The Forest Path

Chapter 3 - Last Day

Chapter 3

Last Day

I woke up on the floor with my sheets on the other side of the room, weird.

I tried to move but my body was frozen and stiff, this usually occurred when I had a bad dream but not this bad, it seemed like I had gone into late stage rigor mortis.

It pained to get out of this position but it was my last day at Prosper Valley high and I needed to say goodbye to all my friends because I would be leaving it for good.

I grabbed a change of clothes and ran into my cramped en suite and took a quick shower, the hot water woke me up but not from the un-escapable reality that I was not only moving away from my friends and teachers, which I could live with just fine, but from my own father too.

When I trudged downstairs, it was empty.

I grabbed my satchel and coat and headed to the kitchen

I didn’t feel like a big breakfast so I grabbed a small amount of graham crackers and looked at the clock, I was late. I ran out to my Chevy and climbed in, I jammed the key in the ignition and it stalled, again.

“Come on you stupid piece of junk, this is NOT the time to stall.”

It was a hopeless exercise, I was going to have to either bike or walk into school, I chose walk mainly because the chain on the bike has been stolen, one of the tyres is missing and the other was flat.

By the time I got into school Spanish had started and I hate being late for this lesson because Mrs.Kenki makes a big deal out of it.

I opened the door gingerly and fell to my hands and knees to try to crawl to my seat without Miss noticing.

“Hola Miss Clairton” Mrs.Kenki said without even looking

“Hola Senora Kenki and by the way it’s Clearton” I retorted.

“Si, Si. Anyway why are you late for my Spanish lesson?”

“Well you see Senora, my car stalled so I had to walk it, but while I was walking it started to rain so it took me ages to get here because of continues cars spraying me with water as they passed and then….”

“Ah ah ah, I want an explanation not your life story Samantha. Don’t think just because it’s your last day you can get away scot free, detention with me at recess.”

“Fucking shit muncher.” I muttered as I slipped in-between the narrow gaps of the tables and chairs and slumped in my own waiting for the lesson to be over.

By the time class had finished everyone was surrounding me saying how they would miss me, except Michael Dainton.

“Thank God thanks Douche Bag is moving”

“You are SUCH a pain in the ass, you do know that don’t you maggot?”

 “Fuck off you whore”

“Why is your mother behind me?”

“I know people who can bust your ass you little shit.”

“Yeah is that the same as when you said you lost your virginity at the tender age of 13?”

“I’ll fucking get you Sam.”

The people round me where chanting fight and five of his mates were telling him I was not to mess with the big M, but one boy took it too far.

“Hey Sam? Say hey to you psychopathic dad for me will ya?”

Everyone laughed, but the more they laughed the more the rage boiled up inside of me. Then I said it, something that would change my life. Forever.

“Hey Mike? Before I leave forever, say hi you your mom and Dad for me, and remind them this. For the stuff I had to film; I’m gonna need double the money they said they would pay. And forward the moneyto my new address; 1457 Kill-Yourself, Seattle.”

With that, I walked off with my head high, I heard behind me the sound of chortling teenagers.

Then I thought, the first time I had won an argument with anyone was on the last day I had in school, and Dad could not be here to witness it. He would be so proud.

************************************************

I had done my detention with Mrs. Kenki and started to travel towards the Mall when I felt a twang hit my leg and a slight damp spot on my calf start to trickle.

“That’s for showing me up in front of everyone you fucked up slut”

I knew from there that the trickle was blood and that Michael had slashed the back of my leg with something, I was probably the Penknife he always boasts about, but I had no time to think about it, I was losing blood, and fast and no one was around to help me.

I screamed until my voice became hoarse and I could not scream any more I decided to just lie there in pain and cry, slowly awaiting what must surely be my death.

Then, all of a sudden, my own father came round the corner, noticed me and did an illegal U-turn to come to my aid. The car screeched to a halt about a foot away from my outstretched hand. My dad stumbled out of the car to assist me.

“Sammy, what’s happened?!”

“A boy called Mike Dainton slashed the back of my leg; I think he has nicked one of my arteries or something..”

“Darlin’, you are BLEEDING to death and your getting technical?”

Dad picked me up of the ground and sped all the way to Prosper Valley general hospital to get me checked out. We soon arrived; Dad carried me in screaming,

“SOMEONE HELP, MY DAUGHTER IS BLEEDING TO DEATH!”

A nurse came to my dad to calm him down.

“Calm down sir, I am sure your daughter is alri... DEAR GOD.

I looked down to see if my leg was as bad as the nurse made it out to be.

It was worse and being the little shit I am, fainted like a bitch infront of everyone.

I regained consciousness several hours later. My eyes opened to a bright light, which surrounded me, dear lord, am I in heaven?

“Samantha?” Ben asked

Clearly not. 

“Gwad... It’s you.” My voice slurred after; I guessed they had pumped me with aesthetic to take the excruciating pain away.

I tried to escape from Ben but metal bars were blocking my way, it seemed that I was in a hospital bed. Ughh, I hate hospitals.

 “Don’t even try it missy, you won’t be able to. You have already managed to fall out once.” Ben said roughly, “you have had to have an operation to repair the damage what was done, but you lost a lot so you’ve had to have a transfusion.”

Mom came rushing into the room, arms wide and tears escaping from her eyes.

“Sammy! You are OK! I thought you were going to die!” Mom wept.

“So did I for a minute, but I am OK now.” I calmly explained.

“That’s it; we are not going to Masonville!”

“No,” I cried, “I WANT to go; I can escape from that idiot Mike.”

“But I thought you wanted to stay with your dad?” Mom exclaimed incredulously.

“I have thought about it, I can visit dad at the holidays and stay with you guys for the rest of the time.” I said

“Babe, you have NO idea how much this means to me and Ben!” Mom showed her happiness through one of her “hugs”.

“Yeah I am just wondering how dad will take the news.” I said breathlessly.