Fated Fairy Tales - Beauty Sleep

Beauty Sleep - Chapter 5

Ora’s POV

No matter what day it is, my alarm goes off at 6 am.

On weekdays, Aunt Jo takes me for a long run in the mornings before I have to shower and get ready for school. As it gets dark early, I like to go for a walk. Spend a little time alone before we have an intense training session. I love the days I can make her sweat. The best days of all are when I can knock her on her butt. But that rarely happens.

On the weekends, I train harder and help tend to the farm. Aunt Jayne encourages me to learn about all the herbs and plants we grow and their purposes. I also help in the kitchen. Aunt Josie is an amazing cook.

But this Saturday I have to go litter-picking. But I don’t care. It was worth it. Tina got what she deserved. It also helps the environment. Win-win in my book. My alarm goes off at 6 am. Getting up, I couldn’t help but feel a little excited. I think it’s simply because of the change of routine.

I met Aunt Jo downstairs for breakfast. It’s the most important meal of the day she always told me when I was growing up. I remember asking her why she said that. “A car won’t run without fuel. Just like our bodies won’t function without food. I need you to be strong and healthy to train with me.” It took me a few years to understand her comparison between a car and my body. But one day, when our tractor ran out of fuel, I understood.

“I don’t have time to train today?” I reminded my aunt, seeing what she was wearing. She might decide to train later. She smirks as she lifts a mug of coffee to her lips.

“Thought we could enjoy running to the national park,”

“It’s 20 miles.” I gasp.

“Better have a substantial breakfast then, Ora.”

I mutter away as I prepare my breakfast, throwing in some fruit. After I finished eating, I patted my full stomach and stretched my arms. Then I smiled at Aunt Jo. “I guess it’s only 20 miles and extra running is better than extra training,”

“You barely touched her, and it was in retaliation. You showed restraint and control. Besides, you have to make your way back.” She says, smirking at me.

My smile drops. I hadn’t thought about how I was to get home. I can’t believe she is making me run home as well. That’s 40 miles! But she has to do it too. No doubt she will love it.

“Are you not waiting for me?” Normally Aunt Jo wouldn’t leave me. She is like a shadow. Even when I go out on a Saturday afternoon, I know she is watching me. I see her, or she makes an excuse that she’s passing by. She’s like a dragon watching her gold hoard.

“You will be with Principal Barbour, and I need to take Jayne to the train station,” she says.

“Is she going somewhere?” This is news.

Aunt Jo nods her head. “She has to go down south for a few things.” She then gestures for us to leave. It must have recently stopped raining, as there are puddles of water everywhere.

By the time we make it to the visitors’ center, I am desperate for a drink. 20 miles is nearly a marathon, further than I have ever run in one go. As I drink from the water fountain, Aunt Jo says goodbye and tells me she will see me later. She glares at Principal Barbour and tells him I had better be safe in his care, or else. She doesn’t even have a drink before leaving. She is a robot, I’m sure of it.

“Here you are, Miss Kingsley,” Principal Barbour says, handing me a trash bag and a litter picker. “You may as well get started. Miss Hall isn’t here yet. It will mean you get finished faster. Please be careful. Your guardian is kind of intimidating, and I think she would kill me if anything happened to you.” I took the items from him, not telling him she probably would.

As I wander around gathering any rubbish dropped by hikers. I can’t help but smile, not about what I am doing, but that the sun is shining. Which I am thankful for, as I am wearing my running clothes.

My mind wanders as I pick up any trash. Daydreaming about what delights Aunt Jayne will bring back with her. It’s my birthday in a few weeks. I bet that’s why she’s going to get me some amazing birthday presents. All I want is a mobile phone, because everyone at school has one. Not that I have any friends. But I could make some on social media. The answer has always been no to a phone and no to social media.

I lose track of my surroundings as I wander around. That is until something hits my shoulder. I look at the small stone that lands by my feet. That has not just randomly hit me. I looked up to see Peter, Tina’s boyfriend, and a group of his friends. “You’re going to pay for what you did to Tina.” I know this group. They think they rule the school because they are taller than everyone else. I think it’s a requirement to join their gang. All they do is intimidate people by how big they are. They would probably crap themselves if someone challenged them. I stay away from people like them, just like I try to avoid Tina and her gang.

Peter advanced towards me. I suspect he is going to push me around a bit to make me cry. I am not scared of him or his gang. I am more worried about what I could do to them. Which was why, for their safety, I ran.

My litter picker got caught on a hedge, which was when I stopped. That’s when Peter caught up with me. “Stay back, I don’t want to hurt you,” I shouted at him. Releasing the litter picker and walking away from them all.

“You’re going to pay for what you did,” Peter repeated his threat.

I folded my arms in front of me. “You lot couldn’t make me pay for anything,” I said calmly.

They all laugh loudly at me as they circle me, probably thinking I will be intimidated. I’m not. They don’t realize it, but they are the ones who should be afraid.

I stare at Peter when someone grabs me from behind. Big mistake. Using a simple breakaway technique, I easily freed myself from his grip. Kicking the back of his knees. I then kicked him between the shoulder blades, forcing him to the ground, and I stomped on his shoulder. How dare he touch me!

His screams are like a beacon for the rest of his friends to come to his aid. Five on one, that’s different. Usually, it’s just Aunt Jo or Aunt Josie.

As Peter goes to punch me, I move my head to the side. There is no speed or power to his punch. However, the one I hit him with sent him flying backward. Although I am outnumbered, I am not outmatched, and Peter now knows it. They all did. I punched, kicked, and flipped.

I couldn’t help but laugh as they ran off. They are not even close to being on my fighting level. With my hands on my hips, I laugh at their pathetic display of power and strength. “Hey,” a voice says from behind me. Oh crap, one of them is behind me. How did I not notice? I automatically react, spinning with a high kick.

As the man falls to the ground. I recall the accent of the single word he said. I looked at the unconscious man lying on the ground. Oh crap, he’s not someone I recognize. What have I done? Who have I hurt?