The Forest's Secrets

Chapter Three: Who is she?

Jaden noticed that Fate was still staring at the girls, who had sat back down at their table. She didn't say anything at first, maybe her friend was just startled at the resemblance of the girl. Jaden had listened closely as Fate had described her attackers. The next day at school, she had immediately noticed the white haired girl.

"Fate what's wrong?", Karin now asked.

"Nothing", Fate said and stood up," I just need to make a call."

As the girl started to walk away, Jaden stood up too. They walked outside together.

"Whom are you calling?", Jaden wanted to know. She seemed really confused.

Fate sighed and replied:"The policeman. Mister Brooks said to call him as soon as I see someone who looks even a bit close to either of them."

"But that girl could never hurt anyone. She's always quiet and usually reading. She doesn't ever talk back to teachers and stands up for others. The only thing strange is, that I've never heard anyone say her name, except herself just now", Jaden thought out loud.

A chill ran down Fate's spine as the picture of the girl grabbing Ashly by the arm and pulling her up appeared in front of her eyes again. "She seems nice", the girl said," but how many people is there with eyes like that and white hair?"

With that she dialled the number and quietly explained to the officer what had happened today. She had to repeat the name of the girl and their class quite a few times, but after just a few minutes she put her phone away again.

"So?", Jaden asked anxiously.

"He said they were going to look into it a bit. Let's get to class", Fate replied. She took her friends hand and pulled her along, as she started to walk back to the classroom.

The girls were there too early, the break was going to be another ten minutes. So they sat down and chatted for a bit. As the door opened, they both looked up to see Eli.

"Why would you bully my sister for loving?", she asked quietly after closing the door. The girl seemed so sad, she didn't even look at the friends whilst walking towards them.

"It's weird to be gay", Jaden replied harshly," also we aren't bullying her. We're just teasing her a bit."

"The fun's over as soon as one of the people around aren't having it anymore", Eli declared and came to a stand in front of the other girls.

Jaden now stood up, facing her, as she said:"Well then she shouldn't be gay. That's gross."

"Your attitude is gross", the girl in the dress replied harshly.

Fate tried to back of a bit, she didn't like the direction this was going in. Her best friend continued:"What you're mad now? You probably really are her girlfriend, there's no way in hell you two are related!"

It was quiet for a few long moments. A big grin slid onto Jays face, she thought she was right, thought she'd won. "It's in my genes", Eli suddenly said.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"I was born with a defect in my genes. That caused me to look like this. There isn't many other people with the same condition, much less any I know", Eli replied. She sounded bored, as if she'd had this conversation a hundred times already.

"Your hair isn't bleached?", Fate managed to mutter.

As Eli shook her head, Jaden laughed harshly and said:"Great, so you're not just weird, you're also a freak!"

The sharp and cold look that now rested on Jaden made another picture appear in Fate's mind. She was sure that Eli had looked at her with those same eyes, before she cut open the girls left arm.

"You don't know anyone who has the same sickness as you?", Fate managed to stutter. She was fighting back tears, her voice was shaking and heavy with fear.

Eli looked at her in surprise. "It's not a sickness, but no I don't. What are you so scared of?", she replied carefully.

Fate shook her head. "I'm sorry", she stuttered, "I thought I knew you for a moment."

"That's unfortunate", Eli laughed quietly. She turned around and went to her seat. Just as she sat down, the door opened, and all the other students of their class came in. The last bit of the break seemed to just have flown away in a heartbeat.

"Did you just tell that weirdo that she reminds you of 'someone'?", Jaden hissed. Fate nodded slowely in reply.

Before Jaden could start to preach how stupid that was, the teacher came into the room. He quickly checked if everyone was present, calling out names. Eli should have been the last one he called for, but he just quickly looked around the room. As he saw her, he marked the girl as present and started his lecture. Fate couldn't help but notice how odd that was.

A few more hours of boring classes went by, then Fate and Jaden could leave for the day. The friends decided to wait outside of school for the rest of their small group. A lot of students walked out of the building, Fate noticed Eli standing underneath a tree a lot further away. She too seemed to be waiting for someone.

As Gabriel and Karin made their way through the crowd, Fate could see that they were pulling Sally along. The girl was crying again.

"Please leave me alone", she begged quietly, as she stood between the four older teenagers.

Jaden grabbed her arms from behind so that the kid couldn't just run off. "What did you tell your 'sister'?", Gabriel growled as he leaned in.

Sally tried to back away, but couldn't. "Nothing really!", she pleaded, her big and teary eyes filled with panic.

The boy grabbed her chin and pulled her a bit closer. "If you keep lying, I'll kiss you", he threatened.

Before the younger girl could open her mouth to speak again, someone pulled the boy back.