I ran down the hallway, trying desperately to find a way out. I could hear them behind me, the demons of hell. They had caught my scent and were catching up to me quickly. My heart was beating hard in my chest and I could barely breathe, but I still kept running, desperate to keep them from catching me.
I made it to the door, but it was locked tight. I fumbled with the locks, but my palms were sweaty and kept falling off them. "Shit!" I exclaimed. I could feel them coming faster. There was no way to escape...
I opened my eyes to my dark room, panting and covered in sweat. My black hair was sticking to my forehead. I turned on the lamp on my nightstand and looked at my alarm clock. It was 7:30 in the morning. I groaned. I had to be at school soon. I got up from the bed and went to the bathroom.
I turned on the hot water and while it was heating up, I glanced at myself in the mirror above the sink. A seventeen year old boy looked back at me, looking pretty average. I was only around 5'9". I had black hair and blue eyes. I had always wanted my lip pierced, but my parents wouldn't let me get it done.
I climbed in the shower, letting the hot water and down my shoulders. I was waking up slightly, but I still felt the nightmare coursing through my body. I was still on edge, but I was calming down slowly.
I heard a knock on the door. "Lochlan! Hurry up or you're going to be late for school!" I heard my mom yell through the door.
Sighing, I shut the water off and climbed out, wrapping the towel around my waist. I went back to my bedroom and closed the door. I crossed over to the closet and pulled out a Misfits t-shirt and a pair of black jeans. I put them on. As I was applying eyeliner in the mirror, I again got a look at myself. Something was different about me. I couldn't see it, but I could feel it.
The door to my room opened and my mother poked her head in. "Lochlan, are you ready yet?" she asked.
I sighed and went over to the bed to pull on my boots. "Almost. I overslept," I said.
She came in and sat down beside me. "Are you okay? You never oversleep."
"Just had a bad dream. That's all. The effects haven't fully gone away yet."
"You want to talk about it?" she asked.
I sighed. "Not really. I just want to get to school and get this day over with." I stood up and grabbed my black leather jacket and my Black Veil Brides messenger bag. "I'll see you later, mom."
"Try to have a good day, sweetie," she said, hugging me.
I hugged her back tightly then grabbed the keys to my motorcycle and went out the door.
I went to my locker before class, hoping my day wouldn't turn any worse. I opened my locker and pulled out the books I needed then closed it back. I turned around and started making my way to my first class...and was tripped by that incorrigible jock, Michael Davis. My books scattered all over the floor and, cursing, I got up. I went to grab for my Calculus book, but he kicked it out of the way. His football friends started laughing.
Glaring, I stood up, my whole body shaking with anger. I tried to suppress it and grabbed for my book again. He kicked it again. "Michael, damn you! Leave me the fuck alone and let me get to class," I said.
He smirked. But he allowed me to get up and grab my books up from the floor. As I tried to pass him again, he shoved me into the lockers then walked past me on the way to his class, laughing with his friends. "Fucking pricks," I said under my breath as I made my way into the classroom.
"You're late, Matthews," Mr. Bostick said, not taking his eyes off the chalkboard in front of him.
"I know," I said, sighing. I went to the back of the classroom and sat down. I pulled out my notebook and pen and started copying the notes down while Mr. Bostick began teaching.
About midway through the day, I started finding it hard to concentrate. The nightmare still played in my head in vivid detail, and I was jumping at every shadow. I needed a cigarette to calm my nerves, but I couldn't smoke on school grounds. I was already one strike away from being kicked out thanks to Michael and his football buddies, and the last thing I needed was to be kicked out for smoking.
I maneuvered my way into the courtyard for lunch and sat down by myself at the same table I'd been at since starting school here four years ago. I took out my lunch and started eating when a girl came and sat down a few feet down the table from me. She had long black hair with purple highlights and was dressed from had to toe in black. She was beautiful.
I noticed her bag next. It was a Black Veil Brides messenger bag almost exactly like my own. "BVB. I love that band," I said, startling her from her thoughts.
She glanced down at her bag then saw mine right beside it. When she looked back up at me, she was smiling. "Yeah. They're great. I saw them at Warped Tour over the summer. They were amazing."
"I caught their Church Of The Wild Ones tour," I stated. "My name's Lochlan. What's yours?"
"Izzy. It's short for Isabella. My parents like calling me Bella, but I prefer Izzy," she stated.
"I like that. What class do you have next?"
"Chorus." She made a face. "Fucking showtunes. I'd much rather be on tour with my band right now. But according to the law, I have to be at school. At least until I turn eighteen."
"You have a band?"
"Yeah. It's called Darkness Falls. Our sound is basically a mix of BVB, My Chem, and Marilyn Manson. It's a weird sound, but it's all ours."
"Cool. I'd like to hear you guys sometime."
"We have a practice this afternoon. You could come by if you want. It's right after school in the auditorium."
"I'll see if I can make it." I mimed checking my schedule. "Oh look. I have this afternoon free."
Izzy laughed. "I'll see you this afternoon then. Lochlan." She smiled and picked up her bag. I watched her make her way across the courtyard until she vanished from sight. Just the way she carried herself said she was confident. The bell ringing startled me from my thoughts and I quickly finished my lunch and made my way to my last class.
