A life in the Dark

C h a p t e r S e v e n t e e n

T h u r s d a y 2 4 t h O c t o b e r
Before school
_________

I woke up in a pool of blood that had seeped through my pyjamas and covers, creating a deep crimson pool around me. I tried to move but I couldn't get out of my current laying down position, for my wrists and ankles were bound to the bedposts under the duvet. The back of my head was pounding; raw. My breathing became jagged. Where was I? Why am I here?

I looked around in the dark but could hardly see anything more then half a metre away until suddenly there was light, blinding me and causing me to instinctively clamp my eyes shut and try to twist my head away from the source. "Well you're awake. Finally." I blinked up in the direction that the voice came from but all I could see was the outlines of two characters; eerie and looming. I felt weak. My head hurt. The person who spoke leant forwards, so that her face hovered only a few inches above mine. After a few moments my eyes adjusted to the light and the features of the silhouette came into view. Jadyn. Oh, kill me now! (On second thoughts that's what she probably wants to happen, so don't, actually.) "How are you feeling?" I didn't really think she was awaiting an answer, and I doubted I could speak anyway, but I opened my mouth nonetheless. Much to my amazement, (hint the sarcasm) no noise came out; my head ached. Then she began laughing-but not just a normal laugh. An evil, malicious laugh; one that seemed to echo around the confined room and bounce off of the walls that were towering over me, creating a sinister choir of devils that were messing with my brain; slowly making me insane. "Ha, as if I care.

"However, I really, truly, honestly hope you won't bleed to death too soon." I wanted to ask why but I gathered that she would take pleasure in enlightening me anyway. "Want to know why?" She's so predictable. I desperately tried to nod, but it hurt too much. My sight was going blurry. "Well, let's just say it goes something like this..."

From behind her back, she produced a knife, glinting dangerously in the light. "It's alright, you won't have to deal with the pain for much longer." I wanted to scream-to cry for my mum in fear and pain-but I couldn't. I wished someone could hear me: mum, Harley, Logan, Finley-heck-even Rachel or that red head. Someone... Anyone...

She raised the knife directly above my torso, the blade pointing towards my eyes. It can't end like this; not like this... Suddenly she brought the knife plunging down into me with a vomit-provoking sound, like a squelch of slime except the slime was naturally blood and guts. I looked down to see the knife sticking out of me, blood pouring out. But I was still breathing. I was still seeing. I was still alive. Just. I could feel the life rushing from me; I was so weak and faint. Then, I let my head down to rest as I listened to myself take my final breath...

*****

I awoke with a start, my breathing irregular and drenched in a liquid. Terrified I was lying in blood, I launched for the light switch, showing it was only sweat. I laid there a few minutes longer, breathing heavily and just calming down. Then I checked the time; it was still dark out. Only five in the morning! Are you kidding!

With a sigh, I got up and went to the bathroom, then the kitchen for breakfast. After that and my daily yoga, I still had an hour to waste so I got changed into some tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie and headed out for a quick jog, letting my thoughts evaporate.

*****

For the second time this morning, I stepped out into the autumn breeze, which ruffled through my hair. I shivered lightly, then started walking down the road, contentedly. Not paying attention, I was just crossing the little lane that runs between the field and my house and opposite from Harley's when suddenly I found myself lying flat on the path with my glasses flying off having been pushed from behind and the wind knocked right out of me. I stayed on the floor for a moment, gasping in as much air as I could for I didn't know what else to do. Then I felt a hard jab just below my ribcage as my attacker kicked me in the side, causing me to roll over precariously close to the road. My ribs were definitely bruised and I could feel blood trickling down my forehead and down my cheek down to my lips; the taste of iron filled my mouth and I started hyperventilating. Thinking rationally, I must've just cut my head when I fell but after this morning's incident it didn't feel that way: I was dying.

Dropping my bag, I stumbled to my feet, bawling my eyes out, and came face to face with an enraged and blurry Evelyn. I wanted nothing better than to shove her back into the stinging nettles awaiting patiently behind her but I was in no position to. Instead I ran, or hobbled, for the field however she had other plans as she tackled me onto the grass, straddling me as I cried, lashing out weakly in failed attempts to get her off of me. "Stop! Please stop, I don't want to die!" I brawled as she grinned menacingly down into my teared up eyes. All I could think of was my nightmare: the blood, the knife, the helplessness...

Ignoring me, she raised her arm and gave me a hard back-handed slap to the face, then another but before she could deliver a third, I gathered my legs up underneath her and kicked out with all my might, giving me enough time to escape but being the fucked-up bitch I am I scuttled, feeling my way, up against the lamppost and curled up into a ball, cuddling myself and letting the tears seep into my uniform. Then she returned, muttering about how stupid I am, and proceeded to pull at my hair then kick me with the heel of her shoe; I cried out in pain and terror as I felt it sink into my skin. A split second later I felt the same thing in my other shin; the pain was unbearable. Just as I was expecting a third, a voice called out. I kept my head down, petrified of dying, as I heard someone approaching...

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