Page 1 of Bad Star

Chapter One

Rainn wasout walking with her sister Yvonne near Liverpool Street; it was their tradition. Rainn would smell the curry, the vegan burgers and the coffee-shops. She would listen to the sounds of people chatting, looking through shop windows and checking each other out. Rainn would sense the change in the daylight and many other things that she could only imagine on the black canvas of her mind. With her newly gained French accent, Yvonne would describe the world to her. She made sweet, witty descriptions, highlighting the strangeness of human interactions before them.

It was warm May evening and many people were out; walking; hurrying home; drinking outside pubs or simply enjoying the evening air.

The two sisters were waiting at a crossing when Yvonne spotted a youth attempting to steal a woman’s handbag. She immediately ran to help. In the moment Yvonne left Rainn’s side, Rainn stumbled out into the street and was hit by a Porsche.

Rainn woke up for a second. Someone was holding her head up, asking her to speak to him. She inhaled his woody, masculine scent. It struck her as natural and clean: reminding her of skin that was out in the sun all day. She passed out feeling strangely safe in his hands.

She woke up again at the hospital: Yvonne told her she was hit by a car and suffered minor surgery for a broken arm. She told Rainn about the man who hit her and rushed her to the emergency room. Yvonne painted an intimidating picture of the wealthy stranger. Rainn remembered his smell and felt strangely aroused andin love in a very deep organic way. She felt he would come and see her soon, giving her mixed feelings that she just couldn’t understand.

He walked in at that very moment. Rainn completely blown away by the now familiar smell, the happiness and worry in voice. They shared an emotional conversation together, brief yet intense. The wealthy stranger introduced himself as Jack.

He left, as did Yvonne, and Rainn was left alone to rest. She drifted off thinking about all she was experiencing. She fantasized about Jack and remembered the conversation they had over and over. She imagined what she should have said and looked like. She felt excited and a little sad, already deeply in love but intimidated. What chances would she have with a man that any woman would die to get their hands on?

She fell asleep knowing this accident would change her forever.

Upon returning, Jack gave Rainn a book. She could feel the book was old and used. She told her it was his favourite book as a child. He read a story to her about a prince who never understood the joy of sharing his wealth. The prince died, with his soul remaining trapped, in a statue raised after his funeral. The statue was covered in gold and had two huge, blue eyes made from hundreds of sapphires. Through his precious jewels, he saw beggars, orphans and the elderly pass him every day. He had a bird that told him each of these people’s stories. The prince felt so sad for them that he asked the bird to give these people, one by one, the sapphires that made his gleaming eyes, leaving him blind. The bird became his sight. Towards the end of the story, the prince also gave his golden coating to the poor, losing all his shine. He became a simple statue, made of only lead. The prince was torn down and melted. When the metal melted, the only thing remaining was his heart. Jack ended the story and they both remained silent. Rainn asked Jack if his eyes were blue, like the prince. Jack replied that they were, adding that he would gladly give them away for a heart. He left her the book. Rainn fell asleep with it in her hand, as she wondered how this irony would unfold.