Chapter 4 – Ten Years Ago
Scarlett, 16 years old – 2015
The morning cold bites my skin as I stand frozen in front of the school gates. My heart beats too fast, my throat tightens. The air around me feels heavy, as if the building itself is trying to swallow me whole.
I lower my gaze to my worn-out " not white anymore " sneakers and adjust my oversized hoodie, trying to hide my body as much as possible. My long curly black hair falls in unruly strands around my round and chubby face. I know what others see when they look at me: a fat girl, insignificant, an easy target. THEIR TARGET...
Like every morning, I always pray to be invisible.
But prayers are never enough.
— Hey, bestie!
A sickly sweet voice makes me jump. its was Sharon.
Before I can even look up, a thin, cold arm wraps around my shoulders. The sugary / stawberry scent of her perfume makes me nauseous. I already know what's coming. I always do...
— We're going to the music club studio as usual, right? Liam, Jason, and Lana are waiting for us!
It's not a question. It's never a question.
I want to say no, to run away, to disappear. But my legs won't move. My whole body is paralyzed by a fear that has been eating me alive for months. Sharon grips me tighter, dragging me along without giving me a chance to escape.
In the hallways, I hear nothing but the blood rushing in my ears. Everyone knows. Everyone sees. But no one ever does anything.
When Sharon pushes open the door to the studio, my stomach clenches.
Lana is the first to speak, a cruel smile on her lips.
— Look who's here... our favorite panda!
Laughter erupts in the room, sharp as knives.
Sharon shoves me forward. My heavy body collapses onto the hard floor. My palms burn from the impact. Before I can react, a sharp kick lands on my ribs.
— Did you think we forgot about you? Lana sneers, kicking me again.
I bite my lip to keep from screaming. I know that making a sound will only make things worse.
Jason stands there, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. Silent. He doesn't laugh. He doesn't speak. But he doesn't stop them either.
Then comes Liam. My breath catches when I see him approach. I want to believe he'll stop Lana. That he'll say something. But instead, he chuckles softly… and then I feel it. Something warm running down my body.
That day i promised myself to never forgive what liam did to me .
Humiliation. Complete and total.
Laughter fills the room, distorted, monstrous.
Even monsters are better ...
This type of human-kind : sharon liam lana and even jason ... are the monsters that we need to fear .
I close my eyes.
I tell myself that if I stay still, if I pretend I'm not here… maybe they'll finally leave me alone.
Maybe one day, I'll disappear for good.
or maybe not ...