To Dare - Prologue | Teen Ink

To Dare - Prologue

December 27, 2010
By AsIAm PLATINUM, Somewhere, North Carolina
AsIAm PLATINUM, Somewhere, North Carolina
48 articles 3 photos 606 comments

Favorite Quote:
"According to some, heroic deaths are admirable things. (Generally those who don't have to do it. Politicians and writers spring to mind.) I've never been convinced by this argument, mainly because, no matter how cool, stylish, composed, unflappable, manly, or defiant you are, at the end of the day you're also dead. Which is a little too permanent for my liking." — Jonathan Stroud (Ptolemy's Gate)


Jade dashes toward me, ebony locks bouncing franticly, a loaf of French bread clutched in her small pale hands. Her five-year-old face is dripping with tears of horror and shame, and I reach out, folding her into my arms. That’s when I hear the sirens. She is sobbing her apologies, but it is too late. I wrench the loaf from her hands, my own thin face pinched with fear and determination.

The police car screeches to a stop in front of me and a doughnut-loving officer stepped out, towering over my quaking form…





Beck jolts awake, glad for a moment to be surrounded by cracking walls and laying in the familiar discomfort of his lumpy mattress rather than in the cramped back of a police car. But then the reality of his situation hits him, and Beck is filled once more with bitterness at the world that has dumped him, so unceremoniously, into manhood.
He heaves his muscular body out of bed, the abused floor creaking as he slams his feet down upon it. He pulls on torn jeans and a white tee-shirt. His biceps tense in fury at life, seeming to struggle against the barbed wire tattoos encircling each.


He stumbles into the filthy kitchen, switching on the coffee as he walks by. He leans on the counter for a minute, rubbing his aching head, trying to smooth away the stubborn hangover. That’s when he notices he is alone in the kitchen. Fury contorts his harsh features and he storms into the living room, where his dark-haired sister lies curled on the couch. He pushes her off roughly.

“Get up Jade! You can’t miss another day. The feds already won’t leave me alone!” Jade jumps up, her high cheekbones marred by bruises. Her fist clenches by her side, ready to defend her self, but after glancing at Beck’s face she simply storms off to the bathroom without a word.



Jade changes into torn black jeans and a low rocker shirt, constantly bumping the walls of the cramped little bathroom. As Jade deftly spreads makeup over her bruises, Beck leans heavily against the kitchen counter, messaging his throbbing temple and sipping on a cup of strong coffee.


Jade finishes and they sullenly begin the walk to the West Side High School. Jade walks a few steps behind her brother, shoulders set stiffly back and a hardened smile forced upon her face. Her long strides are cut somewhat short as she walks in Beck’s intimidating shadow. Her hungry stomach is twisted with fear, never knowing quite what to expect. As they walk, they pass a person getting a ticket from a tall policemen. They instinctually turn away and shuffle the opposite direction of the flashing lights, and Jade is thrust into despair.


Our parents walking out on Beck and I.
Stealing to live.
Beck went to Juvie for me.
Never been the same.
Can’t even look at police on our way to school.

Jade forces the memories away, broadening her Barbie smile. No one needs to know how much her past bothers her. There were plenty of people around her town who had done the same – if not worse.

Beck is almost always drunk even though he’s only 17, he consistently drives that way, he breaks into all sorts of places, and he abuses Jade…. But hey, he hasn’t done drugs, armed robberies, murder, or anything else of the sort. Jade sighs - that’s something.


The author's comments:
A story about forgiveness, friendship, and overcoming past and present obstacles in order to change for the better.

I'm co-writing this with my best friend, Reilly. It's actually based off a roleplay we did - she's the same friend who I role played the inspiration for Duty with. :) I hope you like it!

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This article has 13 comments.


on May. 30 2011 at 1:10 am
Healing_Angel SILVER, Sydney, Other
8 articles 2 photos 509 comments

Favorite Quote:
Live for today, not for tomorrow

Great job! :)

on May. 23 2011 at 5:48 pm
Garnet77 PLATINUM, Sinagpore, Other
31 articles 6 photos 577 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Everything&#039;s a triangle.&quot; ~ My mother<br /> <br /> &quot;Write what you love, write what you care about, because sometimes, it&#039;s the easiest way to be heard.&quot;

This is really good. I really love your descriptions. I can't wait to read more of this! :)

AsIAm PLATINUM said...
on Jan. 24 2011 at 7:33 pm
AsIAm PLATINUM, Somewhere, North Carolina
48 articles 3 photos 606 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;According to some, heroic deaths are admirable things. (Generally those who don&#039;t have to do it. Politicians and writers spring to mind.) I&#039;ve never been convinced by this argument, mainly because, no matter how cool, stylish, composed, unflappable, manly, or defiant you are, at the end of the day you&#039;re also dead. Which is a little too permanent for my liking.&quot; &mdash; Jonathan Stroud (Ptolemy&#039;s Gate)

haha Thanks - it's fun to write!

on Jan. 24 2011 at 10:51 am
DaughteroftheTrumpet BRONZE, East Aurora, New York
2 articles 2 photos 214 comments

Favorite Quote:
Washington Irving once said &ldquo;There is sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They are messengers of overwhelming grief and of unspeakable love.&rdquo;

Intense! I love that the main characters are not just the law biding people, or the good people catching the bad. It's great to get a  new prespective of the guys fighting the feds!

AsIAm PLATINUM said...
on Jan. 11 2011 at 2:55 pm
AsIAm PLATINUM, Somewhere, North Carolina
48 articles 3 photos 606 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;According to some, heroic deaths are admirable things. (Generally those who don&#039;t have to do it. Politicians and writers spring to mind.) I&#039;ve never been convinced by this argument, mainly because, no matter how cool, stylish, composed, unflappable, manly, or defiant you are, at the end of the day you&#039;re also dead. Which is a little too permanent for my liking.&quot; &mdash; Jonathan Stroud (Ptolemy&#039;s Gate)

Glad you like it! Progress is slow with finals coming up and the fact I'm co-writing, but the first chapter should be done soon. :)

on Jan. 6 2011 at 2:26 pm
Hazel-daisy GOLD, --, Other
19 articles 0 photos 324 comments

Favorite Quote:
It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else - Erna Bombeck<br /> <br /> In three words i can sum up everything I&#039;ve learned in life: it goes on -Robert Frost<br /> <br /> Live, Love, Laugh - ______<br /> <br /> Hope, Love, breathe &lt;3 - Me

i agree with em Coffee to please continue!! i really want to see how these characters grow and develop around each other!!

AsIAm PLATINUM said...
on Jan. 3 2011 at 5:02 pm
AsIAm PLATINUM, Somewhere, North Carolina
48 articles 3 photos 606 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;According to some, heroic deaths are admirable things. (Generally those who don&#039;t have to do it. Politicians and writers spring to mind.) I&#039;ve never been convinced by this argument, mainly because, no matter how cool, stylish, composed, unflappable, manly, or defiant you are, at the end of the day you&#039;re also dead. Which is a little too permanent for my liking.&quot; &mdash; Jonathan Stroud (Ptolemy&#039;s Gate)

Thanks! :D      

Coffee BRONZE said...
on Jan. 3 2011 at 3:39 pm
Coffee BRONZE, Tallahassee, Florida
4 articles 5 photos 184 comments

Favorite Quote:
Your Face.

like this alot! please continue!

Lonleydandy said...
on Dec. 30 2010 at 5:15 pm
Okay! Will do!

AsIAm PLATINUM said...
on Dec. 30 2010 at 5:11 pm
AsIAm PLATINUM, Somewhere, North Carolina
48 articles 3 photos 606 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;According to some, heroic deaths are admirable things. (Generally those who don&#039;t have to do it. Politicians and writers spring to mind.) I&#039;ve never been convinced by this argument, mainly because, no matter how cool, stylish, composed, unflappable, manly, or defiant you are, at the end of the day you&#039;re also dead. Which is a little too permanent for my liking.&quot; &mdash; Jonathan Stroud (Ptolemy&#039;s Gate)

I know! *sniff* I had a few I was following that petered out. :(  Just keep an eye out for the novel - it's going to take a while since I'm reconstructing the chapters but I like to think it will be worth it. :)

Lonleydandy said...
on Dec. 30 2010 at 5:08 pm
Okie Dokie! Just being sure!!! Hahaha, I don't like not finishing stuff...and, unfortunately, a lot of the series that I start reading mysteriously stop.....or end terribly abruptly...hahaha.

AsIAm PLATINUM said...
on Dec. 30 2010 at 5:02 pm
AsIAm PLATINUM, Somewhere, North Carolina
48 articles 3 photos 606 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;According to some, heroic deaths are admirable things. (Generally those who don&#039;t have to do it. Politicians and writers spring to mind.) I&#039;ve never been convinced by this argument, mainly because, no matter how cool, stylish, composed, unflappable, manly, or defiant you are, at the end of the day you&#039;re also dead. Which is a little too permanent for my liking.&quot; &mdash; Jonathan Stroud (Ptolemy&#039;s Gate)

Thanks! :D  And I am in no way shape or form stopping Duty: To Heart. :)  This is something I'm doing with my friend. :D  It will be a while before there is more Duty though - I'm working on getting it started as a novel. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this!

Lonleydandy said...
on Dec. 30 2010 at 4:56 pm
I like the idea that you have going! [Your not going to stop the "Duty to Heart" series, are you?]