Buried Alive

Part One

The real world isn't always out to get you. Nothing blindly wicked stays that way forever. Of course, this could just be foolishly hopeful optimism but only time will ever truly tell.

Except when you're young, it's difficult to have anything that lingers in your soul, longer than foolish hope. It's something to hold onto that fourteen year old Riley has never known.

Growing up in an overcrowded orphanage is the only thing she truly has. Well, there's still school but even then she gets neglected, abused, and treated like a tool.

As she walks down the brightly lit hallway of Riverdale High, soft music plays from her black earbuds plugged into an old beat up MP3. It was a gift from her only friend before they got separated by distance and time. He'd been her rock but now seemed to see her as nothing else besides a nuisance.

As if on cue, Riley, turns the corner heading toward her locker and ends up locking eyes with the dark haired boy. Per usual he's surrounded by a large group of people; one arm around a petite beautiful blonde with a large black leather jacket draped over her shoulders.

All Riley does is lower her head and inch as close as she can to the wall itself; the entire time willing herself to become invisible or at least smaller than she is. Except, just like always, it never works and only seems to invite trouble.

Riley takes the last steps toward her locker and gets it open before hearing the familiar sound of black combat boots coming up behind her. She doesn't turn around, already knowing full well who it is wearing those shoes; the same person that used to let her steal his metal band hoodies and took her to a few concerts.

She waits for the pain that usually comes and silently counts the seconds as they creep by slowly like pouring molasses. When she gets to ten her head is slammed against the open locker causing it to close unexpectedly on her left hand. She screams out in agony as she rips her hand from beneath the door and cradles it near her chest.

Two more seconds pass before more agonizing pain erupts through the right side of her rib cage. Riley falls to the ground and stays there curled into a fetal position as multiple kicks are placed at her stomach, face, back, and chest. She had no idea why this happens to her or why he changed but accepts it as her nightmare reality.

The beating goes on for a few more moments until an angelic voices makes everything stop, "Trip let's go. We don't want to be late to class. Leave the freak alone for now plus if we get caught we all get detention." Riley doesn't even glance up but has the pending notion that blonde was the one who spoke. Her former best friend seems to consider this as he decides to halt in the physical abuse for now and crouch down near Riley's head instead. Still she doesn't look up, let alone move a muscle as he leans in closer and whispers, "I don't get it. Just do it already Reece, off yourself and stop the embarrassment. Until then I'll be seeing ya."

It's the same thing every single day, he favors the nickname she was once so fond of, he says the same thing yet she doesn't do it.

Call it stupidity, call it strength, but Riley refuses to give up on her former friend even if he's completely changed from the person he used to be.

She hears him exhale as he stands up and turns to follow his friends as they make their way toward the last class of the day. Only when she's certain they have disappeared does Riley start to move around. She lifts her head and locks eyes with one of the boys who stood in a circle around her abuser, beautiful sapphire eyes take hold of her faded emerald ones and she's shocked to find them lacked with regret, shame, and worry.

Confusion begins to etch across her bruised features as she watches the boy glance down the hall his friends traveled down and then makes his way swiftly toward her. He moves with speed alongside almost angelic grace and before she can take her next breath he's kneeling beside her.

"Are you okay? Can you stand?" His voice resonates deep within his chest and matches if not intensifies the worry she can clearly see in his eyes. Nodding her head she attempts to stand on her own only to collapse into the unknown boy's outstretched arms.

"Are you okay?" This time Riley shakes her head and hangs it low toward her chest. It takes her a few moments to realize where he's leading her, the nurse's office, a place she's frequently visited in these tormenting two months. Of course as soon as they get there both come to the realization that the school nurse is no longer around.

"Just great. What do we do now?" His sudden explosion of annoyance surprises Riley again and she moves out of his grasp. He lets he go but not very far for fear of her collapsing once again. Their eyes are locked onto each other and it takes Riley a few more seconds to find her voice, "I-I think I'm okay t-thank you though. You can leave now." It sounds shaky and harsh from lack of use along with nerves but she doesn't trust the boy's unknown intentions.

Milliseconds pass before either one decides to move or say anything. She watches as he suddenly becomes shy and watches his black laced converse clad feet kick at the empty ground, "Okay." he nods his head and begins to turn around but thinks better of it, "My name is Lyon by the way but friends call me Reaper. We've got a few classes together I think," he looks back down at the ground shuffles his feet again, "I'll uhh I'll see you around." With this he finally walks away and Riley releases a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

Why would anyone be nice to me?