the tiny window next to the shower area. The sunlight rippled the darkness into a lighter, happier colour. It was very early in the morning; azure and rose was splashed on the skyline, like paint on a canvas. After admiring the outside world, I turned the faucet on, and stepped under the water.

I let the water droplets trickle down my body, cleaning the filth on it that I accumulated since last night’s shower.

Not that I am dirty.

I love to shower, as it gives me the ability to be last in a pool of my peculiar thoughts. Today’s main question, lurking in my head: What was that dream about?

I quickly washed myself and headed down to the kitchen where a beautiful stack of pancakes stood gracefully on my shiny plate. A loud, but lovely sound washed itself upon me. It was a deep, manly voice, singing the world’s most popular songs, on the top of his lungs. Jacob. Water gushing down the faucet filled the silence lingering in the air. My mom stood their washing the dishes, from her breakfasts obviously.

My mother is the exact replica of me; we both have the same shoulder-length brown hair, the same body shape, but her being older makes her more curvaceous. But what really sets us apart, is our eyes. My mother’s got enticing cobalt eyes, which my brother inherited. I have sky blue eyes.

We have a relationship like no other, a bond too strong to be broken. Over the last ten years, we’ve all grown very dependent on each other. My father left us when I was a child, and my mother had to raise my brother Jacob and me alone.

As soon as the piece of pancakes touched the tip of my tongue, a tingling sensation came upon me. It was then I realized I was going to a new school. Okay. It’s okay. It just like a jigsaw puzzle. Once you get to know the pieces and join them together you totally understand the picture. But that is for normal kids who can handle moving to a new place. And I am not normal.

Good morning honey. Sleep well? my mother asked as she turned around with a smile etched on her face.

Yes, thank you. By the way these pancakes are amazing. I replied.

I know. So are you ready for your new school? She looked overly excited, with an exaggerated smile. But I could dust it all off to reveal how much she was dreading the fact that we moved here.

Yes. I’m a bit scared, but I will cope. I said back, trying to ease off her fluctuating feelings.

Banging down the stairs, my brother Jacob came down to eat breakfast with us. His blonde hair was still dripping from his shower, his face glowing like limelight, and he was dressed to the nines. Clothes appropriate for school obviously. No one would go wearing a suit to school. He was always the smart one in the family, appearance wise and school wise. We’re twins yes, but we’re totally different. He is blonde, I am a brunette. He is smart, I am average. He is tall, I am short. He is normal, I am not.

Good morning mother, Olivia Jacob said. And yes he is also very polite, manners oozing off him. I hate that boy. He’s always making me feel like the podgy, odd, bland coloured fish in a family full of colours so bright.

Good morning Jacob. Take your breakfast with you, or else we will be late. Come on, get in the car. My mom demanded.

I have a question. My mother said breaking the eerie silence. I looked out of the window, at the beautiful scenery before my eyes. Wind banged on the intensely green leaves. The scorching sun shone down, and my lap was bathed in a golden slice of rays. The sky had cleared of the splotches of colour from earlier, but it felt just as beautiful; thick white clouds hung loosely in the sky, all shapes and sizes.

I have many memories in my mother’s tiny convertible. The first being, when I was singing along to a song blasting its way through the radio. Another one was when Jacob had guzzled a gallon of strawberry milkshake and puked it all on me as I lay peacefully on his lap. Ever since then, I never sat on anyone else’s lap.

When do you find out who is the head of the Community Service? Have you done your speech? my mother asked. Jacob has always been the good child. Always failing to disappoint. He goes to volunteer clubs, and over all the hype that is served with that, he’s involved in most of the county’s sports teams. Basketball, football, rugby, you name it, he’s done it. I’m just me. And there’s nothing anyone can do to change that. He’s running for head of the community service in the area, and made his speech yesterday.

I had a more productive day yesterday; I watched TV. While Jacob was talking to people, wearing out his vocal chords, being ‘social’ my throat stayed unharmed, perfectly fine, my eyes ogling on the TV. What could go wrong with TV? Nothing, because sitting around and doing nothing is the definition of my life, and should be yours too

I opened my purse, and took out my cell phone, plugging in my earphones and drowning myself in the loud music coming from my phone, closing out the rest of their conversation.

The strums of guitars came to life, as I clicked on my favourite song, Revolution. The drum beats kicked in, and rich noise of the trumpets started to play. I closed my eyes, and allowed myself to envision the band playing it a concert. It would be the best thing ever. This song has been my anthem for my life, summing up the person that comes in the package of Olivia Williams.

See this life I’m living

Is better with you not in it

I’m a rebel, a fighter

You kept me calm

But I’ll start the fire

Ring the alarm.

˜

I opened the doors to my new school, a wave of realisation hit me. I will be caged in these walls for the rest of my high school years, surrounded by the crazed people in them walls. I looked over t Jacob, who had gone on a tour of the school beforehand, but he gave me a smirk that was almost insulting. He walked away from next to me, not bothering to shoot me an extra glance or an ounce of help. Such a useful person. I looked around me, seeing all sorts of normal, crazy, stupid teenagers would do. Running around, shouting on decibel levels we can’t fathom as humans. I probably looked like an idiot standing in the doorway, hugging on my books with my scrappy clothes, and a torn bag slung over my left shoulder. And I could tell, because people were staring, I could feel their eyes crawling up my body. Someone from behind me walked in as if she was wearing an invisible crown, pushing past me like I was some peasant. People snickered. I could hear muttering of ‘that idiot at the doorway’ in the midst of the conversations around me. I’ve always been the centre of attention, not in a good way, but in the way that you are the one being bullied. Being thrown with bricks and stones of hurtful words.

And yet I’m too strong to be broken. In ways I don’t even know. Hate and hurt doesn’t change us, it heals us.

Now I was desperate to find someone to help me.

And my wish came true. How the heck do you navigate around a large school, with literally no idea where to go?

Hey there. You look lost. Is there anything I could do to help? A sweet, angelic voice behind me asked.

By the way my name is Melissa. But you can call me Mel.

I turned around to see a gorgeous girl standing behind me. She had short straight blonde hair and green eyes and was dressed in a yellow dress. She stood with an aura of confidence, back straight, a neat posture. I liked her already. She plastered smiles on her face which looked almost genuine. She glanced behind meat all the people snickering at me, and then moved closer and whispered Don’t mind them. They’re just jealous they can’t pull off looking like you as you do.

I could feel the ghost of a smile playing on my lips. I could almost feel my brain go: I like this girl. I felt a word rising up my throat.

Probably shouldn’t talk. I’ll just be thrown away in the end.

And yet my mouth starts to form words, and my vocal chords vibrate.

This is me, Olivia Williams, 16, new girl at school, different to the entire human race, who doesn’t know how to listen to what her brain tells her. Cue applause.

I’m Olivia. Yes I am lost. Would you please show me to room 365? I asked. I don’t even know why I speak. I was just going to be that girl who sits in the back and keeps her head ducked in my book. But I feel like this girl is different. She’s not like the rest. And I’ve only known this for ten seconds.

Sure. That’s my home room too. Are you new here? Mel replied. Well it’s good that she is in my class too. At least I had someone to talk to.

Yeah. We moved from our old town here because of mom’s business. I stated.

What about your dad?

This time I fell silent. You shouldn’t pull at a raw wound.

She recognised my unsettlement, dragged me to the classroom and showed me around on the way.

˜

My form tutor seemed nice enough and his name was Mr Wellings. My first period was English literature, with a crazy teacher, according to Melissa, Ms Trellby. When I came into the class, I found some book on every table. I sat down at the back, and opened it and started reading. I don’t even remember when the teacher came in or took the register. Or anything but those lovely words.

CHAPTER

2

- Eyes, Eyes, Eyes.

My first day at school whizzed by, ending with Gym Class. My worst subject. I tried too hard to do my best, giving it my all, but I still sucked. Melissa was amazing though, and the gym teacher loved her. I could tell by the way she looked at her. A look that when you spot it you hear: Wow, with her we are going to win. Where Melissa looked like a dancer, every move perfect always keeping on beat, I looked like an amputated chicken trying to do the shuffle. And we did basketball. Yes, that’s how bad I am at sports. Although I can dive, and fight. I do it almost every day with Jacob.

After I took a long and nice shower, I slipped my clothes on, and then headed out a door to wait for Melissa. She wanted to walk me home, as I was supposed to walk home alone since mother was working late. Her new job, as a physicist, was the reason we had moved.

I had gone through the wrong door. In my view, a swimming pool dominated my sight. About twenty boys were goofing about in the pool, and seemed as if they were serious about the sport, at the same time. It wasn’t that bad of a sight each other. My eyes caught on something flaming in the corner. Like I was melting at the slightest glance.

A boy flew by me and dived swiftly into the deep crystal blue water of the school pool. His short brown hair was slicked back perfectly. His deep green eyes pierced through me