I ran swiftly, clutching my bag tightly, as a group of tall men chased after me relentlessly. There were more than two people pursuing me. Glancing back briefly, I was taken aback when a stout man called out my name with anger.
"Caviar! You foolish girl!"
I quickened my pace as much as I could. The bag in my arms held precious food, and I was determined not to let them take it away from me. No way. What I had in my possession was mine.
To the left of the road, I noticed a dark passageway filled with large barrels. Without hesitation, I darted into it, seeking refuge in the corridor. Loud footsteps echoed at the end of the hall. The voice of Fat Boston pierced the air once again.
"Where did she run off to?" Boston asked his henchmen. I could see him standing with his hands on his hips from my hiding spot.
Ronan the Albino pointed towards the hall I had entered. He speculated, "Could she have gone in there?"
Boston fell silent for a moment. He then proceeded into the hall, but abruptly widened his eyes and halted his steps.
"What's the matter?" Nigel, the man in black, inquired, "Is there a problem?"
"We need to get out of here quickly. This place isn't safe," Boston expressed concern. I peered out, and noticed him looking up the hall. "Leave the foolish girl be."
They began to depart from the hall. Slowly, I emerged from my hiding place, wearing a triumphant smile as I proudly retrieved the warm bread from my bag. Just as I was about to savor the raisin-studded bread, my spirits were dampened by the sight of a pile of lifeless bodies hanging, their forms brutally slashed.
I needed to get out of there swiftly.
---------------
I detest it when people bombard me with questions. Just like now. All eyes were fixed on me, filled with curiosity. My desk was surrounded by these hypocrites.
"You were really down that hall?" someone asked. I didn't know his name.
"Yeah, I was in that alley. Why?" I replied.
They exchanged glances. "Really? Did you see the corpse?"
"Yes, it was quite the thrilling news, you know!"
I clucked my tongue. Why did it have to be so noisy?
"Yeah, I saw it. Don't be so nosy!" I snapped. I then inserted the earphones into my ears and covered my head with the hoodie. The chattering of people no longer penetrated my beautiful ears; now all I could hear was rock music.
I felt people beginning to distance themselves from me. I looked up, feeling a shiver down my spine as I saw Boston and his cronies standing at the front of the class. The stout man gazed at me mockingly, while his men prepared themselves to strike. It was over.
"So, you were really hiding there?" Boston sneered. He advanced towards me, while the other students backed away in fear. Goodness, it seemed that the oppressive atmosphere wasn't only affecting me.
"Don't ask so many questions!" I retorted. Boston let out a dry chuckle and grabbed my hand. "Give me back my bread, you silly girl!"
I swiftly delivered a forceful kick to his vital organs. Boston stepped back slightly from the impact, and I immediately followed up with a powerful kick to his chest.
"Bastard!" he exclaimed emotionally. He glanced at his henchmen, and within seconds, chaos erupted in the classroom.
I leaped from one table to another, launching an attack on Ronan, who seemed eager to play with me. He grabbed one of my legs, and without
thinking, I struck him hard on the forehead with my fist. Nigel, the man in black, hurled objects at me with force, causing intense pain in my eyes. Without mercy, I retaliated by throwing objects back at him one after another. Nigel screamed in anger as my aim hit his nose.
Boston also joined the fray. I prepared myself to jump, but some of the kids in my class panicked and disrupted my calculations. As a result, my body awkwardly collided with the floor. Ronan and Nigel immediately seized the opportunity, grasping both of my hands, while Fat Boston menacingly approached me.
God, I didn't want to die now.
"That's enough playing, you silly girl," Boston said, clenching his fist, "let's see what punishment I'll deliver."
"You can't punish me, damn it!"
"What did you say?"
Without wasting any time, I swiftly rolled my body back and delivered a swift kick to Boston. His grip on my hand vanished, and I seized the opportunity to quickly escape the classroom. Boston still wanted to chase me with his flushed face, but Mr. Gray intervened. I giggled, paying no mind to Mr. Gray's calls for me to stop.
I kept walking from there. Ah, I slapped my forehead. My bag was left behind. However, it seemed I couldn't go back just yet. It would be dreadful if I were caught and subjected to hours of pointless rambling by Mr. Gray. Or worse, if Boston and his accomplices caught me.
No.
My feet led me to the field behind the school. The scent of damp earth filled the air as I ventured further away from the school building. The cloudy sky above began to drizzle. I halted my steps when I noticed a figure standing in the distance. Squinting my eyes, the figure slowly approached me. I saw rocks scattered in their direction. Without hesitation, I sprinted away from the figure.
A heated stone struck my shoulder. I immediately turned around, not expecting a strange-masked person attempting to grab hold of me. They were half-naked, clad in dirty, baggy pants. In their hands, they held a bag of stones with burning coals.
I swiftly picked up a piece of wood I found and hurled it at the back of their neck. The figure fell onto their arm, landing on the damp ground. Another hand threw another rock at me. I swiftly dodged it and stomped on their chest with all my might. The figure groaned in pain and attempted to retaliate, but I mercilessly stomped on their chest again. The figure grew weaker, but I stomped on them once more. There was no more resistance until, finally, I removed their peculiar mask.
"Mr. Gray? What are you doing?!" I never expected it. The counseling teacher stared at me blankly. His eyes seemed utterly relieved. But why?
"Don't go North," he rasped. I grabbed the mask, furrowing my brow. "What do you mean?"
Mr. Gray coughed, weakly pointing towards the mask in my hand. "That mask..."
"What are you trying to say?!" I impatiently exclaimed, unintentionally stepping on his chest again.
Mr. Gray's gaze gradually faded. He then lost consciousness in a pitiful state. I quickly stepped away from him, stealing one last glance. Wasn't Mr. Gray at school, comforting Fat Boston? Then why was Mr. Gray here too?
Something was amiss.
No. I couldn't leave this person here. I had to hide them, at least until I could figure out what was happening. []