Such a Beautiful Massacre ✔

Chapter 4

Deep in a dark forest, I run. Running through what appears to be an endless maze of trails, each one leading nowhere. Thick vines hang low from tree branches, gripping me like spiderwebs. I lose my footing on exposed roots. I don’t even know what I’m running from exactly. Nobody’s chasing me, but I know I can’t stop. I have to keep going…
“Anna.”
I reach the end of the woods and see a clearing up ahead. Almost there.

A hand gently shook my shoulder. I surfaced from the dream, but didn’t open my eyes.
“Anna, wake up,” Fliss whispered. “We’re gonna leave soon.”
“Is it morning already?” I asked with a yawn. I squinted to see her, hovering over me in her jammies. “What time is it?”
“Never mind. Just get up or we’ll never leave for school on time.”
I plopped back on my pillow. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m so ready.”
“Mom made us pancakes,” Fliss sang as she made her way out of my room, leaving the door ajar halfway.
I took a deep breath in and exhaled as I stretched.
By the time school began, I was exhausted from all the work we’d done around the house. We’d gotten everything settled in, for the most part. Most of our belongings were unpacked now, so it didn’t look like hoarders resided here. All of the rooms had been painted, except for the bathroom. It made me happy that our house had been organized so nicely and swiftly. But after a week, fatigue had set in and I was ready to go into hibernation.
And I still had some things to sort through. I couldn’t believe how fast Monday morning had come.
I rose to my feet and walked to the bathroom. I undressed and hopped into the shower, the warm water splashing against my skin.
After washing up, I wrapped myself in my bathrobe and went into my closet to grab my uniform, which consisted of a white blouse, dark green pleated skirt, knee-high socks, and black Mary Jane shoes. I slipped into them and ran back into the bathroom to fix my hair. Fliss came in at the same time, squeezing by to reach the hair gel.
She was ready to go. Something about her blonde hair tied into a messy bun, a few strands falling perfectly down the side of her face, and her uniform reminded me of Hermione Granger.
I put on my blazer, fastening the first three buttons. It was the same dark green as my skirt and the school crest was patched on the left side. On it, two gold lions stood proudly on either side of a crimson shield. A little crown hung above the shield encircled by a ribbon, reading: Saint Regina’s, the name of our new school.
Before going downstairs, I examined myself in the mirror one last time and quirked my mouth to the side. My frizzy hair didn’t exactly come out the way I wanted it to, but it looked good enough. With my school supplies in my backpack, I was ready to go.
I headed downstairs into the kitchen and my eyes zipped to the clock on the microwave: 8:15 a.m.
Pleased with my excellent timing, I noticed a ceramic bowl on top of a plate on the kitchen counter, along with a sticky note from Mom.

Big girls have big appetites! Make sure you eat before you go. Love you much and see you soon.
Mom.

I smiled. Lifting the bowl, the aroma of fluffy, syrupy goodness filled the air. I took a pancake and wolfed it down. While I poured coffee into a thermos, Fliss came from behind and took a pancake.
“You ready?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yup. You?”
“I guess. I'm so nervous.”
“Don’t be. Everything will be fine,” I assured, sipping on the coffee.
The butterflies had already taken flight in my stomach. I knew things would be different, but I was looking forward to our first day.
We grabbed our raincoats on our way outside and unchained our bikes from the side of the house. I would have used my car to drive us there, but I’d learned I wasn’t old enough drive yet and needed another year before getting my driver's license. For the time being, though, I didn’t have a problem riding my bike. I figured it was more fun to ride to school that way. Besides, it only took fifteen minutes to get to Saint Regina’s.
Thick fog shrouded the neighborhood, making it difficult to see down the road. Luckily, the lampposts remained on, casting a bright orange glow, lighting the street. When Fliss and I turned to leave Downtown Stoneley, it started drizzling. I was grateful we’d thought to bring our raincoats.
As we got closer to Saint Regina’s more people began to appear. Cars parked alongside the sidewalk, a few teenagers zoomed past us on their bikes. Everybody looked so cheerful this morning, excited to see each other, hugging each other hello, and making conversation. Each student wore the same uniform, the Saint Regina's coat of arms patched to the upper left side of their blazers. We were in the right place.
Coming up to the building, we slid to a stop and clipped our bikes to a bike rack. I adjusted my backpack and made my way toward the entrance of the school, Fliss following beside me. Saint Regina's was constructed of brick and stone and shingled roofs. There were old, weatherworn arched doorways, and cobblestone walks with beautiful flowers of various types and colors. A small, wooden sign on a short stone base stood by the entrance of the school. It read in faded letters: