Sleeves and Masks (Pierce the Veil Fanfiction)

Chapter Two: Hell Above

*Valerie's P.O.V.*

Before I knew it, the bell to finally go home had rung causing a smile to spread across my face. I hurried out of the bathroom to my locker to miss the swarm of students coming from around the corner. My locker, thankfully, wasn't currently being blocked so I started organizing immediately. There wasn't much to clean out since I practically did this every day, so I rearranged it to be able to access my books faster inbetween classes. I gathered the books I needed to take home with me and felt my stomach growl. Good thing I'm getting food soon, I thought to myself. I was shutting my locker when I was suddenly slammed against the wall, feeling a hot breath on my ear.

"Hey, baby, are we still heading to my place after school? Better not back out on me again," the familiar voice whined. I know that voice anywhere. It belongs to my boyfriend of three years, Dylan Conner. He was quarterback of the football team and thought he shit gold. Dylan has been abusing me for over half of our relationship.

"I can't...I have to help Dani study for the history final," I lied, whispering so only he could hear me. I could instantly feel his grip get tighter on my wrists, making me wince into his shoulder.

"Listen, whore, and listen good. I could have any girl in this school and I chose you. Don't ask because I don't know why I chose someone like you. Test me again, and see what happens. Remember what happened last time? Or do I need to remind you again? Tomorrow. Be at my place or else," he walked away, slinging my wrists down hard. How could I go to his place tomorrow and walk out okay?

I couldn't. The last time I walked out of his house, he almost beat me to death.

"Oh, and by the way, you need to stop eating so much. I can hear your stomach growling from here," he yelled behind him, not bothering to look at me. I shot daggers in his back with my eyes.

With tears burning my eyes I stretched my wrist in circles, making the bone pop several times. It isn't broken, but sure as hell hurts. I slipped the combination lock on my locker before turning on my heels and slowly walking down the wide hallway. I looked at my feet as I walked, making sure to not make eye contact with anybody, and frowned at my untied shoelace. I was already running late to meet Dani at the restaurant so I didn't bother to bend down and tie it before running out the school doors to face a hectic parking lot.

The warm air in San Diego was light and oddly breezy for October. It felt really nice, so I wasn't complaining. A chill ran down my spine as cool air whipped my face and I couldn't help but have a small smile escape. I probably looked deranged smiling down at the sidewalk next to a busy street, but I didn't take much notice. I had alone time and I was relieved. The noise in the air silenced everything, causing me to not be able to think about anything, it was refreshing and relaxing to not think. Lately there has been almost too much to think about. With Dylan's abuse, schoolwork, college applications, my suicide attempt and finding a job, life was stressful. I don't have time to live and go out so i can get drunk like everybody else. It bothers me even though I have no interest getting hammered and waking up in bed naked next to a stranger. The thought of it all made me smirk.

The stop sign was just ahead, but I ignored it. I didn't bother looking across the street to get to the restaurant since nobody hardly ever comes out of the one way street. This street could almost be considered abandoned if it weren't for the spread out restaurants and businesses lining the block. I set my foot in the road with my eye level still on the ground and was halfway across the lonely street before I was met by a black Nissan with tinted windows. My hip automatically had pain shooting through it as well as my shoulder, which is what landed on. I heard a crack and my first thought was, Oh shit. My backpack was forcefully stripped off my shoulder blade and landed on top of the car with a thud. I tried to scream out in pain but my throat was dry and tight. My leg landed in an awkward position and I knew something was wrong already. All I remember after falling is hearing tires screech, several male voices, and a slur of curse words before I decided to let darkness cover me like a blanket.

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What the hell happened?

I try opening my eyes but the sunlight hurts and makes me wince in pain. I hear voices but they sound far away. My vision and hearing keeps going in and out. All I hear are little pieces of conversations and only see blurs of men, as if they were in slow motion.

"Oh my god we fucking killed someone," I heard a man exclaim.

Am I dead? No, I can't be. I wouldn't be able to hear this. Why does he sound familiar?

"Jaime, calm the fuck down! Look, she's alive, she's breathing," a second voice reassured.

Did he just say Jaime?

"Mike, you should have been watching the fucking road anyway! Why are you so calm?! Wait! She's moving," the first voice said in one breath. I opened my eyes, slowly blinking up at four men staring at me. My vision was still blurred but I could at least see silhouettes.

"Tony, get her in the car now. We can't keep staring at her," a third voice instructed. This one sounded sweet and comforting. I could go to sleep hearing that voice.

"I'll put her in the backseat with me and Jaime," a fourth voice concluded.

Seconds later, I was being scooped off the pavement into someone's arms and into an air conditioned car. I only knew we were in a car because I heard the leather seat squeak underneath us and the sudden hit of cool arctic air that was obviously a contrast to sunny San Diego. I was draped across the laps of two people in the backseat, someone's knee was in my spine. Someone was holding the back of my head up while stroking my hair which felt pretty nice. The engine roared as I heard seat belts clicking, the silence heavy and needed.

"Tony, can you see if you can get a response from her? Also look to see if she's seriously injured," the sweet voice said softly, breaking the silence.

There were hands on my face slowly rocking my head from side to side, checking for injuries. I felt a thumb graze about my left eye and against my jawbone very carefully. He started moving my shirt to see my shoulder, but was stopped when I automatically shot up, hitting my head on top of the car causing everyone to jump and yelp in surprise. The boys exchanged worried glances as they stumbled over apologies. As my vision cleared, I saw the men who just moments before almost killed me. I could feel my eyes become as big as saucers as I gaped at the men in the car.

Vic, Mike, Tony, and Jaime from Pierce the Veil.

A/N: I've been doing this for like two hours so....It's unedited