The Ghost Who Watches Me

chapter 2

I sit in reception with an ice pack held to my nose as I wait for my mum to pick me up. The headmaster, Mr Hooper, says I will be suspended for two school weeks, which sucks but I'm kind of happy. It means I don't have to see that bitch for two weeks. Talking of the bitch, I wonder what's happening with her. I see the nurse walk round the corner and decide to ask her. 

"Miss Kelly?" 

"Yes dear?" Miss Kelly had always been nice to me. Even now, when I nearly kill someone, she still says "dear." Maybe she's mad?

"What happened to Nicole?" 

She gazes into my eyes, a look of sympathy on her face. "She was sent to hospital; I mean you did break her wrist and knock her out" she tries to laugh and lighten the mood but it's impossible. 

She rubs my arm gently and takes the ice pack. She checks my nose and gives me a tissue for the blood. I could get used to this; I like someone taking care of me. 

Just as I close my eyes to relax for a few minutes, I hear the screeching of car tyres outside the school. That will be mum. I count to 10 and she runs in the door screaming, new record.  

"Where is she!?" I hear her shout at Miss Kelly. I feel sorry for her, no one should have to be on the receiving end of my mum's anger, especially not Miss Kelly. She turns round and sees me sitting in the arm chair. This is not going to go well. Mum storms toward me, her face the same shade as her red dress and three inch heels. She roughly grabs my arm, drags me out of school and shoves me into her black and white mini cooper. Just before she gets me through the door I mouth "Sorry" and "It's fine" to Miss Kelly. I sit in silence as she goes back inside and talks to Mr Hooper. He will probably get the worst of it. She quickly totters towards the car, nearly tripping over her own feet, with an even redder face (if that's even possible). She drive back home is quick and quiet, but I know what will happen when I get in the door. 

I run ahead to try and get in my room as fast as possible but I can't find my keys. Damn, must have left them inside. I viciously knock on the door and am greeted by my dad's horrible smell of alcohol and body odour. 

"Nice to see you too, dad!" I shout behind me and run upstairs as fast as my short legs will take me. I shove my door open and close it as soon as I'm in. I'm safe. I allow myself to breathe for a few minutes with my back against the door. Why me? That's the question I ask myself everyday. Why am I being punished? I've never done anything that bad before so karma's out the window. Maybe that thing about past lives. If you were bad in your last life, you are punished in your next. I guess I must have been a cereal killer before to end up like this. 

Finally I get a hard knock on the door that sends my head flying forward. 

"Scarlett! Get out here right now!" my mum shouts. She is followed by loud clumsy footsteps. 

"Come out here you little shit!" and there's dad. He probably doesn't even know why mum is angry at me; he just joins in for the fun of it.  

I lock the door and put a chair up against it. They are not getting in here. I run to the farthest corner of the room and crouch down. They hit the door so many times I think they might punch a hole through it. They almost remind me of zombies at this point in time. They sound like zombies, hell, me dad even smells like one. Banging on the door, wanting my flesh and my brains (well my dad certainly needs brains). I am broken from my zombie thoughts when a hand bursts through the door. This is it, I'm zombie food. The grubby hand twists the key and pushes the chair out of the way. They charge in and my dad wraps his rough, dirty hands round my thin neck. I scream and gulp for air but its no good, I'm going to die, by the disgusting hands of my own dad. Just as I am about to give up he releases me and I drop to the floor sucking in as much oxygen as I can. Before I am finished, I get a sharp, hard slap round the face from mum. 

"How could you do this!?" she screams. I don't say anything; I'm in too much pain and shock. "Answer me! All I wanted was for you to do well in school, with no detentions or suspensions, get a good job and leave this god dammed house! But you simply couldn't do that!" she backhands me again and I cry out in pain.  

"I couldn't help it! Leave me alone!" I shout. All I want is for her to stop, but I know she never will. 

She doesn't say anything more, just kicks me and kicks me with her horrible pointed heals and I slowly feel myself drifting into unconsciousness. I fight to keep my eyes open long enough to see her stop and my dad stumble over and pull her away from my bloodied body. They slam the door behind them and I hear them locking it. I can't move, I don't have enough strength. They've left the room but them could come in again and carry on. I force my eyes open and hate what I see. There is blood all over the carpet, blood seeps from wounds on my belly and my nose is definitely broken now if it wasn't before. Everything hurts, but I'm not dead. Although, maybe it would be easier to die. I wouldn't have to go through this torture. I would finally be at peace. Slowly and painfully I move to get up. I try to hold in a scream as every part of my body howls no. I ignore it and drag myself over to the bed, like the blood covered zombie I am now. I pull myself up and finally the tears start flowing out of my eyes. I can't stop myself, but I want to stop. I never liked crying, I always told myself to be strong, otherwise I would completely fall apart. 

"You don't have to cry anymore..." 

"Who was that?" I jump at the words. It didn't sound like either of my parents. Am I imagining things now? I probably just knocked my head and I'm now hallucinating. "Or maybe I am dead. I just haven't realised it yet" I carry on looking round my bland room. It's a dark purple colour, with black curtains and black duvet covers. I have a simple wooden wardrobe in the corner and a desk where I would do my homework. I was never allowed a laptop or any other electrical things apart from my phone, which is only for calling or texting my parents. There are no places for anyone to hide in here so I must have been imagining it. "You're crazy, Scarlett" I shake my head, which I instantly regret as a massive headache follows. 

"Believe me, you're not crazy" there it is again. The calming voice chuckles a little. Ok, I am not imagining this, someone is talking to me.  

"Who are you? Where are you?" 

"I don't want you to be scared" 

I laugh "The only things I'm scared of are my poor excuses for parents" I look around but there is no one in my room. I spin around to look behind me but still no one. The air suddenly gets cold and I slowly turn my head to see a boy sitting on the bed in front of me. I scream.

(If you're not enjoying the violence then don't worry because that was the worst ones over. Just be happy that Luke is here!)