TYLER WODEN | FICTION | STEEL CITY SHADOWS | A NEW BEGINNING| P1 CH1 | BY THE HEARTH
Steel City Shadows: Part One #1, Whispers Of The Wind
Chapter One — A New Beginning
In the shadow of Sheffield’s imposing school gates, Nikkita stood, feeling worlds away from the Caribbean sun she once knew so well. The unfamiliar laughter and chatter around her seemed almost drowned out by the thunderous beat of her own anxious heart.
“Did you enjoy that teaser? Then read on below…”
***WARNING: The following story is entirely fictional and may offend some readers. It is also under official copyright.***
‘Hello, and welcome back to By The Hearth, written by me, Tyler Woden, but remembered and narrated like the Skalds of old, by my father, Odin. I do so hope you enjoy it. I plan to spin this into an episodic short story consisting of at least 4 parts altogether. These will be accessible to you as soon as I am able to publish them to a good standard for you.
‘Welcome to Steel City Shadows, my first short story series, free here on Medium. Follow me to get updates whenever I publish. Now, without further ado, I once again introduce you to our narrator, Odin.
‘Happy reading,’
~TW~
Whispers of ancient tales swirled as the Allfather, Odin, gazed upon the realm of mortals. His one good eye settled down upon the steel city of Sheffield, a place where the weight of industry met the dreams of many, where old met new, and cultures intertwined. In the late throes of the 20th century, the city hummed with a quiet unease, as change beckoned on its horizon.
‘Behold,’ Odin’s voice echoed, deep and resonant, ‘Today is my day, Woden’s day. Here, In the land of mist and steel, Sheffield, young Nikkita confronts not only the challenges of her new home, but also the unseen challenges within her mind. But remember this: sometimes the fiercest battles are the ones hidden from view.’
Steel City Shadows
Part One — Whispers of the Wind
Chapter One — A New Beginning
In the shadow of Sheffield’s imposing school gates, Nikkita stood, feeling worlds away from the Caribbean sun she once knew so well. The unfamiliar laughter and chatter around her seemed almost drowned out by the thunderous beat of her own anxious heart.
Ahead of her, the school path led straight, flanked by vast green lawns on either side. The vibrant hues of the school garden tried to combat the dominating grey sky overhead; bright marigolds and deep purples of lavender waved slightly in the morning breeze, offering a touch of colour to the otherwise dreary day.
The school itself was an imposing brick building, its windows staring down like dozens of eyes, making Nikkita feel observed. The large clock tower overhead announced the time, its bell tolling in the distance, reminding her of the new routine she’d have to adapt to.
The murmurs and laughter of students echoed around her as groups converged on the school entrance. She could hear snippets of conversations about the latest pop bands, weekend plans, and homework, all spoken in that distinct Yorkshire accent that she was still trying to get accustomed to.
Each step she took was on a ground that seemed to resonate with history. The well-trodden path had been walked by countless students before her, and she wondered about their stories, their challenges, and if any had felt as out of place as she did now.
The smells were different here — the fresh cut grass, the tang of rain in the air, and a subtle scent of chalk and books wafting from the open windows of classrooms. It was all so new, so foreign, yet there was an underlying excitement of the unknown.
But as she approached, the weight of being the ‘new girl’ settled heavily on her shoulders. She instinctively tightened her grip on her backpack straps, taking a deep breath to gather her courage for the day ahead. The school’s façade loomed larger, and she hoped that within its walls, she’d find a place where she’d belong.
Today was her first day in this strange and unfamiliar place, and the grey of the English skies seemed to reflect her mixed feelings. She longed for the familiarity of home, yet a small part of her was excited by the new possibilities opening up to her.
The time was 8:30am. Good, thought Nikkita. Maybe I can use the time before school starts to talk to someone.
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Nikkita nervously adjusted her clothing, not wanting to stand out too much from the rest of the girls her age. She wanted them to accept her, but it felt like a hopeless wish as one girl remarked in a mocking tone as Nikkita approached the three of them. ‘Look at the new girl.’ The girl speaking had stick-straight blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She looked Nikkita up and down. ‘Another one for the basketball team.’ Laughter and snickering rose from the other two girls, making Nikkita feel like the walls were closing in on her.
Nikkita looked at the floor. The laughter was broken by one of the other girls. ‘We don’t need more of you here,’ said the redhead. Nikkita looked up at her. The girls freckles stood out against her pale skin, a perpetual smirk on her lips. ‘The hell you lookin at? I don’t have any weed for you, alright?’
Nikkita said nothing.
‘So do you think she’s like, black black?’ said the third girl. She had mousey brown hair cut in a sharp bob. ‘I don’t really mind you know, my stepdad’s black. Well, a little black.’
She watched helplessly as the trio taunted her until finally, she couldn’t take it any longer. Turning on her heel, Nikkita ran as fast as she could from the scene, seeking refuge behind a forgotten corner of the school. Tears, hot and fast, began to blur her vision as humiliation blended with sadness. Collapsing onto a pile of dead leaves, she let out a sob before burying her face in her palms.
Suddenly, she felt a presence and turned to face it. Through a veil of tears, she saw a boy of her age standing before her. He seemed to have appeared from the trees themselves, as if he had been conjured up from the color-strewn leaves. ‘Hey,’ said the boy in an almost heavenly voice, ‘don’t let them get to you.’
Confused, Nikkita managed to reply, ‘Who are you?’
‘James,’ he said with a smile, his voice oddly familiar, filled with the rhythms of the Caribbean. His light chuckle was warm honey. ‘You should see your eyes right now.” The boy shuffled forward, knelt in front of her, and said, ‘Trust me, it gets better. Give it time.’
Nikkita sniffed away the snot gathered in her nose. ‘How in the world will that get better?’
James smiled at her, and he regarded her eyes of a soulful brown. ‘You just gotta trust me.’ His eyes glowed reassuringly as he uttered words that seemed to caress her soul. ‘All of ’em will see how great you are, yeah? And trust when I say, those curls in your hair, dayum, you gonna drive some of the boys craaaaaazy.’ He stood then, towering above her and held out a hand. ‘Get up, Nikki.’
Nikkita glared at his hand and felt her throat constrict. Nikkita spoke, but the words that left her were but a whisper. ‘I never told you my name.’
The boy, James, looked around Nikkita’s age. He had a slightly sun-kissed complexion reminiscent of Caribbean shores. ‘I overheard that crap over on the yard,’ said James. ‘Hey, never mind that, yeah? Come on, let me help you up.’
Nikkita thought back to the yard for a moment. Did I tell anyone my name? The thought left her quickly as she noticed something else about him. ‘Why are you not in your uniform?’ Nikkita took James’ hand. The boy lifted her as if she weighed nothing at all. In fact, he pulled her so easily that she found herself close enough to his face that she could smell his breath. ‘Wow, eggs for breakfast.’
James squinted. ‘Same as you.’
‘You can smell my breath?’ asked Nikkita, taking a shy step backwards. Her tears gone, Nikkita tilted her head at James and studied him intently. The boy was oddly familiar, yet out of place in the cold Sheffield environment. ‘You’re wearing shorts and a tshirt,’ Nikkita observed. ‘Are you not cold?’ The tshirt was white and the shorts black, the kind she’d seen countless boys wear back in the Caribbean on warm, sunny days. But there was something different about him, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Yet, somehow, she felt comfortable near him.
James tilted his head, a faint smile playing on his lips, ‘Don’t you think it’s kinda strange, Nikkita?’
‘What?’
‘Only you notice the little details like that.’
‘What details? What you on about? Jus who are you anyway?’
‘I told you that already, my name’s James,’ sang the boy with a mischievous grin, his voice carrying the beat of Calypso. ‘You’ll see. It’ll all make sense in time.’
‘Come on,’ James beckoned with a playful wink, ‘Let’s go for a walk. There’s a world out there waiting for us.’
Nikkita hesitated, feeling an odd pull towards his suggestion, her feet almost moving on their own. But just as she was about to take a step forward, the sharp ring of the school bell pierced the air, snapping her back to reality. She looked around, seeing a flurry of students scurrying towards their classes.
Nikkita spun around quickly to answer James’s question, but he had disappeared. A gust of wind swirled around her, seeming to carry away the faintest whisper of his words. The wind lifted her hair and clothes, and for a moment, she thought she could see James’s silhouette in the air before it dissipated. Nikkita sniffed. A hint of sea salt in the air, the ozone of a distant storm, and an underlying trace of citrus.
‘James,’ Nikkita mumbled as her legs carried her towards the school doors.
Despite the questions that buzzed through her head, Nikkita knew there wasn’t enough time to consider them now. She pushed them aside and focused on getting to class on time. She hoped to see James somewhere in the crowds. Maybe he’s got class over at the other side of school, thought Nikkita.
As she stepped through the school doors, Nikkita was met with a sea of kids, all pushing and shoving their way to class. She spotted students of all shapes, sizes, and colours — some in uniforms, some not. Boys wore shirts tucked into trousers, while girls donned skirts and blouses. Some had long hair, others short. In the hustle and bustle of it all, Nikkita felt like a grouper fish. Her heart beat rapidly, and her breath came in gasps all of a sudden. But then she remembered James’ words. “It gets better,” he had told her. A wave of comfort gave her back her breath and slowed her panicked heart, and suddenly the crowd of kids felt more like wading through a gentle stream.
‘Thank you, James,’ whispered Nikkita to the wind, ‘wherever you’ve gone.’
As the day’s events wove themselves into the fabric of Sheffield’s history, Odin, the Allfather, observed the young girl named Nikkita from high above Sheffield. In Nikkita’s courage, he saw the spirit of warriors past, and in her vulnerability, the gentle heart of a poet.
‘In every epoch,’ Odin murmured, his voice woven with ancient magic, ‘the cosmos presents a tale that stands out, a story of resilience and hope. Nikkita, brave child of both the sun and steel, will be a beacon for many, a testament to the power of the human spirit.’
As the English skies turned from a muted grey to the rich hues of twilight, a raven, one of Odin’s messengers, circled the school grounds and then soared away, carrying with it the weight of Nikkita’s first day, ensuring her place among the stars and sagas of old.
‘The first chapter of her saga has been written,’ intoned Odin, ‘but countless challenges await her. May she always find her strength in the face of adversity and her path lit amidst the shadows.’ Odin stood straight and watched as Nikkita disappeared amidst the crowds of students. ‘Though Nikkita is now one of many, she is one of a kind.’
The Allfather squinted with his one remaining eye, and with it, he saw Nikkita’s spirit burning bright. ‘The winds of change are coming,’ he whispered into the wind, ‘and with them, a tale that will echo through eternity.’ And with that, the Allfather returned to the realm eternal.
End Of Chapter One
‘Hello again, Tyler Woden here. I hope you enjoyed reading or listening to that as much as I enjoyed writing it for you. I want to let you know about a useful pair of tools I use in my story telling. I’ve had these two tools for aaaaaaaages. It’s time to share! So, if you are a writer or an author, I strongly suggest these two tools to help you with your writing.
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