TRUE STORIES

CHOKED TO DEATH

I was at school sleeping in the nurse's office when students came inside. I hadn't opened the curtains so I didn't see who had come. But from the voices I could tell that there were three students, one who was badly injured I guess. She was breathing abnormally and loudly. As if someone had choked her. She even made weird noises.

'What happened to her?' I heard the nurse ask.

'She was fine today but suddenly she got all weird and started crying' the girls tried to explain. 'I don't know. Please do something! She never was like this'

'I will do whatever. So please don't worry'

There was a moment of no conversation. I was curious. The girl who was brought there was making weird noises. I guess I heard the same from somewhere.

Uh oh! Could it be? No way!!

I sat up and slowly peeked from the curtains. Everyone had their backs on me. But that girl. She wasn't injured or anything. She looked like she was being choked. I wanted to go up to her and take a good look. However, I was simply secretly sleeping there. Being found out wasn't a good idea.

So I laid down on the bed. I gulped several time. Remembering how Terence had been. But what if she was having a heat stroke? Maybe something else? These days, whatever reaction from injured people makes me want to believe that they are possessed. It was stressful.

Several moments later, the girl had calmed down. One of the girls was given permission to stay with her. I secretly watched the nurse leave. It was after seconds that I came out of my hiding place.

The girl gasped 'what the' she placed a hand on her chest. Then looked at my badge. She would have shouted at me for frightening her. But knowing that I was a third year she pursed her lips to a tight line 'hello'

I never took notice of the badges. In school. Everyone was same. Except for Terence and their age people. They were the diploma students. And were way different from us.

'Sorry. I woke up to this' I let out a fake yawn 'so. What happened to her? Is she okay?'

She was about to answer when the other girl stirred. She opened her eyes slowly.

'Ria? I'm here. Everything is fine' she held her hands and assured her.

'I feel...' the girl named Ria spoke in a cold hoarse tone 'horrible'

'What? Wait. I will give you water' I was surprised that Ria hadn't refused to drink. She looked like she would shout at someone.

'So horrible. I want to die'

Uh... wait a second. Woah wait...hold up girl.

'What? Ria. What are you saying? Don't say that. I'm here. If anything bothering you please tell me' her voice breaking.

'You don't know. How it feels. Choking me... I know I should die'

This Ria girl was definitely having a mental breakdown here. She literally was saying she will die. And that's suicidal.

'Ria. No. don't say that. I will call the nurse' the girl glanced at me and then hurried out.

I went near the bed 'Ria... who is choking you?'

My voice was foreign to her. And she titled her head to look at me. Her eyes looked so tired like. As if life was draining out of her.

'Who are you?' she asked confused.

'No. answer me first. Who is choking you?' I asked more seriously.

I saw her gulp. With teary eyes she said 'no one asked me that. No one cares'

I didn't say anything. I just looked at her. She sniffed 'he is choking me'

'Who?'

'The devil' her eyes were wide as she said that.

My heart skipped a beat. Just then the nurse and even a teacher came in. they all took notice of me but didn't ask anything as they treated to the girl who began to growl.

I found myself running through the hallway. I was halfway when I saw Travis with his group. I wasn't supposed to be in that building but. I was desperate to find someone.

Travis noticed me 'hey Sarah. What's up?'

'I know this is sooo crazy but just now. There was this girl who came to the nurse's room and she acted...' I paused before saying beadily 'strange' I saw Travis's jaw tighten a bit. 'And she said she was being choked. I asked who'

'Whoa... someone is to be on the crime list?' Travis's friends asked while listening to me.

'Who?' Travis asked. His eyes darkened. Everyone stared at me for an explanation.

'The devil'

Everyone began to laugh except for Travis and I. we both were still.

'Oh man!! That was a good one!!' the tall blonde laughed out loud.

'Guys I will be back' Travis said and we both left them.

'Hey are you taking her seriously? Didn't she just joked?' they called after us.

We got near the nurse's office. But there were many people there. Even the girls from before. The principal also came at that moment.

'What is happening here?' he got through the crowd.

'Ria Hills from class 1-A. she locked herself in there' the nurse said worriedly.

'What?' he began to pound on the door 'Miss Hills. Open the door!'

After a moment, the janitors came around and destroyed the lock and handle before going in. the girls even got in. Travis and I stayed out. But from the way all the girls shouted. We both knew what could have happened to her.

At home we all sat to look at the news. Even if the picture was mostly censored we already knew how it was like. The girl in the photo. Ria Hills. Her whole body was distorted like. Her limbs broken. There were visible bloodied scratch marks going all over her neck. And her eyes and mouth. They were open wide, letting us see how horrified she was in her death.

She was choked to death at the same moment that bastard devil broke her.