Once Upon A Beating Heart

All about school

The door locked and we pounded our fists on it until we heard a faint voice.

"Mother, please don't" Regina said. "It's not their fault"
"They need to learn. They need to fix this awful habit of-"
"But mother...."

A loud crack echoed through the hallway an we heard it louder than a thunder.

"Do not interrupt me, Regina" Cora snapped. "You should know this by now"
"Of course, mother" I heard an obedient voice and it made me sick to the stomach at what Cora had done to her daughter.

When we heard heels walk off, Georgia shouted;

"You better frickin get come back here, you bitch!"

The heels did come back and the door swung open. Cora dug her nails into Georgia's arm and pulled her out, shutting the door with me still inside.
I put my ear to the door as I heard distant struggling, a lot of shouting, and finally, one ear splitting scream.

After a while the door opened again and I resisted the urge to slap Cora in the face. She threw Georgia inside and she slammed into the floor. I ran over to her and the door closed again.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, taking her hair out of her face.

Georgia didn't answer. She just sat up and leaned against the wall.

"What happened?" I tried again.

I got the same response so I just sat down next to her and she rested her head on my shoulder as I felt the sleeve of my top getting wet.
Georgia finally cried herself to sleep. But I couldn't. Too many things was going through my mind. Like what the hell happened to my sister for her to be acting like that.

I think I slept a little though, because the next thing I know, Georgia's shaking me because the door opens, letting in some light.
Cora stood there, and it took everything I had to stay put and not run up to her and punch her in that smirking face.

I put my arm around Georgia to give her some support. Whatever happened last night must have been nasty.

"Well don't just sit there, we have a school to get to" Cora snapped. "Or would you rather stay in here?"

I helped Georgia up and glared at our aunt on the way out. We went to our room and grabbed our stuff.

"I'm so sorry" Regina came into the room. "I tried to stop her but she-"
"I know" I said. "I heard"

Georgia rolled her eyes and walked ahead.

"You don't happen to know what she did to her, do you?" I asked, referring to my sister.
"What she usually does" Regina answered. "But I don't think it's my place to say. "She'll tell you in time"
"Sure"
"Just hope you're not in her house" She said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"She's the head of a house at the school" Regina helped me pick up a bag.
"What's she like as a teacher?" I sighed and started walking.
"Like she is here" Regina said.
"She scares all the kids in my class. Even Killian"
"Killian?" I frowned.
"The 'tough' guy in our year" She said.
"I see...so what house are you in?" I asked.
"You know my luck. Who's do you think?" Regina sighed.
"Cora's?" I asked sarcastically.
"Exactly" She said. "Each house has a set of rules made by the head of the house. We have most. Each house has a tower. Years 7s on the second floor, 8s on the third, 9s, 10s and 11s on the fourth, fifth and sixth. Each head of house stays in the tower as well so no one can be in the living room past the certain times. And lights out by whenever my mother says"
"What time do we have to wake up and go to bed?" I asked.
"It might be different this year but wake up at 6:30, leave the living room by 8:00 and lights out by 9:00. Also, my mum's best friend patrols the halls of our house at night so don't get out of bed."
"Cora's best friend?" I asked, wondering how on earth she could be friends with anyone.
"Yeah, miss De Vil." Regina frowned. "Nasty piece of work that one"
"Right. So who do you avoid?" I asked.
"Most of the boys. The girls are really nice though. No bitches, but the teachers make up for that. There's Mr Gold- maths teacher. He's okay. Mr Pan- PE teacher. So fit but makes you run. Miss De Vil- art teacher. The horrible one I told you about. Mrs Black- English teacher. Really strict, but good enough teacher. Mrs Snowflake- Science teacher. She's quite nice. Mrs Ocean- history teacher. Crazy that one. And then Mrs Mills- geography. My mother."
"Oh" I said. "So what are the actual houses called?"
"Neverland, Arendelle, Oz and mine, Wonderland" Regina said rushed before picking up her pace. "Mother will be waiting for us at the car, we better be quick."

We jogged out of the house to see Cora whispering something into Georgia's ear, who looked terrified. We walked over and she let go of her, standing up to full height.

"What on Earth took you so long?" She snapped. "Get in the car"