Artifical-Story

[Mangaluver]

CHAPTER 1

Ari sat in the back of the car at looked up at her grieving mother. Her mother held a fake smile as her eyes waterered, she was trying to supress the tears she had been crying for this whole three hour car ride. Actually, Ari's mother had been crying constantly since Ari was twelve, two years ago. Ari didn't know why she was crying, and she didn't know why or where she was driving so far to. Ari looked up at her father who had been silently driving the whole way here. Ari wanted to ask why her mother why she was crying or why she they had left home but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. It almost seemed cruel to ask a question to someone who is obviously in some so much pain. So,for some positive relief, Ari looked out the window to the signs that were passing by. Names of towns she had never heard of whipped by. Finally in the distance Ari saw some light. But it was only a neon light for a resturnant sign. 'Grand Openeing-2007' It read. 2007?Thats more then twenty years ago... Thought Ari, as she closed her eyes and tried to block out her mother's contained sobs.

Finally, the old car came to a halt, and Ari peered out of one eye, pretending to be asleep. Her Father was getting out of the car and walking up to an old 1900's house that stood before them. Ari's father knocked on the door and almost instantly someone came out before him. It was an older woman in a white robe who looked as though she was also crying, but with a pushed smile. She instantly wrapped her arms around Ari's Father and looked as though she was crying into his shoulder. She moved away and her father began speaking. Ari rolled down the window quietly, not that it mattered, her mother wouldn't hear it over her own sobs. "No Ari doesn't know anything.." Her father was saying. The unkown woman now looked slightly angry. "You haven't even told her about Jelena?" Said the woman. Jelena? Thought Ari curiuosly. Ari's father shook his head and then made his way back to the car. Ari quickly rolled up her window and began pretending to sleep. Tap Tap Tap Ari heard at her window. She openend her eyes and saw her Father, he was carrying a suitcase, Ari's suitcase. Ari got out of the car and looked up at her father. "Your going to stay with your Aunt Lyn for a little okay sweetie?" He said to Ari. Her heart pounded, Aunt?Mom and Dad said they had no siblings.. She thought as she looked at her father and answered "Why?" It was a very reasonable question, this was so sudden, she never even knew she had and aunt and today should have been like any other school day. When Ari regained her thoughts and looked up at her father he had the same pained face her mother had, but he pushed a smile, and he pushed the suitcase into Ari's hand. "It's nothing Ari," He said quietly, but Ari could tell he was lying. Ari's father turned to the front of the car and opened her mother's door. "It's time to say good-bye to Ari now dear." He whispered to Ari's mother. But now Ari's mother could not contain her cries and she let them out, covering her face with her hands, not even baring to look at Ari. Ari's father too tried to contain sobs, but Ari had never heard her father cry, and she had not built up the heart to hear it.So, Ari turned around and her father sadly led her to her 'Aunt Lyn.'

Ari followed her father up the old steps of the house. Finally when she was under the porchlight she could see her aunt more clearly. She was a little older then her own mom, with white hair and a few wrinkles, but she had a real smile on, something Ari hadn't seen for weeks. When Ari went under the porchlight so her aunt could see her, her aunt gasped. Ari looked down around herself to see if anything frightening was there, nothing. But the way her aunt looked at Ari made her think maybe something about her appearence was strange. It would be wierd if it was about her appearence though. Ari looked like any other teenager, she had long blond hair, brown eyes, and brown glasses. Ari's mother had once insisted that she get contacs, but Ari just loved her glasses, didn't feel complete without them.

After a few seconds Aunt Lyn regained her smile and hugged Ari tight. It was a little akward for Ari, considering she didn't even know this woman. But out of courtesy, Ari hugged her back. Then, her dad tapped her shoulder and she turned around looking confused. "I have to say goodbye now Ari, I love you." Said her father, kissing her forehead. Ari pulled him back, "When will you be back? You'll come back in time for my birthday right?" Ari said with concern. Her birthday was in two weeks. He had to come pick her up by then, right? Her father dropped his head, "I don't think so Ari.." He said and turned around, giving a nod to Aunt Lyn, and returning to the car. Ari watched sadly as the car went down the street and dissappeard from sight. Ari blinked,moving a tear from her eye, trying to figure out what just happened, and what was about to happen...

A hand touched Ari's shoulder, Aunt Lyn. She had completely forgot her aunt was there. "Lets go inside" Said the woman, as she took Ari's suitcase and opened the door for her.Ari walked in the old house, it had a nice atmospehere to it, but she had never seen it before in her life. Though...it looked firmilliar somehow... Ari watched as the woman carried her suitcase up a flight of stairs. Usually a child would help someone much older to carry there own belongings up stairs. But not Ari, she had been raised spoildly. As a child Ari was always the center of attention. When her parents took her on shopping trips she didn't have to wait around for them to pick out bedroom sets, no, her parnets would say "This shopping trip is all for you!" But of course these were the days before her parents had began acting strangly, not that they weren't always a little off. Ari could especially remember when she was seven and was reading with her mother, and suddenly her mother began crying for no apparent reason. This strange behavoir must have been why Ari was here in the strange situation.

Aunt Lyn finally came down the stairs and smiled at Ari. Ari didn't smile back. Aunt Lyn began speaking with a smile, "I'm really glad I finally get to meet you Jelen-" Then she stopped, as she started to call Ari a name that was not hers. Jelena. Aunt Lyn coughed then continued, "Ari. So I know this may be a little strange but you parents wanted you to stay here for a bit. So..are you hungry? All I can really make you now is grilled cheese, but I can go to the store tommorow and buy some more food. And-" Ari rudely cut her off, "I'm not hungry" She said frowing. Aunt Lyn went silent. Without food we have nothing to talk about, this is rediculous. I better just call my dad and tell him it's akward here and then he can pick me up and I can go home, and everything will be normal again, Thought Ari. But this was far from normal. "Can I use your phone?...aunt Lyn" She asked akwardly. Surely the answer would be yes. But Aunt Lyn looked a little nervous and frowned as though she was being insulted, "...No..I'm sorry Ari, your parents said that they forbid you from contacting them in any way." Ari looked at her with disbelief. This was not like her parent's normal selves at all. Suddenly the phone rang and Aunt Lyn and Ari both raced to answer it. Aunt Lyn got to it first. "Hello?" Ari listened as there was silence on the other end. "Oh hello Charles!"Charles, Ari's father's name. As soon as Ari heard this she desperatly, and very rudely, ripped the phone from aunt Lyn. "Dad?" She said loudly, ignoring Aunt Lyn's suprise. "Ari? Are you okay there sweetheart?"Her dad answered, in the same pained voice as when Ari last saw him. "I'm okay, but I...I have a test in the morning at school so I need you to pick me up now." Ari's voice was trembling, and so were her hands as there was a long pause. Finally, her father's voice broke through. "No Ari, that test will have to wait for a while. I have to take care of your mother." He said. Ari couldn't reply. Almost on cue Aunt Lyn gently took the phone from Ari's shaking hands and said quietly to Ari, "You should go up to your room now and get unpacked, first door on the left." Ari frowned sadly and left the room. But she didn't go upstairs, she wasn't stupid to fall for that. Instead, Ari firmly pressed her ear against the door to easvedrop on their conversation.But obviously she could only hear her aunt's words.

"She's fine Charles."
"She doesn't know?!?"
"Not even about Jelena?"
"You really should tell her"
"I know I'm not her parent, you are..."

"Fine, Goodbye"[/b] She said and hung up. Jelena? Ari thought repetivly. Who was this Jelena, and what did she have to do with Ari being stranded here?

Please tell me what you think, and if anyone likes it I will continue^^