There she stood in the depths of her despair. She could end it all right there. It would be the end to everything. An end to her depression, to the medications, to the pain, to the sorrow, and to her life. She was standing on the half wall, on the second floor of her school. She stared at the crowd of people looking up at her. She wore a mask over her face, but it didn't matter. She was a nobody. She stepped closer toward the edge. The teachers from behind, called out to her. She couldn't hear them though. Consumed in darkness, with only one way out. Then a male voice called out to her, "Nikita don't." His voice was quiet, yet she heard it loud and clear. Now she had to make a choice, the boy or the end.
+++
That day began the same as any other. She woke up sore from yesterday, but she was use to this. She got out of bed and walked over to her medicine cabinet. Her movement was wobbly and clumsy. She open the cabinet and took out a needle. She injected it into her leg, and allowed the pain to flow out. She then threw the needle away and took out her morning pills. She grabbed a water bottle out of the mini fridge in her room, and forced the pills down. One after the other. "Nikita get your ass down here, right now! Breakfast is ready!" Her father called out to her.
"Yes father," her voice was soft and weak. It held the pain she felt. She quickly changed into the outfit on her bed, and ran down the stairs to the kitchen. Her father was already sitting with his beer bottle and plate of food. On the plate there were two eggs, three pieces of bacon, two hash browns, and an avocado. Across from her father, there was a plate with one egg, one piece of bacon fat, and an apple on it, there was also a glass of milk. Nikita sat down in front of the plate and watched her father. Her father glared at her with evil eyes.
"Before we eat, you will now tell me why you were late to the breakfast table." Her father ordered. Nikita looked down at her plate of food.
"I was still getting ready, when you called me. I'm sorry father, please forgive me." She said pitifully. Her father stared her down.
"We'll see if you are worth my forgiveness, but for now we will eat." Her father took the first bite and then Nikita. Her father ate sloppy, enjoying each bite and rubbing it in Nikita's face. She ate her food slowly, but still finished before her father. Once her father was finished, he dismissed her. She left the room and went back to her room. She packed up her book bag, making sure her mask was there. She zipped up her book bag. "Nikita come down here please!" Her father called for her. His voice was unusually kind, and this frightened her. She knew something wasn't right.
Nikita ran down the stairs and found her father in the living room. He was standing and pointing to the couch. She turned to look at the couch, and there laid a black kitten. "Shadow," she whispered mortified. Shadow was her pet kitten, who had to stay either outside or in Nikita's room.
"Nikita would you please take your rodent to its place and meet me in the basement." Her father said, irritated. Nikita picked up her kitten and carried it to her room. She took her book bag out and closed the door behind her. She walked down the stairs and saw her father waiting by the basement door. She walked over to her father, looking down at the ground. "Leave your book sack up here." He told her. She took off her book bag and laid it against the wall. Her father opened the basement door and waited. Nikita looked at her father, tears beginning to form.
"Father please forgive me. I promise Shadow will stay in my room." She begged her father.
Her father stepped forward and grabbed her shirt collar. "You need to be punished. Children will never learn unless they are punished appropriately." He said, infuriated. He then pulled Nikita forward and pushed her down the basement stairs. She stumbled backwards down the steps, hitting the back of her head on the wall. Her father stomped down the stairs after her. She looked up into her father's eyes. They were filled with rage. He stared Nikita down. "Get up! Now!" He yelled at her. She shook her head, her eyes filled with tears. Nikita, filled with fear, could barely move. Her father bent down and grabbed her around the neck. He picked her up off her feet and threw her to the center of the room. A scream escaped her as she hit the ground. Her body pulsing with pain. Her father pulled out a leather belt and walked forward. Nikita stared at his face, joy was written all over it. "Sit up and take off your shirt." He said, his voice unnaturally calm. Nikita sat up, her back to her father. She knew her father would cut her shirt off if he had to. She took off her shirt, leaving only her bra to cover her back. The scars on her back told her life story. "That's more like it." She heard her father say with joy. She gagged herself with her shirt, preparing for the pain. Her father lashed the belt across her back, spreading searing pain throughout her body. Nikita bit down hard. Her father continued to beat her with his belt. Her back turned red and bled with new sores. He whipped her harder and harder. He laughed manically. Nikita forced herself to stay awake, to feel each lash of pain. Then the pain stopped. Nikita waited a couple minutes to be sure that it was over. She spit out her shirt and took in some deep breaths. She heard her father walking around behind her. She turned around to watch him. Her father grabbed some bandages off of a table and some antiseptic spray. He walked toward her, with soft eyes. His rampage was over. "Turn around." He said with a soft and caring voice. She turned her back to her father. Nikita barely felt the sting from the antiseptic spray. Her back began to cool down as the cold spray set in. "Raise your arms." His voice remained soft and caring. She raised her arms weakly. Her body tensed at his touch, as he wrapped the bandages around her back. Once her father was done, he left the basement silently. Nikita sat in the basement alone, finally allowing herself to cry.
+++
Nikita arrived to school an half an hour early. She sat by herself in the commons. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to be consumed in darkness. In the darkness, she was free. No one was there to hurt her. The darkness was her only friend.
She suddenly heard the scuffling of feet close by. She opened her eyes to see a crowd of girls surrounding her. They begin to giggle as Nikita looked up at them. "Well look who it is," the leader of the group stepped forward. Her long, blonde, curly hair laid against her chest. "Sicki Niki. Infected anybody lately?" She asked.
"Stella" Nikita whispered under her breath. She closed her eyes, letting the darkness in.
The group of girls began to sing, "sicki niki lives real icky. Spreading disease wherever she goes. Better watch out for here she comes." Stella just laughed. Nikita tried to shut them out. She covered her ears and kept her eyes closed. They continued to sing.
Then Nikita heard a muffled male voice. "Hey, step aside. Let's break it up here." Nikita opened her eyes, but it was only to welcome the pain that came. Air rushed out of her lungs, and her eyes shut tight. Her body lunged forwards and she fell to the ground.
"Nice one, Zeak," Stella said. Nikita opened her eyes and looked up at the two. A guy was now standing next to Stella. Nikita instantly recognized him as Stella's boyfriend. She sighed as she tried to sit up.
"So the sickling got back up," Zeak laughed harshly. "I think she needs to be taught a lesson. " Zeak stepped toward Nikita. Then suddenly the bell rang. It was time to go to class. "Well ain't you just lucky" he laughed, before fiercely kicking her head into the wall behind her. Nikita stayed laying against the wall, as she heard the shuffling of feet run passed her. Her vision grew blurred, her head became dizzy, and the room spun around her. She forced her eyes to remain open, but they were growing tired and dry. Her body suddenly became warm as her eyes became heavy. She had lost all sense of awareness. Soon her spirit left her body and consciousness went out the door. Darkness.
+++
"Nikita! Can you hear me?!" An urgent female voice ringed into her ears. A cold wet splash, erupted onto her face. Nikita opened her eyes and saw a woman sitting beside her. Nikita was laying on a doctor's bed. Her body felt weak and tired. "Thank goodness you're awake. You gave me quite a scare there."
"Nurse Nell, how did I get here," Nikita asked weakly. Nurse Nell smiled slightly, and raised the head of Nikita's bed.
"One of the janitors found you unconscious, during his routes. Now, can you tell me who does these things to you? We have to put an end to this." Nurse Nell said urgently and with concern.
Nikita sighed weakly, "I don't remember." She lied. "I should get to class. What block are we in?"
"Niki you should go home and rest. I'll call your father, so he can take you home." Nurse Nell said while raising out of her seat.
Nikita quickly grabbed her arm and screamed, "NO!" Her voice was horrid and scared. "I mean, you don't have to do that. I'm fine. I must've just fallen into a heavy sleep. I stayed up late last night, without my father knowing. Please just let me get to class." Her voice pleading to nurse Nell. Nurse Nell sat back in her seat and felt Nikita's head.
"Are you sure, you're okay? This seems to happen a lot." Nurse Nell said with worry. "Is anyone hurting you?"
"No. I'm fine really." Nikita said, sitting up on her own to prove it.
Nurse Nell smiled slightly, "if you insist. I'll let you go, but I want you to come and see me at lunch. Just to see how you're doing." She said.
"Alright I'll be there." Nikita said standing up and heading for the door.
"Oh by the way, we're in second block." Nurse Nell shouted to Nikita as she was out the door. Nikita threw up a thumbs up to show that she got it.
+++
Roaming the halls with her pass in hand, Nikita walked silently to class. She was cautious and attentive to every sound. From the squeaking of her shoes to the ticking of the clocks, she heard everything. She went up the stairs and entered the ninth hall, all was silent. She walked down the hall slowly, staring at the floor. Suddenly she heard a door squeak open. She rose her head to see that it was the door to her classroom that had opened. Her heart skipped a beat, as her mind began to imagine the worst. The room was only a few feet away. Nikita stood still, watching the opened door. A man suddenly emerged from the door. He shut the door and looked down the hallway. Nikita recognized him immediately, and she froze with fear. The man ran straight for her, and slammed her back into the nearest wall. Holding her shoulder against the wall, he look right into her eyes. "I didn't think, I would see you again. Or at least not alive." He said. Nikita was frozen with shock, and her voice fled. "Heh heh," he brought his hand up and around her neck. He began to squeeze her neck gently.
"Zeak, don't. Please stop." Nikita whimpered. Zeak smiled and squeezed harder. Nikita grabbed his hand, but he was stronger. Her breath left her, as she gasped breathlessly. Zeak laughed with pleasure, but his eyes filled with sudden lust. He loosened his grip slightly holding his smile. Nikita sighed grimly and took in the precious air. Nikita let her hands fell in relief. Zeak brushed his hand down from her neck, and stopped in between her breasts.
"You know what, I'll let you live for now. However I'll have to torture you until the end of your days." He said grimly, then he laughed harshly. Terror struck Nikita. Her eyes widen and her heart stopped, at the thought of being tormented for the rest of her life. She never did anything to deserve any of this. Zeak's hand rose slightly and he grabbed at the collar of her shirt. "If only you weren't so low on the food chain. Then I could have you." He whispered, just loud enough for her to hear. His voice spoke the words of sorrow. He looked down at her and lean his face in closer to hers. "Keep this a secret or it will be your head," he whispered in her ear. He then kissed her cheek, and let her go. He stood there for a moment. Nikita looked into his eyes. They were filled with lust, sorrow, and sadness. She then lowered her head and looked at the floor, as Zeak walked off.
Nikita stood there in shock, she was confused and lost. Then she was welcomed back into reality. She walked to class and entered the room. The teacher walked over to her, and Nikita handed her pass to her. Then Nikita silently went to her seat in the back of the room. She didn't know what she was suppose to be doing, so she looked around the room. She noticed the boy in the seat, beside the one in front, was holding up his textbook and circling the page number. Nikita smiled slightly and pulled out her text book. She then turned it to the same page as the boy's. She then looked back at the boy, who was now circling the problem numbers. Nikita pulled out a piece of paper, and wrote down the numbers he was circling. She mouth the word thank you and began doing her work. Then Nikita felt something hit her on the back of her head, and a balled piece of paper landed on her desk. She unraveled the paper, and was knocked back into sadness. The paper said, "sicki Niki lives real icky. Spreading disease wherever she goes. Better watch out for here she comes. What she has is fatal and soon she will die. Then we all will laugh, because she deserves it." Below the text was a stick drawing of a dead girl. Nikita took the paper and balled it up, placing it in her bookbag with the others. She continued her work not letting her sadness show.
+++
The bell rang. Class was over. Nikita hurried out of the room in fear. She ran down the hallway, but her fears caught her. Somebody grabbed her arm and pulled her backward into a branch off room. It was the students' lounge. She was pushed against the wall and her mouth was covered. She stared into her perpetrator's eyes. Fear trembled inside of her, as Zeak pinned her against the wall with his arm on her collarbone. Nikita saw Stella lock the door behind them, and place a sign on the door. Zeak removed his hand from her mouth, "Be a good girl, and don't scream. You understand?" Nikita dropped her face in despair. "Do you understand?!" He said again as he slapped her across the face.
"I understand," Nikita said her voice quivering with fear. Zeak laughed harshly.
Stella was watching the door. "I think you better show her who's the boss around here. That girl thinks she's so lucky, just because one boy acts nicely to her. He just pities you because of how sick you always are, and how useless you are." She snickered.
Zeak laughed, "Well ain't that the truth." He leaned his face close to Nikita's ear. "You have a very unfortunate fate," he whispered softly. He backed away and pinned her harder against the wall. His arm was now laying against her neck, suffocating her. Her body went weak and she felt faint. Her vision blurred. She heard Zeak laughing in the distance. Zeak released his arm and allowed her to fall to the ground. As she fell, her body woke up. Pain flourish through her mind, and she struggled to catch her breath. Suddenly she heard a door knob rattling. Zeak turned around and asked Stella, "who's at the door?"
"It's that kid." She said surprised.
"What kid?"
"Joseph. He's the one, who was being nice to sicki Niki." Stella answered. "We should go, Zeak. He might attract the teachers." Zeak turned back around and stared down at Nikita. She stared back up, pass Zeak, toward the ceiling. Her mind was elsewhere. Zeak grunted and then kicked her in the head. Nikita let her head fling back and she closed her eyes. She heard the scuffling of feet, run out of the room.
A couple minutes later, Nikita felt someone tapping on her shoulder. She heard someone call out to her, "Nikita, are you okay?!" The voice sounded urgent and concerned. She slowly opened her eyes, and saw a boy's face.
In a panic, she backed away and screamed, "get away from me!"
The boy backed away slightly, "it's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you." However Nikita still felt frightened, she couldn't calm down. She was breathing heavily and her eyes were filled with fear. "Are you ok? Your neck is..." The boy reach for her neck.
Nikita slapped his hand away, "don't touch me!" The boy pulled back his hand and rubbed it gently.
"I'm not gonna hurt you. I just want to help, Nikita" the boy said with a smile.
"How do you know my name?" Nikita asked, beginning to calm down slightly.
"Your ID badge, and we're in the same class." He answered. He stood up and looked down at Nikita. She tried to get up. "Here, let me help you." The boy said, lending a hand.
"No, I'm fine." Nikita said standing up weakly. She looked toward the boy, and noticed his ID badge. His name is Joseph.
Joseph shook his head. "We should probably get you to the nurses' station." He said stepping forward slightly.
Panic began to rise in Nikita. "No, really I'm fine," she said, her voice shaking. Joseph looked into her eyes, seeing straight through her lie. "I need to go," she said, as she pushed pass him toward the door.
"Wait, Nikita. Come back!" Joseph called out to her, as she ran out the door. She slammed the door behind her.
Nikita entered the tenth hall. The hallway was silent, all the students were in class waiting for the bell to ring. She ran down the hall in panic, adrenaline pumped through her veins and fear filled her eyes. She longed to be alone, and for the darkness to come. She didn't want Joseph's pity, especially if he didn't really care. She just wanted it all to end. Her heart pumped faster, as the panic spread through out her body. There was nowhere for her to go. If she went to nurse Nell, she would send her home to the terror of her father. If she went to lunch, Zeak would be there. She ran down the hall, and then stopped at the central corridor. She took off her book-bag and sat it against one of the walls. She opened one of the pockets and pulled out her mask. Streams gently flowed down her face. She held the dark colored velvet mask in her hand, as she walked over to the half wall. The half wall separated the second floor halls from the hole, that showed the first floor below. Nikita place the mask over her face, covering her red cheeks. She looked through the glass of the half wall, toward the emptiness of the commons. At that moment, she saw what her solution was. She backed up a step and climbed the wall. She reached the top, and looked down upon the first floor. The bell rang.The end of chapter one
YOU ARE READING
Masked love
RomanceFour characters go through high school all connected to each other. Nikita is a quiet shy girl who is always alone. Everything in her life has gone wrong, and she just wants it to end. Joseph is a quiet boy who has a couple friends here and there...