Chapter 9

Warning, This story contains dark scenes with graphic detail that some readers may find distressing.

“I can’t believe that your almost seventeen. Two more days. My sweet girl will be one year older.” I smiled at my mum as I put my breakfast bowl into the sink. There was something in her eyes, sadness, fear I couldn’t place it.
“Before you go, we need to talk.” I rolled my eyes and prayed it wasn’t another one of her awkward birds and the Bee’s talk. Leaning on the countertop I waited for whatever it was that had mum so worked up. She was always calm and collected. On no I hope she hasn’t found out about the party on Friday night.
“We know it’s your birthday Saturday……….erm…… we have put it off for as long as we can…..but..” Mum looked nervous, she twisted her hands together and kept taking long pauses between words.
“Mum, what is it just spit it out, will you? Or I am goanna be late.” I let out a little laugh hoping to lighten the mood.
“We have to move. Sunday we will be moving.” My heart sank and anger bubbled to the surface.
“No! No! not again. I’ve been in 6 new schools this year! You promised!” I slammed my hands on the countertop grabbed my school bag and stomped to back door, slamming it behind me.

The blaring of the alarm clock pulled me from my dream. It wasn’t the best memory. How I regret the way I acted now. I missed Mum and Dad more than I could ever say. Seeing her heart shaped face and hazel eyes even in my dream bought of the pang of grief. Sighing I climbed out of bed. My muscles screamed in protest, sore and uncooperative.
Getting up before everyone else to cook breakfast had its advantages the bathroom was free. Undressing for the was painful. My t-shirt stuck to my back and when I pulled it free the pain took my breath.
The shower brought some release to my aching muscles, but the blood mixed with the steaming water brought back memories that I would rather keep buried. Six foot deep with the lid sealed shut.
Dad’s mouth open, in a silent scream or shout. His eyes blank, lifeless as blood pooled around him. Banging my head against the tiled wall I willed the memory to go away. Taking deep breaths, in through the nose out through the mouth I managed to clear my mind.
Slowly I padded back to my room and closed the door. As soon as the door was closed, I dropped the towel and walked to the little A4 mirror that sat on an empty set of drawers. Turning around I saw the damage that Uncle Robert had done. Red angry words “SLUT”. Teenagers always get branded, labelled at schools. Jocks, Geeks, Freaks. Lucky me, I had been physically marked twice now. Murder and Slut. My lip was swollen, and a bruise had begun to form at the left side of my face. I didn’t cry, curse of feel sorry for myself, too emotionally drained I slowly dressed in a black T-Shirt and Black Leggings. I didn’t have a coat and the only cardigan I had was caked in mood and burned at the sleeves. I had no choice but to brave the cold.
Once downstairs I put on my old, tattered trainers. They had a hole in the bottom, so I rooted through the drawers until I came across some black tape. Patching the soles up the best. Opening the front door, I grabbed the news paper off the doorstep. Uncle Robert insisted it was ready so he could read it while eating breakfast. Placing it on the dining room table the front page grabbed my attention. “Sixteen-year-old Stephanie Clayton missing.” There was a picture of the teen smiling and looking happy. I should have felt remorse, sadness for the family and the girl. Yet I felt nothing. I was numb inside. The clock chimed and I heard movement upstairs.
I’d not cooked breakfast, nor loaded the washing machine. I was going to be in trouble, but I didn’t care. I had no bag. The schoolbooks I’d been allocated yesterday had all gone. I’d dropped them sometime during yesterday’s events.
Dragging my feet, I exited the house. They can make their own meal I thought to myself. I didn’t wait for Taylor like I had said I would. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone. I just wanted to be alone. Five minutes away from school she pulled up beside me.
“Jump in,” she smiled but I declined, choosing to walk on.
When I entered the school building, I could feel people’s eyes on me, so I walked keeping my head looking forward. Opening my locker, it slammed shut, missing my fingers by just a milometer.
“Looks like someone has taught you a lesson in keeping your mouth shut.” A deep and husky voice whispered in my ear. Turning slightly, I was met with beautiful golden eyes. Kingsley.
Ignoring his comment, I brushed passed him to homeroom. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of a response. I was pretty sure it was his friends that had kidnapped me and left me in the woods for dead.
The morning dragged on. Time seemed to tick by slowly as I sat in a daze. Not really thinking or feeling. Perhaps I was dead. Just a shell of my former self. Three boys, pushed, and barged their shoulders into me as I walked the halls. I didn’t look at them, nor did I respond in anyway. I still had money left that Aunt Peggy had given me yesterday for dinner, so I queued up and choose a cheeseburger and chips. The money wouldn’t stretch far enough for a drink, but the school had water fountains placed around so that wasn’t an issue.
The only table left was the one that Kingsley had insisted was his. Screw him I thought and marched to the table sitting down confidently. Maybe I had a death wish. But I didn’t care anymore at that point.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I looked up from my food to the big guy the other called Stevens yesterday.
Smirking I said. “Take a seat. Don’t be scared.” Pointing to the seat across from me.
“You’ve got balls, girl I will give you that.” He replied taking the seat but keeping his eyes locked on mine.
“What happened to you?” he asked eyeing my swollen lip.
“I thought you would know.” Raising my eyebrows and shoving a chip in my mouth I watched his eyes go wide and his lips twitched.
“We never hurt you. In fact we went back for you but you was gone and the woods where we left you was a scorched mess.” I chocked on my food, and someone slapped me hard on the back. That was just a dream. It had to be. Right? There wasn’t really any fire.
Kingsley took the seat beside me and stared me down.
“You have some nerve.” He finally said.
“I can sit where I please. And no kidnapping stunt and leaving me for dead is goanna change that.” I spat at him.
The blue-eyed boy soon joined followed by a raven black haired boy.
The blue-eyed boy was looking at me thoughtfully.
“Who did that to you.” He asked.
“None of your fucking business.” I snapped at him. It was his fault I was walking the streets at that time of night. His and his stupid friends fault that Uncle Robert craved the name Slut into my lower back.
“Wow Carter, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’d pissed the girl off.” The raven black haired boy laughed and put his hands behind his head, leaning back in his chair.
“Shut up Elijah.” The blue-eyed boy I now know was called Carter said shoving him, almost knocking him from his chair.
“Hey,” Taylor waved kissing the bouncer looking guy Stevens on the cheek.
“Lilly, what happened to your face?” she asked with real concern.
“Ask your brother and his friends.” I got up. My plate half eaten and walked away.
“Bryce!” I heard Taylor screech as I dumped my food in the trash. From now on I refused to be bullied nor beaten. It was time I started to fight back. For the first time that day I felt something. The boiling burning anger, no longer would I be pushed around.
My name is Lilith Archfiend, and I will not be weak any longer.
“Make them pay.” The demonic voice sang in my mind. I stood still, by eyes frantically scanning the cafeteria. Nothing. I couldn’t find the source of the voice.
“Freak,” “Loser,” students muttered at me as they had to suddenly change direction and move around me.
“Make them pay!” The demonic voice was louder this time, and I grabbed my head in both hands as a headache threatened to suddenly explode my head.
I will make them pay. Each last one of them. They will soon learn they messed with the wrong girl.