The whole cafeteria was looking at me. Eva was next to me immediately after I screamed. I was stock-still staring at the bag that laid on the ground a few feet away from me. When Eva looked inside the bag, she gasped. Her breathing was labored, so was mine.
Who did this to me....Who does such things to people.....?
There were dead rats squished, with blood spattered all over the bag. For a brief moment I could see, all my books were crimson. I could feel the anxiety roll over me. I had no idea how to handle such situations.
Eva hugged me. "Its okay, Grace. Please don't cry. I am with you. Don't cry". She wiped my tears that were flowing without my consent.
"I....I don't know..who...who did this Ev?", I sobbed heavily.
"Shhh. Its okay ,Grace. We will find that shithole okay. Please don't cry ", Eva was hugging me and was saying things to calm me down. After a few minutes, I could breathe normally, allowing my mind to take all the information.
I might find some evidence if I looked into my bag but I could barely hold myself from throwing up.
"What do we do?", I asked her.
"Go freshen up. I will take the bag to the principal office"
I looked at her with wide eyes. Any normal person would want this to be intimated to the management, but to that someone who did this, it was scratching their ego and that means I would have to face more such incidents.
I opened my mouth to protest before Eva cut me off, "I know what you are thinking but it is some serious issue considering that vindictive bastard pulled off something like this. What happens if you remain silent?You're gonna let them walk over you? If you can't protect yourself atleast let me. Can't you see no one cares about you but me?", she shouted at the top of her voice.
It was at that moment, I actually noticed my surroundings. Every pair of eyes on the cafeteria were on Eva, some were smirking, some were concerned --truly or for this week gossip and even some showed pity but none stepped forward to ask why I screamed like a mad person.
To them I was just an attention seeking nerd, who was supposed to be bullied for her jerkish behavior. Eva jerked off, yanking the bag from the floor and taking steady strides towards the principal office.
After collecting myself, I trudged inside the bathroom. I was shocked when I looked at the mirror. Tears stained on my cheek, my hair was mess, my dress was scrunched and my eyes were puffed and duller than usual. I loathed myself looking at the mirror. Being a victim of verbal attack was something, undergoing such situations were difficult.
My eyes welled up again thinking about my situation. Suddenly, the door opened revealing Violet and her friends entering the bathroom. I blankly stared at her through the mirror. She caught my eyes, but she stood still in front of the stall.
One of Violet's friends aka Crystal's cousin spoke, "Violet your sister is crying here". She looked at me mockingly raising one of her eyebrows, "Did anyone stealyour candy?". She teased me with that wicked smile. My chest tightened at her words. All they could see was how I looked,not even had empathy to hear my part.
Worst thing was Violet, my very own sister, was still standing there without any expression, encouraging her friend to engage at me.
Am I really that bad that my sister doesn't have any empathy, not even as a stranger or is it how she was and I didn't see this all this time?
More tears welled up at my already dried eyes.
Never gonna give them the comfort of cryinginfrontof them.
I ran towards the library wiping my tears with my shirt. I really wished Eva was there with me. When I reached the library I was out of breathe. I slowly moved into the literature isle where nobody bothers to enter.
My phone pinged indicating a new message."Where are you?", Eva texted me.
"At the library", I shut my phone not even bothering for a reply.
After five minutes, Eva entered the isle with the worried look. When she looked at my horrible state, she hugged me tightly. "Don't worry, Grace. I took care of it. Don't cry. I am here for you."
Hearing those words from my friend squeezed my heart. My very own family was disgusted byme.
"Thanks Eva", I told her with a sigh wiping my tears.
"Its okay, silly. Thats what are friends for", she said with a smile on her face.
I wasn't gonna make her mad by telling about my little encounter with my sister at the bathroom. It was my problem, my very own.
"Come. Lets leave", Eva said pulling me with her out of the isle.
We went to the parking lot and I saw Jordan playing soccer. Worst thing, he made eye contact with me. My heart started beating fast when I saw Jordan striding towards me with a furious face.
I pulled Eva, who was shocked by my sudden action. We turned around and started walking towards the gate. Eva gave me a questioning look.
"Jordan saw us and he is following. I don't want to face him now and bother him with my burden", I murmured while we were walking fast.
"GRACE ! ",Shit.Jordan shouted from the distance jogging towards us.
"Run", I clutched her hand and started sprinting.
"GRACE !", Jordan was shouting and started running.
"I don't think its a good idea. He will definitely follow you home", Eva said with a heave.
"I can't face him now. Can you manage him? Tell him I am not feeling well or something and can't talk to him. Please, Eva. Please."
"Okay. I will manage"
"Thank you. I will wait in the cafe around the corner."
She nodded and walked towards Jordan. Without a glance, I started walking towards cafe. Telling Jordan about the problem wasn't a problem but how Jordan reacts was. He was a person who acted on emotions under constraint.
Breaking a boy's finger just for mocking at me was more than enough to prove that. I would tell him but not in the heat of the moment but when I wrap my mind around the things happening to me.
After 15 minutes, Eva entered the cafe and gave me a little smile, "I managed. Yeah, I told him that you were tired due to her periods. That was the best I could come up at the moment. He didnt believe me but let you alone for the moment".
"Thanks Eva"
"Lets go"
After reaching home, Eva and I sat on the couch without uttering a word and staring at the wall blankly. Suddenly, as if waking from a dream, Eva turned towards me.
"Do you want something to eat? Ice cream?"
Eating was the last thing I wanted, but I was worried for Eva.
"Okay", I shot her a smile.
"How did they allow us home?", I asked her taking the first bite of the ice cream. "I showed them the bag, wrote a complaint and asked for permission saying you aren't feeling well", she said shrugging. An hour went by, my body and mind became totally drained.
" I am sleepy", I said yawning.
Eva looked at me and mumbled "Okay. Please keep the door open"
I gave her an assuring smile and nodded. Ever since I shared my suicidal thoughts and things I had done to myself, Eva became over protective of me and started treating me like broken doll.
I went to my bedroom upstairs and sunk into my bed, sleep overpowering my tired body and brain.
I was standing in the middle of a graveyard. As far as I could see there were grave gravestones and spooky trees with fallen leaves around them. My heart started beating fast. I felt like throwing up and my feet was buried in the ground. My knees went weak when I looked around to find me alone in the graveyard with nothing but moonlight guiding me.
"Hello"
Silence..
My alertness perked when I felt someone was watching me and as time passed by the smoke around me started to thicken. I could sense panic attack crawling back. To my horrified state, I could hear crows cawing in the distance.
Oh my god .please...please not again.
I started taking careful steps forward hoping I could find a way out.
When the leaves crunched under my barefoot, the hair one my neck stood still. I didn't know what was worst; the feeling that someone was watching from the dark or I was lost in this unknown place defenseless.
When I took another step towards that direction the wind blew violently across me. The wind was so strong pushing me a few steps back and my hair was all over my face. I got the unsettled feeling at pit of my stomach and my hearing senses where heightened due to the adrenaline rush.
Slowly I took another step towards that direction; my heart stopped. I heard crunching of leaves behind me. I stopped breathing. I was standing still, eyes tightly shut hoping to wake up from this dream. When I didn't hear anything again I opened my eyes to come face to face with the light.
I was thrown across the graveyard with such a sheer force that I could feel breath leaving my lungs andexcruciating pain in my bones
When I was about to hit the ground I saw it again; the cloak.
