Shattered Asylum

Chapter 58

I'm not going to get into what Grandma did to us over the weekend, let's just say all of us are still traumatized by it.

It's been awkward talking to her since, but I'm sure it'll be a funny story down the road. We've got two weeks left before Thanksgiving break, and I can't wait to stuff my face with all kinds of foods.

As soon as I walk through the halls, I feel the strange, heavy atmosphere. Everyone's still taking Daniel's passing pretty hard.

I reach my locker and start putting my things away, when I sense someone approaching. I turn my head, and my stomach twists as Ashley makes her way toward me.

My body tenses at the sight of her grim expression, her eyes blazing with determination. "Avanie!" She screams, turning heads as she storms toward my locker. She doesn't stop until she's pushing me back against the lockers.

"What the hell?!" I hiss, the metal lock digging into my back.

"You did this! You made him do it!" She yells, her voice raw with rage. A mix of surprise and confusion floods my face.

"What are you talking about?" I ask, my voice shaky.

She grabs my shoulders and slams me against the lockers again. "I hate you! You killed him!" A sob wracks her body, and she slaps me across the face as hard as she can.

Her nails scratch my skin, and I barely have time to process what just happened before she's on me again.

"Ashley! Stop!" I yell, pushing her off me. People slow their steps, some watching, some whispering, unsure of what to do. She continues slapping me, her words a blur of anger I can't understand.

I try to back away from the lockers, but her foot hooks around mine, and suddenly I'm falling. My hands grab onto her without thinking, dragging her down with me as we hit the ground hard. She lands between my legs, her weight pinning me as her hands come down, again and again, slapping anywhere she can reach.

I catch her wrists, my grip tightening as I shove her hands back into her chest, forcing her to stop.

"No, no, no!" She cries, breaking down. Her body collapses against mine, and I lay there, frozen, not knowing how to react as she screams into my chest.

I go still, my body tense as hers presses into mine, trapped too close for comfort. I don't know where to put my hands, how to move, how to get out of this without making everything worse.

What the hell just happened?

A tear slides down my cheek at the sight of her breaking over someone who broke me. "W-why did he leave me?" Her face contorts in agony as she clutches her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks as she lets out a guttural, heart-wrenching cry.

I force myself to rest a hand on her shoulder, patting it awkwardly, trying to offer comfort despite everything that just happened.

The crowd around us has grown, some students whispering, others teary-eyed at the pain she's showing. I'm overwhelmed with emotions I can't process, anger, hatred, sadness.

Somebody, please help me.

She collapses onto me again, her hand tugging at my hoodie. I didn't realize how much she loved him. I thought she was only after him because I was "dating" him. I glance through the crowd, hoping to find a familiar, supportive face.

I let out a breath of relief as I watch Grayson pushing his way through the students. His eyes are filled with concern and confusion as he reaches us.

"What's going on?"