Square One?

Chapter 4

ELEANOR

Break time. You could say that neither do I eat like an elephant nor do I follow extreme diets. I just eat when I'm hungry, moderately that is. I like to leave a little bit empty space in my stomach which consoles me enough that my next meal isn't going to give me an overflowing belly, though it returns to it's previous form after I shit.

The cafeteria shocked my as much as the school entrance did. Although it is an enclosed space, there's a thick tree in the middle of the cafeteria and the chairs and tables are set up in a neat formation. It almost looks like a cafe.

Feeling a little bit hungry seeing some students shoving good looking food in their mouth, I buy a sandwich and settle down on an empty table in a corner. I try to ignore the sex driven students in the area, but trust me it's impossible. So I decide to play with my phone a bit. I chat with some of my old school friends while chomping on my sandwich.

I studied in an international school, so my friends are from different countries. My best friend, Aubrey is from Australia and others are from Germany, Korea, India, etc. Honestly it was hard to part from them but there was no other choice. I roll my eyes when they start to change the topic to this assignment submission date they have tomorrow. They send messages about how they didn't finish anything and make lame excuses that they were sick or on a vacation. I slightly giggle because of the fact that I know what they want and I'll end up doing it for them at the end after refusing some times. They want me to write them the assignment for them, so they could just copy and submit it.

I drop my phone on the table after shooting them messages about how they come up with ways to irritate me even though I'm in a different country and agreeing with their request at the end. Since I don't really have anything new to learn here for now, I guess I could revise what I learned back in France.

With how my phone's vibrating with notifications, they're probably showering me with compliments and gratefulness. I know I deserve it.

I toss the last bit of sandwich in my mouth and get up to throw the wrapping paper in a dustbin.My tracks comes to a halt when ruby and her minions take the space infront of me. "Where do you think you going? You bitch. You've still got a lesson to learn" she sneers at me and her minions giggle. The student bodies shifts their attention to where the drama is unfolding. I've got a feeling that I'm gonna love this place. At last I found a place to do my favorite thing without being drowned by guilt.

I sigh and make a bored face. Inside I'm boiling with rage. This girl seems to get on my nerves more after I heard what she did to that poor girl. "Lemme guess you're gonna make me strip now?" I raise an eyebrow and look dead at her. Someone in the crowd shouts "Strip now!".

She smirks "Ooooh something far worse" She nods at her minions as if ordering them. They push me all the way to the wall behind me and pin me to it. I just go with the flow. Then one of the minions hand Ruby a scissor. The students 'whoa' in amusement. Someone brings out a phone to record. Seriously? Is this really amusing? Ruby walks towards me swaying her hips too much. She whispers to my ear "I'm gonna make you bleed". Okay first of all, ugh that sounded so horny but I know that she didn't mean it like that. I hold back a laugh. But a snort let loose anyways.

As if I've just fanned the flames, she furiously pulls my shirt aside and slides the sharp side of the scissor along the side of my stomach. Slowly. Stinging sensations followed by jolts of pain takes over my body. Blood drips down my skin and drops on the floor. Tears start to fill my eyes because of the pain but I keep my eyes on her as she smirk and puts more pressure on the scissor. I shut my eyes taking in the pain as a betraying tear rolls down my face.

Flashes of the unforgivable nights play in my mind. My heartbeat rate increases as I relive the horror from my past in my mind. So much tears,so much madness, so much hands. Hands all over me. Mom sobbing. I count to three to call my nerves and bring myself to remember that that was all in the past. I can defend myself now. I remind myself that what I'm going through is nothing compared to what I've been through. This? This is nothing.I grow numb to the pain presently, physically hurting me. I open my eyes, my eyes dry like a desert. And I smirk. My eyes form a thin line as stare at her mischievously.

Ruby frowns. She stops and withdraws the scissor. I look down to a good 3 inch cut on the side of my stomach. Blood spilling out and half of my cargo pant is wet. Thank God I'm wearing black. I chuckle when I think of ways I could destroy her in my mind.

As if fanning the flames again, Ruby turns red and snarls "Beg, get on your knees and beg for my forgiveness, you fucking bitch!"

I keep looking at my injury. The cut looks kinda badass not gonna lie. But others might think it doesn't hurt. But boy it hurt. It hurts like shit. If anyone else was in my place, she'd be rolling on the ground, screaming to let the whole school know. Especially if it was Ruby. I chuckle again. I swear I'm trying my best to stop myself. But I just can't stop doing things that has the potential to hurt my or worse KILL ME.

After trying hard and controlling my small laughs and bringing myself to be serious. I pull my head up and bring my stare to Ruby. "You started it first. Don't blame me when you lose" I whisper loud enough so that she and her minions can hear clearly. Ruby's punishments are intolerable. Not for me, but for the weak ones? It'll remain as a trauma. This needs to stop. I'll stop her.

Before Ruby could do anything, someone shouts out "It's Miss Thompson! she's heading here!" The warning sends everyone to their table and Ruby's minions lets go of me and shuffle behind Ruby's back. Pathetic.
Ruby grips my shoulder and says "If you tell the teachers , it won't end well for you" with that she walks off. Judging by amount of times Miss Thompson came to my rescue when Ruby comes to the verge of losing her sanity, she can be termed as my Fairy Godmother since she saved me twice in a row now.

I drag myself to the restroom quickly before Miss Thompson could see the mess of red liquid on my lower body. It needs some good number of stitches. The restroom is luckily empty, which gives me enough space to clean my wound and rearrange my state. The sudden air of peace and lack of entity that enjoys watching me suffer calms my nerves and suddenly my eyes become heavy with tears. Tears which don't listen to me at all. It brings me to a realization that I don't have anyone here to stand up for me except myself. The world around me turns soulless, helpless. Me standing alone with a deep bleeding wound, in an empty dark space. Breathing in and breathing out. Tears roll down my cheeks sending cold sensations to my nerves. Not because of Ruby's punishment or the pain of the wound, but having no one to cheer me on to go on. It's always me and my stubbornness in believing that life has something good stored for me. It was enough to give me courage to run away and save myself from doom. But losing that too, will shatter me to pieces, I know it too well. So I can't lose. I can't be doomed.

I walk past the mouth breathers in the hallway and help myself to the infirmary. I covered my blood spilling wound by tying my shirt around my waist just to avoid teachers's suspicion. It's unnecessary and in short makes me look pathetic. I expected as much when I considered running away from home.

And of course any doctor, forget nurse,  are not present while I'm having a more than expected blood loss. Just my luck. I sit on a chair I find nearby my hand and start to clean my wound with the alcohol free wipe I found on the nurse table. I bite my lips to suppress a scream due to the sizzling sensation after I put a pressure on my cut. After cleaning and somewhat stitching and a few internal screaming sessions in the infirmary, I finally enter my class. The break time was long over. I had to make lame excuses regarding my 'weak' stomach. It's perfectly fine though. I ignored the stares and went straight for my seat feeling a bit too tired and in pain to glare back or to do something that means I'll not back down.

The rest of the day goes as boring as it could be. I couldn't breathe properly due to the continues pain around my abs, I couldn't move properly, to sum it up I was like a living dead. It was painful but nothing I couldn't endure.

When the last bell rung, I packed my bags and got ready for detention. How am I gonna survive? Nevermind I will. Somehow.

____END____