Ever since the day Raven was born he always knew he was different – not just because he is multicultural – he believed there was something more. He had a strange feeling he had been on Earth before and had been sent back to do something but it was the something that was eluding him. He grew even more perplexed after his 12th birthday when feelings of uncontrollable and unpredictable rage brewed inside him – drawing him more and more to inexplicable dark feelings. So much so that when he overheard his best friend calling him a Shrimp Mutant to the one girl he liked, the dark rage that ensued was so all consuming, Raven had no choice but to seek solace in his sanctuary, The Crestwood Public Library. Instead of finding solace Raven was plunged on a journey through seven colored lands bringing him face to face with his ultimate protagonist, Rumulus. Would Raven be strong enough to accept his fate?

The Sanctuary

Raven forces his way through a locked door. Alarms blare as the door opens but Raven doesn’t stop. He wants to get as far away from the scene he had just witnessed as fast as he can. How can I ever face her again? How?
Once outside, Raven is surprised by the ominous and frightening air but he doesn’t care. The storm mirrors the one brewing inside him. He sprints harder and faster than he has ever done in his 12 years – aided by the fact that he’s able to maneuver down the centre of the deserted city streets. Everyone with sense is seeking refuge from the unusual thunderstorm.
The harder and faster he runs, the more his heart races. He hurtles to try to defy the hands of time. The darkness is chasing him. Hunting him down. He knows if he stops, it will swallow him whole. He needs to get to his sanctuary - fast.
By running as fast as he can, Raven hopes he will be able to block the heart wrenching visions of Skye smiling up at Thomas from pulling him into the darkness he has been fighting for so long. Bright lights of a lone vehicle suddenly appear and speed towards him snapping the visions out of his mind. Waves of water crash over the deserted city street from the speeding vehicle, knocking Raven to the ground. He quickly jumps up, looks for the car, only to discover that as quickly as it had appeared, it disappeared into the driving rain and darkness – leaving Raven questioning whether there had been a car at all.
Bewildered and disoriented by the mystery car, a strong gale pushes Raven along as the storm intensifies. Raven runs even faster. A utility pole crashes in front of him, narrowly missing him. Fearing the darkness is trying to unnerve him, he puts his head down to stop the rain from stinging his eyes and obscuring his view. His feet respond by going into automatic pilot, leading him through the ferocious storm. The lightning strikes draw nearer – cracking and sizzling all around him. The thunder taunts him. Booming and rattling the ground beneath his feet. He knows he’s a moving target. He vows that no matter what he can’t stop. He won’t stop. He can’t let the darkness win.
Lifting his head in an act of defiance, Raven bellows like a wounded animal as a primal sound erupts from his inner core. A sense of strength washes over him as he glimpses his sanctuary – The Crestwood Public Library - in front of him. Lowering his gaze, he jumps the all too familiar stairs counting aloud: One. Two. Three. I made it; he shouts then grabs the door handle. He trembles when lightning strikes the handle sending a massive shock through his right hand. He yells, yanks the door open, and runs inside. His eyes wide, his mouth parched, his whole body soaking through from the rain, he heaves and pants. He looks at his shaking hand and gasps! The lightning has scorched his hands transforming it into a multicolored mess - chocolate brown akin to his mother’s skin, olive resembling his own skin, and pale similar to his father’s.
Mystified by his transformed hand, he’s transfixed to the spot. Pools of water drip from his sodden body. Puddles of water saturate The Library’s entrance. He’s too crazed to even be aware of the mess he is creating. Then an all too familiar voice yanks him out of his stupor, “Not in those wet clothes young man!”
Raven thrusts his hand in his pocket then looks at the stern librarian in exasperation. “Not today, Ms. Queti. I need to be here! Please! Something strange is happening to me! L-look at my h-hand!” Raven slowly pulls his hand out of his pocket and shows it to Ms. Queti.
 “There’s nothing wrong with your hand, young man!”
Raven looks at his hand, then up at Ms. Queti, “But there was a minute ago, Ms. Queti. I swear. My hand looked like a chameleon trying to camouflage itself, Ms. Queti. It really did. Ms. Queti, what is happening to me?”
A look flickers across Ms. Queti’s face that Raven swears is sympathy. Adjusting her half rimmed glasses and pulling her grey cardigan tightly across her chest, Ms. Queti abruptly turns and walks away. Her clicking heels the only sound reverberating against the otherwise silent library. Raven stands transfixed. Heart racing. Mind whirring. Before he could move, Ms. Queti returns with dry clothing, throws them at Raven, points her long worn finger at the Men’s room, and says between clenched lips,
“Whatever you’re doing out in all this weather, I will never know but you are not going to flood my library. In there young man. Get changed before you turn my entrance into a swamp!”
Not used to any assistance from Ms. Queti, Raven doesn’t know what to do. He stares at her in disbelief.
“Take them before I change my mind,” she snaps.
Clutching the clothes and not daring to look her in the eyes, Raven says, “Th-thank you, Ms. Queti.” He scampers to change. The clothes are ancient – faded black and of a material he doesn’t recognize. The pants were drooping off his slim waist. The sleeves of the shirt were hanging loosely off his arms covering his fingers making him feel smaller than he already does. Looking down at his bare feet he hopes the smell does not overpower the Library or Ms. Queti. Lord only knows that he does not want to feel her wrath. Why didn’t I listen to my mom and wear socks Raven worries. He feels awkward and is grateful for the storm outside because at least no one he knows will be at the Library.
Ms. Queti is waiting outside the Men’s room when he comes out. She snatches his wet things and thrusts them in a large plastic bag. She holds the bag out to the side as if it’s hazardous and quickly walks away without another word or glimpse at Raven.

Cathy Duffy lives on the beautiful island of Bermuda located in the North Atlantic with her husband of 19 years, Nick, and her two beautiful children - her son, Raven, 12 and daughter Sedona-Sky, 8. She is on a spiritual quest to be free to write at will.