Allegra's Urban Fantasy

"What was that about?" I asked my friends, as we turned the corner and walked down a path.

"It's just the wind," Jules said. "You're just being paranoid."

I glanced back at the alleyway. It had been weird. The wind didn't sound like it was carried by air, but something solid, like a person running through it. There were no people around, though. The alleyway was quiet, and empty of life, save for an old man who was sleeping in a pile of trash. Why would I be paranoid? I thought to myself. There's nothing wrong with being cautious, especially in an unfamiliar city.

"I'm not sure if you heard them before," Navia said. "But there are some really bad people here. You can't just walk around alone." She looked at me and smiled warmly. I loved her eyes; they were as green as the grass in my country home back home. My mom used to tell me that when she met my father, his eyes had given her chills from their intensity; almost like he could see into her soul. Navia had those same eyes—too beautiful for this world, she used to say about herself—and I believed her when she said it. A few months ago, she had told us that she saw a vision in which I would be attacked by two men with guns on our next trip to Paris; luckily, we hadn't gone yet, so we put off our trip until today. We were going to Rome instead; Navia said that it was safer than Paris because of its ancient architecture—though I wasn't sure how that made any sense—and because it had magic protecting it. "Even if you do get attacked," she continued, "you have to fight back! You can't just let yourself be hurt."

"You're right," I agreed with her. Jules rolled his eyes behind me and Navia giggled lightly at him doing so. He often did that; he thought we were too sheltered from the dangers of the real world by Mommy dearest back home in Italy—not that anything ever happened there either, but Mom always kept us safe anyway—but he should know better than to doubt us! If anyone could protect myself and my loved ones from danger, it's me and my friends! We're still minors though, so we have to keep what we do under wraps from Mom—especially since Dad is gone now...

I sighed bitterly at the thought of him dying without telling me why or where he was going before he left for work that day. He never came home... Did he die too soon after leaving? Did he leave me alone on purpose? Did something happen to him? Was he even my real father? Did someone kill him... Was I now being targeted myself...?!

My mind began to swim with intense paranoia again as I stopped walking and stared off into space for several seconds, unable to focus on anything else but my thoughts and fears. The others noticed immediately and stopped too, looking at me worriedly as they tried to figure out what was wrong with me now (as if they didn't already know...) Unable to stop myself from freaking out further and flashing them all those ugly thoughts in my head again, I started crying uncontrollably after several moments passed by while they watched helplessly at me falling apart right before their very eyes... How could they help me when they didn't know what was wrong? Were they angry with me for ruining our great vacation together? Would they hate me...?! After another minute or two passed by while I cried uncontrollably into my hands and barely took notice of them trying as hard as possible to calm down this crazy Italian girl who always gets herself worked up over nothing... Finally able to regain control over myself and stop sobbing, I wiped away my tears and looked up at them sheepishly; tears still streaming down my face from the aftermath of what just happened... "Sorry," I muttered weakly as if expecting them all to turn against me for having such a meltdown in front of them like this... What did I expect them to do though? Let it slide...? They're too nice for that! Especially Navia; she loves me too much for that! If only she understood what troubles me sometimes! But how could she understand if even Daddy didn't understand? This is all so frustrating!!! Why can't things be easy for once...? At least we decided to change cities today instead of staying in Paris where those two men attacked us before mom died... That scary experience almost ruined everything for us then! Why couldn't Mom have told us why those thugs attacked us...? Is there someone after her too...? Just like after Dad...? What else don't I know?! What am I missing here!? Why won't anyone tell me anything?! It's like everyone knows something that nobody else knows but themselves! Why won't anyone talk!? It's driving me crazy!!!!!!

"Allegra..." Jules finally spoke up as he put his hands on my shoulders gently to try calming me down further (as if!) "Maybe you should go lie down..." He couldn't even look directly at me; instead choosing to stare off into space somewhere nearby instead... Was he ashamed of how badly he acted towards this poor girl earlier...? Was he still angry...? Or maybe scared...? Of what though...? If anyone should be scared here besides myself it ought to be him; after all, he's not strong enough mentally or physically to protect himself or his loved ones from whatever is threatening us these days... He's pathetic compared to everyone else around here! Yet somehow he still thinks himself worthy enough to judge everyone else around him??? That little punk needs a serious attitude adjustment once we get back home!!! In fact , maybe a beating might teach him a thing or two about life outside his little bubble around the world!!!!! Can no one treat him nicely without getting upset afterwards anymore? Hasn't this guy been through enough already??? Can't anyone give him a break anymore??? Hasn't he suffered enough already without having people constantly judging him every single time we travel somewhere new??? Maybe it'll teach him not to act so stuck up all the time if people treated him badly every single time we get somewhere new??? Maybe then he'll learn not to judge people based on appearances anymore!!! Maybe then he'll take a second look at himself and try making something of himself other than picking on other people when they deserve better!!! Well guess what sunshine!? You're no better than any of us now!!! Maybe you need some tough love too!!! Maybe then you'll finally wake up out of your little dream world long enough so you can realize how bad life really is outside your precious bubble around your precious family!! Don't worry though: you might actually survive longer than us in the real world if you learn how dangerous life truly is outside your perfect little bubble!!!!!! Who knows!? You might even end up thanking us one day too!!! And don't bother trying acting tough in front of us ever again after this either!! Because guess what?? We know more about life than you do now!! So don't pretend like you're smarter than anyone else because you know more about science than everyone else does!!! And don't think about taking advantage of our kindness anymore because it won't work on us anymore!!!!!" (Note: this outburst is supposed to portray an individual who has lived through a traumatic experience before).