Escaping Darkness

An Ordinary Day

I was walking down the hallways, trying not to be noticed by anyone. The halls were still dark, making them more comforting as I walked down them. I walked slowly, looking down at my black converse as they went in and out of sight. Left, right, left, right.. I didn't want to look up, knowing that if I did I'd get grabbed and locked back in my locker until a teacher pulled me out. I continued to walk, until I heard laughter; Male laughter. I froze up, knowing who they were as soon as I felt pressure on my left shoulder. "Hey there, Hope. What are you doing, walking in our halls?" It was Gabe, one of Heatherville High's linebackers. He was one of my worst bullies. I ignored him, hoping that if I did he would leave me alone this time. He didn't. I felt him pick me up and throw me over his shoulder landing right on the semi spiky strap of his backpack. I'm always grateful the spikes are bendy and soft, or they would hurt a lot more. The boys laughed as one decided it'd be funny to pull on my brown, straight hair. I yelped and tried to get him to stop, my blue eyes welling up in tears. They continued to laugh and finally stopped, but, when I thought I was safe, they started to walk with me still being held hostage in Gabe's grip. I looked around with fear in my eyes, hoping that someone, anyone, would save me from the start of the day's torture. No one did. They all stood there, some laughing, some recording it, some even asking if they could join in. I was all alone. The boys continued to walk, some of them every now and then smacking my ass which made me yelp in pain. They did this every morning. Some of them said I was cute when I was begging for someone to save me, like I was now. I looked back to see the boys had conjured up some small mob, following them to my locker. I never had much in there. Maybe a book or two, sometimes other useless school items I never really needed for the day. They pushed me in and locked it with their locks from their bags. I didn't have a lock since I never used my locker. I pounded on the door, begging, praying and pleading for someone to let me out. No one did. They all laughed and left as the bell rang. I slid down to the bottom of the locker and hugged my knees close to my chest. Since I rarely ate, I was skinny enough to do this. I slowly started to let the tears out. I never really had friends, so I've always been alone. I sat in my locker, listening to the bells of each period go by. First period. Second period. Third. My teachers knew this happened, and they always let me stay after school, just so I could get the notes and homework so I didn't fail, yet, they never bothered to let me out. Despite never being in class, they gave me perfect attendance and I got good grades, but, it just didn't matter. Soon the final bell rang, meaning school was over. I smiled a little, glad and relieved that I didn't get beat up. I slowly stood up, my legs screaming in pain the closer I got to standing straight up. I grabbed my lock pick. I carried one around with me since Gabe's lock had a keyhole in it. I unlocked it and went to each of my classes, finishing them and then slowly making my way home. I lived in Oregon, so it wasn't always too hot. I walked along the sidewalk, listening to every noise as I walked and soon turned to the small street I lived on. I slowly opened the door to my house. We lived on the corner, so I didn't have to walk past all the other houses and I enjoyed that. As I opened the door, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes filled my senses. I stifled a cough and quietly shut the door, hoping no one would hear it over the loud noises of the TV and my parents arguing. They always fought and never was there a moment they didn't. The only reason they were still together was because of money issues. Luckily, no one heard me. My older brother was sitting on the couch, watching Empire with his bitchy girlfriend. My brother looked like me except a little thicker, more muscles, taller, and had grey eyes. His bitchy girlfriend, Kelly, with her blonde hair, pretty body frame and brown eyes, was leaning on his shoulder. 'Slut' was all I could think about her before I quietly crept upstairs, or, tried to. I accidentally made a creak with the steps. I silently gasped, hoping no one heard it. I was wrong. I heard Kelly giggle and whisper to my brother John, "I think your little sister is home!" I quickly ran into my room, trying to barricade it. I didn't have a lock on my door since I was their punching bag. I tried to move my dresser, but failed to due to my lack of muscles. I heard the door open to see Kelly with a few belts and my brother with a small knife. I cowered into my corner behind my dresser. I had it like that so it'd be harder to get to me, but it never worked. Kelly reached behind and grabbed me by my hair, making me yelp in the process. She then threw me on the bed and tied me up with two of the belts she had with her, keeping the third one in her hands. I sobbed as I tried to move, but couldn't and waited for the torture to start. Kelly went first, standing over me with the belt. She grinned, raising the belt above her head before quickly striking it down, right on my torso. "WHACK!" The sound was near deafening. I winced and cried out in pain, trying to curl up into a ball with no luck. The belts had me tied down fairly well, which was extremely annoying and painful. This process repeated about six more times. Once more on my stomach, one on each leg, and the other three lining down my back. I struggled and cried, tears flowing down my face, causing the top of my shirt to get soaked. Next, my brother came over with the knife, an evil smirk decorating his piercing glare. He gripped the knife, bringing it down and over some of the previous scars he had made. The cold blade pressed against my skin, slowly puncturing the skin. The dragged the punctured knife across my right arm, making it go through several scars. I screamed louder as I felt the knife move throughout my body. He only did this three times. The first one in my right arm, the second being in my left thigh, and the last one right over the marks Kelly had given me on my torso. I started to choke on my sobs, feeling the blood run down my body. Kelly soon untied me but not before I heard her whisper in my ear; "We went easy on you today, you little bitch." She then left, pulling John along with her. I slowly sat up, wincing as I did. I walked, or rather limped, over to my closet and pulled out a razor. I had been given it a while ago by John, with him spitting in my face about how much he hates me. I slowly cut marks across my arms and legs, going over the marks him and his girlfriend left on me. I soon hid the blade and bandaged myself up. Soon, I put the stuff away and sat in my closet, sobbing into my knees as I pulled them closer to my chest. I soon fell asleep, having another dreamless slumber. Nothing has ever changed.