Chapter 4
It’s finally Friday and we are headed to the gym for lunch. Walking in, we go straight to the tables to grab our lunches before making our way over to our table and sitting down. I love having lunch in the gym because it’s another time we can mingle with all the guys.
“Lux, we should check out that new club when we go on pass.” Jo says, the girls all agreeing and discussing outfits for the night.
“Yeah, let’s check it out. It could be fun.” I smile, looking around the table before picking up my water bottle and taking a sip.
Jo leans over the table to whisper across to me, “Hey, the guys are watching you again. Have you been able to talk to Atticus?”
“Not really. He has been acting really weird. Did you know he told me today that we can just work on our own parts of the project?” Picking up a fry and tossing it in my mouth.
“What is his problem? I’ll go over there and punch him for you. You know I’ve been practicing some new moves.” Taking her hand and making a fist, punching her other hand. We all start laughing at her.
I’m so thankful for Jo. She truly is the light in the darkness. I’d be lost without her. Everyone thinks we date because we are always hanging out or doing something together. Funny thing is we aren”t, we are just really close and it feels like we have never been apart.
“Oh shit. Don’t turn around but Tommy is headed this way.” Melina says. I can hear the sneakers squeaking and then silence. I can feel him behind me. This can’t be good.
“Uh.. Lux?” Turning to look at Tommy, he looks nervous and is rocking on his feet.
“Here you go.” handing me a letter. I take it and he turns walking back over to his table.
I look around the table and see their smiles and smirks. Opening the letter up, I read it.
Orphan,
How does it feel to know you will never see your parents again?
You let them die.
You watched and did nothing.
Hiding like a scared little bitch.
They probably set it up themselves to get away from you.
Or maybe you set it all up.
You’re nothing but a slut
who couldn’t save them,
and now you can’t save yourself.
You should just kill yourself cunt.
I promise I’ll make you suffer.
Learn to keep your mouth shut
or I’ll just have to shut you up.
You better pray you get out of here soon.
The hunger to break you grows with every second that passes and
once I’m done with you, you will beg for death.
In which I’d gladly slice open your throat and shove my dick in the gaping hole.
I can feel the tears wanting to break free but I hold them in. I crumble up the paper, setting it on my tray.
I see Jo look over at me with a concerned look.
“You okay? What’s wrong?”
Looking her in the face,“I’ll tell you back at the house.”
“Okay, babe.” She smiles at me.
The rest of the day speeds by and now we are headed back to the house. It doesn’t take long to arrive and the girls who are leaving on pass get ready to head out.
“You gonna tell me what was in that letter?” My eyes snap up at Jo’s words.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the crumbled up letter and place it in her hand.
She unfolds it and judging by how red her face is turning, I know she is pissed.
“Are you fucking serious? Who wrote this? I’ll kick their ass!” She is pacing back and forth across the room.
I can feel it the moment everything replays in my head. All the hurtful and hateful words come rushing in. I feel a chill breeze on my cheeks, reaching up I feel a warm, wet trail down my face. I wipe it away but more tears start falling. Which one of them wrote the letter? Why are they being so mean? What did I do? I just want to get out of here. I’ve lost it all and now I’m stuck here.
I feel Jo’s warm arms wrap around me, she pulls me closer and comforts me.
“Say the word babe, you know I’ll stay back with you.” she kisses the top of my head.
“No! You can’t, it”s your grandma’s funeral.” Is she crazy?
“I know but you need me. You”re my best friend. When you hurt, I hurt.”
“I’ll be fine. I promise.” I give her a small sad smile.
“Fine. If anything happens while I’m gone, I’ll raise hell when I’m back.” She squeezes me and then stands up. Walking over to her suitcase, she starts putting her clothes in it.
We hang out while she finishes packing. Since she has a pass for her grandma’s funeral, it will just be me this weekend. I can’t wait to gain levels, and finally get some passes too.
“Hey babe. I’m going to bring you back some stuff. Don’t have too much fun without me.” She gives me a hug, picking up her bags and heading out the door.
Before she makes it fully out the door, she turns yelling, “The Sun” blowing me a kiss. Laughing, I yell, “the Moon,” blowing her a kiss back.
I sit by the window watching as girls leave for the weekend. Tonight I have kitchen duty. I love cleaning the kitchen because it looks good when level voting happens. You have a higher chance of getting levels if you volunteer for extra duties. As I’m bending down to pick up the dish soap, I see Chelsey’s shoe out of the corner of my left eye. It connects with my face causing me to stumble into the cabinet and fall to the floor.
I try to get up but she kicks all over my body. All I can do is roll into a ball and try to protect my head.
“Cade sends his best. You don’t listen. You don’t do what you”re told. This is his last warning. Next time it will be worse.” With each hit she gives me, the more I wish she would just kill me.
I can taste the metallic taste of blood coming from my lip. My head hurts and I just want it all to stop. Why me?
What did I do? I don’t understand what is happening but I don’t respond either. What if I make it worse? They keep going and with every hit I just wish they would kill me already. Just when I think she”s done, I go to get up but feel hands wrap into my hair and my head is being pulled backwards and then the force of my head hitting the floor. Once. Twice. Three times. And then everything goes black.