AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"So, you abuse children? That's what gets you off in this place? Bruising and beating kids?"
She smiles, her fingers digging into my collar bone. It feels like she's pressing an evil sentiment into me, and it makes me nauseous with pain.
"Call it what you like. You will not speak to me in that tone again." I stare up at her, seeing her pale gums, dried with her thin teeth glaring down at me.
I look away, not sure what she's capable of. But for the first time, I don't really want to find out.
I swallow, lowering my head and nodding into my desk.
She releases me after one last squeeze, walking toward the front of the class to continue her lecture.
"When class is over, follow me," Hazel whispers, and I give her a barely noticeable nod, keeping my head tilted down until the end of class.
The bell rings, but it's not from one of the electronic alarms that rings over the speakers. It's the old-school bell that thrums against the cast iron material, loud and slow as it bangs once, twice, three times.
Sister Marjorie stares at me as I stand up from my desk. I avert my eyes, walking behind Hazel as we leave the room.
I don't head to my locker. I want nothing to do with the kids, or the teachers, or even Malik right now. Sister Marjorie's warning put me off, made me feel incredibly creeped out. I want nothing but to leave. Even going back to the creepy mansion in the woods and curling in my own bed would suffice. But being here right now…
I shiver, chills breaking out along my body.
"It's lunch time. Let's go outside," Hazel says from in front of me. I follow her through the halls and out the back door. We don't even grab food from the cafeteria, just bypass everyone and everything and walk right outside.
My eyes widen when I see the school is on the edge of Superior. Up on a hill, near rocks and not much else. The sight makes me dizzy, how far suspended we are into the sky when I didn't even realize it. The rocks are sharp below us, one trip over the edge and you'd split into a hundred pieces. There is no surviving the leap.
The fact that students linger near the edge, without a care or worry in the world, only makes my stomach shake further.
"You can stick with us from now on. This place will eat you alive if you only stick to yourself," Hazel says, walking toward two girls off to the side, sitting on a large rock.
"What do you mean,this place?"
She looks over her shoulder, her dark hair blowing in her face. It's windy, the breeze whistling against the heavy trees. The cool air raises goosebumps along my chilled skin. "I meant exactly what I said, Vera. This place has its own rules. You have to follow them."
"And if I don't?" My heart starts beating fast, and glancing down, I can see the flutter against my shirt.
"Then goodbye."
We reach the rock, and Hazel sits down on the edge. I stand in front of it, staring at the two girls that are watching me with curiosity.
"You're the new girl? Vera?" a girl with long, bright red hair asks. She's pretty, with a speckling of freckles along the bridge of her nose.
"Obviously. We never have new people." Hazel rolls her eyes.
"I'm Blaire," says the redhead.
I nod. "Vera." Looking over my shoulder, I expect Sister Marjorie or any of the other nuns to be lingering behind me, ready to hit me again. There isn't anyone there, though. Only other students, but I'm still uneasy. Glancing down at my knuckles, I see a purple bruise already forming. "Can I smoke here?"
Blaire shrugs. "Why not?"
I flash my hand. "I'd rather not get beaten to death by a group of nuns."
"See these rocks?" Blaire points to the huge stones in front of us, some as tall as my knees, others go up to my waist. All are different sizes and shapes. Some look smoothed over, nearly shiny. Others look full of dirt and sand.
"What about them?" I ask.
"Where the grass cuts off from the rocks is the end of the boundary for the school. They can't touch us over here, no matter how badly they want to."
I rub my fingers along the bruises on my knuckles. Blaire notices and winces. "Sister Marjorie?" I nod. "She loves her ruler. Just make sure you don't get on Sister Mary's bad side. She likes to put you in The Room of Atonement."
