Guardians

⊲ Chapter 1.2 ⊳

"You should just tell the teacher!"

My friend Maya was lecturing me again. "You shouldn't have to give her your work. It's just not fair!"

Maya was always very protective of me and was always telling me to stand up for myself.

"Well my life's not fair. And I can't tell anyone, it would just make my life even worse" I said dejectedly while I finished the last few lines in my sketch.

I'd only known Maya since the beginning of our freshman year of high school, but we had become pretty close the past three years. Even so, she didn't know the reason I didn't stand up to the bullying and I could never let her find out. I didn't want her to look at me like I was a monster since she's the only person I can really call a friend.

Maya sighed sadly. "I just wish you didn't have to deal with this stuff is all."

I chuckled halfheartedly. "You and me both."

We sat in silence for a few moments, working on our art.

Then Maya said, "Hey, have you started thinking about what colleges you're gonna apply to next year?"

I was grateful for the change in topic. I sat up straighter in my seat. "I've thought of a few, but honestly I'm probably aiming too high." I said a bit bashfully.

"Are you kidding? You're super smart. I'm telling you, you can get into any college you want," she responded enthusiastically. Then she went on a rant, listing out all the reasons a fancy college would be lucky to have me, saying that I shouldn't sell myself short. I was grateful for her constant faith in me.

We lost track of time, laughing and talking and then the club president announced the end of the club meeting. Maya and I packed up our things and left the classroom to walk towards the school's main entrance.

When we got to the front of the school we said goodbye.

"See you tomorrow, Em," Maya said, waving as she walked away.

"Yeah, see you," I responded, lifting my hand in farewell. I turned away before she got to the far corner of the block, and then I started to walk back home. The sun was still pretty high in the sky as I walked through my neighborhood. It would start setting later and later as the season changed to summer.

...

The walk was peaceful until I turned the corner of a block and heard what could only be described as a hissing noise from somewhere close by. It was a horrible scratching sound, and it seemed as though it was coming from behind me. I turned to look, but nothing was there.

I started to get nervous. Is it someone's pet? I wondered. Then, suddenly the sound vanished as quickly as it had come.

I stood there in silence. Even the rustle of the leaves had gone quiet.

My unease growing, I continued my walk home but now with a quicker pace. I sped up so much that I was practically running.

Then, as I passed a gap in between two buildings, I felt something grab my arm and roughly pull me off the sidewalk. One moment I was looking at the sidewalk in front of me and then the view blurred as I was swiftly yanked into a dark alleyway.

Instinctively, I started kicking and flailing my arms. My right foot made contact with the assailant with a loud thump and a squelch followed by tremors of pain that shot through my leg. The person released me and I fell to the ground, the rough surface scraping the skin off my elbows. I felt blood start to flow out of the cuts, but I ignored it and instead quickly started to pick myself up, adrenaline running like lightning through my veins.