The Strength of Silence

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

⚠️ THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS BULLYING AND VIOLENCE ⚠️

Gemma's tiny frame halted before slowly turning towards the voice of her tormentor:

     Joey Drake.

     The girl's lip curled in disgust as her eyes narrowed in a harsh glare. This pest has been bullying her since day one; first time it was just meaningless insults that just flew through the the brunette's ears and was easily ignored. But, then it turned a bit more severe and physical; being shoved in the hallways, slammed against lockers, and one time Joey tried tripping Gemma down the school stairs.

    But she kept silent and endured.

    Knowing that if she allowed her anger get the best of her, the little eight year old could end up letting her secret slip and then there goes her Ma's hard work and trust. Gemma had struggled to prove her mother that she could control her emotions and not shift at every little thing she felt; the blue eyed half breed didn't want to disappoint her mother. The brunette breathed out a calming sigh before curtly answering, "What?"

    Joey took a step back as his sea green eyes widened in surprise before letting out an irritated growl. There's something about the girl that the blond boy didn't like, just screaming out danger and to run. There was something unnatural about the new kid and knew that Gemma didn't belong there no matter how hard she tried. Squaring his shoulders to look more intimidating than the brunette, Joey briskly walked towards Gemma and shoved her harshly to the ground.

     The startled girl let out a yelp as she landed in a pile of leaves; the yellow, orange, brown, and green debris dancing gracefully around her fallen body. The brunette's tormentor bared his teeth at her and seethed, "You don't belong here, freak!"

    Seeing the young male before her, who was showing his pearly white teeth at the half breed, brought out a natural instinct within Gemma as a rumbling animalistic hiss tore through her throat. Her pupils were slitted and her own teeth bared, the eight year old slowly got up before stalking towards Joey. The blond stumbled back in fright and landed on his ass as the girl threateningly loomed over him; blue hues locked onto sea greens. This lasted a few good seconds until Gemma gave a satisfied huff as she turned and started to walk away.

    Anger and embarrassment plagued Joey's mind like a sickness as it started to cloud his judgement; his breathing turned into erratic pants. His hand brushed against something hard and smooth; causing the blond to notice a rock by his hand. His trembling appendage grasped the object tightly as he shakily stood back on two feet before throwing it at Gemma.

    WHACK

    THUD

    ꧁☯︎︎꧂

    She was running.

    At first she was fine; she felt exhilarated and free! Like all her problems vanished!

    POOF

    Gone.

    But now....

    Panic.

    Absolute fucking panic.

    It just showed up uninvited and decided to crash the happy party she had buzzing in her mind. Unless that was the alcohol talking?

    Doesn't matter.

   She doesn't like it; it's suffocating!

    It needs to just go away!