The Lost Attendant

The grand and respectful face of Principal Duman stared down and the two from the doorway.

He was a tall, dark skinned man. That inspired what the school didn't have: nobility. Strict in his demands and onward on improving the school. He was one of the people in Windworth Jessica admired.

---"…Maria!"---He shouted in a way Jessica had never heard him before. ---"Let go of that student this instant!"---

Jessica looked at the old lady. She was griping her throat with brutal force moving her trembling body to the cafeteria floor.

Maria's sadistic sneer was obvious enough. The teenager thought that this was it for her. Damn, she didn't even get to graduate before her death. That was a real loss of her time.

---"Principal Duman…"---started the old lady. Appearing ashamed and dangerous at the same time. Caressing Jessica's neck. It looked like she was about to bluster any instant. ---"…I was just…"---

---"I said let her go!"---the man took one step closer. Looking worriedly about the outcome of every stride he took.

---"Jessica!"---echoed a voice from behind Duman.

Elliot was standing only by a miracle. He looked shocked and scared. So scared, Jessica thought they might need to help him first. She gave him a calming look, but to no avail. Eli still looked as if he just swallowed a thousand pop-corns in one sitting.

---"Keep out of this, Mister Wood…"---demanded the Principal. Pushing the boy back. Worrying that even the smallest movement would cause the lady to turn at

At all this Jessica thought she was in some sort of surreal rescue mission. For God's sake she was an old lady. Two men could easily take her. Heck, even she could push her down. Though, something told her to not try it. She was cautious and very afraid.

---"NO! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!"---Cried Maria. ---"She…she…can't! She…the one!"---

---"Mrs., Gloria…I will tell you one last time. Release that girl or I will throw you out myself."---The Principal looked straight at the eyes of the mad lady. ---"Have I made myself clear?"---he stated loosing his breath.

Elliot contemplated the two ladies. He was utterly worried and looked paler than usual.

Suddenly, the old lady calmly smiled. Then looked indecently at the girl ---"Why…yes…of course, Sir."---and as if, the demon that controlled her immediately evaporated, she slowly released the dark haired girl from her hands.

---"Ack…ack!"---Jessica's coughing sounds of oxygen moving freely against her throat was heard for several second's. She clutched instinctively at her neck and started rubbing it.

The old lady stood up from the floor and walked away toward the tables.

---"Jess!"—shouted Elliot, pushing unknowingly pass the Principal and rushing to the girls side.

---"Eli…I'm...all right…!"---murmured the girl between the coughs.

She never felted this way before. As if, she was about to die. About to end the chapter and erase the memory of the silent girl people knew. As if, she was going to rest eternally in a closed up wooden box. She was shocked…and then shy tears started to roll from her eyes.

She clutched Elliot's shirt and started to cry.

The boy hugged her in a protective embraced. ---"No…hush now, its okay. Jess, it's all right."---he murmured. Hoping that would ease her fright. ---"It's okay…it's over. It's over, Jess"---

And minutes might be days. But they didn't saw Principal Duman or what he did to the cafeteria lady. They just remember seeing him standing there. At there side, looking down at the two. Asking Elliot to return to class. Telling Jessica to wash her face and to not worry. Promising he would deal with all that.

They did as he told them. Standing against Elliot's chest Jessica made it to the girls' bathroom. Where she bid her friend goodbye.

---"Class it's almost over, Jess…"---commented the boy. Looking ashamed and mortified.---"You can stay here if you want. I'll get your books and homework."---he said, smiling wretchedly. He removed his glasses and cleaned them with his fingers. They looked to be misty in some sort.

Jessica nodded and closed the door behind them.

She stood there in front of the bathroom mirror. Her face swollen red and her neck…she didn't even want to look at it. She felt dirty and humiliated. She hadn't cried before in school.

Only in front of Elliot several years back, but they were old friends.

What the hell did Maria want?! Why did she do all that?! Jessica wondered, hysterically splashing herself with cold water. She didn't treat that old lady in any cruel way and yet…!

Damn it, damn it all. She closed the faucet and remained starring down at it for a long period of time. The whole bathroom was freezing and her face was getting all puffy. Maria's expression still lingering in her memory.

Suddenly she threw up at this realization. Griping her hair to evade staying it. She vomited once more. Oh, hell, she felt terrible. Ashamed, dirty, stinking…no one in the world felt as horrible as she did. That was for sure.

………………

Days passed and even though Ely's warm-full hand and friendly assists' was for the good of Jessica. She kept having lousy nightmares about that wretched lady, a young child's' laugh and a rose. A rose in a small container.

It could be consider a child's nightmare, if they could take Maria's half aside.

The old lady had "supposedly" renounced work and though many students unknowing of the incident whined and groaned. They all got used to eating healthy, stinking, and disgusting nutritional-cafeteria-food.

Principal Duman talked with the girl's parents and assured the worried mother and the over-protective father their daughter would be safe from dangers' harm. Jessica could still feel been watched.

---"It's all in your mind, Jessica"---said Elliot, smothering himself with a loaf of crackers and peanut butter. Strange, Jessica remembered him saying one day that he hated the taste. But it looked now that he enjoyed it or rather forced himself to.

----"Maybe your right…but still"---Jessica swallowed and apple---"I feel somebody watching me…"---she munched the apple. Then thought things through. Days and nights she gave thought to the incident. It was not normal. Not right. ---"And there is that strange warning she gave me…"----

The boy left the crackers aside---"What strange warning?"----

That instant Jessica felt a twinge in her stomach. Nausea, once again. She horribly swallowed and digested the last of her meal.

----"Jess?"----Elliot looked at her worriedly. It became a habit of his.

---"I'm okay…"---she swallowed once more and continued with the comment. If something was trying to evade her from saying it, it wasn't going to succeed. She had became very superstitious after that.---"Elliot…I think something's wrong with me."---

And the boys face trembled with fear.

………………………

Hope you like it!

If you do and I see your comments then I will post the next chapter. I would like to warn you guys that I will come back on Sunday. Visiting a relatives house this day and Saturday…but I'll return hopefully on Sunday.

Until then…
My "Hello's!"