Chapter 1

Authors Note: Don’t hate me for writing an Edward Scissorhands movie, I watched it again last night and was struck by plot lightning. Thunder rumbled the inner planes of my mind and this is what the storm brought in. Hope you like it…

Authors Note 2: Her name is pronounced Kay (like O-kay) la. (Sound of Music: la, la, la)

Christmas had fallen over their small town once again, the weather was cold, yet not chilly enough to halt the growth of shrubbery or grass that grew to exactly two inches before it was cut.

It was a neighborhood where nothing went wrong and everything was perfect. There was only one flaw in the community, she had learned about it at school; they were a utopian society. Perfection was impossible, that’s why the rest of the world had no idea they existed. Eventually they’d cease to exist, but what did she care, she’d be long gone before that day came.

She had grown up around tales of Edward Scissorhands, neighbors still whispered about the murder of ‘poor’ Jim. Her grandmother left more than stories behind, the reputation Kim passed down kept memories alive better than any photo-album. The school she attended had pictures of Jim in all the halls, his family had moved away to the neighborhood across town.

“Kai?” she heard someone whisper her name in the crowded hall, “Yeah, that’s her. The strange one.”

Christmas was the worst time of year for Kai, everyone brought up memories and competition over whom threw the better party. Sixteen years ago Peg, her great-grandmother, had taken pity upon the recluse who lived up on the ‘haunted’ hill. She had launched Edward into their midst with success, yet it became blaringly obvious that he didn’t belong.

Kim told her the story every year in place of the traditional ‘Night Before Christmas’ and if truth be told Kai liked Edward better than Santa Claus. At least Edward existed, Santa was just a myth, though no one had dared to hunt Claus down.

Kai opened her locker and checked her reflection in a small mirror, her long back hair was wavy, even that was different from her friends. They had unusually colored hair; blonde, light brown, orange, red… hers was plain. Theirs was straight, how it should be, Kai’s was a mass of slight curls that refused to stay straight even under extreme duress.

She had long since given up trying to be normal, she didn’t dress in the bright colors of her peers, but dark colors that better fitted her personality. Parties and social functions weren’t on her priority list, she much preferred to sit in her room and write.

“I bought a new dress yesterday,” Jenny Monroe simpered looking seductively into her boyfriend James’ eyes, “Want me to model it for you later?”

“Of course, babe.” James placed a strand of hair behind her ear, “Won’t your mother mind, we’ll need to have the house clear, after I see the dress…” he whispered something in her ear that was lost when Kai closed the door loudly.

“Oh, it's you.” Jenny raked a scathing glare from the tips of Kai’s black shoes to the neckline of her crimson red shirt, “Merry Christmas.” The last was said only for propriety’s sake, the one thing they enforced was the courtesy of politeness.

Kaila declined to answer in kind, “Yes, it's me. Now if you’d kindly move, preferably into a broom closet, I’d like to make my way to class.”

Jenny was Joyce Monroe’s daughter and it showed not only in appearance, but also in their personalities. Both were unashamedly snobbish, Jenny led a gaggle of conformed girls throughout the school as if they owned the place. Jenny wasn’t afraid to use people for her personalized agenda, nor did she have any qualms over stepping on friends to achieve a higher position of power.

She was dating James McNally, the star quarterback of the football team and the cutest guy in school. Even Kai had liked him at one point, but her ‘blonde, blue eyes’ stage had long since past.

Jenny backed James against the lockers so a way through the corridor was established, “You’ll get yours, Kai, just wait. You’ll end up the same as Kim did.”

”Dead?” she refused to let her grief show, “We all do eventually, Jen. Stock up on the cosmetics, you’re going to need them.”

Kaila didn’t care anymore, this was the year she’d prove to herself whether Kim’s story had been true. The mansion still stood despite several town meetings in which they debated over burning it down.

She could picture him standing desolately on the balcony of a dilapidated room watching the world pass him by. There was a reason she had taken all of the medical and sewing courses, she hoped that eventually she’d be able to help him gain real hands.

Though she didn’t want to change him, personality wise, she couldn’t imagine how difficult life was for him. He wasn’t able to eat properly, or read, what did he do to pass the time? All she had were stories, there could have been fabrications or embellishments added.

Kim had warned her repeatedly not to go to the mansion, if Edward were to be found the townspeople would execute him. Kai didn’t plan on being foolish enough to get caught, this was her last year of high-school, kids often took days off without fear of repercussion. Tomorrow would be the day, carpe diem, as they were taught, she could think of no better way.