The Queen Of Shadows (Persona 5 Fanfic)

Chapter 11

"Catherine I can't pop my head out the bag. Whats going on?" Morganna asked concern. The girls all looked confused. "Is that a cat meowing from your bag?" They asked. I used that time to get free and run away. I ran until I saw Ryuji. "Ryuji!" I called. I ran past grabbing his arm. I dragged him with me. "Hey get back here!" The girls were yelling. "Why are you dragging me!?" Ryuji asked. "I need you to hide me!" I said panicking. I turned a corner and stopped. I hid directly behind the corner and stood Ryuji in front of me. The girls running straight by. "What did you do to make them so mad?" He asked. "Their just big bullies. Don't worry about it" I said. I hid my face with my hair. That way no one could see the tears pooring from my eyes. The pain on my cheek was a lot. Morganna was still struggling in my backpack. I opened the pack and Morganna stuck hsi head out. "Catherine what happened?" He asked. "Were they beating you up?" Ryuji asked. "Just leave me alone" I said shoving Morganna and my bag to Ryuji. I then took off running.

I ran to the girls bathroom and had tears. A lot of them. "Im so dumb to think life would get better. Their just as bad as my father. Why am I too weak to stand up for myself?" I cried as I gripped the bathroom sink. I looked into the mirror. A red hand print across my face. That's when my skin turned black and my eyes as well. I looked in horror at the mirror. I had sharp white teeth and long sharp nails. The bathroom getting all distorted behind me. But it wasn't a place. It was just distorted. "What is this?" I asked. "You want to stand up for yourself dont you?" The me in the mirror asked. "Y-yes" I stuttered. "I can help you if you want. I can give you strength Catherine. Yet your not ready. Your not mad enough" it said. I took a step back. "W-what?" I asked. Then it all disappeared as the bathroom door swung open. I turned quickly to see Ann. "Catherine" she said holding my bag with Morgannas head sticking out. "Ryuji said you ran off panicking. You also seemed to end running from some girls. Imnstarting to get worried for you" she said. "Yeah. Seems you might be getting bullied but dont want to cause trouble" Morganna added. "I'm not. I just uh. I'm embarrassed around people because I have a huge crush on someone. I'm afraid people just will tell him" I said. "Stop lying Catherine" Morganna said. "Yeah we all know you have troubles with people. You can tell the truth. I'm your friend and so are the two boys. We will help you out if we have too" Ann said. "I can't tell anyone anything. And I will not until I know for sure I can trust everyone" I said grabbing my bag from her gently. Then running off to the classroom.

When lunch came around I had tried to get away from the girls quickly. Yet they caught me and started to beat me up. Punching me and kicking my stomach. Leaving bruises on my body. They even tossed me around by pulling my hair. More tears slipping. I always put up with the abuse from others. I would have ended it all if it weren't all for Zetsu. Without me I dont think he'd be able to make it. The countless memories of him crying secretly. He always was trying to seem strong in front of me. But I knew the truth. I knew how it was pretending to be strong in front of the one you love most in this cruel world. I knew how it feels to be beaten down until you could barely move or be sane. I knew how it felt being treated like you were a wrothless animal. Like others could treat you like a toy. I knew what it was like trying to be strong for the only family you have. To stand strong from the fear that if you didn't, your family would break into millions of pieces until there is nothing but blood left. To fear them losing their mind like you have. I knew what it was like being a pretender, Because I pretended to be okay for so long. I pretended to be happy and jolly when really I'm breaking and crumbling under that facade, that mask.

I was so afraid of letting others in. Yet those who are trying to help and be my true friends are even harder to let in. I fear losing them. I fear they'll hate because of how weak I really am. The reason my persona was weak was because I am.

The girls all walked away laughing and throwing insults again. I weakly got to my feet and tears ran down more. I clentched my fist. "How much more are you gonna take?" I heard a voice ask. It was a deep voice with an evil sounding tone to it. "What?" I asked spinning around. There stood a male with dark skin and brown eyes. his hair black and clothing my school uniform. He looked like a shadow. "Who are you?" I asked. "You already know" he said. The world around me got distorted again as his appearance changed into a more demonic look. He had a demon tail and horns. His skin, eyes, and hair all black like my hair. I jumped back. The world went normal as he did too. "If you'll only accept me I can become part of you. I could help you find the greatest power. The power to destroy an enemy in one fatal hit. To change the desires of the corrupted so easily" he said. "No! I don't even know what or who you really are! Leave me be!" I said freaking out. "Catherine!" Akira said. He grabbed my shoulders. "Why are you freaking out?" He asked trying to calm my nerves. He also must of saw the bruises all over my face.