Trapped (egobang trans)

Chapter 20 - Return

At break Arin headed for her usual tree. She texted Dani saying where she was, and smiled as she received a complaint about the cold weather in response. Arin had a feeling she was exaggerating, but it had become a sort of inside joke at this point that she didn't mind.

As per usual Arin sat down with her back against the tree, though this time she wasn't really in the mood for drawing anything. Instead she pulled out her phone and started scrolling through her apps, not really intending to use any of them but just passing the time. At some point she started scrolling through her pitifully small contacts list, going through and reading each name out of sheer boredom and lack of anything else to do. What was taking Dani so long? Did she change her mind and decide to hang out with her other friends instead? Probably...

Arin's eyes landed on a particular name and she felt a stab of sadness in her heart. Suzy. With a shaking finger she tapped on the contact, looking through their texts. It was odd, reading them back now. They'd become so close, and yet within a few seconds all that had disappeared.

As the thought entered her head Arin heard approaching footsteps, softly padding her way through the grass. She looked up hopeful, fully expecting to see Dani. It wasn't. She froze when she saw who it was, seized by a sudden, choking anxiety that had her wanting to run away but not having the will to do so.

"Hey, Arin. It's been a minute, hasn't it?" said that voice in its familiar sweet tone.

Suzy was holding onto her backpack's straps tightly, obviously feeling a little awkward about starting a conversation. She smiled, but it was uncertain, like she didn't know the boundaries of their relationship anymore. Apart from that though she looked normal. Arin opened her mouth to speak but no words came. What is she doing here? Why would she want to talk to me again, after what I did to hurt her?

"Um, hey, listen. I...I'm sorry for what I did. I should have realised that you didn't like me like that, it was... obvious now I think about it. But I... I'm just sorry, okay? Oh, and I have something," Suzy continued.

Arin watched as she shrugged her backpack from her shoulders, unzipping it and rummaging around inside for a moment. She made a sound when she located what she was looking for and pulled out something bright pink. Arin blinked when she realised what it was: her sketchbook that she'd left at the park.

"W-What... why?" Arin muttered, still rooted to the spot.

Why would you bother picking it up? Don't you hate me?

"Here, take it. It's yours."

Suzy held it out to Arin, tilting her head slightly as she seemed confused as to why Arin wasn't accepting it.

"I-I.. Uh, I..." Arin continued to stutter.

Why can't I speak? I'm just making this awkward, stop it Arin!

Then, Suzy's expression shifted. She frowned, withdrawing the sketchbook.

"Look, I said sorry, can't you just accept it?" she growled, which surprised Arin; where did that come from?

"Wha-"

"Or do you just want to paint me out like the bitch who never apologized? Ugh, you're just like Jon. I bet you planned this to happen, right? Get me to kiss you and then run away, just for the hell of it?"

Arin could hardly believe her ears. Suzy never got angry or annoyed, at least not seriously, so what had gotten into her? Arin felt her panic rising as her eyes darted around for an escape. But running would just make this worse.

Suzy stopped, looking down at Arin and waiting. Probably for her to defend herself. But Arin's ability to speak had decided to take a vacation, and it wasn't coming back any time soon. She felt her hands quivering, almost dropping her phone. She considered for a moment texting Dani, but just randomly starting to text didn't seem like a good thing to do right now, with Suzy hovering over her like a hawk.

The shaking started to make its way up Arin's arms, eventually spreading through her entire body. She felt suffocated, the crushing weight of her horrific mistake settling on her again. She'd managed to have some reprieve yesterday, but good moods never lasted when it came to Arin. Her breathing became laboured and her vision went unfocused, blurry. She was having a full-blown panic attack... in school.

That fact just made Arin feel worse, if that was even possible.

In her haze Arin saw Suzy edge closer and heard her muffled tones, though she had no idea what she was saying through the static of her own mind. Suzy had never seen this side of her, and despite all she'd just said Arin had a feeling that she was trying to help. Probably trying to offer comfort of some kind.

Why? This is my fault.

A blurred outline of Suzy's face filled Arin's vision. Deep down Arin knew she was just doing what she thought was best, but that was too close. As if she wasn't already suffocating! Her breath quickened more and the edges of her vision grew darker, threatening to close in. She fought away the shadows as best she could, but her hyperventilating didn't help. Just when she thought she couldn't take it anymore Suzy moved away, leaving an empty space in the suffocation finally. Arin focused on that point and watched as it grew outwards, pushing back the darkness. Her breath slowed gradually. Risking a look up she was met with a shocking, and frankly quite terrifying scene.

Dani had Suzy pinned against the tree by her neck.