Sophie Foster at Malory Towers

Chapter 7: Mess

Sophie

Sophie ran back to her private room she'd been assigned to sleep in thanks to her recurring nightmares as soon as she was out of Darrell's sight. Many students saw her bleeding, and Sophie even saw a second former run off to find Matron.

But Sophie didn't care any more. Why should she care when it seemed as if everyone in the third form found her annoying, or even outright hated her, like Alicia and Darrell seemed to? Or only sucked up to her because of her looks, like that rat, Gwendoline?

Sophie, after what seemed like an eternity of running, finally reached the room. She slammed the door behind her and locked it- she didn't want anyone coming in. 

Sophie peeled off her shirt, hissing at the pain. Blood ran down her side and Sophie grabbed her blanket. She ripped off a long strip of cloth, pressing to her side, staunching the steady flow of blood. She ripped off another strip of cloth and wrapped it round again, tying a firm knot. Wincing once again at the pain, she slipped her shirt back on and slumped back onto her bed, her chest heaving, her hands in tight fists. Thoughts ran through her head relentlessly and emotions coiled in her gut: Anger. Sadness. Loneliness. Confusion. Pain. The emotions churned, coiling tighter and tighter until-

Sophie needed a release. She sat straight up, her back rigid, her vision rimmed in red. Sophie closed her eyes and screamed. She felt energy pouring out of her in waves of emotions, and when she briefly opened her eyes, bright red light was shooting out of her forehead. Sophie finally stopped, her chest heaving, exhausted at the waves of energy that she had somehow made come out of her, and in pain. Sophie's eyes rolled back into her head and she slumped forward in a dead faint.

*********************************************************************

Sophie slowly peeled open her eyes to a pounding headache, which was unfortunately becoming very common for her. There was an incessant pounding in her head as Sophie sat up, rubbing her temples.

All of a sudden, the pounding was joined by a chorus of voices. Sophie realized quickly that the noise was not in her head- it was people constantly pounding at the door, asking to be let in. 

Sophie's eyes grew wide at the realization. She leaped up, ignoring the pain in her head and side, and backed up against the wall. She heard a voice she recognized as Matron's. 

"Sophie! Sophie! Let me in please, I just want to check you're alright, several girls say they saw you bleeding!"

Sophie's mind raced. She couldn't let them in, or they'd see the burns in the shape of hand prints and ask too many questions... damn, they might even believe she was doing it to herself. She simply couldn't afford that... she just wanted to fit in and stay below the radar. Evidently, she wasn't doing that very well. 

The shouting outside of her door suddenly stopped and she heard a muffled conversation on the other side. A voice that was recognizable as Darrell's spoke through the door, her voice thick as if she'd been crying.

"Sophie... It's Darrell. I'm so sorry. I truly didn't want to hurt you... I was just so angry... I really apologize, Sophie. Please come out. Matron needs to see if you're alright... You were bleeding a lot."

"I-I'm fine." Sophie stammered from inside. "Leave. Please."

"Sophie." Came a gentle voice from outside. That was Matron. "Please come out. I just want to check you up... from the blood leading a trail to the door, I'd surmise that you're rather hurt. If you're not... my apologies. But we have to be sure."

"I can't!" Sophie insisted. "You don't understand!" 

Sophie's thoughts raced as she back further up against the wall. She couldn't let them see... she just couldn't. Especially after that episode with the red light- she needed time to sort out her mind, calm down, and plan what to do next. But right now, she had to drive these people away. 

Sophie shifted her voice to a sleepy pitch. "Listen guys, I'm just trying to sleep right now, okay?"

Sophie could practically imagine Matron's exasperated, irritated face when her voice came through the door. "You can sleep after. Just let me check you up, to make sure you're alright!"

Despair pooled in Sophie's stomach. Matron was too persistent for Sophie to try any form of trickery on her. So Sophie would just have to hold her ground, and hope that they would go away. 

"I won't let you in." Sophie said stubbornly. "I'm sorry, but it's not going to happen."

Sophie heard Matron sigh in annoyance and despair, and the sound of footsteps heading away from her made hope light up in her chest. That was, until Matron's more distant voice reached her ears. She appeared to be talking to Darrell. 

"Please, Darrell." Matron said sternly. "Go to the head-"

"Miss Greyling?" Darrell said, concern lacing her tone.

Matron replied, "Yes. I'm afraid all this is rather serious. Sophie's obviously seriously hurt, and if she's not allowing to see her- well, that's a real problem. Please explain to Miss Greyling everything that happened, as you explained to me- I'm quite sure she will give you a punishment, Darrell, but she will most likely focus on Sophie first, so don't get too hopeful- and tell her that Sophie will not let us in. She will use this information as she sees fit."

There was a silence in which Sophie imagined Darrell nodding, following by two sets of quick footsteps down the hall, the sound of which slowly faded away. 

Sophie slid down the wall slowly, sitting on the floor with her head in her hands. Darrell had admitted to slapping her, even knowing that it would get her in serious trouble. You needed some serious pluck to do that. Sophie rubbed her temples. How had everything gotten so complicated so quickly. 

Sophie got up, intending to busy her hands a little to distract herself, but a random man was sitting on her bed. He had pointed ears, messy blonde hair, a slender build and electric blue eyes. And he was tossing a ball of fire in his palm.

A/N Sorry this is so short, but I have a lot of tests and homework coming up, so I kinda needed to concentrate on that... sorry! I promise I'll start trying to give you longer chapters!!!