Ghost Of You *SLOW UPDATES*

Chapter 19

My phone dings quietly in my pocket with texts from Luke flooding my thoughts as I sit in on one of the last classes of term before we all get two weeks to prepare for the grand finale. I quickly put it on mute before I rest my head on a rolled-up fist whilst Mr Giles talks about the fundamentals behind matching a vocal line to an instrumental. My spare hand numbly writes down everything he says whilst I look down at the paper and try to focus on what it is I'm writing.

That is, until someone knocks on the door and the door at the back of the class room opens.

My throat immediately constricts at the sight as her smooth tone fills the room and she says, "Can you please excuse Shayla Holmes? She and I are going out for lunch together."

I look to Mr Giles who nods his head and gestures for me to pack up my things and leave so I lift the lid of my notebook and shut it carefully before gathering all other belongings and holding them against my chest due to my lack of bag. I shuffle over to the door as her lips curve up into a poisonous smile and she rests a dangerous hand on my shoulder as she chauffeurs me out of the classroom.

"Did you miss me dear?" She whispers in my ear as my scarred arms itch crazily at the memory of the past she has forced me through.

"Of course Mother." I reply quietly as we walk through the empty halls of the Music Theory building located next to the auditorium.

The grip she has on my shoulder tightens as she asks in a more clear voice, "Where are your dorms? We should probably go put your things away."

I feel my body grow numb at her words as terrible thoughts fleet in and out of my mind as I gesture towards the tall dorm building in the centre of the campus. My knuckles turn white at the tight grip I have on my books as we march towards the dormitories, her hand never leaving my shoulder as though just that contact is enough to keep me here.

I feel my phone vibrate in my leather pocket as I subtly slip my hand in my pocket and answer the call as Mum removes her hand from my shoulder as we walk into the building. The phone remains in my pocket as I stare at my mother nervously.

"What floor are you on Shayla?" She asks as I simply lead her to the elevator and reply with, "I'm on floor 10, room 18 mother."

She huffs in annoyance as she follows me into the elevator and presses my floor number as the doors shut again and enclose us within its metallic confines. We remain in silence until we reach my floor, before we walk out into the hallway and approach my room door.

My shaky hand reaches for the door knob as I twist the handle and push the door open to reveal my reasonably tidy room. Mum visibly winces at the imperfect sight as she mutter out, "It looks like a rampant elephant has run through here."

"I like it very much thank you mother." I snap back as I walk past her and slam my books down on the desk.

She slams my bedroom door closed before locking it and turning her piercing green-eyed gaze my way.

"Don't you dare speak that way to me you little bitch." She snarls as she takes her heavy black coat off and throws it down on my partially made bed.

I don't dare falter in stance as she swaggers her way over to me and raises her hand before bringing it down against my cheeks in a heated slap. My head snaps to the right harshly as I immediately react and cradle the stinging cheek as tears fill my eyes and she spits, "You have made a complete fool of me and I can't have it anymore dearest daughter. Everything I have done for you has been for the best and this is how you repay me? You disappoint me."

I turn to her slightly as she lashes her hand out again and backhands my opposite cheek as I crash to the ground in a mess of black jeans and tear stained leather. A soft sob escape my mouth as I whisper, "You were never my mother."

"What was that pig?" She spits as I hear a slight beep from my phone signalling that whoever was on the phone has ended the call.

My lips curl upwards as I snarl at her, "You were never my mother."

She screams and I can't help but fear her as she kicks me in the gut and kneels down beside me as she laughs cruelly and begins to beat me senseless, her fists crashing down upon my body always meeting their mark easily as I cry out in pain.

My eyes are closed tight in pain as I hear a crack ring through the room followed by a sharp pain in right arm as I peer through heavy lidded eyes to see her standing over my limp body, a triumphant smirk plastered on her face.

"You worthless, insignificant slut." She hollers as a thudding knock rings through the room followed by my saviours yelling viciously.

I weakly cry out my boyfriend's name as she delivers another kick to the gut causing me to gurgle out a pained groan as I bring my legs closer to my chest in an attempt to cover myself.

I hear the boys fumble with a key in the door as it then flings open and I see all four boys run into the room, Luke and Calum rushing to my side as Michael and Ashton go to confront my mother.

The metallic tang of blood fills my mouth and dribbles out of my lips as I see Luke shed a few tears and he begins to shout a few things which are silent to my ears.

Stay awake, He mouths as Calum carefully picks up my throbbing arm and Luke helps sit me upright regardless of the whimpers escaping my lips as the blood bubbles and drips on to my jacket. Calum stands up from the ground and rushes to my cupboard where he retrieves a scarf and begins to wrap it around both arm and neck in a temporary sling.

I feel Luke lift me up in his arms as black dots begin to cloud my vision as a piercing siren rings through the corridor and Cal, Luke and I hide in the elevator which takes us to the bottom floor. My eyes begin to close slightly as I feel myself being laid down on a bed of some sort. I open my eyes with whatever remaining strength I have and find two paramedics looking down at me as well as a distraught Luke who is saying things to the medics as they begin to wheel my bed away.

The blinding white light becomes to much as I feel the bed lift up and it rolls into the ambulance. I feel someone clutch on to my hand and one single broken promise leak through the buzzing in my head as I squeeze his hand in reply.

A murky black veil crashes down upon me as I hear him begin to shout things at both me and the medics as the dull ring of sirens fills my dreams.