Ebony

School

When I woke up the next morning my head throbbed with a killer headache. Remembering the previous night, I scanned my room, taking notice of the red blanket folded neatly on top of the black box. I had no doubt that the dagger was still there.

 I swung my legs over the side of the bed and tried to stand, grimacing as the action caused the room to spin a little. With a deep,steadying breath I eased my way down the stairs and into the kitchen where my family was already awake and bustling about. I hesitated,waiting for them to question me about the noise from last nights encounter. They only smiled and continued their conversations. As I sat down my father shot me a knowing glance,asking if I "slept well" last night. I smiled and nodded,not daring to mention what news the late hours had brought me.

"So, school in an hour, babe, are you excited?" my mom chirped. I just shrugged. "I've only been out for a week, Mom, we're not startng a new school year. Besides,  it's just school." Logan laughed at the lack of emotion in my voice. 

"Surely there's something you enjoy about school?" my mother pressed. 

I stuffed a fork full of pancakes into my mouth.

Honestly, I did like school. Not because I was super popular or anything, Far from it. I was probably the most unpopular kid in this town. Even the bullies ignored me, out of fear or they just didn't care enough to even shove my head into a toilet. I had no friends. None of my teachers liked me, even though I made awesome grades. It's like there's something seriously wrong with me and everyone but myself can sense it. For the past eight years of my life I have endured seven torturous hours of math and P.E. and english. There was only one reason I enjoyed going to school. 

The biggest building in Fallen Grove was the Fallen Grove Junior High's library. To simply refer to it as big is an understatement.  The library was three stories tall, with floor to ceiling windows and a grand staircase that wrapped around the entire inside of the building. Rows upon rows of books,old and new, lined the walls that seemed to stretch for miles. The librarian was probably the only adult in the town who could look at me and not frown. She always greeted me with a friendly smile and informed me of the new book releases. I usually got to check out as many books as I liked, because no one ever came in there. It was my own personal sanctuary, in there I could escape from the judgemental glares that I seemed to acquire no matter where I went. It was like my  safe Haven, full of books.

After I finished breakfast I returned to my room, where I dressed in my usual blue jeans,t-shirt,and converse.  Trying to tame my short black hair proved to be fruitless. I just dawned a black hoodie and a matching beanie, sliding it onto my head to cover my unruly locks. I stared in the bathroom mirror, and for a moment it seemed like my eyes were greener than I remembered. Like they were glowing.

With a shiver I turned and grabbed my book bag off my bed. Before I was able to leave my room a strange humming took over my body,so I turned around and was faced with the black box. Almost against my will, I crossed the room quickly and took up the the bundle that contained the dagger. Remembering last night, the stranger's words, I tucked the bundle into the pocket of my hoodie, where it stayed perfectly hidden. "Please, don't make me regret this," I muttered aloud to myself.

Shrugging my book bag on I headed off downstairs, kissed my parents cheeks,and declined Logans offer to drive me to school. I stepped out into the chilly morning air and prepared myself for a long day at what I had dubbed "my personal Hell". Trudging slowly down the icy roads and taking my time, I didn't realize how much I would come to regret those words.