Sophomore Red

LUNCH

The Elder Tree; I mused as I made my way to my usual lunch spot with the girls. A tree that has been standing for over two centuries. The earliest record of it is from two centuries ago, for all we know it could be three centuries old or older. It's the schools guardian spirit. I've been told that the only way that the school could build on this land is if they take care of the tree. I'm surprised that the schools crest is a stinking Dove and not the Elder tree, the tree being a historical landmark and all.

Aidon is pretty cute I smiled to myself. But I must be careful he is a jock and just because he is a class one student does not mean that the work he has done is his. He might have ulterior motives that would land me doing his homework for him all semester long. It's probably better we stay Senior Lit friends. And I see my absence from school hasn't turned Cali away from me. She has been on my ass since those rumors started about me dating Aidon. I don't want to give her anymore ammunition or reason to look my way or even have my name in her mouth.

On my way to the cafeteria I passed by the entrance of the school where a growing crowd of students stood. Curious I stopped to see what caught their attention. A silent crowd of about 15 bodies stood out side the gates of the school. They all had the same look about them, like they have been led on a journey through hell and back. Clothing where ripped and barely covering body parts. A majority of the crowd wore hospital gowns eyes dead and sunken in seeing nothing but looking at something. A woman in her mid twenties stood at the front her breasts out for the world to see.

"Are they protesting again?" Asked a girl

The last time the school got protested it was because the dean expelled a student for becoming pregnant but the senior who fathered her baby was not. The crowds protested up until the student graduated they even protested his graduation. They protested outside his house, his work study job, and the college he got accepted into. They protested the crap out of this boy. It's wrong that the dean expelled the girl and not the boy. But...wow didn't those people have day jobs?

"I don't know" said one of the male students. He snapped a picture of the bare breasted woman, then gave his friend a high five. "But I hope the blondie sticks around a little longer."

I rolled my eyes in disgust. The schools security was on the scene a few moments later along with the Dean who encouraged students to go about their scheduled day.

"Did you hear what is going on at the front gates?" Zoe beamed excited. "I wonder what they are protesting this time?"

I set my lunch kit on the table and start pulling out the food that my mother prepared for me. Ever since the fever my mom has insisted that she make my lunch, especially since I have anemia. She always make sure that my meals are rich in iron. Todays lunch is Beef, Broccoli, Qinuoa, dark chocolate, and cranapple juice. Looks delicious actually then again my mother has never failed in making me delicious foods.

"Oh my god, you think this is real?" I heard the whispered mutterings of a group of girls next to us. I side eyed the girl and caught a glimpse of a video on her phone. Small screams floated out of the speakers as the news lady covered what ever it is that is going on.

"What the heck?" Zoe mumbled.

I pulled my attention away from the news video to inquire about what got Zoe spooked. She points and that's when I see an unknown man walking into the courtyard. He is wearing dirty blue jeans and a white T-shirt. Everyone in the courtyard quieted down as the man walked by. His skin is visibly losing color by the second and the stench coming from him smelled worse than dumpster juice on a hot day. His eyes are large and panicked the pupil and iris slowly fading to grey. When his back comes into view I see a very ugly wound on the base of his spine. Something had ripped all the skin and muscle from his lower back exposing several vital organs and his spine. How this man is still moving is baffling. I gasp and I hear someone get up to go get a teacher. The man continues to walk across the courtyard and collide into the elder tree with a thump. There he remained unmoving.