Chapter One: School

I opened my eyes to pitch-black darkness staring at me with an enticing lull. I adjusted my head against the flat of my forearms while straightening my back. Relief flooded my senses as a particular configuration hit the jackpot.

Quiet murmurs spreading around me attracted my attention.

I peeped forward and came face-to-face with white linen. If I focused, I could easily spot the strands that weren’t ironed properly. I soon realized the crumpled shirt in front of me wasn’t ironed at all.

Turning to the left blinded me with glaring sunlight. The prickling brightness made me curl back up in my arms.

Glancing away with rapid blinks, I noted the row of similar-dressed classmates mumbling about themselves. They seemed slightly biased in my direction. I wondered why. I wondered what class I was in as well.

Math, History? My mind raced to gauge the answer.

“Larken, stand up please.” A feminine voice called out followed immediately with an unnecessary wave of laughter.

I zipped my hand from under the chin and wiped off any hints of drool smeared across my face. The wetness flushing across my forearm alerted me to be precise.

I rubbed my face a few more times. “Larken? You awake?” The professor called once more.

“Yes Ma’am.” I yelled back in a hurry. Certain I had wiped off the worst of the thick liquid, I bolted to my feet. The chair under my knee skidded back a few centimetres, shrilling against the ground.

I winced lightly.

My gaze landed on Ms. Bonnie’s long face which mirrored my expression. “Slow down there.” She admonished with pursed lips.

“What is it, ma’am?” I asked, hoping to change the subject back. The plump, brunette woman stared down at me from the top of her wary brown eyes.

She adjusted her formal skirt lazily before turning towards the huge display mounted on the front wall.

“Tell me the scientific name of this compound.” She ordered in a loud tone. Chemistry class it is.

I found her loud tone unnecessary. The monitor screen was filled with scribble notes, but a carbon compound stood out starkly amongst the doodles.

The prompted compound was fairly recognizable. I may have, allegedly, searched online for ways to make it.

2,4,6-trinitrotoluene. Or for the uninitiated, TNT. Knowing the correct answer put me in a dilemma. I hated answering questions.

‘Hey, you trying to be a smart ass? Or you trying to rat us out to the teacher by being a goodie two shoes?’ Words echoed through my memories. Visions of nothingness complimented the sound. Considering I don’t remember much, I wasn’t in good shape.

My gaze instinctively landed on the second bench in the row to my right. A short, spiky haired guy was already staring hard at me. Mirth played across his lips. Our gazes met consequentially. The boy perked up with widened eyes.

James Barly, the primary leader of my bullies.

He smiled crookedly at me and flashed me a set of pearly whites. The gesture mocked me, daring me to answer the question. At my own risk, of course.

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I cursed my gut. The boy’s rabid smile moved to confirm my schedule for the afternoon. I shouldn’t even have looked.

The teacher stood impatiently while tapping her forearm. Her face expected still expected an answer.

Making brief eye-contact, I quickly lowered my gaze.

“I don’t know, ma’am.” I whispered to the class.

The boy in front of me cackled with supressed laughter. Ms. Bonnie moved to strain her ears while scowling fiercely. “Speak up, Mr. Stelle.” She yelled out.

If I rounded a gaze across the classroom right now, I’d surely find a wave of snide smiles playing across each of their faces.

“I don’t know.” I reiterated. This time, loudly enough for the teacher to hear. My gaze landed on the small pool of saliva slowly dripping from the desk’s rough surface. I turned to my shirt, only to find a swaddling link of saliva stretching across it.

I closed my eyes in resignation. My punishment was confirmed anyway.

“Larken. Detention at 3. And for Christ’s sake, wipe that muck off your shirt.” She yelled angrily. Another wave of laughter spread throughout the classroom.

With an audible sigh, I sat back down. I cast a lone eye to my left. The sun was glaring loudly across the clear blue sky.

Glancing at the digital watch strapped on my wrist, I read the time as 12:10.

4 more hours of pain. I gathered my head in my arms where the welcoming darkness awaited me once more.

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The ragged breaths leaving my own nose sound forced. Pain spread through my gut like fire. A cool breeze tickled my arched back.

“You. Why did you look at me, you disgusting prick?” James complained poisonously. “What if the teacher misunderstood and lumped me with you?” A flying fist sent me doubling down on my stomach.

I rested my knee against the fiery asphalt. Pained huffs of breath echoed through the desolate alley. I didn’t say anything. Talking only made it worse.

“Answer me, damn it.” He launched a swift kick. The outsole of the school’s standard leather shoe landed straight up my sternum. The resulting impulse turned me over as I fell to the ground.

I wheezed raspily glazing over the crystal blue sky. I was also sure I screamed just now. ‘I’m screwed’.

No one would hear me, of course. This was an abandoned spot lying at the far side of the school’s main building.

“Did you just fudging scream?” A second, higher-pitched voice erupted behind Zeke.

From my periphery, I spotted a short, blonde guy glaring madly at me. His chubby gut vibrated under his tight shirt as he strode towards me. The guy’s black eyes held anger and contempt. But more than anything, I could see the heavy hints of glee.

Zeke Barr, the second apple of my eye.

He lifted his right leg menacingly before bringing it crushing back down on my chest. My eyes bulged in their sockets as the strike landed. Painful breath hitched in my throat.

The guy pressed further down. “Why did you scream, you dimwit?” He screamed across my face. Now, I couldn’t answer if I tried to.

Darkness seeped through my vision. I wheezed beggingly, trying to pull a puff of breath.

A warm liquid oozed from my mouth, and I couldn’t tell if it was blood, spit, or vomit. Maybe a sick solution of all three.

With a loud click of his tongue, Zeke lifted his foot. I drank the air greedily. Rampant dry heaves plagued my ragged breaths. My arm raised involuntarily before landing softly on my sternum. It moved to caress the tender bone and muscles.

Loud steps echoed forward through the alley. I lamely braced myself against impact.

“How pathetic.” Remarked James with satisfaction. I heard him spit in disgust. The flying projectile landed right beside me. Morbid gratitude filled me. Usually, I wasn’t so lucky.

I laid down on the ground in squealing pain. The receding footsteps soothed me, if only by the knowledge that no more was yet to come. My trembling heart slowly settled down. A heavy silence set across the alleyway. Almost mocking my pitiable situation.

With wobbly arms, I pushed myself up. My legs buckled under the unassumed weight. I caught the blue cement wall hurriedly lest my limbs give in.

I exited the alley while supporting myself against the coarse wall. I set course for the Nurse’s Office.

Ironically, the other building that made up the alley was the Nurse’s Office. It‘s usually empty.

I stumbled across the ground, barely reaching its faded brown walls.

The building itself was quite small with only a single floor to its name.

The brown door flew open, revealing pristine white walls and a couple of beds lined by decorative curtains. A small desk sat to the far end of the room bordering the window. An empty chair stood by its side.

The nurses didn’t care one bit about the student’s safety. For all the ails that could plague the student, the idiotic nurse could only offer two solutions. Glucose or exceedingly inspiring phrase, ‘Just sleep it off’. I pity the professors who taught her medicine.

I rounded to the ‘spares’ cabinet sitting inconspicuously beside the nurse’s desk. Opening the dusty brown drawer, I find a couple of glossy white spare uniforms.

No pants. I sigh in resignation. My sister’s going to have some words to say tonight.