My eyes took time to adjust to my surroundings and I saw I was being hauled to a pool.
A pool in this school
I was surprised but this was not the time to be fascinated about anything.
I was dragged towards it and no matter how I struggled I could not break loose as they were too strong compared to my scrawny figure. I also realized there were some other students on their kneels near the pool.
Bullies!
My subconscious screamed.
Snickers were heard around and I tried turning my head only to be pushed to the cold tiled floor stained with water.
"Aww, it is the new girl. " someone clapped excitedly and I raised my head.
The person turned out to be a girl who had been shooting deadly glares at me ever since I stepped into the class.
With a smirk plastered on her face, she walked over to where I lay and she squatted so she could have eye contact with me. Suddenly her smirk turned into a smile, obviously a fake one before mimicking me. "I am Tora Aurora and it is nice to meet you all. " Laughter broke out from the others behind her and when it died down she looked back at me. "Sadly baby girl, it is a nightmare meeting you. " With her head arrogantly cocked to the side, she spat out in a venomous manner before pushing my head back to the hard floor and I felt a sharp pain shoot through my head.
I had not recovered when another person dragged me by my hair towards the other kids kneeling.
"Now shall we begin the initiation? " one of the bullies walked up to us and they all squealed in excitement. "I am taking this. " He pointed to a thin boy and I guessed they had beaten him as his face was bruised.
The other bullies began picking those they would torture like we were some kind of commodity. When the shuffling of feet ended, I realized no one was standing before me and I curiously and with caution raised my head. Truly no one was there and I felt all eyes on me. I raised my head higher and I saw that they were not looking at me instead they were all too focused on someone ahead of us.
Following the direction of their eyes, I saw what or rather who had grabbed their attention and I slumped back on the wet floor.
"Lim? What is wrong? Do you not fancy her? " The girl from earlier spoke and he just stared at me without uttering a single word. "I saw you gaping at her ever since she came here and I thought you took a liking to her.. " she paused as she shared a look with the others. "...well if you do not hate her that much, we could swap. " she jumped excitedly.
Breaking the eye contact, he rose from where he was seated and began approaching the door without sparing her a glance.
The area dropped in silence and he paused in his steps to look back at me.
"What are you waiting for? "
Confused, I pointed to myself. "Me?" I managed to utter but he was already out.
"Who else would he refer to? " A hard nudge came up behind me.
Scrambling up to my feet, I grabbed my wet bag and limbed towards the entrance.
"What is wrong with him? " someone muttered behind me as I ran out.
Finally out of that death hole, I exhaled heavily and when I had calmed a bit, I looked around for his retreating figure but the corridor was dark and eerily silent except for the muffled noises that came from behind the closed door.
Cringing silently, I walked out of the building and looked around trying to get at least a glimpse of him.
"TORA!" I heard someone shout my name from a distance and I snapped my head towards the direction. From where I stood I could make out a dark silhouette running towards me with a flashlight and without thinking I began running in the other direction in panic.
"I just past one problem that almost killed me. I do not need another. " I whispered to myself as I let my legs take control.
The person did not give up either as he was bent on catching up to me.
"TORA, WHAT THE... WHY ARE YOU RUNNING? " The person kept shouting.
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" I shouted back.
"ARE YOU IN YOUR RIGHT SENSES, TORA? IT IS ME, DIANE! "
At the mention of the name, I halted and whispered. "Diane?"
"Yeah." She breathed as she tried to catch her breath and I turned around swiftly, running towards her.
I did not give her time to speak as I pulled her in for a bone-crushing hug. "It is you. " I said in relief before breaking down.
"Woah...what happened to you? " She asked but I was too absorbed releasing my pent-up tears and she sighed as she patted my back in a comforting manner.
When I got calm, I pulled back from her.
"What happened to you? I was worried... " She gasped as she flashed the light to my face and I looked at her in confusion.
"Wha-"
"WHAT IN HELL HAPPENED TO YOU! " She screamed, cutting me off as she let go of my hand.
Chuckling nervously, I replied. "Nothing, just stre-"
"DO NOT FUCKING LIE TO ME. THAT IS BLOOD ON YOUR HEAD"
I raised my hand and touched the side where my head was bashed and I hissed in pain.
"TORA"
"BULLIES." I snapped. "I WAS BULLIED. "I continued and she winced. "Diane please, I do not have time for this. Can we just go home?" I said gently as I began to walk towards the direction she came from.
In a moment she was beside me, lighting the way with her torch. The sounds of cricket, frogs and sounds our feet made as they came in contact with dry leaves and branches, were heard enveloping the awkward silence. Each person trapped in his own thoughts.
"You should take a bath. I will get the first aid." Diane said as we took our shoes off.
"Hm." I replied feebly as I walked straight to the bathtub, filling it with hot water while I peeled the dirty uniform from my body.
I winced in pain as the water came in contact with my cold body before relaxing in it.
"Are you okay? " Diane's nervous voice came in after some minutes and I realized that I had fallen asleep.
"Yeah." my voice cracked as I finished up in the bathroom.
Wrapping myself in a clean towel I walked out to meet Diane by my bed. When she heard movements she raised her head and I could see pain and worry written all over her face.
Trudging towards her, I pulled her in for a hug and she immediately wrapped her arms around me.
"I am sorry. " She sobbed.
"No, it is not. You kno-"
"If only I had arrived earlie.. "
"This is not your fault."
"Even though I should not have shouted at you. "
"It is okay, Diane. " I patted her hair as she continued sobbing.
After a while, she brought her head up. "What am I doing? Come here let me dress your head. " she said as she brought me down to the bed.
When she was done, she brought dinner to me and I continued telling her not to feel guilty.
Around 11 pm, we finally retired to my bed with Diane hugging me around the waist like she was shielding me from danger.
Raising my head, I looked at her stressed face as she slept peacefully and I sighed softly before getting some sleep.
By the time I woke up, Diane had left for school and she left a note saying, she would tell Millie that I caught a fever and would not be in school. If it was any other day I would be angry but this time I was grateful. I spent the day eating, reading my novels, and sleeping till I got tired. I was reading a novel in the living room when I heard the door open.
"I made lunch. " I said, still focused on my novel.
"Yeah thanks, you have visitors. " she said as she walked inside and my head snapped up.
My gaze landed on Zara, Aaron and Sam who stood by the door with sober faces.
"Tora." Zara and Aaron said at the same time before running over to hug me while Sam just smiled apologetic manner.
"How are you doing? " Aaron asked looking at me all over and Zara slapped his head.
"How can you ask that when you can see obviously that she is hurt" she said glaring at him before turning back to me and looking at me with worry.
"I am fine. " I chuckled awkwardly but they were not hearing none of that.
Zara and Aaron continued fawning over me while Sam made sure they did not kill me with their actions.