Creative Writing

Point of View Story

by: Imani Muhammad

Mena

  Mena was looking in the mirror staring at her white gown. She was turning in different angles from side to side. She was getting ready for the coronation. She was out of touch with how to feel. She wasn’t excited and she wasn’t surprised. But she was hoping for something to change… about the laws among her and her sister.

Her sister Eline ran away from home five years ago.When she did, she did for her family and she did it for her. Eline may come back she thought but she better not: because she could be imprisoned or worse. But with the new king maybe things would change around here.

  Prince Farwell was his name. In London, England in the year of 1898 was ruled under a monarchy government. Where the bloodline of royalty has all the power and no one outside the family. Has a chance to rule.   She looks at her reflection through the mirror and sees her glowing pale skin, her shoulder length, chestnut brown hair, and her long milky dress dangling so long it stops at her ankles. She stares and realizes she resists  the same thing every morning. About the king, her sister, the laws. She couldn’t help it; not when she looks in the same mirror everyday and remembers her. She stares again and wonders if Eline looks identical to her now, as she did when they were little. Does she have the same height as she did? Does she have the same body shape or curves as she did? The thought was pierced away by a noise stomping into the ground as she could hear the sound getting closer and closer to her room.

Mother: Are you ready?

Her mother was standing in her doorway. In a blue casual dress. Fidgeting with placing an earing in her ear. Her thick, short length, chestnut/black hair shapes around her round cheeks. She had a small frame.Perfect; for a short slender women. Her mother was standing in her doorway making sure she was ready before the carriage got there.

Mother: you look beautiful (looking at her through the reflection)

Mena: (hesitating) mom… mom what if-

Mother: Daughter, Don’t say it… she’ll be fine!

Mena: Do you think she looks like me?

Mother: (staring at her with glowing eyes) looking at you everyday has made me more faithful about Eline. That she is well and safe. As you are well and safe. (whispering)I dare; you two would look exactly alike.

Menna smiled at the inside joke as her mother squeezed her into her chest for a tight hug. Then places a wet cold kiss unto her forehead.

Mother: C’mon let's go downstairs and wait on the carriage.     

 

   As they were walking down the wooden stairs. There lies in front of them the living room. It hasn’t changed since Mena was born. There was a blue racket sofa, a fireplace that carries broken pictures of a emotionally broken family.Wooden brown walls covered the whole house. Then in the corner was a room without a door leading into their kitchen. Then outside the window is a large field of green grasses. The area was a dead farm which was no longer in production. She remembered when the farm was alive. She recalled the line of growing corn, tomatoes, potatoes, spinach, lettuce, carrots. All lined up ready to be sold to the market. That was when the sun would shine. That was when she was really happy. But now it was a gloomy and dead. As Mena was staring out the window to see if the carriage had arrived.

Mother: (waiting with her) please don’t be rude in the castle… respect them, yourself, and the rules.

  Mena looked at her mother with consideration then turned back to the window. She hears a clicking and a horn coming through her farm. She stands up straight in honor of their Royalty. Then she starts to fidget with herself.

Mother: Stop it! Stop you look fine

Mother opens the door to find a handsome driver in her doorway.

Driver: (reading off an invitation with a strict confident voice) I am pleased to announce to the Thompson Family. Mena Lisa Thompson has been invited to the Royal Coronation by Prince Farwell! Mena stood up straight and tall to show feminine respect to the driver. Mena didn’t speak. But grabbed his hand as he delivered her to the carriage. As soon as she was settled; she thanked the driver. When he signed for the horses to walk. She slides her hand out the carriage window and waves to her mother goodbye!    

     The carriage rides through large fields and trees. To Mena there was nothing more annoying than the bumping and shaking of the carriage. Which forced all her thoughts and imaginations to go away. She hangs her head back wondering what her sister was up to? What may she be doing at this our? Mena had lettered her sister about what would be happening on this day. But Eline had not sent her a letter back. Which was extremely unusual for her sister. Mena had butterflies in her stomach and was beginning to worry… But she shook the paranoia off. She’s okay.. She going to be fine… She kept thinking to herself.By the time she was fully out her head, she saw that she was riding through a city. There were carriages moving back and forward. Gentlemen walking their horses while they walk through the streets greeting women. Then further uptown she passed up mansions and the neighborhood was busy celebrating for the new King! Mena looked forward out the window and saw not far from the road the castle.

    It was a big white building dying by its ancient history. With no glimmer in the grey noon that it was right now. The rattling of the horses shoes were getting louder as they were getting closer and closer to the Castle. She doesn't understand why her mother would force her to come here. After what they did to her father and her sister. She has no respect for royalty yet pretended to keep the image… of a good girl. She gasped a breath of irritation as the carriage tops in front of white painted, grad stairs. To huge wooden doors of the Castle. The driver opens the door for her and leans out his hand.

Driver: At your service Madam  

    Once again Mena did not speak just went along with the request. As she enters the doors.

   The ballroom is huge its ceiling is high above her. Hanging in the middle of the room is a chandelier with hanging crystal jewels.The ribbons hanging above the ceiling were in an organized fashion within color pattern. With the wide room, there were billions of tables stretched apart left and right to leave dancing room for the center of the ball. The tables were large and round with colors in pattern that matched the ribbons which were white, black, and blue. In the corner, behind the height of the throne, there were grand stairs stretched left and right. Behind a large wall with pictures of past legends and leaders of the country. The stairs lead to an upper level. Where there is a bar for bartenders to brew drinks. In the same area are smoking room and more catered food to be served. The noise was musing almost a whisper over the classical music. You can hear the silverware clicking and clanging together. The conversation and laughter fusing the room.             The place was filled with waiters balancing out trays over their hands. While walking and serving tables. People dancing and swaying to the music. Guards parked in front of the doors never blinking. The room was stunning like every year. But the tradition would bore her. She saw the Royal Family, the Former King and The Former Prince all together on their thrones. Skulling the party. Looking brave and strong, Tradition she thought. She sat down at one of the abandoned tables in the back of the room. As she watched the party continue. She had no one to dance with and she didn’t want to stuff down any of their food. Mena was sculling them as they were of her.She wondered if they ever recognized the face of someone they took from her. But the thought was in her head. They were all still sculling the party, not even noticing her. She was always self-contiguous that maybe someone would mistaken her for Eline. But no one ever cared, or even noticed. The party went on.

 It was an hour into the party when it was time for the coronation. Everyone from the bar, from the tables, to the waiters were all gathered together to witness the new king!The crowed cheered and clapped for so long she wondered if it was only her that felt this was nonsense. She stared at everyone in the face only to see huge smiles and wide eyes. Stupid! She thought they could take your whole life away and you still honor this stupid family. She stared with her arms crossed over her chest. As she watched the tall man standing on the stage getting ready to present his speech! He stood for a moment to wait for silence.  

King Farwell: Today is a day of honor from my great people and family. I thank you for your courage and support to grant me this fortune.I plan to make the country of England better and safer. With more command and a stronger army. With my power I plan to not abuse it. But I will maintain the customs of this country and carry out the tradition as my Father did.

   Mena knows the custom by heart and talks in her head as she mocks the belief. James King the 3rd created a custom of feminine respect from masculine respect. Within the country of England,  we have separated the two. Males shouldn't do what females do, as Females shouldn't do what males do. All males are drafted in the army and the provider of his family. The wife is her husband's second hand. She is his provider and birth barrier. She is the center of his household. Mena gets out her head and begins listening again..

King Farewell: I promise the poor would be fed again as our farmers will to be in labor providing more employment and natural resources.

You need to hurry up families are going poor.. Ya think.. Mena thought to herself.

Farewell:(continues)  I know we a suffering but together we can change the laws for this country; as long as I am on the throne laws will change as time changes. I will not fall for the death sentence as much as my father did. But I will hear you people out! I know many of us has suffered by the hands of my Father. Therefore you have  gravitated hate toward my family. But I promise I would stop public execution; and dismiss the emotional distress of witnessing your own family member's death or betrayal. I plan to hear you people out! So here, to show my beliefs. If anyone one would like to protest or give order please do so NOW or  forever hold your peace.

(he waited and no one spoke he continued)

Your joking with me right… Mena thought to herself. She dozed off as the new King continued his speech.

  She was having a flashback of when the two officers on black horses. Covered in white sheets as their uniform and white mask. Came raising noise on her farm. They had plucked and cut through their corn field. The horses had stomped and smashed all over their tomatoes. She had watched them savagely beat, drag, and murder her Father. She saw her father's blood on their white cloth clothing. She was crying and screaming in fear. She remembered Eline’s face. It was fully red with tears running from her eyes all red with anger and sadness.  When the soldiers turned their backs on their enemy thinking that they won; leaving  her dead father behind. Eline stomped to the doorway.

Mother: Eline.. Don't do this. (her mother cries) Put your father's sword down. I say, NOW!

Mena remembered just looking at her sister in shock. Eline turned around staring at the both of them.

She recalled whispering to her sister. Please. Dont.

Eline ran out the house grabbing the sword from her dead father's waist. She had ran after them and stabbed the horse in it’s tail. Then savagely beat the man who had murdered her father. She was throwing him around and punching him in the nose. Mena remembered jumping at the cries of the men; and watching the horse slowly fall to his death. Then while she was fighting. The other officer who had ruined their farm. Terizing their home. Had tried to attack Eline from behind.  She grabbed her father's sword so quick it was a heartbeat. She cut off his wrist. Then puts the bloody blade in his intestines. Mena jumps again. As she watched Eline, never flinching, as she watched the officer take his last breathe. The officer that murdered her father tried to run off on the stabbed officers horse. But she threw the sword like a bow and arrow. Which stabbed the second horse it’s body collapse to his death instantly. As the officer fell to the ground crying. Eline had tried to get him. But the officer got up and ran away through the trees as fast as he could. He had ended up getting away with murder.

Mena woke up from the flashback.

  Farewell:  I promise to allow equality between social classes and fair equality among all persons.  

This is when Mena took a deep breathe and a thought Yup there joking with me! Her anger was boiling in her blood. Her frustrations were slowly fusing. Her heart was banging at the thought of the most hypocritical speech she has ever heard. Then finally the fierce in her came out. All her thoughts and frustration boiled out of her like water over a stove.

Mena: That’s what they all say (she yelled). You don’t deserve to be a King! All royalties are murderous savages!!

She saw the eyes of the crowd turn to her, from the King, starring. Whispering.

  The New King and his family were startled by the uproar. It was shown on their faces how disrespected they felt. The King made a gesture to his soldiers to the side of him. The Soldiers were dressed in all black uniform. Their order, was to remove her from the castle.

Mena: (struggling) Get off me! Don’t touch me!

   With a reflex move; she grabs the sword from the soldier's pocket. Then charges the sword to his face. Opposing a threat. She didn’t know what was happening to her or what she was doing. She froze their with a sword in her hand. Jesus she thought what did I just do?

Soldier: Get the demon!

The soldier that spoke taps the sword out her hand and planted her to the ground.

Mena: Get off of me!

   The crowd all around her began to look scared and afraid. She heard whispers?

Is she mad? I don’t know. Then out of nowhere the doors of the castle opens. Which flushes in a large rush of air.

Eline: Let her go! (yelling)

   Mena still pended to the ground was stuck and couldn’t look up to see at all. The voice was familiar? Whoever it was, was standing up for her.

  The witnesses started to scream and run frantically out the palace as they heard the demon running through the castle. Booming and roaring! It was coming for Mena!

  Mena wasn’t paying attention she was still trying to pin her eyes on the women with brown hair, pale skin, and had on, a long black dress. The guards then lifted her from the ground with her hands behind her back! Mena noticed their was a crowd of soldiers circled around her. Her heart was racing as she could hear the drum of the dragon's feet getting closer.

Eline: HEY! HEY! LET MY SISTER GO!!

With the palace half empty her voice echoed!

Eline pushed the soldiers down and stabbed one of them in the back! Then to the crowd of soldiers around Eline screams!  

Eline: HEY! HEY! I’M MENA!!

  The soldier tries there best to capture the girl but she started fighting. Mena stared at the girl that was her reflection. Am I hallucinating Mena thought. She recalled what the girl said ..sister she remembered! It was her sister Eline! The soldiers that were supposed to be guarding Mena was distracted and ran to see who yelled!

Mena’s heart still racing and distinguishing rather this is a dream or not? She was wsolely satisfied she was dreaming and tried to run through crowd to hug her sister. With all those thoughts and doubts in head, That she will never see her sister again. That they had taken her away forever! All went away when she was right in front of her fighting for her. As she ran her sister watched her moves.

Eline: (shouting) RUN AND HIDE!!!

Mena saw Eline still fighting with the soldiers. She stared at her sister and recognized how much she had grown and how they still look exactly alike. That’s when Mena heard the loud roar and the demon was stomping its feet into the ground! ROARRR!!!! It yells…

 

Eline:(yells again) RUN!!!

Eline turned away from the soldiers and ran out the door from which she came! Mena still staring out of space had wondered where the soldiers had gone. But as soon as the dragon passed her up. She saw soldiers dead on the floor as blood leaked out their backs. Mena couldn’t remember what she said to the soldier or what she did to make them attack like that. But she ran as soon as she heard a horn . She ran in the intention of following her sister.

While horns and horses rattled the Earth behind her as she ran through the black forest. A giant demon was in front of her bounding it’s feet into the ground and raring as it ran after her sister. She was running as fast as her body can maintain. Her white dress was dangling between her legs making her stumble through the woods and trees.

She was in the middle of the forest steal and quiet.When she jumped to a croaking sound. She looks up to find black birds flying north. Dang It she thought and kept moving. The trees were now swift and easy to walk through. The horns and horses that were behind her had silenced itself away. But she could hear her breathing She could hear the panic in her head. Then she heard a loud roar! Which startled her.Then she thought the dragon cries. She stood steal to listen.. She didn’t hear a scream from a human.   

She kept running her speed racing now worried. Why did the demon cry but not Eline… was she already gone? Then there was another roar like a cry. Her running was even faster her breathing was trying to keep up with her movement.

  She  saw the girl with pale skin, with brown hair just like her and she was dressed in a flowy black dress. With a bleeding arm and sword in her right hand. That was her and her sisters dominate hand. She watched the demon fall to its death from the cliff. She was silent as she watched.

  She saw her sister whisper to herself and sit on a tree… She figured now the coast was clear. She had to warn her sister about the army. She turned around to check for them. There wasn’t anyone in sight!

Mena: Eline! Eline! Are you hurt? (Mena was concerned about the bloody arm) Why would you come back?

She felt guilty for ever mentioning the ball now. She looked at her sister who was hiding her sword away from her.

Eline: The demon should be gone now…

Eline ignores the question and Mena wasn’t surprised that’s how her sister always was.

Mena: Why would you come back? You could’ve been killed?

Eline: I’m a warrior!

Mena’s hearts dropped and had a flashback of when her father taught Eline how to fight and he marked that in her head “you're a warrior.”

Mena: You’re a girl.. A whole female… do you think your a boy?

Eline: ( as usual gave her sister a cold stare and walked off) You know that’s one way to thank someone for saving your life. A demon who was originally chasing after you..

Mena: But-

Eline: Don’t console me what a girl should be doing. You're not my mother.. (walking off)

Mena: (tired of the constant moving grabbing her sister’s arm) Where are you going?

Eline: Ahhh!

Mena: (looking down at the blood in her hand) I’m sorry

Eline: I’m going back to the ball if you don’t mind!

Mena stood still for a while and thought to herself is she really going back after an attempted murder to the King. At Least that’s what they would call it.

Mena: (hesitated and followed her sister) No.. no your not! Why is everyone after you? What did you do?

Eline: What did I do?

Mena froze in place having a flashback of what she said, what she did, what could’ve happened to her if Eline wasn’t her angel.

Eline: Yeah! Mhmm think about that!

Mena: Okay… i did nothing… but you rebelled away again!

Eline: Again? Okay I’ll have you know that I didn’t rebell away.. I ran way to distract the demon from you. That’s completing two different things.

Mena: What did you do?  

Eline: Said something against the law…  why?

Mena: Because whatever it is an army is out to get you. Mena stood their in silence along with her sister as she could hear the horns and the cladding again. She could hear that there are more of them. For a good minute her and Eline stood there and stared at the wilderness.

Eline: Run Mean!

Mena: (feal in confusion) what? Why?

Eline: Run.. or you’ll be in trouble with me…

Mena looked at her sister for along time and wanted to tell her she didn’t care… She was her sister and she missed her. But she had to be strong for Eline as well.

Mena: You’ve been running all your life you know…

Eline: You need to go now… stranger…

When Eline didn’t respond to Mena’s wisdom but instead called her a stranger. Her heart shattered just a little bit and fell into her stomach for a second. Until she understood why she said it “ stranger” her sister would lie and pretend she never saw her. She would protect her. She then ran in the opposite direction and hid behind a tree.   

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