Behind the books

3.

'Oh in the strangest dreams

Walking by your side'

Ciara was lying down on her bed, and listened to some music. She had a wide taste in music, she could listen to rock for an hour, and then switch to country. She always thought that she would end up in a house full of cd's and concert tickets, without a husband and kids.

Music seemed magical. Just like books, they could take you to another time, another place.

'It's what you feel but can't articulate out loud.' 

Ciara rolled to her left side, and stared out of the window. When they moved to this house, Ciara chose this room because she could sleep next to a window. She would often stare out of the window in the middle of the night, and think about everything that had happened that day. 

In the middle of the night, everything was so quiet. There was no one out on the street, and there was absolutely no sound to be heard. She loved the peace of the darkness.

Their garden was beautiful this year. Her mother devoted her life to gardening, so they often ate their own vegetables and herbs. Rosa loved to use garlic in her recipes.

'Your mother warned of strangers and the dangers they may bring'

Ciara's favourite flower was the bluebonnet. She thought their colours were stunning, and she liked the shape of its petals. There were a couple of them in the garden too, but they didn't grow like they were supposed to, which was a shame. Ciara and her mother had tried to save them, but it didn't work out.

'The seams which hold the waking world have slowly come undone'

Ciara stood up, and let herself fall into the chair in front of her desk. She had had this desk since she was 7, but her parents refused to buy her a new one until this one fell apart. She got the same response to the most things she wanted, but she decided to leave it. Her parents were right, everything still functioned fine. And because they saved money this way, she got more pocket money every month. 

'Oh, oh you go to sleep on your own

And you wake each day with your thoughts'

She logged in on her computer, and opened her mailbox. She quickly read who the sender was, but then deleted the most. A lot of them were the kind of mails you get every day if you sign up for something once. But one of the emails was different. It was an unknown sender, and it the subject read "My dear ugly Ciara". 

'And it scares you being alone'

Ciara let out a deep sigh when she clicked the email. The message came from Emily, one of the Tigers. Ciara could already hear the irritating melody of the rhyme in her head. The message included the following; 

'Ciara, Ciara, you are such a nerd.

Ciara, Ciara, more boring than Richard the third. 

Ciara, Ciara, you don't have a life,

Ciara, Ciara, I want to stab you with a knife.

Ciara, Ciara, I really hope you die.

Ciara, Ciara, now go ahead and cry

TAKE A HINT NO ONE LIKES YOU. UGLY.

Hate always, Emily.'

Ciara bit down on her lip until she tasted blood, to contain her anger. Emily was plain evil. Ciara had already got a few emails like this, and she couldn't bear it anymore. She should know how much pain these words brought to her. They were like knives. 

What had she done wrong? Ciara tried so hard not to be something they hated. She bought clothes of the same brand as some of the tigers had. However, it resulted in being called a 'fake' and a 'wannabe'.

'Don't talk to strangers

And don't walk into danger

Don't talk to strangers'

Ciara didn't understand. But she was furious; Emily could not hurt her another time. Ciara had to be the stronger one.

Tonight, the dark streets of this town would meet another victim. Emily Robbs.

'And don't walk into danger'