Dear Lucy

Chapter 15 : Who is Zoey?

I stood at the PSR door, hesitant to enter. The group project meeting felt like a daunting task. Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside.

All eyes turned to me, their gazes piercing. The room fell silent.

I slid into my seat, trying to avoid eye contact. Angelina's indifference was palpable, her expression unreadable.

Xena broke the awkward silence. "Look, guys, we all know Lucy isn't a thief. She was framed."

The room remained quiet, no one responding. Even Alex, usually vocal, stayed silent.

Xena attempted to move forward. "Okay, let's focus on the riddle. Did anyone make progress?"

Still, no one spoke.

I felt like an outcast, the tension suffocating. My presence seemed to be the reason for their silence.

Xena read the riddle out  "It's the whisper in the darkness that gives us hope, the warmth in the cold that makes us whole. It's the light in the eyes that shines like a beacon, guiding us through life's joys and sorrows. It's the gentle touch that heals our deepest wounds, and the soft voice that calms our troubled minds. What is the singular force that can transform our existence, elevating us to unimaginable heights, yet also has the capacity to reduce us to ashes, leaving scars that may never fully heal? What is the enigmatic entity that we simultaneously crave and fear, that we eagerly seek yet often struggle to define?" and no one said anything

"You guys should say something " Xena said

"Love" I whispered

"You're saying something?" Xena asked

"The answer is love " I said and everyone looked at me

"Love?? " Xena said and I nodded

"Love is the answer because it's the force that can bring us hope, healing, and guidance. It's the gentle touch that soothes our wounds and the light that shines through darkness. Love can transform our lives, but it can also be painful. It's a complex mix of joy, sorrow, and connection that makes life worth living and that's the answer " I said and stood up

After solving the riddle, I declared, "I think that's enough for today's meeting. If we're not done, I won't be attending anymore since you all know I've been suspended ."

With that, I stood up and walked out.

As I exited, I encountered Tiffany and her entourage.

"Look who we have here," Tiffany sneered.

"It's the thief." Her friend's taunt ignited my anger.

I tried to ignore them, walking away, but Tiffany signaled to her friends. One pushed me, sending me off balance.

Fury coursed through me as I struggled to stand. The second girl twisted my arm behind my back, while another grasped my leg.

The area was relatively deserted, with only a few students watching the scene unfold, seemingly entertained.

"Let me go!" I shouted, wincing in pain.

"Well, I wish to let you go, but no sinner will go unpunished," Tiffany sneered, pulling out a bag of white powder.

She sprinkled it on my face and hair, mocking me. I struggled to break free, but the girls holding me tight made it impossible.

The crowd grew, drawn by the commotion. Students watched, mesmerized, as Tiffany's humiliation continued.

"This is the real Oakland School," Tiffany declared, "where a thief shall not go unpunished."

She poured more powder on my face, transforming me into a ghostly figure. Then, she applied red lipstick to my cheeks, making me look like a demon.

"You can have it," she said, dropping the lipstick and signaling her friends to release me.

As they walked away, the other students followed, casting disgusted glances my way.

I stood alone, covered in powder and lipstick, feeling shattered.

I stood alone on the floor, swallowing hard to suppress my emotions. No tears would fall.

A figure appeared before me, and I hesitated to look up. Ethan's face came into view as he squatted down.

"I told you this is a dangerous school," he said softly, offering a handkerchief.

I refused his gesture

"I don't need your sympathy," I said, forcing myself to stand.

Ethan's eyes lingered on mine "This bullying will continue forever until you leave this school," he warned.

I turned away ,  his words falling on deaf ears

Ethan's grip on my hand tightened, his eyes blazing with anger.

"This was how Zoey acted too , stubborn and unyielding. And you know what happened?" he shouted, his voice echoing through the empty hallway.

I tried to shake off his grasp. "Let me go and leave me alone!"

But Ethan held firm. "Do you want to die just like Zoey?" he demanded, his words striking something into my heart.

My eyes widened, locked on his. "Who's Zoey?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan's expression twisted in anguish. "Someone I couldn't save," he whispered back. "Someone who suffered the same fate you're heading towards."

His words sent shivers down my spine.