~Blink~
"Good morning, class," Mrs. Clara's voice cut through the background noise as she entered the room, her presence commanding immediate attention.
Kara groaned softly, lifting her head from where it rested on her desk, her movements sluggish. "Why was the weekend so short?" she muttered, her voice thick with lingering exhaustion. Her green eyes blinked blearily as she stretched, clearly not ready to face the new week.
Tara sat beside her, quiet, her gaze fixed on something far beyond the classroom window. The trees swayed gently outside, their leaves whispering secrets to the wind. But Tara wasn't paying attention to them. Her mind was elsewhere, far removed from the present.
"Tara?" Kara nudged her, her voice cutting through the fog of Tara's thoughts. "What's wrong?"
Tara blinked, turning to face her sister, and sighed. "I'm hungry," she admitted, her tone soft but laced with frustration. "I didn't eat breakfast. I woke up late, and now I can't stop thinking about food."
Kara chuckled, her laugh light and teasing. "Of course, you'd say that. Well, good luck holding out till break."
Tara narrowed her eyes at her sister, though a small smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. "Easy for you to say. You're not starving."
"Not so fast," Kara replied, leaning in conspiratorially. "I'm having biology practicals during break. Can you believe that? On a Monday morning! The teacher's insane. Who schedules a practical at the start of the week?"
Tara's smirk grew, turning into a quiet laugh. "Good luck with that, sis. I'll be enjoying my meal while you're dissecting frogs or whatever horror they've got lined up for you."
Before Kara could reply, Mrs. Clara's sharp voice cut through their banter. "Decorum, class!"
*****
The bell rang shrilly, signaling the start of the break period.
Tara couldn't hide her relief. A wide smile spread across her face as she stood, grabbing her bag with newfound energy. The thought of food filled her with anticipation, her earlier hunger now a roaring beast demanding satisfaction.
Kara, on the other hand, groaned audibly, her shoulders slumping as she prepared to head toward the biology lab. "Tara, do me a favor," she said, her voice tinged with resignation. "Grab something for me from the cafeteria, will you? I don't think I'll have time to grab anything."
"Got it," Tara replied, watching her sister shuffle off toward the lab with a resigned expression.
Tara scanned the classroom. Small groups of students had formed, talking or heading out together. She spotted Lucas leaving for the biology lab, his expression calm and unreadable. She turned slightly and saw Roman resting his head on his desk, his messy hair falling over his face.
For a moment, their eyes met. Roman looked up, his honey-caramel brown eyes catching the light just enough to glimmer. He smiled softly, almost as though he had been expecting her gaze. Tara felt her cheeks warm involuntarily and quickly rolled her eyes, turning away before heading out. Behind her, Roman smiled to himself, unbothered by her reaction.
The cafeteria was a cacophony of noise, the clatter of trays and the buzz of conversations blending into a chaotic symphony. Tara wasted no time. Her hunger had taken full control of her actions, and she ate with an intensity that drew the attention of those around her.
"Is she okay?" one girl whispered, her voice tinged with concern.
"She's eating like she hasn't seen food in weeks," another added, her tone dripping with judgment.
But Tara didn't care. Her focus was singular, and she devoured her meal with no regard for the whispers around her. When she was done, she wiped her mouth delicately with a napkin, her composure returning as if the ravenous display had never happened. She even managed a small, contented smile, the light returning to her green eyes.
She picked up a snack for Kara and began walking back toward the classroom. Her path took her past the old art room, its door slightly ajar. The room had long been abandoned, its once-vibrant walls now faded and cracked with age.
*****
"Ugh!" Tara stumbled forward as a sharp pain shot through her shoulder. Someone had bumped into her with enough force to make her stagger. She turned around, rubbing her sore shoulder, and her heart sank - Drake.
His smirk was infuriating, his eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and malice.
"Going somewhere?" he asked, his tone mocking. "That's too bad because we want to play with you."
Tara's stomach churned as panic began to set in. She stepped back instinctively, her voice trembling as she pleaded, "Leave me alone. Please. I'm begging you."
Drake ignored her, his smirk widening. He signaled to his minions, Marcus and Vanessa, who flanked her on either side. They grabbed her arms roughly, their grip like iron.
Tara struggled, her heart racing as fear clawed at her throat. "Let me go!" she cried, her voice breaking.
They dragged her into the old art room, the air inside thick with dust and the stale scent of abandonment. The room was dimly lit, the sunlight barely piercing through the grime-coated windows.
Drake stepped forward, his expression darkening. "You humiliated me last time," he spat, his voice venomous. "Do you have any idea what I went through because of that bastard who came to your rescue? You're going to pay for that."
Tara's fear gave way to a flicker of anger. "How is that my fault?" she demanded, her voice trembling but defiant. "How is it my fault?"
Drake's eyes narrowed, his pride clearly wounded by her defiance. Without warning, he slapped her hard across the face. The force of the blow sent her head snapping to the side, her hair falling across her face as pain exploded in her cheek.
"Who do you think you are?" Drake snarled, his voice low and dangerous.
Vanessa stepped forward, her smirk cruel. "I'll handle her," she said, her tone laced with malice.
What followed was chaos. Vanessa tore at Tara's uniform, kicking her repeatedly in her stomach. Tara tried to fight back, but her hands were tied, and the pain was overwhelming. Each blow left her weaker, her cries of pain echoing in the dark, empty room.
When they were done, Vanessa sneered down at her. "That should teach you a lesson," she said coldly before locking the door behind her as they left.
Tara lay crumpled on the floor, her body trembling from the pain. Her cheek throbbed where Drake had slapped her, and her stomach ached from Vanessa's relentless kicks. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to catch her breath, her sobs quiet and broken.
She spotted a sharp object in the dim light and crawled toward it, her movements slow and agonized. Her hands trembled as she tried to cut the ropes binding her wrists. In her desperation, she accidentally cut herself, the sharp sting adding to her misery. But she didn't stop.
Finally, the ropes fell away, and she collapsed, her body too weak to hold itself upright.
The room was suffocatingly dark, and the silence was deafening. Memories of past traumas flooded her mind, the faces of those who had hurt her blending into a nightmarish blur. She crawled toward the door, her fingers weakly tapping against it.
"Please," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her tears fell freely, staining her bruised cheeks. "Please let me out..."
Her once-bright green eyes were dull, the light in them extinguished by pain and fear. Tara curled up against the door, her sobs echoing in the empty, lifeless room, her hope flickering like a dying flame in the darkness.