Red Insanity

Chapter 9: How You Play the Cards

I swallowed and didn't speak. The bundle in her hands contained the snake I had so gratefully stepped on not even 30 minutes ago.

"You do seem to recognize him though, don't you?"

I stayed silent. Her gaze seemed to focus on me though her sightless eyes were blank. I attempted to spit out a few words but stopped myself. She couldn't see me so I can play my cards however I wish.

"A s-snake?! Those things er deeze-gahsting!"

Her thinly pruned eyebrows raised in curiosity at my reply. I was suddenly aware of the back of my neck heating up. Ms. Rady's hand returned to the needles and I let out a barely noticeable sigh of relief.

"Would you like to name him?"

I said nothing.

"It reminds me of you. This grasp around its neck makes it half-dead."

She burst out laughing and slapped her knee while I slowly dissected her statement. I almost growled for no reason. That was the second time today someone has joked about me being dead. Was it a coincidence or a fact? Because right now I was getting real tired of it. Do I look dead?

Does it have anything to do with my mask? I shook my head and regained my composure. Pretending not to hear her or understand what she said at all would be the right choice.

"What?"

She stopped laughing and her face returned to polished marble.

"Nothing little Jack. Something you probably wouldn't understand."

I scoffed at her and let my gaze wander around the room. She finished her task and threw the needles into a drawer of her desk.

"Let me see your nose."

I took the tissue out and showed her the blood and then accidentally let out a small laugh.

My giggle must've slipped out because she asked me, "What's so funny?"

I sniffled.

"You jus sed let me see and you can't."

A smile flashed at me as she understood my words.

"Very observant. You may be a weak little boy but your humor is nice."

I figured that wasn't a very normal thing for a child of my age to humor. But Ms. Rady seemed satisfied and let me get out of the seat.

"All set little Jack."

She leaned in to whisper in my ear, "If Rickard keeps messing with you, tell him something he wouldn't know. Something smart. Make him feel as  stupid as he always is."

I gave her an odd look.

"O-okay!"

She patted my head, gave me a slap in the back and pointed to the door with a smirk. I began the way back to my class, staring at my shoes. They still had little violet bows on them despite almost being worn out from running and falling. The lunch and recess bell was about to sound so I hurried back and stayed right outside the door. When my class started filing out, I joined them without any problem and followed them to the cafeteria. I wasn't very familiar with my classmates in a friendly sense.

I was the smartest in my class and that made a few youths mad. My current attire and wealth, however, were the straws that broke the camel's back. At first I was flocked by everyone in hope's of gaining friendship and possibly a good connection with my parents. I took on a mask that made me look weak and became a stepping-stone rather than a valued classmate. I think my parents made it clear at one of the conferences that they should stay away from me and let me focus on my studies. If that was the case then they should've just gotten me a tutor or a governess.