Dead & Forgotten

Ch. 15

I always knew that this moment would come for Rachel Fuller-Lang to ruin my life, and I wasn't wrong. From that moment on, my life was like Dominoes--kept falling apart time after time. And to top it all off, I was still the only person who was able to see her when no one else could. I couldn't blame everyone for thinking I was a mental nutcase. Then it was the night before Halloween, and once again, I felt my nightmares coming true to life. I came inside the building after talking to Mom outside on the pay-phone, and I saw her standing there--holding a knife. "Did you miss me well enough?" she said with a grin that truly crept the hell out of me. No pun intended there.

"No, I did not," I answered bluntly.

"I'm glad you're able to see the point that I've made to you weeks ago," she said.

Like I didn't get it already? "No matter what, I'm never gonna leave Marshall Academy, and you can't scare me anymore!" I snapped, laying my finger out at her to emphasize my point that I was going to make to her.

She came a little closer to me, the knife still in her hand. I guess she expected me to feel scared. To be honest, I actually was a little scared. Make that very afraid. "Am I scaring you right now?" she said.

I felt so scared, I didn't know what I was thinking, so I screamed Headmistress Rogers' name for help. I know, I know, bad idea. She couldn't even see Rachel. That, my friend, was a failed plan right there. I heard her come rushing down the lobby where I was. "What is it, Cassandra dear?" she said worriedly.

"There's somebody after me," I said with lack of expression. "Was." I corrected myself. Rachel was there, but Headmistress Rogers could not see her.

Headmistress Rogers simply gave me a small smile and said, "It's never a good idea to keep things bottled up, dear. You must remember that I am always here whenever you need me."

"I know," I said. I was glaring at Rachel, who was smiling arrogantly.

The next day was Halloween Tuesday, and to tell you the truth, I wasn't really looking forward to it because the biggest bitch in town was making a return--Jeanna Morton. Yep, now that's two problems I had to deal with at Marshall Academy, as well as the fact that Marvin was moving away to another school out-of-state and I might never hear from him ever again as long as I'm alive and breathing. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a tad on that one--the thought of never seeing Marvin again--but I couldn't help it; that's just how I felt.

Headmistress Rogers asked me to come to her office, and when I did, she sent me an envelope of the letter I received from Mom and Dad. "Another one," she said. "You know, you cannot continue to cut out interactions from them. They're still your parents, and they love you."

"But they weren't always there for me when I wanted them to be," I replied straightforwardly.

"Honey, I know how much it hurts," she said, a sympathetic expression on her face. "Believe me, I understand very well. I even lost my own mother and father at the mere young age of ten. Since that time, I've felt every possible amount of pain there was to be felt, and even until now it still leaves a scar in my heart. But you learn to embrace it and move on, Cassandra my love. It is quite difficult to, I understand, but sometimes that's the only option you've got. Nevertheless, you mustn't forget that you are their blood, and you will always be, even until the end of your life. So respect them, Cassandra. Take my advice and respect them."

She was right. I wasn't willing to do so, but I was touched by her speech and her words really got to me, and it got me thinking. It got me really thinking. Then she said, "By the way, if you have not noticed, Jeanna Morton is back. But don't fret, my love; I have already spoken to her before her absence. I told her that if she caused any more trouble toward you, then I may have her expelled permanently. So I don't think she would be your problem anymore."