Broken

Chapter-2: God, help me!

They say, "Time flies when you are having fun." Unfortunately, I couldn't agree. For me, time flies when I am trying to avoid a particular day. I spent the entire weekend at home, completing my due paperwork and playing chess with my younger brother. The remaining time was spent stressing for the upcoming week or simply lying on the couch, chatting with my friends.

Lately, it had been very difficult for me to put my complete focus into studies with Blake on my mind. By and by, I kept remembering all his horrendous and vile acts. He once made me trip over on purpose and I injured my ankle. I couldn't walk straight for days. He threw ink on my new dress  and I had to fake a lie in front of my parents to cover it. He even wrote 'Ugly duckling!' on my locker and I was the talk of the town, thanks to him.  I feared to go to school because of him. He had no limits and fear crawled in my bones as I imagined the possibilities of his upcoming torturous acts.

The piercing sound of the alarm clock brought me back from the dead of sleep. I squirmed and stretched, rubbing my eyes, attempting to wipe out the traces of sleepiness. Sunlight was wafting through the window, making it difficult for my eyes to open. Groaning, I climbed out of bed. I went into the bathroom and did my daily routine. I chucked on a T-Shirt and jeans, not opting for anything fancy. Walking down the stairs, I made my way over to the dining room.

"Good morning, mom, dad!"I greeted with a smile and mom nodded and grinned in acknowledgment.

"Morning, honey. How are we this lovely morning?" dad asked, cleaning the plate with a napkin.

"Good." was all I said as I took the seat beside Sam and started munching my breakfast. The toast slice was slightly charred but I didn't complain and shoved it down my throat. I was absolutely hungry and any food seemed like a blessing at that particular moment.

"I completed my homework, Liz," Sam said, choking a mouthful of cereal. Mom and dad looked at him and smiled.

"Nice, chew your food properly, "I said, taking a sip of orange juice.

My parents kept talking about Dad's business and how the taxes were ruining everything, while Sam kept telling me stories of how he pranked his friends. I realized I was running late. Going late meant detention. I didn't want any more trouble in my life. I already had enough problems to deal with.

"See you later."I hopped off the chair, grabbed my bag pack, and flung myself out the door.

"Later Pumpkin" dad said, waving his hand at me.

Carrying the heavy bag pack over my shoulders, I walked through my neighborhood, headed for my school that was located a few blocks away from my home. I preferred walking to school as it always provided me with a fresh start for a hectic day.

I continued walking and within a few minutes, I was standing outside my school gate.

Studies and good grades have always been my greatest priority as I intended to study in a well-reputed college, therefore skipping a class was out of the question. I looked around, scanning the unfamiliar faces, searching for my friends, and most importantly my tormentor-Blake Ryder. Hanging out with friends was advantageous for me as Blake didn't like to create scenes in public and I feared the day when he would. The students were making their way to their respective classes. Some were cheerful while others had a long face as if they were tired already. I couldn't decide if I was happy or sad. Either way, I was nervous and my hands were sweaty.

I scanned the floor of my corridor, looking for any sign of Blake or his friends. He loved to hang out with his friends and surprisingly, his friends were as merciless as him. A sensation of relief settled in my chest as I was convinced that he wasn't there. If he were absent, then it would have been a miracle. He was a genuinely great student and seldom missed any classes.

Maybe, he would humiliate me later. A thought crossed my mind. I tried to be optimistic by pushing the negative thoughts away from my mind. I kept marching towards my classroom, with my bag pack on and a notebook clutched in my hands as if my life depended on it.

"Allissa." a familiar, hoarse voice caught me off-guard. I knew whose voice it was. The voice was imprisoned in my mind. How could I ever forget it? I turned around to meet his hazel eyes that were filled with hate and aversion.

For a split second, my entire world halted as he smirked, taking a menacing step towards me.

God, help me!