Standing in the Shadows

II

The second bell ringing through the nearly empty halls warns me to hurry up. No clue where my class is, I hastely search in my bag for the map I got send by email. At last I find it, along with my schedule. First class of the day: math. After a few minutes I arrive at the classroom. Luckily the teacher doesn't seem to be in a hurry, sitting at his desk concentrating on some paperwork, leaving the students to their talking.
I quickly get to a seat in the back of the classroom, staying away from any attention from the other students.
After a few minutes everyone is settled down in their seats, and the teacher directs his attention to his class. "First of all, I hope you all had a nice winterbreak." He turned his eyes to me. "Second, I'd like to introduce you to our new student." I've dreaded this moment for quite a while. When I was just a little kid, I never had any problem socializing or interacting with anyone. But since I lost my brother, a part of me shut down. Now all I want is to be left alone. I don't want to worry about anyone anymore, so it's best if I keep my distance. But now I'm the center of everyone's attention, since new students are a rarity in a small town like this. "Serena, welcome to Clearwater High. My name is Dean Parker, and I will be your mathematics teacher this year. For the rest of you lot, I expect you'll do your best to make her feel welcome." A stern look from Mr. Parker is shot at some students, but he quickly resumes his class. It doesn't take me long to understand why. A lot of eyes are constantly staring at me, and a lot of things are being said behind my back. The bell finally rings after a long hour, and I can't get away fast enough. I'm already the subject of the day. Everyone's talking about me and looking at me like I'm from a different world. The rest of the day is hell. At least twenty different theories about me have come up, not one pleasant. When my last class is over, I rush outside, take my bike and ride as fast as I can, putting as much distance between me and that social torture.
My legs are starting to burn, my throat is dry, but I barey notice. Thoughts and emotions are rushing through my head. Thoughts about my brother, how he took his own life a few years ago. I never understood why. I still don't. He didn't seem depressed, confused, or anything that would explain it. Above anything else, he would never leave me. And yet he did. Just like my father. I was only a week old, when he left us. My mother hasn't been the same since. For years she had been struggling with alcohol and drugs, leaving my brother to care for me. Often my brother and I were left home alone for weeks, not knowing where our mom was. But it was okay. I had my brother and he had me, and that was enough. Tears start to fill up my eyes and after a while I realise I don't know where I am anymore. I must have taken a wrong turn. Large trees surround me and the sunlight is already starting to fade away. The temperature also seems to drop, and goosebumps now cover my skin.
I realise I must get back home before complete darkness, so I make a turn and head back the way I came from.

suddenly a car at top speed comes racing towards me. I feel the car drive into me. Pain through my whole body. Crushing me. A male voice shouts.
I see a face close to mine, a familiar one..
A second later I see a bright light, and then everything goes black...