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Chapter 1

I'm headed straight for the castle,
They wanna make me their queen,
And there's an old man sitting on the throne
That's saying that I probably shouldn't be so mean.
I'm headed straight for the castle,
They've got the kingdom locked up
And there's an old man sitting on the throne
That's saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut.
Straight for the castle.

Hasley, Castle

                                             ***

Thump.

"Oh, c'mon you little weakling. Fight back already."

Thump.

"Yeah, you idiot. Fight me. I dare you."

Thump.

"Hah, she's too scared. C'mon crybaby, your daily tears are a little late today. Better help remind them to start running."

Thump.

"Well, that was fun. We'll see you later, weakling."

I lift my trembling body off the hard vinyl floor once the group walks off, laughing, and brush my lap down. Pausing for a split second, I lift my fingers up to my eye and instantly grimace. That's going to leave a bruise.

Not that I'm unfamiliar to it.

Quickly gathering my scattered books up into my arms, I dump them carelessly into my backpack and quickly scurry off. The last thing I need right now is to be late for homeroom. Running into the room a second before the bell goes off, I drop my bag down and plonk myself down, taking a small sigh of relief. Ignoring my teacher's disapproving glare, I take out a book, Faceless by Alyssa Sheinmel, and bury my head into the text.

Some people despise books. They think they are some sort of key to nerdiness or something, and constantly complain when they are told to read a couple pages. To me, books are amazing. They are an escape from my unforgiving world, and into a world I only dream of having. They make me forget about the black eyes, bruises and cuts that are delivered to me daily. They help me forget that the whole world hates my guts. They make me forget about... my life.

Basically, books are an escape from my everything.

"Oh, what a horrible surprise. Hello nerd." An icy cold voice cuts through my thoughts, as my book is ripped from my hands and the collar of my shirt is harshly pulled back. "Please give me my book back Milla." I mumble, any source of courage I had walking out the door. The brunette starts laughing cruelly, the people behind me pulling my collar tighter. "Wow. We've known each other for, how long? Nine years? And you still expect me to be nice? Get a life, idiot." She cackles, bending down to menacingly look into my eyes.

"Y'know," She began, turning her attention away from me to inspect her bright red nails. "I really think your skin is looking nice today. But of course, we can't have that. I think black and blue suits you much better than glowy skin. But I just got my nails done, so Cameron honey? Mind doing the honours? She said, smiling at a guy behind me. I've never heard of this Cameron before, but I can tell due to the sound of his knuckles cracking behind me I'm in for it.

Shutting my eyes, I brace myself and welcome the pain threatening to come.

Yet it never happens.

"You were lucky this time nerd." I hear Milla's icy voice whisper into my ear, every word dripping in hate and disgust. "But next time, you won't be so lucky." She threatens as the bell rings. Shivering from a familiar cold breeze passing through me, I slowly open my eyes to see Milla walking away and her mindless minions following her, leaving me