CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Level Thirty: I Take a Lamp to the Face

*Elle's PoV*

"Did you know.... month already?"

"....think she went?"

"...drugs, I bet you. ...the quiet ones, you know?..."

Gossip gossip gossip. That seemed to be all the kids in my grade could do since Maggie's disappearance. Nearly every whispered conversation I picked up on had something to do with my lost friend. When she was here at school our classmates barely said a word to her. Now that she was gone they had no problem at all talking about her.

"So, Elle," Naomi Winters mused, sliding into the seat across from mine. "You must know something about where Maggie's gone to. So spill."

I focused harder on the book in my hands, not even glancing up at her. Naomi for some reason loved making the lives of others miserable, and ever since elementary school Maggie and I had been her favorite targets.

"I heard you sold her to the black market so that you could use the money to buy new video games," Naomi shrugged.

I snorted, despite the fact that I was trying to ignore her. I looked up at her with a sarcastic expression, "Yes, because that makes total sense. Are you sure you 'heard' that and didn't just make it up yourself?"

Naomi sniffed, tipping her nose upward. "It seemed like a good theory to me, you're strange enough to do something like that."

I rolled my eyes, "Thank you, now will you kindly shut up before I sell you to the black market?"

Naomi pouted before quickly raising her hand. "Mr. Greyson, Elle told me to shut up!" She shouted.

"Elle," Mr. Greyson warned, though his tone lacked conviction. He seemed to be just as tired of Naomi's antics as I was.

"Sorry, Sir." I responded politely before casting a skeptical glance at Naomi. "How old are you, four? Please." I sighed and went back to the book I'd been attempting all period to read. 

"How can you even be sitting here so calmly?" Naomi asked darkly. "Some friend you are. Your best friend is missing, possibly dead or in sex trafficking or something and you're reading?"

I gritted my teeth, slightly crumbling the pages of my book. "Naomi, I would reeaally suggest that you mind your own business."

"I'm just stating the facts," Naomi shrugged, a mocking smile contorting her features. "It's just, jeeze, all the times she stood up for you and looked out for you all throughout elementary school and junior high, and now that she needs you to return the favor you're what? Reading Divergent. Great friend you are," She leans closer to me and whispers, "Tris dies in the last one anyway." 

I exhale a sharp breath and snap the book closed. How dare she say anything about mine and Maggie's friendship!

"Done reading already?" Naomi giggled, her annoying little fake pout back in place. "Oh, I'm sorry; did I ruin your book?" 

Okay, I'm done. Without giving it a second thought, I forcefully hurled all four-hundred and eighty-seven pages of dystopian gold at her head. It connected with a loud smack and everyone in the classroom fell silent as Naomi wailed in pain, clutching her nose. Although I felt like a terrible person admitting it, I was quite pleased to see the blood seeping out between her fingers. 

"What's wrong with you!?" She gasped, her voice muffled by her hands. 

"Oh, I'm sorry," I mimicked her pout, "did I ruin your face?" 

"Miss Carter!" Mr. Greyson shouted. 

"Already gone," I muttered, knowing he was planning to send me to see Mr. Malcom, the principal.