Bound by Threads (Bound and Broken duet #1)

1. Scarlett

Chapter 1

Scarlett

“W hat’s the matter? Can’t take a joke, Reyes?” Roman taunts, tilting his head mockingly.

Laughter erupts around me —at me—their phones held up as yet another humiliating video of me is taken.

Crew and Elijah flank Roman, matching smirks plastered across their faces.

Sticky red liquid trickles through my hair, over my shoulders, soaking my clothes. A puddle of pig’s blood gathers around my shoes.

I can feel the dampness seeping into my worn, holed trainers, and I can’t help but let out a resigned sigh as the familiar sensation seeps into my bones and clings like an old enemy.

“Oh, c’mon, piglet.” Crew invades my space. His signature smoky cologne surrounds me, making it difficult to breathe. “It’s just a little joke. Besides, it gives you a good excuse to shower now.”

I want to scream.

I want to tell them all to fuck off, to leave me alone, and that anything my parents have done is not on me. But I stopped talking long ago when the begging and pleading were never enough to make any of them stop.

My feet feel heavy as I move away from them all, the crowd of students parting for me so I don’t touch them. “Where you going, Reyes?” Roman calls, jogging to catch up to me, his cronies flanking my other side like shadows.

“Did you not like our gift?” Crew asks, a fake pout on his face.

I ignore them still, hoping that the girls’ showers are still unlocked, and pick up my pace.

I push forward, my heart still racing from the assault of the pig’s blood being dumped over my head. My mind is a whirlwind of dark thoughts, each one pushing me further and further to the cliff’s edge.

“Hey, we’re talking to you!” Roman insists. I can feel his presence looming behind me, but I keep my focus ahead, my eyes fixed on the door at the end of the hall.

The hallway to the gym is thick with the scent of sweat and the faint aroma of cheap cologne. I can hear the laughter echoing from the classrooms, the chatter, and the teachers calling for them to settle down, but it all feels so distant, as if I’m underwater.

Crew’s voice cuts through the noise, dripping with sarcasm. “Come on, piglet. We went through all that trouble just for you.” The nickname slices through me like a blade, just like it does every time he calls me it, but I steel myself, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

I can feel the weight of their eyes on me with every step, a pressure that threatens to pull me under. But the promise of a shower, a place where they can’t come in, where I can finally breathe, keeps my feet moving. The thought of the scalding water washing away the evidence of what they’ve done is the only thing I’m able to cling to right now.

Finally, I reach the door, my hand trembling as I grasp the handle and throw myself against it. The door shuts with a metallic clang , the cool surface grounding. I lean my back against the door, listening to them on the other side.

I turn the lock until it clicks, and for the first time today, I allow myself a moment of relief.

“Piglet! We don’t bite!” Crew calls through the door to me, “Well... not unless you ask me really nicely.”

“Why on earth would you want to bite her? You would probably catch some disease or something,” Roman sneers, his tone thick with disgust.

I imagine them all standing outside the door, waiting for me to exit and push past them.

Roman would keep his distance, using his words to hurt me just like he always has. His tousled dark blonde hair would fall over his face, hiding the scar on his lip — a scar everyone knows his dad put there. His piercing green eyes would fixate on me, always searching for any hint of vulnerability to find the perfect time to strike.

Crew would invade my personal space until I felt suffocated. His smoky cologne would choke me until I couldn’t breathe, and he would taunt me. Slicing me open with his words and the stupid nickname he gave me. His brown eyes would trail after me long after I walk past him, his words following, and his black, shaggy hair would do nothing to make him look any less imposing.

Then there’s Elijah, who rarely speaks. He prefers to observe, letting the others do what they want and only joining when it suits him. His wavy blonde hair and green eyes make him look like the boy next door, a boyish charm most people would fall for… that I fell for once upon a time. But there’s a monster lurking under his skin. Elijah is much crueler when he wants to torment me, each time feeling almost calculated and deliberate, as if he wants me to hurt. I nearly prefer it when it’s Roman or Crew, though I would prefer it if they all left me alone.

I push off the door, unable to listen to them anymore, and walk through the changing rooms, beelining straight for the showers.

I slam the door shut behind me, the sound reverberating off the blue-tiled walls.

Grabbing a white towel from the spares in the lockers, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror—my reflection staring back at me. Red streaks run through my blonde hair like a scarlet river, and my brown eyes are haunted by the last four years. My clothes hang off my malnourished body from the lack of food — there’s never much anymore, only enough for the drugs that help them drown out reality. Taking a deep breath, I turn on the shower, the sound of rushing water finally drowning out the obnoxious laughter that I can hear coming from the others.

I strip down, stepping into the scalding water. Closing my eyes, I let it wash away the sticky residue. I know I’m going to be late for my next class, but I don’t have it in me to care anymore.

The pig’s blood swirls down the drain, and I scrub at my skin furiously, desperate to erase every trace of their cruelty for today. But somehow, the memory clings to me worse than the blood ever has, every time they’ve played a cruel joke on me, and how their faces twist into laughter as I stand there mortified by falling for it yet again.

After rinsing my hair three more times, and my skin is red and raw, I emerge from the shower, free from the stickiness. I wrap myself in a towel and stand for a moment, listening to the steady drop of water into the drain.

Thankfully, I’ve learned to keep spare clothes at school since the last time I was caught without ending with me being sent home, soaked in soda, to two very pissed-off high parents.

There’s no sound on the other side of the door after I’ve changed into fresh clothes, and I do my best to towel dry my hair. Anything is better than the sticky red blood that was soaked into it. I hesitate, not wanting to leave the solitude of the changing room, but I know I need to finish the day. Not all my teachers understand when I turn up to class late.

I brace myself, my hand glued to the handle as I hesitate to open the door, knowing that any torment they’ve done so far isn’t over.

I step out, hold my breath, and let it out when I see that no one is in the hallway. The corridors back to class are mostly empty now. Only a few sniggering classmates are lingering by the lockers.

I clutch my backpack tightly as if it can shield me from them all.

Laughter echoes through the door for English, and my heart sinks as I recognize the voices.

Roman, Crew, and Elijah.

Their laughter somehow always sounds cruel, cutting through their victims like sliced meat, a melody I’m all too familiar with.

I pause for a moment outside the door, taking a deep breath to steady myself. The door feels heavier than usual, and I push it open as quietly as possible, praying I can sneak in unnoticed.

The teacher glances up, her expression a mix of annoyance and concern, as she glances at my wet hair. I hand her a note apologizing for being late. She nods, gesturing for me to take my seat.

I can feel Roman’s eyes on me immediately, and it takes all of my willpower not to flick my eyes in his direction. Out of the corner of my eye, I see his smirk. Crew leans back in his chair, whispering something to Elijah, who merely nods, a sinister smile on his lips.

I shudder, hating the memories that come with that smile — the same smile that fooled me once upon a time.

I focus on the teacher, determined to ignore them, but their presence is suffocating—a dark cloud that seems to follow me around every corner.

The lesson drags on, and I do my best to concentrate, scribbling notes and avoiding eye contact.

My eyes drift to the outside, watching a bird soar above the trees, and I sigh. The bell finally rings, and I pack up as quickly as I can, eager to escape them. But luck isn’t on my side. It never is, as Roman steps in front of me, blocking my path.

His smile is sharp and predatory, and I brace myself for whatever they are about to throw at me.

“See you tomorrow, Reyes,” he sneers, leaning in too close for comfort. “Making your life hell is my favorite part of the day.”

I hold my ground, refusing to show any fear, and push past the three of them, my heart pounding in my chest.

“See you tomorrow, Piglet!” Crew calls out after me, but I ignore them, rushing past the other classmates to catch my bus.