Bleeding Sun---Pico's School Retelling

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NENE

Where the hell is Courtney? I stayed up past curfew looking for her, and I still can't find her. She was there this morning in our room and she was there during class! I feel myself hyperventilating as I rush back to my room so the workers don't see me. Maybe she's in the bathroom?

My name is Nene Yorusake and Courtney Wrighthart is my roommate and best friend. In the two months I've been here, she was the nicest person to me. She's so supportive and so funny, but I don't like how she's just disappeared! When I told her how I got here, she was so understanding and it helped me feel heard. I don't know if I'm being overdramatic or what, but I just don't like how I can't find my best friend.

When I got to my room, I quickly pulled out my keys and unlocked the door. "Courtney?" I asked frighteningly when I walked in. I closed the door and walked over to the bathroom. I knocked on the door and listened for an answer. Why is it silent in there? When I turned the knob and opened the door only to find a dark bathroom, I slammed the door shut and turned my back to it. "Fuck!" I yelled as I covered my face and sunk down to the floor. Where the hell could she be? I swear if and when I find her, I'm going to cut her face up.

I pulled my face down in exhaust, and when I did I saw a tall girl taking stuff out of a bag. Or at least, what I assume is a girl given how they're in the girls hall. On what was supposed to be Courtney's side of the room, the walls were riddled with political slogans and posters of Bauhaus and Sisters of Mercy. The girl was wearing a black shirt that looked like some kind of tour merch and black and red plaid pants with combat boots. Their hair was short, slightly curly and blood red, with what looked like horns sticking up at the top.

"Who the hell..." I said as I got up from my spot. I went over to my dresser, and pulled out from under my clothes the small pocket knife from my collection. Quietly flicking the knife open, I crept over to this mystery person and slowly put the knife in front of me.

When I was at arm's length, I extended my arm fully to where the tip of the knife was at their neck. "Who the hell are you?" I said, loud enough to get their attention. They stopped removing stuff from the bag and turned their head slightly towards me. "I'm your new roommate. Just got here today."

"That's not true. Courtney's my roommate-"

"She was released."

"Huh?" My hand started to shake and my eyes began to water. I took a step back, practically shaking, and put my other hand on the one holding the knife. The girl turned around completely and faced me. The irises in their eyes were yellow, with the pupil being nothing more than a black slit. They wore heavy black eyeliner on the bottom of their eye and their bottom lip looked like it was dipped in red lipstick. They held their hand out, smiling pleasantly like they were expecting me to shake it.

"I'm Casandra. Or Cas, whichever you prefer."

So apparently, despite her telling me that there was no way in Heaven or Hell, Courtney was released this afternoon. She didn't even say goodbye or leave a note or anything! She just left me, like I meant nothing to her. I hugged my seal plush as I sat crossed legged in my bed, holding back tears so that I won't embarrass myself in front of this Casandra chick. It was now 6:45, so we were supposed to be heading to sleep now. But I can't, and apparently they can't either.

"You were a princess?" they said as they picked up my crown. As they tried to find a way to put on their head, I responded, "No, I was crowned queen at my school's prom." "Dope," They said as they put it back down on my dresser. They stood around for a while looking at the trophies from swim meets and the pictures I had on there, and then looked back at me.

God, those eyes were scary.

"So what did you do?" I asked as they went over to their bed. "Nothing. Told my folks I wanted to be here and they just signed me up." Cas plopped down on their bed and picked a black notebook that rested on the nightstand. It had a large pentagram on the back, along with some saying in what appeared to be German.

"What about you? Why are you here?" they said as they flipped through the pages of the notebook. I stayed silent. I hate that question. Ever since I came here people always asked me that stupid fucking question. It's none of their business! They don't need to know that shit. When Casandra picked up on my silence, they just closed their book and turned over with their back facing towards me.

"Goodnight, Nene," Cas mumbled. "Night," I said back. I turned the lamp off and got under my sheets, turning on my side.

Once again, my neck began to itch.