Me & Her

Me

The week before school starts is a blur.

Hours whizz by so fast I cannot hope to catch them.

Dr. Light hasn't spoken three civil words to me since that afternoon. I am still reeling from the fact that Mum bought the baseball story, given that the window was smashed from the inside. I should feel lucky, but instead I find dread creeps into my bones.

The way Light looks at me doesn't help. As if he wants to say so much, but he's trapped.

I'm the one who's trapped, not him. I am too angry to be angry at him right now. All I know is he has reported lies to the Janus Foundation, informing them that there have been no new developments.

Developments. The word makes me want to spit. As if I'm some pet or performing monkey. Where is their humanity?

'Humanity?' Alyssa huffs a laugh. 'It's probably lodged up their'—

I cut her off as Mum approaches, brandishing my new rucksack like it's a suit of armour. A galaxy pattern is embroidered on a black background, stars shinning all around the edge. For my first day, I have dressed in smart, but causal clothes: grey designer jeans and a pastel green shirt topped with a large red coat. No jewellery.

"You look beautiful," says Mum, handing me the bag.

'You look like a Christmas Decoration,' Alyssa chips in.

'I don't remember asking for your opinion'. That seems to shut her up, for once. This is my day and she is not going to ruin it.

I won't let her.

Dr. Light is in bed with a monster headache, but even though sympathy dredges up my chest, I shove it down again. Wrong time. It's always the wrong time to think about him.

I can't help wondering what the right time is. Not today, apparently.

Light is the last person I need to focus on.

Mum ushers me to the car, more excitable than I am.

"I have to talk to the Principle when we arrive, so feel free to put as much space between us as possible to avoid embarrassment. Dr. Light will be picking you up at lunch for your session if that's okay".

It isn't, but I can't do anything except nod in obedience.

Whatever the Foundation requires, if it will keep them at bay.

Soon someone is bound to find the surveillance van. Somebody will find those bodies and I will be gone. Locked up like an animal.

Well, I'm not going to let that happen. Neither is Alyssa.

We both know she's too strong to let that happen.

The drive takes about half an hour, much shorter than the route into the city. Houses melt away, while my brain audibly clicks into a memory. I am seeing houses, but they're rundown and derelict. Moss gathers at their bases as if worshipping a God.

Wherever my mind is, it's not a good part of town. Mum glances at me as she stops at the lights.

"Are you nervous?" A little, but I am supposed to be her smiling daughter, a girl who is never afraid.

"I'm actually really excited," I say. If I don't answer properly, she won't guess how scared I am.

What if no one likes me? What if I am reduced to a mere spectre lurking at the back of the classroom?

Gripping the hem of my shirt, I force the smile to stay.

I am not going to be forgotten or left behind.