Shattered Asylum

Chapter 42

Today is Monday. I've been dreading going back to school, especially since Grayson can't come back until Thursday. Nora's Halloween party is this Saturday and she is still making me dress up with her.

I feel my stomach churn with anxiety as I make my way inside. I am on high alert as the students pass by me, he could be anywhere. I walk past my locker and head straight to class.

I sigh in relief once I make it inside, successfully hiding from Daniel. I'm going to ask principal Doyle if he can switch my second period so I don't have to be in a room with him.

I sit down and play on my phone until the bell rings. Students slowly start to pile in as school is about to start, I smile as I watch Nora enter the room, I wave at her once she sees me.

"I didn't think you were going to come today." She says standing next to my desk. "I can't miss any more days until next semester." I say putting my phone down. "Well, i'm glad you came. Are you still thinking about switching classes next period?"

"Yeah, I thin-" I feel the time stand still as I watch Madison and Ashley walk into class. Anger starts to boil inside me, a fierce flame that threatens to consume me from the inside out as I lock eyes with my step sister.

Her lips curve upward in a devilish grin, her eyes alight with malicious glee. It was a smile that promised mischief and mayhem, a harbinger of the chaos to come, the kind of smile that makes the hairs on my arms stand up and a shiver to run down my spine.

"Aven don't be rude, greet my new friend." Madison says as she gets closer. My scowl deepens as she wiggles her fingers at me. "Oh how I missed you." Ashley says, causing me to scoff.

"How are you even here? I know your daddy doesn't have the money." I say standing up, I don't want to look small. "Me actually, daddy gives me what I want and I want a friend that doesn't stab me in the back." Madison says glaring at Nora.

Nora gives out a hollow chuckle, devoid of warmth and genuine mirth. "Last time I checked I wasn't the one who stole your boyfriend and criticized you about everything." she says, folding her arms.

"Then you better watch out for Aven because she really likes to steal girls' boyfriends too." Madison bites back. "You must not know about Ashley then because she'll fuck your boyfriend right in front of you." I tell her.

Madison's eyes slightly widen as she looks at her. "You did not." She gasps. Ashley nods her head with a smirk, proud that she "stole" him from me. Madison giggles as she high fives Ashley.

I roll my eyes at their immaturity, I am done with this conversation. I look at the girls behind Nora, their ears pricked greedily drinking in every word we utter. They shift their gaze guiltily away as they have been caught.

The bell rings, cutting off this stand-off. I sit down in my chair, already tired of these two. It's funny how she thinks I stole Grayson from her when he was never hers to begin with.

~

I talked to Principal Doyle about my second period. He said I can't switch classes this late into the semester. I hold back the tears as I make my way to Science. It's already bad Daniel moved here, but with Ashley? My life is going to be a living hell.

All eyes are on me when I open the door, interrupting the lesson. "You're fifteen minutes late Woods." Mr. Owens says annoyed. I wave a note in the air before walking over to him. He rips it out of my hands before tossing it on his desk.

I tighten my lips before turning around and taking my seat. My gaze subconsciously goes to Daniel, he has a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. I quickly look away, staring down at the ground until I get to my seat behind Vinnie.

I get out my notes and homework from last week before attempting to pay attention. Vinnie turns around and gives me an apologetic smile before turning back around.

My mind instantly goes to my step sister, Ashley. We never got along, she was always trying to compete with me, one up me in anything we did. Her gaze always simmered with envy, trying to burn holes through my very being.

She moved through the halls with grace, her every step echoing a silent resentment that seemed to seep from her pores. Behind her practiced smiles lurked a venomous envy, a resentment so palpable it tainted the air around her.

Their was no mistaking the curl of her lip when I achieved something she desired, nor the icy chill in her voice when forced to acknowledge my presence. In her eyes I was not a stepsister to be cherished, but a rival to be crushed.

So she made sure to make my life a living hell. She would Spread rumors, a cruel fabrication designed to tarnish my name and shred the already fragile fabric of my reputation. Make lies to my step father just so she could watch him beat me to the brink of death.

She would do anything and everything with Daniel in front of me, showing me how easily she can ruin my life. Little did she know that I was silently thanking her for distracting him from me.

My thoughts get interrupted from the bell ringing, I look around at the students leaving the classroom. I didn't realize I zoned out for that long. I start packing my things when I smell that nauseating cologne.

I try to keep my breath steady as my heart starts to beat faster. "Hey babe, I have come to a decision" He wraps his arms around my waist, hugging me from the back. I feel my body start to shake, the stench of weed and b.o. waft my nose.

I don't say anything, my voice caught in my throat. He starts rocking us back and forth, his head rested on my shoulder. "We are going to try for another baby." His voice dripped with sickeningly sweet tones, like honey laced with poison.

The room seemed to spin, the walls closing in around me as though I were trapped in a suffocating cocoon of despair. My heart hammers in my chest, each beat a painful reminder of the fragile nature of life and the cruel hand fate had dealt me.

I struggled to breath, the air thick and heavy in my lungs as though I were drowning in a sea of sorrow. He continues to whisper in my ear but the ringing in my ears grow louder, drowning out all semblance of coherence.

My knees buckle from underneath me, his arms the only thing holding me up. The edges of my vision darkens, closing in like the shutter of a camera, until that remained was a pinprick of light at the center. My limbs feel heavy, weighed down by an invisible anchor to the earth.

And then, with a loud thud, everything went black.