Callista's POV

I woke up screaming again. "It's not real" I told myself. My heart beating wildly as the vivid nightmares of last night came flooding back. The other kids had already woken up. It was the same nightmare I have had from last week. It was so confusing and hideous that it was hard to be certain of what really happened but one thing for sure was that someone died.

"Dreaming of imaginary monsters again Callista?" Althea asked in her mocking high-pitched voice. I hated this place. This was an orphanage for kids without parents and despite my numerous attempts trying to run away I was always dumped back here like someone's unwanted piece of trash. I sometimes wished I was never born I mean it is not like it is going to affect anyone. My life was useless, not worth living.

I was different from the other kids here, not only in my personality but also in looks. I had light brown skin and dark black hair. I had no friends here, just people who wanted to push me around to make themselves feel better. I was sick of being treated this way but I had no choice but to put up with it. As far as I can remember my fourteen years of living has just been getting worse. I always dreamed of getting adopted by a nice family. A dad who was fun and a pretty mum who would be my best friend I would share all my teenage insecurities with. But dreams never come true, do they at least not for me.

I got my clothes from the tiny drawer next to my bed and headed for the shower. " Someday I am going to kill them" I mumbled to myself. I hated Althea the worst. She pretended to be my friend and stabbed me in the back. The terrifying visions of last year's events threatened to surface but I forced myself to think of other things anything but last year. As the cold water trickled from the shower head my mind betrayed me and I was instantly back in the past reliving the most devastating moments in my life.

" Hey Cal. Come on tell me I know your hiding something from me." said Althea in a kind voice I would not have thought possible now.

" I.. I think I have a crush on someone" I giggled like any regular teenage girl confessing about her messed up feelings. My head felt light-headed and dizzy as though I was floating through the air.

"Who… come on you can tell me I am your best friend" curiosity thick in her words.

"Jonathan" I mumbled. He was the new kid who had joined the orphanage last month. He had a dazzling smile and shiny bronze colored hair and my heart melted every time his blue eyes looked at me.

"OMG!" she exclaimed and prattled on about how to get him to notice me.

That day after dinner during our free time news went around the girls dorm that some boy is going to ask a girl out. Girls started gossiping and trading secrets with each other wondering who it was going to be. When I picked up my pillow I found a note lying underneath it. It was folded in half.

To the most beautiful girl here

Meet me at the rooftop

Jonathan

Written in elegant cursive. I couldn't believe my eyes. I started combing my hair frantically trying to get it neat. The girls tore the note out of my hand and were all shrieking.

After lights out, I sneaked out of the dorm to the rooftop. I saw Jonathan standing there. My heart skipped a beat as I looked at him. He turned to face me his eyes staring at my face. Then suddenly without notice he pulled me close and pressed his lips against me. I felt startled. "It's okay" I told myself this is just normal. When his hands began trailing over my arms leaving goose bumps. I felt uncomfortable. ' Jonathan, Stop" I said feeling weird. But that didn't stop him and I saw the malice in his eyes. His hands groped my chest and I started sobbing. I tried to run away but his grip was strong. He pushed me against the wall with such force that I nearly blacked out.

"What's your problem bitch?" he leered. He wasn't the Jonathan I knew.

" Don't touch me" I said my voice trembling.

"What are you going to do about it?"

I kicked his shins hard mustering all the strength I had and ran as if my life depended on it back to the girl's dorm.

I didn't know it on that day but Althea was the one who planned everything. After that incident I became a hostile introvert. I used to be a friendly cheerful girl with no worries, carefree but after that I wore an armor of attitude burying myself deep inside. All the girls shunned me and I was living a life of solitude. Even the teachers don't bother asking me for my homework they just left me to do whatever I wanted.

I turned of the shower and changed into my clothes. I proceeded onto my day's activities which included ditching classes and hanging out in the basement's storage room. When a loud scream woke me out of mu thoughts