I’m going. I’m just running to get out of this building. I take a corner and slam into someone. I stagger back, lose my footing and fall hard on the tiles.
“Watch where…” someone snaps and then,” well I’ll be damned. I’ve been looking for you, mouse.” My head snaps up and as my eyes meet the hate filled ones of Hayden, a shiver of fear races down my spine. This is so the last thing I need right now!
Hayden leans down, grabs hold of my arm and yanks me into a standing position. I can feel tears burning in my eyes, but I swallow them back. I don’t want to cry in front of Hayden. I try to yank my arm free but it only causes him to tighten the already painful grip he has on me.
“No, you don’t, mouse. I have something I want to show you,” he sneers. The words echo through me and I feel that awful darkness suck me into a bottomless pit of fear. Hayden starts to drag me down the hallway and my feet follow reluctantly.
I hear the shrill sound of the bell ringing, indicating the end of lunch, but Hayden doesn’t stop. I want to scream at him to let go off me! I want to rip my arm free from his grasp, but I can’t. I feel stuck, caught in a nightmare.
My vision starts to blur and my feet falter a step. Hayden impatiently yanks me forward. He yanks again and I feel my body jerk forward. I slam hard into something cold that makes a loud banging noise. I can’t focus on anything around me. My throat is dry, my breathing shallow.
I hear another bang and then I get shoved into a dark space. “Mice belong in cages!” Hayden’s words ripple through me as the darkness surrounds me. I fall hard to my knees. My body starts to shake and I know the familiar pain will come soon. I curl up, as small as I can. This time I don’t hear the deafening sound of water dripping ... all I hear is vicious laughter.
He came back. He is going to kill me now.
~*~
Chapter Eighteen
Seth~
I have gym after break. I shove my way through all the kids so I can get to the boy’s locker room. When I walk in I hear Hayden laughing. I look up, not giving it much thought. Hayden is always up to something and I want no part of it anymore.
I’m just in time to see him shoving someone into the store room. Paige is with him, laughing that annoying high pitch laugh of hers. What the hell is she doing here?
“Just great!” I mumble to myself. I have to walk by them to get to my locker so I can change into my gym clothes. When I get close to them I wonder who it was they shoved in the room. Some poor junior, I bet. I glance into the store room but it’s too dark, and I can’t see anyone. My gut screams at me to step in, I can’t just watch them bully another kid.
“What’s up?” I ask, trying to look casual.
Hayden glares at me, clearly not falling for my act. “None of your fucking business,” he snaps.
“Close the door!” Paige says with a tinge of nervousness in her voice. I don’t know why she’s hanging with Hayden, she’s got so much more potential.
“Shut up, bitch!” Hayden snaps at her, but he still listens to her and closes the door. He knocks into my shoulder as he walks by me. “And you better watch your back,” he sneers.
I just watch him go. It won’t help to start a fight with him. Instead I open the door, so the poor kid can come out of the stinking store room. It smells like sweaty socks and worn leather.
“It’s safe to come out,” I say and wait to see who the poor kid is. When there’s no movement I flip the switch so the light will come on. Pins and needles ripple through my body like a wildfire. “Lacey!” I move fast to where she’s curled up in a small bundle on the cold floor. Her eyes are pinched closed and she’s shaking all over. I touch her shoulder tentatively. “Lacey…” With a panic filled shriek she scrambles away from me, her face pale and her eyes huge as saucers.
It hits me hard in the gut – Lacey is scared of me. I suddenly crave that shy