A Modern Fairytale

A Meetup with the Nemesis

“I still think this is a bad idea Amy, you might hurt yourself” Clara said after listening to my update on what happened with Ariana and Zimar. “ I have a feeling that you’re getting yourself into a mess” she added, looking worried.
“But I think this is a good opportunity for me to talk to Ari about... You know, my visions or whatever it is!” I said, feeling uncertain about it.
“ you can’t talk to her about it without knowing it for certain. You just think in your head you have a past with her, you’re not even sure nor do you have proof to your story. She’s going to think you’re insane.” Clara said and I know she was right but my stubborn self didn’t want to be rational.
“Alright, I’ll not speak to her about my stupid visions or feelings or whatever the crap it is. But I can at least participate in that music event now that I’ve promised her?” I asked her angrily trying to put out my frustration on her as if it was her fault. Luckily I had an understanding friend. She laughed at my angry face until I couldn’t be angry anymore and smiled back with her. We had our lunch and headed back to the class. Jess and Steph were busy with their basketball practice.
I was deeply engrossed with my literature lesson when Ms. Jade’s phone rang loudly distracting the whole class. “urgh why can’t she put it on silent!” I whispered to Clara. “Shhh, maybe it’s important” she whispered back.
“Hello?” we heard her talking over the phone. “yes, she’s in my class now, I’ll send her after this is over”. Then there was a long pause before she said “Alright. Send her back as soon as it’s done” and put her phone away. “You are wanted by the music club, Amelia. They said it’s urgent. But be back in class soon” she said and started her lesson again.
“Now I regret signing up for it” I whispered to Clara who was helping me pack my things. “Don’t worry I’ll record the lesson” she said. I hurriedly walked towards the music club but there was no one around. The room seemed dark. Maybe I’m early? I asked myself opening the cabin and feeling for the light switch on the wall. My hands touched something like a fabric when I heard the cabin door getting locked and a wicked laugh. I jumped in fright and ran towards the locked door banging hard on it, my heartbeat racing. I couldn’t comprehend what was happening around me until I head Catherine’s voice. “Turn on the lights, this poor girl might break the door” came her amused voice behind me. The bright lights lit the room making it hard for my eyes to adjust to the brightness. When I could finally open my eyes I saw Catherine and a few of her friends around the cabin all laughing at me like I was a joke.
“What do you think you’re doing!” I shouted at her all my fright turning into anger.
“Now now, calm down little one. I just got the urge to see your beautiful face.” She replied faking a sweet voice.
“Now that you saw it, let me go” I said still trying to keep my rising temper under control.
“Not so soon! Last time we met we couldn’t even talk properly! So I arranged this little cute meetup to catch up with you. why don’t you give our beloved visitor a seat, Arnold” she said still looking at me from top to bottom as if I was a prey. I was her prey today. My insides shuddered when I remembered Clara telling me about her bullying and cruelty, yet I put out my bold face and took the chair Arnold passed me. I  positioned it right in front of Catherine and sat gracefully crossing my legs in front of her. Let’s play this her way, I said to myself feeling a little confident looking at the slight disappointment in Catherine’s eyes when she saw what I’m doing. The gasps and shocks I saw from her friends told me that she haven’t been treated this way before, specially by her victims.
“True it is!” said I, returning her fake sweet smile. “We couldn’t have a proper talk since our first meet indeed. I must say, it’s very thoughtful of you to arrange this meetup in such a cozy place.”
I saw her fake smile vanish and turn into an expressionless face that scared me a bit. She sat silently studying me for about a minute and started “ofcourse, this cozy place holds a lot of surprises for you, my dear” she said, her voice stern and her face still as if it was stoned. “But I have a feeling you’re still cold despite all my efforts” she whispered learning towards me, her strong expensive perfume disturbing my breathing. Her eyes fixed at mine and it looked like it wanted to stab me. I was waiting until she finishes to give her a reply. 
“Arnold!!!” she almost screamed into the eerie silence and everyone in that room except herself jumped up in fright. I was the most affected as she was still learning close to me looking dead into my eyes. I wanted to get up and run but I tried my best not to show I was scared. Bullies always want to see you scared. I was certain she was now able to hear my heartbeat as it was beating faster than ever.
“Ye.. yes, Cath.” Came Arnold’s broken voice. I had no idea why her own friends were scared of her now. They’re supposed to be laughing and enjoying bullying me but they all looked rather scared. Were they scared for me? My conscience tried to frighten me with the anticipation of what will come next.
Catherine moved away from me and faced him. I had a sigh of relief. “Turn on the iron, won’t you? I want to make this the coziest meetup she ever experienced” she ordered him, her wicked smile coming back. My eyes followed Arnold going towards the table where trial clothes for the singers were kept. Beside it was the iron. I saw Arnold plugging it in to heat it up. At this point I couldn’t believe all this was actually happening and not just a dream. She’s going to burn me. So everything Clara told me was true! She is capable of doing horrible things to students who mess with her. My thoughts were already burning me alive.
The iron beeped, indicating it’s fully charged. Arnold unplugged it and brought it to Catherine. All of this was happening in slow motion to me. I sat there still, cold sweat forming on my forehead. I wasn’t tied yet I felt like I was bound to the chair. She held it with one hand and rose from her chair. With her fake sweet smile plastered on her face she came towards me. Involuntarily I found myself getting up from my chair and moving backwards until my back hit the wall. I wanted to scream help yet my voice was long lost. The shock of what’s happening was too much for me to concentrate on anything else. She came closer to me and touched my cold cheek with her long cold fingers which itself felt like a cold iron burning my skin. “Too bad your pretty face won’t even know the meaning of pretty anymore” she smirked, her cold fingers caressing my cheek. My tears started pouring down without my permission onto my cheeks and her fingers. I closed my eyes tight not knowing what to do. I was frozen physically and mentally.
Suddenly I heard the door being unlocked and it burst open. I opened my eyes to see Zimar standing through the doorway and my heart leaped in joy! I couldn’t believe my eyes. This nightmare is finally put to an end. “What’s going on here!?” he shouted at Catherine who was holding the hot iron in her free hand ready to burn my face while her other hand still on my cheek. She didn’t avert her eyes from me to see who the intruder was. “Ah, the lover boy is here to rescue the damsel” she laughed at me. I pushed her away with all my might and ran towards Zimar and hugged him so tight feeling relieved this horrible drama is over. I was finally able to feel my trembling self. My shirt was drenched with cold sweat, my hair stuck to my forehead. Zimar hugged me back tightly, his warmth comforting me. “Shh it’s alright, I’m here, I got you" he whispered to me pressing his lips on my head.
“sh- she tried to b- burn me” I managed to say within sobs. P
“Catherine?” Zimar shouted. “oh c’mon Zee! I wouldn’t burn such a pretty dollie? I was just playing with her” she sang with her usual faked voice. I was still sobbing into his shirt it was getting tear stained. He removed his jacket and wrapped it around me and held me close.
“Amelia is my girlfriend! Keep your stupid games away from her.” Zimar said sternly. “oh, well, didn’t know that” she replied in her carefree tone.
“Now you know” he spat back and gently pushed me out of the door. I have never heard him raise his voice. He took me out of that room sensing my discomfort and bought me a hot chocolate to calm me down. “She was really going to burn me” I kept on saying, still unable to believe what just happened.
“No Amy, she just tried to frighten you, she wouldn’t risk doing things like that. You don’t have to worry about her again” Zimar softly caressed my back trying to comfort me. He pulled me close to him as I tried to drink without trembling. There were alot of people around looking at us together and whispering things like "Is this his new girl", "he's mine!". Me being with Zimar is going to be the hot topic for tomorrow. Even though I hated the attention I didn’t want to move away from him. I felt safe with him.
But I wished Arry was there with me holding me safe.