My head spins when I wake up. She came back. And she came. Why me? And why now? My life is truly, truly messed up.
I slung my backpack over my shoulder and step outside into the harsh wind, calling to my mom. She hardly ever responds but it's become a force of habit now.
I'm so lost in thoughts I hardly even notice the school in front of me, a towering castle compared to me. The familiar brick building suddenly looks menacing as I approach it. But luckily my back is to the sun; therefore, I remain out of the shadows, for now at least.
✯✯✯✯✯
A clanging echoes down the hall, the sound of a slamming locker. I think nothing of it, continuing my way. Shouts and cries come from the clashing and before I know it, I'm racing down the hall.
"Dahlia?" I ask. She and another girl have someone pinned against a locker. The victim cries and kicks uselessly at her attacker.
"Oh! Jackie! I didn't--"
"It's Jack," I sigh. My gaze falls on the person against the locker. Her green eyes plead. I march up to Dahlia and catch her by the throat. "Let her go!" Dahlia's assistant tosses Alice across the hall, letting her limp body slid into another locker.
"Jack, listen, sweetie. Why do you care? She's just a girl. You should be hanging out with people like me!" Her blonde hair bounces and hazel eyes sparkle. I cringe.
"You're about as deep as a puddle and as real as your hair so I'n afraid I'll pass." Dahlia scoffs and struts away. What a jerk. Walking over to Alice, I reach out and she takes my hand. She whispers thanks. Her huge eyes overwhelm me with something, and I get the feeling she knows more than she lets on.
✯✯✯✯✯
"Thanks again," Alice says. I smile. "They came out of no where. I just don't understand people like that."
"Yeah. Those who believe in a system, can't break the system, or their life is, like, over. Sadly, in their system, people like you fall low."
She raises an eyebrow and stops. "People like me?"
"Well you know . . ."
Alice laughs a small laugh. Reassuringly places a hand on my shoulder. I tense at her touch, it sends butterflies through my stomach. "I understand. But why would they do something like that?"
"They saw you as a threat. It's better if you just stay off of their radar."
She nods with a signature grin. I blink, but she's halfway to class, racing ahead without me.
YOU ARE READING
Nine Lives
RomanceHave you ever wished that could live forever? That each time you die, you just come back, alive? Of course you have, every normal human would. But Alice isn't normal. She doesn't have to wish to live forever, because she does. She is a Shifter, and...
