A shadow among men

School of hell

     I opened my eyes. My room was still  pretty dark despite my closet light. I could see a little bit though. What time is it? I sat up slowly causing a sharp piercing pain in the side of my head. I had a flashback, of Doc holding the drill to my head. I shook my head. none of that now  I thought to myself. I looked down to my floor, Celeste was asleep on the mattress. I sighed, she was able to sleep so easily. Probably because she didn't have as much pain. I moved the blanket away from my legs and swung my legs off the bed. They almost touched the ground. I grabbed my phone and turned it on, it was too bright and stung my eyes, causing my head to hurt more. I dropped the phone face down on my bed. I hate this. I hate it so much. I felt my eyes watering, I never cried before, now I cry every day.

     I looked at my alarm clock, almost six. I guess it was close enough to when I was supposed to be up. Celeste and I started school yesterday, the teachers acted as if we died or something, no work, no tests. I guess it's not all bad, but every time they act like that it only brings up memories. Our schedules were manipulated so that we had the same classes except one, on Celeste's level of course, I could handle it though, I was smart. I gently put a hand on the side of my head. I winced back. It hurts to even touch it. I'm sure it's visible too. How am I going to hide it, I looked at my hand. Red, it was bleeding too. I sighed, it was a bit louder than I had intended. "I'll get the bandages." I looked up, Celeste was already off the mattress and digging into my bed drawers. I looked at her and cocked my head as she shut the drawer and sat by me. "I wasn't actually asleep if you were wondering. You know I haven't been able to sleep, and neither have you." She said. "Now, turn towards me" She said holding the bandage. I pulled my legs up and crossed them so I was now facing her. I made sure my head was level. She began wrapping the bandage gently. She left the top layer of my hair out to try and cover it up, but it still went across my forehead.

     I bowed my head and messed with my bed sheet. She lifted my chin. "Don't worry, if anyone asks about it, i'll fuck 'em up" She smiled, I could tell she was joking. I'm the fighter not her. I smiled a bit though, it's the thought that counts. "Now, what say we change?" She said standing up. I nodded. Even though it has been a month since we got out, nothing went back to normal. I wish we could have just had everything go back to normal, but no. Everything is now just a shit show. School was hell because everyone asked me about those stupid Xs on my neck. I began to cry. would you stop crying you blubbering fool I was never good at knocking sense into myself. I wiped my eyes and stood on shaky legs. I went around the mattress on the floor to my dresser and changed into black jeans and a long sleeve shirt. I chose a thin shirt of course, because it was spring and getting too warm. I grabbed a scarf as well. I don't want anymore questions. I grabbed my boots and bookbag, no need for a jacket. "Ready?" Celeste and I didn't take long. I nodded.

     We went upstairs in time to see my dad off. He hugged me tightly before walking out though. I hate worrying him and mom. "You guys are up all ready?" My mom asked almost dropping her coffee. She sat in the living room watching the news. We had shown up on the news for a while but it died down. "Yeah. We uh, couldn't sleep" Celeste answered.  "Want to watch the news with me, or head to school early?" I looked at the screen and all I saw was a kidnapping case. I quickly looked away and held up the number two. "school I guess." Celeste said with a sigh. "All right, let me grab some shoes." My mom went to the front door and grabbed her shoes. "I'll start the car" She said walking outside after putting her shoes on. The door shut with a slight thud, leaving Celeste and I standing in the living room. "And now a case of two young girls" The news anchor began. "Let's go" Celeste heard him too. I followed her out the door, It was a little chilly but still nice. My mom was in the car ready to go so I hopped in the front seat and Celeste claimed the back. 

     She backed out and began driving to the school, I looked out the window. I saw a few kids walking to who knows where. As we pulled up to the school I could have sworn I saw a tall shadow around the corner. I looked again, nothing.  You are going crazy I thought. "Have a good day and text if you need anything okay?" My mom said. I threw my scarf on and nodded, I gave her a hug and climbed out of the car. Celeste was by my side as we walked into the building. My mom dropped us off by the cafeteria so there were already students.As we walked to our usual table I looked out the window. The cafeteria was mostly glass so I could see outside the whole time. I never saw a shadow, just more students and even a cat went by. We sat down, there were already some of our friends. "Morning Celeste, morning Summer" Jordan said. Jordan was a short, blonde girl, also one of my closer friends. I pushed my hair over my face more, to cover up the bandage. "Hey, don't worry about your bandage sis" Jay dropped down next to me. He was the older brother figure in my life, since I don't actually have an older brother. "If anyone says anything, punch them. Or call me, and I will punch them" Jay smiled, he was protective over me, and he was also one of the few people who could make me smile in the worst of times, Celeste was also one of those people. my group of friends, and my teachers, knew I couldn't speak so if they really needed my answer they asked me to write it down.

     One by one each of my friends showed up, including Serena, she always woke up late. We sat at the table just sitting and listening until the bell. Our first period was the one class we didn't have together, only because I needed my stupid history credit and she couldn't retake the class. She has a creative writing class instead. She walked me to my class, hers was just down the hall. "Text if you need me" She said giving me a hug. She went down the hall and I went into my class. I sat in the front of the room, which kind of bugs me but at the same time is good, no one can see my face. The bell rang and I kept my head down, the teacher looked at me but said nothing directed to me. "We will start of with our usual student news then we have a test." She said, she was tall and slender with long brown hair. I never really learned her name, she was new. She went to her computer and started up the news show. "Good morning everyone" It started out, I kind of tuned out, I don't remember what he said in that stupid intro. "Today we will begin with the case of what police are calling Hell on earth." I looked away from the screen, he knew nothing of hell. "And just last night the kidnapper of this case was released of all chargers and is now out of jail. A man by the name of Mitchell Ravens" My heart skipped a beat. I looked up at the screen. My eyes widened, next to the anchor a picture. A picture of the man I hate the most. Right there. "The police have not told us any evidence on why he is innocent. All us anchors know is the story of the two girls he kidnapped and supposedly tortured. Their names are-" Please god no, don't say my name "Celeste Woods and-" I couldn't stand it any longer I jumped up from my desk and ran from the classroom as the words escaped his lips "Summer Young"