The Shadow's Toll

• Chapter One •

Anjola Diane Johnson

I was settled in the back seat of my mother's car as my chauffeur sped across the highway. My gaze was intensely focused outside. My subconscious rambled on everything that had happened in just five years and I wished- no, I prayed for death. My parents have been so loving to deserve this kind of trauma. Another tear escaped from my eyelids.

I've heard of accidents but I have never experienced one, I wonder why. I can't even phantom what I did to death to deserve this kind of treatment. There were so many people on Earth that didn't deserve to die yet were wasted so easily, so why me who wants it so badly not get it.

I closed my eyes and prayed silently that maybe a cement truck from hell could just ram into our vehicle and take my life. I know it's being selfish, since my driver had his life to live, but some risks have to be taken.

"Diane, we're here" the driver's trimmed accent revived me back into reality.

"Oh" was all I could mutter. I grabbed my bag and exited the air conditioned compartment. My eyes went up and beheld the edifice before me.

Winston High.

I sighed, again. The weekend is over and here we go again. I hate this school so much, with every fiber in my body. The walls hold so many memories I want to erase from my brain so badly.

After Chiamaka's death and everything circulating the the internet, my parents thought it wise to withdraw me from Winston High, to save my sanity. Unfortunately, other schools did not accept me. They tagged my scandal as injurious to their reputation, so I was left with no other choice but to remain at Winston High.

I paused before the wooden fixture with SS3 engraved on it. We were all assigned to different classes and I got assigned to science class C. I pushed the closed door open and interrupted whatever was going on.

I froze instantly at the sight of our physics teacher, a tall light skinned slender man in his late twenties. Mr Eze. He and everyone else glared at me. Their eyes held the same emotions that could be interpreted as murderer. They all believed I killed my best friend.

I moved to my position at the back, besides the window. I've always had my seat closer to the window for as long as I can remember. It was perfect as I had the opportunity to see everyone and not them staring at me with their judgemental eyes. Plus it had a way of distracting me from my present predicament. I've always enjoyed a little- the tiniest bit of peace at the moment.

Mr Eze's lecture went in a blurr, as my gaze and mind wasn't focused. It was either on my book while I was writing, on the teacher- even though I didn't hear a word he said, or out the window.

"That would be all class, endeavor to call your next teacher" Mr Eze said as he piled his textbooks together. I sighed softly. Relief! That was all I could feel.

Mr Eze made it a point of duty to glare at before he egressed the classroom. I flipped my note shut and shoved it into my locker, then I laid my head on the desk and shut my eyes.

Mr Eze had stated that the next teacher should be notified, but no. They derive pleasure in disrupting the peace of the school. Although the noise was hellish, I tried my very best to block it out, for what I know, I have worse things to worry about.

"Yesterday's match against Liverpool was insane!"

"Holy ghost fire, supernatural, boost my confidence"