𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗥 | 𝗦𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲

18. Hit List

I was unsure of what to do next as I cried at my locker, gripping my gun in sweaty hands. I wasn't sure where to run and my legs just ended up leading me here. My fingers moved over the intricate golden patterns carved into my gun as I glanced up and down the hallway frantically, nearly giving myself whiplash. To say I was scared was an understatement. My only reason for holding my gun at the ready—even though it wasn't loaded—was because I needed to feel safe from the Nightmares if they decided to torture me.

Talin and Cornelius, no doubt, had already told their Nightmare Leader what I'd said. The dangers of losing my temper was the assumptions my mind created in less then a second, and my big mouth yelling my thoughts. I never should've opened up my mouth. My panic attack had no end and the feeling it gave me was death at every corner, like my world was all physically caving in on me.

Riley texted me, wondering where I was, but I couldn't let go of my gun to reply, so I let him worry and waited until my next class. Out of nowhere the bell rung, causing me to jump and pull the trigger of the fortunately unloaded gun. Wow! That was easier than I expected. As the halls began to fill, I quickly stuffed my gun back in my locker under some spare clothes that I always kept in there in case of emergencies.

Two more days until the weekend, I was pretty sure I could survive. Maybe. Probably. Just for curiosity purposes, I wondered how someone would go about getting some bullets.

I quickly exchanged books for my class and hurried off to Homeroom, a few random people purposely bumping into my shoulders. Looks like things were quickly returning to normal after the cheerleader tryouts. For a short couple of days, I was a school hero. Anyone who had ever been picked on by any of the cheerleaders, Nightmares or jocks were congratulating me and patting me on the back.

It felt great to be appreciated by someone outside the family because everyone knew that it didn't matter how much your mom told you that you were beautiful, smart or clever, it didn't really count. Unfortunately, now everything was returning to how it had always been.

It was extremely difficult to focus on the teachers words during class, because the demons inside kept yelling at me, putting unruly thoughts into my head. After class, I dragged myself to my locker, Riley bombing me with thousands of questions. "Where were you during lunch?! I mean, come on, I turn away for one moment and then you suddenly disappear! You need to stop doing that to me, Aria. Aria? Are you even listening?!" Riley asked.

"I'm trying not to." I mumbled.

"Aria, be serious!"

"I am being plenty serious." I snapped, facing Riley. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I was just on the phone with my brother."

Riley sighed and nodded. "Okay, then. As long as you're all right. I just panicked because I couldn't see Talin or Cornelius and I was afraid you'd gotten hurt."

"Everybody just needs to stop being so protective of me! I've been coming and going to school every day for years and I'm not in coffin. Doesn't that tell you guys something?"

"You can still be in pain without being dead, you know. You've got to expect more of my worrying because I won't stop. You're my best friend, Aria." Riley said, swinging his arm over my shoulders and giving me a gentle squeeze.

I smiled slightly as we continued to walk, leaning my head on his shoulder. We were suddenly both stopped when a group of people started crowding around us, pulling out their phones. A cheerleader with dyed purplish-reddish hair came closer and grinned evilly.

"Oh look, the two love birds. Smile for the camera, Freaks!" She laughed as a thousand silent clicks went off, a ringing laughter echoing in my ears. "Riley and Aria, sittin' in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, second comes marriage, then comes the baby on a rocking horse!"