Untitled Chapter 1

A scream echoed down the hall, fading into nothing. A few straggling kids looked for the source of the sound but found nothing. Another yell, not quiet as loud, followed the first only to be quickly silenced. A door slammed shut and the bell rang for class to begin.1

The first period of the day, started off bad for me. I woke up, normal, at 6:15. I got dressed and warmed up the car. The cold autumn air greeted me, chasing me inside to grab my gloves. I grabbed my bag, a couple of dollars for lunch, and said goodbye to my dog, Ruford. I pulled out of the driveway, my stereo blaring my favorite band, Evanescence. 2

The drive only took ten minutes and I walked around the empty school with an hour left until first period. Going to my locker, saying hi to a few teachers and trying to occupy my time, I waited for the busses to deliver my best friend, Sam, into school so we could talk. She finally arrived a half an hour until first period. I looked at her to find her black makeup half gone. 3

“Hey what’s going on?” I asked as we stopped at her locker. 4

She pulled it open, half ignoring me. Curious, I slammed the locker shut. She glared at me, and then reopened the locker. 5

“Your just a little too touchy. What is wrong?” I questioned.6

“Nothing’s wrong, Raven. Everything’s fine. It always is,” she snapped, closing her locker.7

“Wow. I’m just gonna leave you alone. You seem a little grouchy for me. Chances are, you’re not gonna tell me the truth anyways. So I’ll see you later,” I said, highly annoyed.8

I turned to walk away but she pulled me back. Her hand was wrapped around my arm. I turned to her, regretting the words as soon as the left my mouth.9

“You never tell my anything! I spill my life story and I get nothing. We’re best friends and all but it’s like you would rather be somewhere else all the time. I don’t get it. Why don’t you trust me?” I exclaimed, my rage held in for almost a year.10

Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. I pulled my arm free and took a step back. Horrified by my own outburst, I dropped my small handful of books. Bending down to pick them up, I heard her curse, and felt a breeze as she walked past me. I cursed, wiped the few tears I had and stood.11

I walked to first period, dazed by the shocking speech I had delivered. I set my books at my desk and sat down. Pulling out a sheet of paper, I wrote Sam a note.12

“Sam,13

I know what I said was mean but I didn’t really mean it. I’ve been holding it in forever. Like a year forever. Last year was so bad, I couldn’t tell you about it all. It would hurt you too much and I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t put you through anymore. You’ve been through enough. And I’m going to stop. Stop hurting you once and for all. Maybe we should take a break on our friendship. Like a week or something. Just call me.14

Raven”15

I folded it up and set it on her desk, which happened to be right next to mine. Only five minutes until the warning bell rang and then another five minutes until first period actually started. Just another grueling day at Airtow High.16

I unfolded my backpack and prepared myself for class, everything on my desk, nice and neat. Pencil up top. Book to the side and notebook and folder on the other corner. All making a perfect. I’m OCD. Not a good thing to have in high school. I get picked on a lot. But last school year pushed me over the edge and sometimes, my own thoughts disgust me. 17

The warning bell; Sam didn’t show up. I panicked. She made it a ritual to be her by the warning bell or she considered herself late. It’s an annoying habit we both share. I like to be early, like supper early.18

I stood, left the classroom as the flood of students cascaded like a waterfall, pushing me back. The last few students wondered quickly, nervous or just jumpy. I heard a loud giggle, or was it a scream. I couldn’t be sure. My algebra three class, located in the 300 wing, seemed closed off suddenly.19

The carpet hugged my feet, static electricity buzzing around. It stuck to my fleece sweater, sending sparks in the air. I quickly looked at the clock, cursed and retreated back into the safety of Mr. Wobbler’s algebra class. 20

The final bell rang just as I walked in the door. I snatched the note off Sam’s desk and stuffed it in my pocket. I hurriedly opened my book, cursing again under my breath. I didn’t do the warm-up before class. I scribbled down the complicated problem and reached for my calculator. Mr. Wobbler called roll; Sam, the only one missing.21

A little while after class, I filled out a pass; destination, the bathroom. I left the room and headed toward the 200 wing. The giggle (or scream) came from that direction and I was eager to know who had done it.22

I left the 300 wing, entering the 200 wing. The halls, deserted and silent, spooked me. Suddenly overwhelmed, I ran to the bathroom and forced the water on. The cold water rushed over my hands, calming my disease. I washed my hands, three, four, five times, tears stinging my eyes. No, the number was ten. Had to wash them ten times or…. or I don’t know what would happen.23

My brain felt like exploding. I hate my life. OCD…Over Compulsive Disorder. Everything had its place. Everything had to be neat and orderly. And my world just plunged into chaos.24

I finished washing my hands, dried them and looked in the mirror. My face, pale, looked drained of all energy. I turned away, ready to puke. I walked over to the far side of the bathroom and sat down. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my razor blade. The yelling at home, the fighting at school, and the slipping grades, I couldn’t take it. I rolled up my sleeve and let the soft silver run across the tender skin on my arms. My crimson trademark soon followed it, leaving its mark on the floor. After a few more artworks littered my arms, I heard the door open. 25

I quickly shoved the red tipped knife into my pocket and ran to a stall. I pulled down some paper and wrapped it around my arm. Rolling down my sleeve, I walked out into the bathroom and to my surprise, Sam stood there, looking at me. Her hair was ruffled, her makeup even more smeared and her wrists were red. I pulled the note from my pocket and shoved it in her hand. Heading toward the door, I felt her grab me, pulling me back, keeping me from class. I pushed away and opened the door.26

“Wait. Don’t go out there. He’ll find you and kill you. He wants you,” she said quickly, washing her hands.27

“What are you talking about? Are you okay? Where the hell have you been all hour?” I asked, confused.28

“I should be asking you what you where doing before I got here. I know you where cutting. Why don’t you listen to me about that? You’re going to seriously hurt yourself one of these days. And why are you doing this to yourself? It hurts me to see you like this,” she said.29

“I don’t care, I don’t want to be around anymore,” I said, opening the door.30

“Please, don’t go,” she said.31

I closed the door but no sooner did it fly open. I yelped, frantically trying to figure it out. Oh, god, was I going to die? That one thought ran through my mind until I finally noticed it was no man. It was a girl, a freshman actually. I breathed a sigh of relief. 32

“Ummm…. let’s get going,” I stuttered.33

“No! He’ll kill you and me. We have to hide. You have to listen to me,” she yelled.34

“What makes you think I’ll trust you? After what you did this morning? I’ll keep to myself. Just read the note. Or maybe, just maybe, I’ll make it so I won’t be around for you to harass anymore. I’ll disappear off the face of the earth. That’s what everybody wants me to do. No one wants me around. So I’m not going to be around. Goodbye Sam. It’s been nice knowing you,” I exclaimed, angry suddenly.35

“What did I do?! As I recall, you yelled at me. Not the other way around,” she shouted, throwing the note on the floor.36

“Forget it. Just forget it. Forget we were ever friends and that I ever existed. Go back to hanging out with Leah. You never hang out with me anymore and when you do, your grumpy. So like I said, forget we ever met,” I screamed, opening the door.37

I left the bathroom, wondering the halls. I headed back to class, leaving Sam in her thoughts. Something grabbed my arm. Thinking it was Sam, I turned around. Standing behind me was not Sam. I tried to jerk my arm free but the man wouldn’t let go. I felt my mouth run dry and my throat close, making me unable to scream.38

He drew me close to him and clamped his leather glove over my mouth. He pulled my arms behind my back, myself helpless because of fear. I felt his hot breath down my throat. The kiss made me want to puke.39

“Don’t move or you’ll die. Just follow me and I won’t hurt her. You don’t want your best friend to die so you can live, do you,” he whispered in my ear, releasing my arms.40

He still held my mouth, my air slipping away, dizzying me. He quickly looked around and let me go. He slipped his hand into his pocket and a few seconds later, pulled out a knife. He put it against my throat, ensuring victory over me.41

We walked down the hallway until we reached an abandoned classroom. The door was propped open and I could see the lights where on. He opened the door and pushed me inside. A few seconds later, he joined me in the almost empty room.42

“Jon, you’ve done well. How did you do it?” someone asked, a someone I couldn’t see. “Where’s Sam?”43

“She wondered right into my trap. Jon said. “She’s gone. I let her go. Well, kinda. I told her if she was good and didn’t tell, she could go. That’s okay, right? Because I could always go get her.”44

“No… she’ll be taken care of soon enough,” the other person said. “As for this one, tie her up and throw her in the van. And feel free to torture her all you want. The boss said the weaker she is, the better she’ll cooperate. But don’t screw her. Not yet anyways. Wait until she’s at the mansion. Then I won’t have to hear or see it. Got it?”45

“Yeah… I got it. Where did you park the van?”46

“Around back. But hurry up,” Jon said.47

I stood there, frozen in time. Fear gripped me, holding me hostage. What should I do? The clock was ticking. If I tried to run they would hunt Sam down and hurt her. I couldn’t let that happen. Even if I was mad at her. Jon looked at me, and then grabbed my arm. He pulled me to him and kissed me. 48

“Don’t fight us. She won’t live if you do,” he whispered in my ear.49

I nodded my head and he let go of me. I looked around the room for the other man on the job. I couldn’t find him. But he was here. Before I had anytime to react, I was lying on my back. Jon was at the door and something was holding me on my back. Opening my eyes, I saw Leah sitting on my, holding a coil of rope.50

“Leah? What are you doing?” I stuttered.51

“Killing you. What else would I be doing? You ruined my life, you deserve to die,” he said, grabbing my hands. 52

I struggled but my hands were already tied together. I tried to kick him but it was no use. He had them pinned down. As I tried to scream, he shoved his leather hand over my mouth. Plugging my nose, he made it impossible to breath.53

My legs fell to the ground as he started binding them. Now unable to escape, I laid on the floor, catching my breath. A few seconds later, a piece of cloth was shoved into my mouth and held in with a piece of duct tape. My vision suddenly disappeared, a blindfold preventing me from seeing.54

“Now we go to the van. Is the coast clear?” Leah said, obviously talking to Jon.55

“Yeah, hurry though. I think classes are going to change soon.”56

I felt arms wrap around me, hoisting me off the ground. Wind blew by my face as we started walking. I heard the door creaking open and then close again. The speed picked up. Leah hurrying to get out of the school. Cold air met us, the smells of exhaust fumes and the sounds of a motor filled me.57

Another door opened and I was flying through the air. My hand slammed on the bed of the van, a cushion beneath my head. Something soft enclosed me, making me unable to move. I heard the door close and another one open. Muffled voices lulled me to sleep.