Kill. Me. Now, I think dully as I shudder in the freezing classroom. Even though it's only been about 20 minutes, it feels like I've been at school for an eternity. Math is always boring for me, even though it's my best subject. However, today it seems to be passing even slower than usual. Figures, when something is going on after school.
As everyone else is hunched over their desks taking notes and figuring out equations, I'm staring out the window blankly. The sun is shining annoyingly brightly, but none of its warm rays can penetrate the confinements of this prison. In my head, I beg the school bell to ring so I can leave this blasted place. As expected, it doesn't. It's not due to for another God knows how long.
Sighing, I settle in for a long day.
The rest of the day passed even slower than math class, if possible. During lunch, I only picked at my food, my knotted stomach unable to handle anything. Some kids were a little concerned for me, but they left be alone after I glared at them, snapping I was fine. I mean, I felt a little bad, but they could never understand.
It is last period now, and I am literally on the edge of my seat. I hear my heart beat along with the clock on the wall, ticking away my time to freedom. I feel years, centuries pass as I half stand-sit on my chair with anticipation filling kids around me must think I'm crazy, but at this point, I don't care.
The bell (at last) rings, and before it's even stopped, I'm out of the classroom. I'm the first one in the halls, so I get to my locker easily. Practically throwing my books in, I grab my bag and dash down the hall. My heart takes a great leap as I see the front doors wide open, a light breeze drifting through. It will take me ten minutes to get home at a sprint. So in ten minutes, I will finally learn the truth about me and my family. About why Mrs. Zhao, the crazy old hag, is my legal guardian. About my parents and inheritance. Excitement fills my whole body.
I'm just about to pass the front doors when a dark shadow crosses in front of them, blocking out the sun. I look up to see the principal, , staring down at me. It takes my entire being not to curse him for standing in the way.
"Why hello there, Mayumi. And why are you in such a rush?"
"No reason, ," biting back my pure fury at his nosiness. "Just want to get home."
"I hope it's not for another fight," he eyes me sternly. Behind me I can hear the whole mass of kids storming for the front door, happy for the weekend.
"Of course not, sir, I would just like to leave." I mumble quickly.
"I remember the last time you got in a fight, you came in a black eye, and she came in three weeks later with a fractured nose and broken arm… You don't want to get suspended again, now, do you? " he continued on as if I hadn't said anything. (She totally deserved it, anyways.)
" , I have to get home," I say desperately as wave after wave of teenagers ran past me. They zoom by me and this idiot like a river around a rock, some of them stopping to say goodbye. I wish one of them would pick me up and carry me away at this point.
Through all the commotion, he is still talking. "…anyways, tell Mrs. Zhao I said hello, wont you? I must go; I have some errands to run! Have a nice weekend."
And just like that, he's gone. I'm one of the last ones in the yard by now, only 5 or 6 stragglers. I had rushed out of class for literally nothing.
I take in the cool afternoon air, and start to fast-walk down the stone path, barely holding in my apprehension. But there is something else there too. Something else at the back of my mind that I can't help but notice, that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
For some reason, my gaze goes to the one tree in the front of the school. But before I can focus on it fully, there's a flash of black, and the feeling is gone. Shrugging, I go to the huge gate in the front yard. Without a look back, I glide across the street and down an alley.
Nameless streets and buildings pass by as I sprint, following an invisible path that has become second nature to me. Considering I'm one of the fastest runners in the city, I get halfway home pretty quickly. Judging by the sun, it's only about mid-afternoon.
Practically staring at the sky, I run full force into what feels like a brick wall, sending me flying backwards to the ground. Head spinning, I gasp. Whatever it is knocked the wind out of me and, from the pounding in my head, I might even have a concussion. I looked up at the big human figure (who appears to be unscathed), glaring. The word "hey!" gets stuck in my throat, coming out as more of a choking sound. The guy standing before me could easily be 7 feet tall with the ability to crush a train. Layer upon layer of pure muscle bulges from his head to foot, almost ripping his clothes. His vein-y flesh in deeply tan and his stiff hair is a dark brown. His eyes stand out, being a bright hazel-orange mix, which is a bit odd. Nevertheless, his piercing stare makes me want to melt into the ground.
A chill runs up my spine, but fear is soon replaced by anger. Who does this guy think he is, walking around like a big-shot? I stand up, clutching my school bag in a death grip.
"Hey, you should watch where you're going, kid," his voice is so deep, it feels like it's rumbling through my very soul. I flinch as the throbbing in my head becomes worse, but I stand my ground, courage filling me.
"I think you should watch where you're going! You couldn't see me coming?!" I practically scream. I don't know why, but this dude makes my blood boil.
Quicker than I thought was physically possible, my body is slammed against the nearest building. His stupid face is inches from mine with his massive hand around my throat. I feel my heart pound in my chest faster than ever before. I gasp, but no air can make it past my blocked windpipe. Maybe what I said wasn't the best choice of words.
I see his free hand slide past his leather jacket to reveal a really menacing looking dagger. My mind and heart are racing at an impossibly-high speed. What I said wasn't bad enough to get me chopped in half, right? I struggle against his strength, trying to free myself. Why won't my arms move? It's not like I haven't gotten in any fights before! C'mon, WORK. What's so different now?! Finally, my arms and legs become unfrozen, and I begin kicking and punching and clawing at him like I'd just drank an energy drink. Still, my attempts seem useless.
It reminds me of school today, how each second seems to last an eternity. I see each moment as if in slow motion. How Mr. Muscle (that's what I have decided to name him) pulls his blade back. How he smiles evilly up at me, as if he knows me, as if he's been waiting for this very moment forever. How my last attempts at escape falter as fear fills me. How a figure appears behind Mr. Muscle, saying "let the girl go".
Mr. Muscle turns around sharply, his grip non-wavering. From lack of oxygen, I think, my vision starts to go fuzzy, and I can see stars. I can't make out the figure, but it certainly surprises Mr. Muscle.
He laughs after a bit, staring down at the small person. "Well, well, well, I had no idea the fire apparition would come to the rescue." I can barely hear him from the sound of me choking and the ringing in my ears.
Whoever it was didn't respond. Instead, I see the figure step towards us calmly. My sight is starting to go black, but I force myself to stay conscious. The figure says something that I can't even make out, probably because my ears are ringing like crazy.
Whatever they said, I could marry them because I feel Mr. Muscles grip release, and I crumple to the ground. Taking great heaving breaths, I fall back and stare at the sky until my lungs don't burn (as much) and I can see clearly. I close my eyes and, for a second, it feels like it was all just a dream. But my eyes snap open at the sounds of s struggle and an intense pain in my whole upper body. I blink tears out of my eyes and sit up slowly.
Nope. Not a dream. Two figures seem to be having a show down, one of them being Mr. Muscle, the other being the new dude.
"Run, human!" I hear a muffled voice. Good idea. But something roots me to the spot.
"Are you going to be alright?" I call to my savior, who is hidden behind Mr. Muscle.
"Yes, just GO, you fool!"
Heeding his advice, I stumble up and sprint faster than I should have in my delirious state. On my way, I was so deep in thought, I got lost a million times. After God knows how long, I finally arrive on my front steps, relief washing through me. Gulping all the air I physically can, I open, shut, and lock the door.
I spin around and lean on the wall. Slowly sliding down, I feel waves of nausea and confusion engulf me.
"Mayumi!" I hear a call from the hallway. "Is that you? You're very late, young lady!"
I look at the wall clock. Is it really 6:30?! I guess my adrenaline-pumped brain lost track of time. I decide to save the crazy story for later, quickly thinking of an alibi. All I need is something to deteriorate them from telling me about everything.
I begin to answer as I walk in the living room, but stop short. Mrs. Zhao told me before (very resentfully, might I add) that a social worker was coming to discuss "legal terms". But I didn't expect her to look like this.