Post by Truthy on Mar 27, 2014 22:09:36 GMT
The tranquil quiet was shattered by a deep throaty howl. Though it wasn't scary. It wasn't mean. It was sad... so very sad... here in a place where red was all you could see. The air was alive with it, the copper tang like a storm before lightning strikes. The strong scent of blood. Another howl and~
“LEIA SMITH WALTERS, ARE YOU SLEEPING IN MY CLASS!?” The strong bellow of Mr, Morson called through the haze of sleep, shattering the terrifying and transfixing dream. Blinking open her eyes, she was greeted to consciousness by the red sweaty face of the coach inches from her own and the suppressed giggles of classmates.
As Leia looked sleepily up at the man, she couldn't help but think, if he wasn't careful he would bust a blood vessel. With the cords of his neck so tight she could clearly see them, it was obvious he hadn't taken his happy pill yet. When he did then at least he was tolerable if not a little drunk. It beat having the football coach breathing down your neck. Why they insisted on having coaches also work as teachers was beyond her. They really should just stick with what they are good at. It suited them better.
“Don't just stare blankly at me! Get your ass down to the office now!” The teacher roared, slightly more contained than before but not enough to sensor his language. The use of the profanity gained little more than another set of immature giggles that were hushed quickly with a simple glance from the animal himself. Suppressing a sigh, Leia rose, grabbed her bag, and walked out without another word.
Her leaving without formal dismissal earned a gawk from the teacher, and the awe of the students, for as she passed him another yawn managed to slip out of her mouth. But she didn't stay to hear his response to it. By-passing the main office, she made her way into the guidance, plopping into the familiar chair worn down by her constant usage. After the first ten times, the main office had told her they were far to busy to deal with this. Even the principles grew tired of it and had long last given up trying to see any sort of change. Only Mrs, Miller hadn't forsaken her so easily. Perhaps if she had, Leia would have finally been kicked out of this goddamn school.
When Mrs, Miller walked in and noticed the girl, her expression was hardly surprised. Rather she simply gestured to follow and walked off into her office. Taking a minute to gather her thoughts, Leia rose and went after Mrs, Miller.
“So you have gotten kicked out of class again. Which one? And why?” the woman began, her brow creased with concern. Mrs, Miller was a tiny thing, even ever-short Leia stood over her. Barely breaching 5'2” the woman was petite, but that didn't mean she wasn't pretty. Rounded features that contained soft yet full red lips and large warm chocolate brown eyes. Light brown hair tangled around her head, in need of a brushing from the mixture of wind and sweat. The desk in which she sat behind was messy and next to it laid her bag. She obviously hadn't had time to get settled yet.
“Language Arts. I fell asleep,” Leia answered simply, her voice the monotone of an actor simply reading a line from a script. Why put emotion into something when it has been said so many times? Her lack of passion caused Mrs, Miller to sign and sink back into her chair. With her tired expression, how old the woman was became obvious. Behind all that bright youth was a very weary individual.
“What happened? Before this year all your grades were excellent. You were vying for the top of your class. Language Arts was your best subject. Now you are failing it and just barely passing all your other classes. Is something going on?”
Leia bit her lip. She knew this was coming, yet all the same she dreaded it. For whenever this question came up the war within her would begin. One side struggling to appeal for help and the other stubbornly insisting she could deal with it herself. That was what she had been telling herself all along. She could deal with the humiliation, the brutal taunts, and even the after-school ambushes that always lead to a brutal beating. The thoughts brought back recollection of the most recent.
“Princess Leia! Always so amazing! Your such a kiss-up! You really should look after your own neck before the under classmen! Are you really so conceited as to think you could do both?” the chiming voice of Hilary had sounded, two girls flanking her. Behind them the football team had stood. Hilary was dating the Quarter Back after all. What troubled her troubled him and what troubled him troubled the entire team.
“So are we all here to beat up this one girl? Wouldn't just Maison be enough?” One of the other players had asked. He was number 42, and actually a decent person. If anyone could possibly be her ally in any of this it was Darnell.
“Oh don't let her looks fool you! She is a freak! Did you see what she did to me!? Oh you wouldn't know, would you!? I am too good at hiding it!” Hilary had burst out, face scrunched up with fury as she had raised her hand, wrenching off the blonde wig to reveal her forced pixy cut.
“Woah, what's up with the hair? Did your barber have too much fun?” Darnell had been genuinely surprised, and a little bit amused, though he wouldn't let it show.
“That beast turned up the burner too high and lit my hair on fire!”
“I told you it was an accident! And it was your fault for having your hair down in the first place! Mrs, Warren told you to put it up for a reason!” Leia had finally blurted back, adrenaline pumping through her veins. Sadly Hilary's reason had been enough for the others. Only Darnell had hung back as she was held down while Hilary and her two friends had hit her some before Maison had finished the beating. It wasn't until she was bloody and barely conscious had they decided to leave her be. Darnell had stayed behind though, and with strong careful hands had lifted her and taken her to the hospital. It had been a sweet gesture but she would have preferred him defending her rather than just standing back and watching. But you take what you can get in situations like that.
Staring back at Mrs, Miller's stern and worried expression, Leia found herself unconsciously rubbing her arm where stitches had been only a week before. Noticing the gesture, understanding dawned in the guidance counselor's eyes followed by a sympathy that seemed to burn right into the girl.
“Oh you can tell me sweety. I promise it will be okay. Tell me, are your parents beating you?”
It was such a simple question given with so much gentle kindness, yet the implication was enough to count as a nice slap in the face. Anger bubble up in her, but she refused to scream or yell. Rather she put all that rage and condensed it into her words as she responded rashly.
“Yes because my mom is so much worse than the little angels at this school! None of the popular kids could possibly do anything wrong! They are too perfect for that! And yes, my father is beating the shit out of me from the grave somehow! Since that makes perfect sense! But I guess those answers aren't good enough! Since you are so stupid as to think it was my parent's doing, I will spell it out clearly! I have been getting the shit beaten out of me by your wonderful students! But go ahead and erase that thought from your pretty little head! As for the sleeping, well maybe it is something to do with getting hit in the head so many goddamn times, but I can't seem to get this disturbing nightmare out of my head! Every night! Every time I close my eyes! I see death! So go on and mule over that! Put me on medicine! I don't give a shit!” she hissed, her words hard and tight.
“Now that I told you what you wanted to hear I am going home whether you want me to or not,” she added in a tight whisper, before grabbing her bag and marching out.
Through the office, through the hallway, through the main door she marched, until the second she was outside she took off into a run. Her vision was blurred by sunlight and tears, but she didn't care. She didn't loose one precious second trying to clear her sight. Leia just continued to run, through town, until she found herself on the outskirts, staring at looming trees of the forest beyond. Yet it was only a moment she stopped to look before she continued.
Her bag hit the ground with a thud as it was abandoned. She needed to be free of all burdens if she was going to jump the rail that stood in her path. It took two tries to get up enough momentum to even hope to clear it. As her feet sailed over the bar, she soon learned why it was placed there. On the other side, the ground sloped away drastically. With no sure-fire way to land, Leia had no choice but to attempts to curl in midair.
The impact was hard. Breath was knocked free from Leia as her back slammed into the ground, before she continued in a tumble down the incline. Branches slapped her face, thorns tugged at her clothes.
When she finally came to a stop, things turned silent. Too silent. After a minute of lying there she opened her eyes slowly. Above her Leia saw the blue sky through the canopy. Leaves sparkled with sunlight, dappling the ground below. They kept her staring, partially through beauty and mainly from her desire to wait for the pain to ebb away. That was until she heard a low whimper beneath her and finally came to think about what it was she was laying on.
It was soft. Too soft. Brushing her hand against it, Leia recognized the distinct feeling of fur. The whimper sounded again, becoming more insistent. And that was when she moved.
Too fast Leia launched up, her foot stepping on something slightly hard and round. A tail. That earned her a growl from the animal, but it was too weak to attack her. Rather it turned its massive head slowly to stare at her through droopy eyes. The eyes of a wolf. Alarm brought the familiar tang of adrenaline as Leia backed away slowly from the beast. When she saw the wolf-thing was injured and uninterested, she took the chance to run. Seeing the person gone the wolf merely lowered its head to the ground again.
As Leia ran, compassion began trying to seize away her logic. If it was injured, it wasn't dangerous right? And that was no breed of wolf she had ever seen before. Maybe it was endangered. That would be as good of a reason to help as any right?
Leia's logical side continued to scream at her it wasn't safe even as she slowed her pace and turned to walk back. Keeping her footsteps light, she watched through the trees as she retraced her path back.
As she drew closer, she noticed something alarming. She couldn't see the dark black mass anymore. Alarms went off in Leia's head, telling her to run, but her stubborn side continued moving. She stopped at the edge and peered in, and what she saw shocked her even more than a wolf. Where the wolf had laid there was now a boy. His long black hair hid his face as his tan back went up and down with labored breathing.
That explained why I never saw that type of wolf before! It was a hallucination! But oh God I landed on something far worse...
“Are you okay?” Leia asked, creeping closer. As she looked at him, she noticed two things. 1) He was only wearing oversized pants in autumn and 2) he had a knife in his arm, going completely through it.
All she got in response was a groan which wasn't very reassuring. Hesitantly, she allowed her hand to slip down into her pocket and finger her phone. It was only for emergencies and she really didn't want to have to use it on a day she ran away. But what else was she to do? She couldn't carry this boy out of here and he obviously needed medical attention. So, with no other choices, she pulled out the slick metal device and typed in the number all kids have programed into their minds since day one. 911.
The strong smell of antiseptic burned Leia's nostrils as she breathed. Even though she told the paramedics that she was fine and that they only needed to worry about the boy, they had dragged her to the hospital as well. Now the doctor was poking and prodding her bruises, making it seem almost important. Like he was doing a task only he could do. Yeah right.
Across the way, Leia was in perfect view of the boy. His eyes were closed and his breath steady as he slept of the anesthesia. They at least had been smart enough to take him ahead of her and rush him straight into surgery. That means he wouldn't be dying anytime soon at least. Hopefully. After all doctors weren't always reliable. That was proven well enough by what happened to her father.
The curtain rattled next to her head, drawing her attention as a man in a police uniform stepped next to her. Great. Authorities. Who would have figured? Surely they had also contacted her mom and the police-of-police woman was on her way now.
“So you found this boy in the woods. Is that correct?” the man asked such stupid questions as that. She answered each to the best of her knowledge, though when it came to questions about the boy himself she had to restrain herself from blurting out, “How am I supposed to know?”
Just in the nick of time her mother arrived. In a way it spared her from anymore questions. In another it also left her needing to answer even more.
“LEIA SMITH WALTERS, ARE YOU SLEEPING IN MY CLASS!?” The strong bellow of Mr, Morson called through the haze of sleep, shattering the terrifying and transfixing dream. Blinking open her eyes, she was greeted to consciousness by the red sweaty face of the coach inches from her own and the suppressed giggles of classmates.
As Leia looked sleepily up at the man, she couldn't help but think, if he wasn't careful he would bust a blood vessel. With the cords of his neck so tight she could clearly see them, it was obvious he hadn't taken his happy pill yet. When he did then at least he was tolerable if not a little drunk. It beat having the football coach breathing down your neck. Why they insisted on having coaches also work as teachers was beyond her. They really should just stick with what they are good at. It suited them better.
“Don't just stare blankly at me! Get your ass down to the office now!” The teacher roared, slightly more contained than before but not enough to sensor his language. The use of the profanity gained little more than another set of immature giggles that were hushed quickly with a simple glance from the animal himself. Suppressing a sigh, Leia rose, grabbed her bag, and walked out without another word.
Her leaving without formal dismissal earned a gawk from the teacher, and the awe of the students, for as she passed him another yawn managed to slip out of her mouth. But she didn't stay to hear his response to it. By-passing the main office, she made her way into the guidance, plopping into the familiar chair worn down by her constant usage. After the first ten times, the main office had told her they were far to busy to deal with this. Even the principles grew tired of it and had long last given up trying to see any sort of change. Only Mrs, Miller hadn't forsaken her so easily. Perhaps if she had, Leia would have finally been kicked out of this goddamn school.
When Mrs, Miller walked in and noticed the girl, her expression was hardly surprised. Rather she simply gestured to follow and walked off into her office. Taking a minute to gather her thoughts, Leia rose and went after Mrs, Miller.
“So you have gotten kicked out of class again. Which one? And why?” the woman began, her brow creased with concern. Mrs, Miller was a tiny thing, even ever-short Leia stood over her. Barely breaching 5'2” the woman was petite, but that didn't mean she wasn't pretty. Rounded features that contained soft yet full red lips and large warm chocolate brown eyes. Light brown hair tangled around her head, in need of a brushing from the mixture of wind and sweat. The desk in which she sat behind was messy and next to it laid her bag. She obviously hadn't had time to get settled yet.
“Language Arts. I fell asleep,” Leia answered simply, her voice the monotone of an actor simply reading a line from a script. Why put emotion into something when it has been said so many times? Her lack of passion caused Mrs, Miller to sign and sink back into her chair. With her tired expression, how old the woman was became obvious. Behind all that bright youth was a very weary individual.
“What happened? Before this year all your grades were excellent. You were vying for the top of your class. Language Arts was your best subject. Now you are failing it and just barely passing all your other classes. Is something going on?”
Leia bit her lip. She knew this was coming, yet all the same she dreaded it. For whenever this question came up the war within her would begin. One side struggling to appeal for help and the other stubbornly insisting she could deal with it herself. That was what she had been telling herself all along. She could deal with the humiliation, the brutal taunts, and even the after-school ambushes that always lead to a brutal beating. The thoughts brought back recollection of the most recent.
*
“Princess Leia! Always so amazing! Your such a kiss-up! You really should look after your own neck before the under classmen! Are you really so conceited as to think you could do both?” the chiming voice of Hilary had sounded, two girls flanking her. Behind them the football team had stood. Hilary was dating the Quarter Back after all. What troubled her troubled him and what troubled him troubled the entire team.
“So are we all here to beat up this one girl? Wouldn't just Maison be enough?” One of the other players had asked. He was number 42, and actually a decent person. If anyone could possibly be her ally in any of this it was Darnell.
“Oh don't let her looks fool you! She is a freak! Did you see what she did to me!? Oh you wouldn't know, would you!? I am too good at hiding it!” Hilary had burst out, face scrunched up with fury as she had raised her hand, wrenching off the blonde wig to reveal her forced pixy cut.
“Woah, what's up with the hair? Did your barber have too much fun?” Darnell had been genuinely surprised, and a little bit amused, though he wouldn't let it show.
“That beast turned up the burner too high and lit my hair on fire!”
“I told you it was an accident! And it was your fault for having your hair down in the first place! Mrs, Warren told you to put it up for a reason!” Leia had finally blurted back, adrenaline pumping through her veins. Sadly Hilary's reason had been enough for the others. Only Darnell had hung back as she was held down while Hilary and her two friends had hit her some before Maison had finished the beating. It wasn't until she was bloody and barely conscious had they decided to leave her be. Darnell had stayed behind though, and with strong careful hands had lifted her and taken her to the hospital. It had been a sweet gesture but she would have preferred him defending her rather than just standing back and watching. But you take what you can get in situations like that.
*
Staring back at Mrs, Miller's stern and worried expression, Leia found herself unconsciously rubbing her arm where stitches had been only a week before. Noticing the gesture, understanding dawned in the guidance counselor's eyes followed by a sympathy that seemed to burn right into the girl.
“Oh you can tell me sweety. I promise it will be okay. Tell me, are your parents beating you?”
It was such a simple question given with so much gentle kindness, yet the implication was enough to count as a nice slap in the face. Anger bubble up in her, but she refused to scream or yell. Rather she put all that rage and condensed it into her words as she responded rashly.
“Yes because my mom is so much worse than the little angels at this school! None of the popular kids could possibly do anything wrong! They are too perfect for that! And yes, my father is beating the shit out of me from the grave somehow! Since that makes perfect sense! But I guess those answers aren't good enough! Since you are so stupid as to think it was my parent's doing, I will spell it out clearly! I have been getting the shit beaten out of me by your wonderful students! But go ahead and erase that thought from your pretty little head! As for the sleeping, well maybe it is something to do with getting hit in the head so many goddamn times, but I can't seem to get this disturbing nightmare out of my head! Every night! Every time I close my eyes! I see death! So go on and mule over that! Put me on medicine! I don't give a shit!” she hissed, her words hard and tight.
“Now that I told you what you wanted to hear I am going home whether you want me to or not,” she added in a tight whisper, before grabbing her bag and marching out.
Through the office, through the hallway, through the main door she marched, until the second she was outside she took off into a run. Her vision was blurred by sunlight and tears, but she didn't care. She didn't loose one precious second trying to clear her sight. Leia just continued to run, through town, until she found herself on the outskirts, staring at looming trees of the forest beyond. Yet it was only a moment she stopped to look before she continued.
Her bag hit the ground with a thud as it was abandoned. She needed to be free of all burdens if she was going to jump the rail that stood in her path. It took two tries to get up enough momentum to even hope to clear it. As her feet sailed over the bar, she soon learned why it was placed there. On the other side, the ground sloped away drastically. With no sure-fire way to land, Leia had no choice but to attempts to curl in midair.
The impact was hard. Breath was knocked free from Leia as her back slammed into the ground, before she continued in a tumble down the incline. Branches slapped her face, thorns tugged at her clothes.
When she finally came to a stop, things turned silent. Too silent. After a minute of lying there she opened her eyes slowly. Above her Leia saw the blue sky through the canopy. Leaves sparkled with sunlight, dappling the ground below. They kept her staring, partially through beauty and mainly from her desire to wait for the pain to ebb away. That was until she heard a low whimper beneath her and finally came to think about what it was she was laying on.
It was soft. Too soft. Brushing her hand against it, Leia recognized the distinct feeling of fur. The whimper sounded again, becoming more insistent. And that was when she moved.
Too fast Leia launched up, her foot stepping on something slightly hard and round. A tail. That earned her a growl from the animal, but it was too weak to attack her. Rather it turned its massive head slowly to stare at her through droopy eyes. The eyes of a wolf. Alarm brought the familiar tang of adrenaline as Leia backed away slowly from the beast. When she saw the wolf-thing was injured and uninterested, she took the chance to run. Seeing the person gone the wolf merely lowered its head to the ground again.
As Leia ran, compassion began trying to seize away her logic. If it was injured, it wasn't dangerous right? And that was no breed of wolf she had ever seen before. Maybe it was endangered. That would be as good of a reason to help as any right?
Leia's logical side continued to scream at her it wasn't safe even as she slowed her pace and turned to walk back. Keeping her footsteps light, she watched through the trees as she retraced her path back.
As she drew closer, she noticed something alarming. She couldn't see the dark black mass anymore. Alarms went off in Leia's head, telling her to run, but her stubborn side continued moving. She stopped at the edge and peered in, and what she saw shocked her even more than a wolf. Where the wolf had laid there was now a boy. His long black hair hid his face as his tan back went up and down with labored breathing.
That explained why I never saw that type of wolf before! It was a hallucination! But oh God I landed on something far worse...
“Are you okay?” Leia asked, creeping closer. As she looked at him, she noticed two things. 1) He was only wearing oversized pants in autumn and 2) he had a knife in his arm, going completely through it.
All she got in response was a groan which wasn't very reassuring. Hesitantly, she allowed her hand to slip down into her pocket and finger her phone. It was only for emergencies and she really didn't want to have to use it on a day she ran away. But what else was she to do? She couldn't carry this boy out of here and he obviously needed medical attention. So, with no other choices, she pulled out the slick metal device and typed in the number all kids have programed into their minds since day one. 911.
*
The strong smell of antiseptic burned Leia's nostrils as she breathed. Even though she told the paramedics that she was fine and that they only needed to worry about the boy, they had dragged her to the hospital as well. Now the doctor was poking and prodding her bruises, making it seem almost important. Like he was doing a task only he could do. Yeah right.
Across the way, Leia was in perfect view of the boy. His eyes were closed and his breath steady as he slept of the anesthesia. They at least had been smart enough to take him ahead of her and rush him straight into surgery. That means he wouldn't be dying anytime soon at least. Hopefully. After all doctors weren't always reliable. That was proven well enough by what happened to her father.
The curtain rattled next to her head, drawing her attention as a man in a police uniform stepped next to her. Great. Authorities. Who would have figured? Surely they had also contacted her mom and the police-of-police woman was on her way now.
“So you found this boy in the woods. Is that correct?” the man asked such stupid questions as that. She answered each to the best of her knowledge, though when it came to questions about the boy himself she had to restrain herself from blurting out, “How am I supposed to know?”
Just in the nick of time her mother arrived. In a way it spared her from anymore questions. In another it also left her needing to answer even more.
*in a toilet*