HER

Chapter 1

Iris' POV (Age:12)

I woke up with sweat all over my body. I think this is the hundredth time I was having the same nightmare. I have had this exact nightmare so many times that I am starting to think it's a memory. Perhaps, it is a memory because I still remember all the gossips and the stares I got the day I went to school after the nightmare. But for some reason this keep on happening with me. I'll wake up one day with headaches but no recollection of any memories. I know I experienced this a quite a bit of times but strangely every time I'll only have this exact nightmare as proof that something that shouldn't happen did. At first, I had no idea what was going on but when people started treating me differently, I realised that the strange incident may not be something only I witnessed. There would also be bruises on me. I am not sure if they were created by me, the other elementals or the beasts. My memory from yesterday was kind of blurry. Oh no, that only means one thing. I had done something similar to my dream at school. Today is going to be a great day I thought to myself sarcastically. My thoughts were interrupted when Mom knocked on my door. "Ire, get ready you have school soon". Mom called out from the other side of the door. I have to go back to jail again. Uhhh.

I quickly showered and got ready, I was dreading going to school today because of yesterday's incident. I am sure people were already gossiping about me, I wonder how much the kids are going to talk behind my back. Last time, I got lucky since the power situation happened right before Lucien was given the title of the strongest elemental so everyone was focused on the ceremony instead which helped stop the rumours from spreading too much. I remember my parents always told me to be scared of strangers but middle school kids are scarier than strangers. Heck, they are even scarier than animals. Maybe this is why I am able to control beasts since the actual beasts with animalistic personalities are at school. So, just to be safe I packed an extra pair of clothes, soap and shampoo. Only if I knew how much this would help me.

I was now at the front gate of my school and I am contemplating whether or not to go inside. I could go back home but if Mom sees I skipped school I am pretty sure I wouldn't have a home by sunset. So I went in. The moment I entered I came face to face with a paper plate filled with something sticky and stinky.

One damn second it has been one freaking second since I came to school. These kids know talking behind my back is not going to affect me so they opt for these childish methods but even though these methods are childish they still hurt like hell. I could feel everyone staring at me. Some made fun of me and some wanted to help me but were afraid of the consequences hence deciding to remain silent. I quickly rushed towards the washroom and on my way, I could still hear whispers. This only made me walk faster since a tear was threatening to fall.

When I looked in the mirror, I almost broke down, there were ketchup stains all over my t-shirt and what smells like expired sour cream. It was disgusting. Seeing my reflection in the mirror made the tear that was threatening to escape from my eyes fall accompanied by a few more tears. I never faced bullying this severely. I was usually the wallflower no one cared about unless they were in a bad mood even then, they would only mock me or call me names. Nothing not even slightly close to what I experienced today. I quickly washed up and changed into the extra pair of outfits I bought which I was thankful that I did and ran towards my classroom.

Time went by really quickly maybe because I wasn't paying attention at all. When the bell for the lunch break rang. I walked towards the back of the school, it was usually secluded and just like my guess no one was there. I sat on a flat-shaped rock and unwrapped my sandwich. I started thinking about my day. The ones who bullied me are all from high-ranked families or rich families in other words, spoiled brats. The rich kids often use childish methods to harm other kids than attacking them. Since they can just erase the CCTV footage and there would be no evidence. But not all kids from the influential and rich background is bad, they just pretend to be bad just so they could fit in or to protect themselves. It's honestly kind of sad. It's crazy because parents always ask you to stand out in life but if you do that in high school or middle school, you are literally digging your grave. If the "popular kids" find out about your existence, you either become one of them or you are screwed. The latter is more common. If you study hard, you are a nerd and if you don't you are a wannabe or you are trying to copy their lifestyle. Kids who have never faced this kind of situation, feel like this is a plot for a famous movie or they are exaggerating but the reality is well real.