The Destined

Chapter 14: Melissa

    Melissa    

"Why in the world did you do that for?" I ask as I barge into Ms. Darling's classroom.

"What do you mean?" Anna asks as we take our seats in the back. Jesse calls Avani over. Avani gives us an "I-am-sorry" smile, and then she goes over to her.

"He was a nice guy. Do you think we get to talk to a whole lot of guys around here?" I say. Before Anna could respond, Ms. Darling walks into the room.

"Good morning, Class. Since we concluded our chapter on Rocks and Minerals yesterday, I will be showing you a video on the chapter we are starting next."

I swear, if there weren't so many rules in this classroom, all of us would be groaning right now. Ms. Darling wheels in this huge grey empty box that they call a TV, and she inserts a videocassette. From the case she puts down, I see it's titled "Planets and Us."

The movie takes up the whole period. I don't pay attention the whole time, because I can't stop thinking about the boy.

His name. He whispered it in my ear.

Rahim.

☾☾☾  

I go through all of my classes with no problem. All of them are boring, and I don't pay attention. I either play with my hair or read a book or something like that. It's not after dinner that I get worried. I had almost forgotten about the maze and Lotso. He never showed up for any of the meals and he didn't do the morning announcements either. As we head back to the dorms, I think about going to see him. He is probably in his office. The Cyclops is still fresh in my memory, although it seems distant. I have accepted the fact that we have to die in there, but I am not sure why it has to be us.

I stop in my tracks and turn around, pushing against the crowd towards Lotso's office. As soon as the crowd thins out, I run through shortcuts around the school, like through the gymnasium or the storage room that opens up to another hallway. In no time, I am knocking on his door.

"C'mon in," a hoarse voice struggles to answer. I walk in and gasp. I find Lotso, sitting on his desk warily, a bottle of alcohol in his hand. His other hand rests on his head. He lays back in his chair, his feet on his desk, groaning quietly. The ray of sunshine that usually gleams through the window is covered by the blinds and all the posters and photos that were on his wall are now ripped to shreds, on the ground or thrown in the trash can.

"Did you go mad?" I ask. Lotso looks at me doubtfully, as if he isn't sure I am standing right before him.

"Melissa?" Lotso strains his eyes to see me. "Why are you back so soon?"

"What?" I ask. "Are we supposed to stay in there?" I walk over to Lotso and help straighten him up. I grab the bottle from his hand and throw it in the garbage can. He could lose his job if they catch him. "Lotso, what the heck happened?"

Lotso clears his throat and a puff of liquor breath travels over to my nose. I resist the urge to gag. "I thought you would really be dead by now."

"We fought a Cyclops, but that was it." I look at him. "Is that all we had to do?"

"No...you..." Lotso collapses over his desk. I pick him up and prop him against his chair.

"Are you ok?"

"Fine."

"Are you sure?" I ask. "I am going to the nurse. Lotso, you stay here."