The next morning, after the story ran, it became a viral sensation. Just like Heather anticipated, there were a lot of lawyers in expensive cars descending upon our small town. It felt like the Second Coming.
The view out of my window wasn't the greatest. Nevertheless, even I could tell that big things were happening. I heard a few voices in the hallway. If I closed my eyes and focused, I could hear them clearly.
Girl 1: "Did you watch the news last night?"
Girl 2: "Who the hell watches the news?"
Girl 1: "You missed it!"
Girl 2: "Missed what?"
Girl 1: "Why should I tell you? You're always going on about living your best life, or whatever."
Girl 2: "Don't be a bitch. Just tell me."
Girl 1: "Whatever. Anyway, you know Celeste VanWalters, right?"
Girl 2: "Oh, God. What did that stuck up fucker do this time?"
Girl 1: "I thought you liked Celeste."
Girl 2: "I partied with her once. She was fucking insane."
Girl 1: "Well then maybe you already know."
Girl 2: "Know what?"
Girl 1: "She's been going around beating up and raping a bunch of girls at this school and elsewhere."
Girl 2: "No fucking way! Seriously?!"
That conversation repeated itself several times with varying degrees of difference. One thing was common though, Celeste was even more infamous than I originally believed.
It was almost time for class. I didn't want to miss it because it was Calypso's seminar. I grabbed my bag and headed to the east wing of the Literature Building. Calypso's history seminar was always packed. I wanted to get a good seat.
"Well…this is surprising."
The entrance of the Literature building opened up into a wide atrium with a small but stylish modern water feature in the middle. The spiral water feature stood about 4-feet tall, the base of which was only about 2.5-feet. It wasn't large by any means, but it was just as opulent as anything you would find on this campus. Made of marble and gilded with gold, the feature attracted a lot of attention even from the most hoity-toity of the lot.
There are 3-levels to the literature building. The large lecture hall where Calypso held her seminars, took up the floor of the east wing of the building. There were 2 other lecture halls—in the north and west wings, respectively. The second and third floors had smaller classrooms.
The railings to each of the floors were packed with people, nearly to the point of overflowing. I could barely fit in the normally spacious entranceway. The concrete and glass railings looked about ready to fall over as students and staff alike looked towards the same direction.
The glass-domed ceiling refracted the bright light of the sun, creating a halo of light that surrounded the water feature in the center.
That, in and of itself, was not enough to grab everyone's attention. Was it beautiful? Sure. It was absolutely gorgeous. But after seeing it week after week for several years, you lose an appreciation for it.
Then why were so many people packaged in like a can of sardines? Simple. Sensationalism.
Standing before the water feature on a makeshift dais, and surrounded by various faculty members (including Calypso) was the headmistress, Mrs. Regina Cunningham.
She was a studious and serious looking woman with wide hips and small breasts. She might've been considered pretty once. But years of stern looks had etched deep grooves in her face that aged her beyond her 52-years.
Standing before the dais was a sea of reporters. There were big names like CNN, MSNBC, Fox, and so on. There were reporters from popular morning TV shows, even the New York Times had a reporter in the front row.
"This is fucking crazy."
⎡You're telling me!⎦
My eyes grew large. I glanced towards the dais only to find a strained smile on Calypso's face. She was partly glaring at me.
⎡Uhh…hey there Calypso. How're things?⎦
She rolled her eyes.
⎡Oh, just dandy! I was all prepared for my lecture on the misogynistic interpretations of Roman philosophy. Only to have my lecture canceled at the last moment. I get the added pleasure of being forced to stand up here as a form of solidarity with this school. Can you guess why all of this happened?⎦
Her voice in my mind was sickeningly sweet. It made a chill roll down my back. I knew better than to lie.
⎡Celeste?⎦
⎡Bingo! So, whose fault do you think this is?⎦
I felt self-conscious and responded before I had time to think of something better.
⎡Hey. The public has…⎦
⎡If you finish that thought—so help me God!⎦
I swallowed loudly. I felt like I was being reprimanded by my mom. Only this was worse because Calypso was normally so flighty and sweet.
⎡I'm not flighty! I'm eccentric!⎦
⎡Sure. Sure.⎦
The headmistress was going on about how this long-standing establishment has nurtured young women who became captains of industry and this or that. I stopped listening.
⎡You should listen when your elders are speaking, you know.⎦
⎡What's there to listen to? I already know everything that happened.⎦
⎡I'm not talking about Regina. I'm talking about me.⎦
⎡Oh! Well, of course you'd be an elder. You're like a million years…⎦
⎡I. Will. Murder. You. In. Your. Sleep.⎦
I couldn't help but laugh. I guess even Goddesses were self-conscious about their age. I wonder if I'd ever feel that way.
⎡If you live long enough, you will.⎦ She smiled smugly.
I stood there for a few minutes. I listened to what Mrs. Cunningham was saying. It wasn't anything of substance. Soon, she was finished and the reporters started peppering her with questions.
"When did the abuse start?"
"Did you see any signs of her behavior?"
"Do you know who leaked the story?"
"What is the school doing for the students abused?"
"Have any other students come forward?"
"How does it feel to shelter a predator?"
Their questions went on and on. Some were fielded by Mrs. Cunningham. Others were handled by select members of faculty.
The entire event lasted for nearly 2-hours. When it was all over, everyone except Mrs. Cunningham and Calypso looked worn out. The reporters left and in their place was an army of lawyers. They descended on the dais with mountains of paperwork.
It looked like the headmistress was in for a long night.
Sucks to be her.
⎡Listen. I know you've been through a lot, kiddo. But don't be like that.⎦
Hearing Calypso's voice in my mind made me grind my teeth. I couldn't help it. The headmistress knew everything that went on on her campus. She had to know about all the abuse I endured. She had to have an idea about all of the other girls Celeste had violated. I don't know if she didn't care or was just afraid to do anything about it. But in the end, none of that mattered. She stood on the side just like the rest of them.
They were all like that. They all pretended they didn't see the evil around them for their own benefit. Everyone at this school was the worst type of human being. They'd trample over their neighbor if it gave them a better stock option. I hated them.
I. Hated. Them. All.
At that moment, my body shook. I felt like my wires were suddenly cut and I lost full control over my thoughts and actions. My body was on fire. I felt like I would burn alive if I didn't do something about this raging black inferno inside.
I looked at Regina Cunningham. No honorifics for that bitch.
She'd be my first victim. I'd start by ripping her nails from each finger. Then I'd move on to slowly bleed her. I'd break every bone and shove jagged rocks inside of her.
She'd turn into a beautiful mess and beg me for death. Only when she truly repented would I free her from this world.
Yeah, seeing her bloodied image only made me want to want to ruin her.
I don't care how many people are around. I'd kill them all if they got in my way. I had the power to do that now.
Yeah. Let's start with that stern bitch of a headmistress.
As if she felt my bloodlust, her body suddenly spasmed, and she glanced at me. There was fear in her eyes that only made me get a hard-on (metaphorically).
I couldn't wait! I headed towards the dais. I felt unstoppable.