“Sit!” She commanded, pointing to an empty chair across from them.
Shakily, I sat down, and Simon grabbed a chair from another table to sit beside me. The whole cafeteria grew quiet as everyone watched. It was no secret that Kim despised me, so I supposed everyone was as surprised by my presence here as I was. Slowly looking up from my tray, I noticed Kim smirking at me. What was that about? I shifted uncomfortably in my chair, and it squeaked a little. The aura around this table was really making it hard to breathe normally. I felt Jace’s beautiful eyes on me, but fear prevented me from meeting them. Somehow, I always managed to get lost there.
“Well, aren't you going to eat?” Kim asked, still smirking. I peeked down at my sandwich before picking it up carefully and taking a bite. As soon as my lips touched the bun, a bright flash nearly blinded me.
Kim twirled her iPhone in her hand, shrugging her shoulders innocently.
“What? Mom says I need more pictures of you.”
I noticed Kim’s girlfriends filming. My gut twisted; the feeling of uneasiness intensified. The plastic chair creaked again, but it was louder this time. A scream flew from my mouth when my chair suddenly collapsed, causing a very unsuspecting me to crash hard on the floor.
The whole cafe remained silent before my sister led the army with laughter. A jock ran over to me with pink ears and stuck them on my head, along with a pink pig nose. I couldn't move as humiliation and sadness weighed me down. I heard the crowd around me laughing, and I could see multiple flashes from the pictures being taken, but still, I didn't move. My head hanged lower than it had my whole life at this very moment. How could she do this to me? She was my only sister. All I ever wanted was to be like her. She used be my hero, but now she was my villain. Her constant teasing never went this far.
The tears built.
I felt something wet slide over my hair and down my face. Milk was dumped over my head by my sister’s laughing best friend, Josie. Still, I didn’t move. The numbness that I felt prevented my limbs from acting. Drowning out the laughing and “piggy” name-calling, along with all other noise, I took a moment to just look around.
Teachers were trying to clear the laughing students away from the scene. Simon was being held down by two jocks. His face was filled with concern and anger while he thrashed around, trying to break from their hold. I offered him a small smile, loving that, at least, one person cared. My sister, on the other hand, smiled triumphantly at me, snapping more pictures. Jace snatched the phone from her and fiercely whispered something in her ear. Her smile dropped, and her eyes hardened. I wanted to know what he said, but the question barely had time to form as a tomato smacked me in the face. I looked to see where it came from, but the source remained a mystery as more food was thrown at me.
Why me? Please, I just wished I knew what I ever did to deserve such cruelty. Tears rolled down my cheeks. When they started, I didn’t know. The strong arms of the football coach gently lifted me from the ground. The coach softly removed the fake ears and nose. I was too weak to stop him from helping.
I made the mistake of meeting eyes with Jace, and when I saw the pity swirling in the depth of his hazel pools, my resolve broke. My heart shuddered. How dare he pity me when he probably played a part in this horrible prank? That was it! This was the finally straw. They won! They broke me. I was done! I didn't want this life anymore. I couldn't take it any longer. The suffering was just not bearable.
I angrily ripped my arms away from the coach and sprinted out of the cafeteria covered in everything served for lunch today. I ran to the public bus stop and jumped inside the bus right before the door closed. After I paid my fare, I sat in the back corner and cried. Thank god only a few people were on the bus today, and they were all up front because my sobs were anything but quiet.
I cried harder and thought about the last few years; of all the things Kim had done to me. Sure, she was mean and conceited, but for the most part, all of our big fights were in the safety of our home. This was an all-new low for her. I never expected her to take her hatred towards me this far. The sick feeling, coupled with hurt and embarrassment, tore at my heart. There was no way I was going back. What would she do next? If she was willing to go this far, then there was no telling what she was capable of.
My tears slowed down as I tried to form some sort of plan. It was then that I discovered that the bus had already stopped. Weakly, I stood and exited, realizing the last stop was the train station. Huh, maybe this was a sign that running away was the best thing for me. I tried to think of the people who would miss me or possibly search for me, and the only image I got was of Simon and my mom. Two people? They were the only ones who actually cared about me. How pathetic. My own father didn't even acknowledge my existence. No, all he ever cared about was his firstborn baby girl and his fancy corporate job. I snorted out loud at the ridiculousness of his thinking as I was the youngest, and technically, the baby girl.
As I entered the train station, I noticed there weren’t many people. There was an old man sitting alone, talking to himself, and a couple of teens on their phones. I walked to the counter where an older heavy-set dark-skinned woman sat. She smiled warmly before greeting me.
“Hello, sweetheart, how can I help you?” she asked.
I scrunched up my face because I had no idea how she could help me. I left all my things at school: my bag, wallet, and ID. Oh my goodness! I was such an idiot. How could I run away without any money? Reaching into my pocket, I pulled fifteen dollars; left over from the twenty I used today for lunch. Great! Just great. Where the hell could I go for fifteen freaking dollars?
Tears sprang from my eyes before I could stop them. Everyone was right. I was so pathetic and worthless—a real fat loser, indeed.
“Oh, honey, don't cry.” The woman behind the counter got up and embraced me in a warm hug. It only served to make me cry harder and feel even more useless.
“There, there dear. Life can be hard. I know. I saw the sadness in your eyes the moment you walked here,” she cooed softly as she continued to hold my sticky wet self. Embarrassed by my outburst to a stranger, I pulled back and smiled at her weakly.
“Tha-thanks. I'm sorry. It's just been a hard day.” My voice cracked towards the end.
The woman just watched me patiently. She was a good person. I could feel it. A part of me wanted to break down and tell her everything. Her eyes, on the other hand, told me I didn't need to; as if she already knew everything just by looking at me. It was a little unnerving, and I began to fidget under her constant gaze.
“Wait right here, honey,” she said, turning around and going back to the counter. She typed something into the computer then got up again, disappearing into the back room. That was odd. What the heck was she doing?
I was not left wondering long before she came back breathless from all the running around. She had a plastic bag in her hand, and she thrusted it into mine. I grabbed it but made no move to look inside as I stared at her, confused by what was going on. She finally caught her breath and explained.
“The bathroom is to the left. Inside the bag is a change of clothes that should fit you.”
I was shocked by her kind gesture. I was about to thank her when she handed me a white envelope.
“This,” she said, holding it out, waiting for me to take it, “is a train ticket and a little cash. The train will take you to a little town a few hours away called Chance Harbor. Find your way to the town square and look for a restaurant named Louie's. That's my brother’s place. Tell him Verna sent you. Okay, honey?”
Hesitantly, I took the ticket. She gave me that warm smile of hers. Verna gently wiped the tears I didn't even realize we're already falling down my face. It was all so unbelievable to me that this woman, who didn't even know my name, was going out of her way to help me. This was one act of kindness I would never forget.
Verna went on to tell me that her brother could help me with a job without an ID as long as I behaved and kept a low profile. I could also sta
y there until I was ready to come home and face my problems.
In between sobs, I thanked her profusely. She dismissed it, shooing me away to the bathroom to clean up before I boarded the train. I rushed inside and changed out of my disgusting clothes, thankful that Verna was also on the larger side; the sweats and T-shirt fit just fine. When I finished, she was back at her seat behind the counter. I waved sheepishly, thanking her with a smile.
She waved back shouting, “Take care, honey. I'm sure we'll cross paths again, Analise.”
And with that, she turned to the man in front of the counter. I boarded the train, still slightly shocked by her kindness. It was not until I was comfortably seated in the back that I remembered I never told Verna my name. So, how did she knew it?
Chapter 3
Smart Coward or Dead Hero
Ana
I woke up with a painful crook in my neck.
Oh crap! This really hurt.
I rolled my neck around, trying to stretch it out. As luck would have it, that didn't work. Sighing, I stood to stretch the rest of my numb limbs and exited the train.
The night sky was black, and a sliver of the moon shone from behind the clouds. The streets were deserted. I wondered for how long the train had stopped while I slept.
I walked inside the empty station for any signs of life or a clue as to where I was.
Hmm, I wondered where that train driver was.
Sighing, I made my way outside, hoping to run into someone.
Right on cue, an older gentleman with white hair came around the corner, eating a doughnut. Judging by his uniform, it was the missing train driver. I watched him slowly make his way to the front doors where I was standing.
“Oh, you’re finally awake there, sleeping beauty,” he said in an amused tone in between bites. The wind picked up, causing me to shiver. I wrapped my arms tightly around myself for warmth.
“Yes, I am. Uh, where are we?” I gestured around the deserted train station with no town in sight.
“This is Chance Harbor; small old town and your stop according to your ticket,” he said.
I nodded and looked around, hoping for a clue to the town square Verna told me about. The man must have noticed my worried expression because he answered my silent question.
“Town square is about three blocks to the right. You should be able to see it quickly. There are a few shops and diners still open. There’s a motel there, as well. I would walk you back, but I just came from there, and I have a schedule to keep.” He shrugged.
I smiled and thanked him for the information. I then walked in the direction he just told me.
This was so creepy. There were barely any street lights and the road was cracked and bumpy, causing me to trip multiple times. Clearly, it hadn't been paved in years. I picked up my pace to keep myself from thinking about all the animals that could be lurking in the shadows. It was hard to see but all around were empty fields, except to the far edges were there seemed to be woods. There was no way in hell I was leaving the road to wander hundreds of yards into the deep dark dangerous field of trees. Yeah, I was not that crazy.
I wished I had my phone though.
I glanced around, searching for the town, and little ways up, I caught a glimpse of bright lights. Yes! I was almost there and off this dark lonely road. With a new goal in mind, I picked up my pace. I was in terrible shape, and the brisk walking already had me breathing hard.
Out of nowhere, a scream sounded in the air, stopping me midstride. Turning my head in the direction it came from, there was an old, torn-down, abandoned house in the middle of the field, about twenty feet away.
My stomach dropped, and I got the feeling something bad was about to happen. A part of me wanted to see if someone needed help. But the smarter part told me to get to the town and send someone back instead.
No, you’re just a coward.
Better a smart coward than dead hero. Right?
I quieted down my internal banter, and glanced back to the town—so close but still far away. Making a snap decision, I ran towards it. From this distance, I was sure no one in town heard the scream. The faster I got there, the faster I could send help back.
I ran another twenty steps when the feminine scream pierced my ears again. Shit! I froze. My heart was beating dents against my chest. My palms were sweating, and I was scared shitless.
I couldn't fight if she was being attacked, so I shouldn't go out there.
What if she was not being attacked; just needed help?
Guilt hit me like the force as I thought of some poor woman trapped and hurting, or worse, dying. I looked at the town once more longingly before I turned back, heading for the abandoned house.
I couldn't believe I was acting like the stupid girls in all the horror movies I watched and laughed at. The next thing I knew, I would be running forward while looking back, and then I would fall over my own feet. This was so freaking crazy, but I knew if I went into the town and she died before help came, I would feel heavy with guilt and sadness. I was already having a shitty day. I didn't need to this on my conscience, too.
I finally reached the torn-down house, and it looked worse up close. The sidings were falling off, and the paint was practically gone. Most of the windows were boarded or broken, and I was certain the roof was caving in. This was a house right out of a scary movie. I swallowed the lump in my throat and proceeded.
Stepping carefully on the porch, it creaked loudly in protest. I didn't know if it was from my weight or just being old and deteriorated. No time was left to ponder as another desperate strangled scream assaulted my ears. This one wasn't as loud, but somehow, it scared me a whole lot more. Pushing open the broken door that was falling off its hinges while I tried to control my erratic heart, I stepped in inside cautiously.
“He-hello.” I called out in a trembling voice. Curse me for being so scared when I was supposed to be the hero in this situation. Too bad, I was probably more scared than the victim. Wait, what was I thinking? She could be trapped somewhere with me as her only chance, yet here I was, paranoid some axe murderer was lurking in the dark.
I fully stepped inside the house, careful of the broken boards everywhere. In the center of the living area, there was an old wooden staircase leading up to the second floor, and I immediately crossed it off my list of safe options. The room was bare—no furniture at all—and the house had that old stale smell. It was a good thing I didn’t eat lunch or the smell in this place would’ve brought it back up.
I heard a thud, and it sounded like it came from below me. As quietly as possible, I walked further into the house, pass the stairs, and into an equally empty kitchen. A swoosh of air passed behind me, and I whipped around to locate the source.
No windows.
What the hell?
I shivered as I got the feeling something or someone was watching me.
“Okay, pull it together, Ana.” I coached myself out loud.
Taking a closer look around, this time, I saw an open door a few feet from the sink with steps leading down. I was pretty certain that was the basement where the thud I heard earlier came from. Taking a deep breath for courage, I walked over and began my slow descent through the stairs. They creaked loudly with each slow step, and I searched the wall for some sort of switch, hoping for light.
No such luck. By the third stair, I decided to call out again.
“Is there anyone down there? Hello?”
No response.
Reaching the bottom, I stopped and looked around. Much like the rest of the house, the basement was empty. There was a small window situated a few feet higher than me to the back, but I would never, in a million years, get my body through it. Darting my eyes down, I saw what brought me here in the first place. There, laying on the floor, under the window, in a heap, was a woman.
I gasped and rushed to her.
Gently, I knelt down and brushed her blonde hair from her face. She was very pale and looked extremely weak, but she was still a pretty gir
l who was probably in her early twenties. Her eyes fluttered a few times before the heavy lids opened.
“Oh my gosh! It's okay. Don't worry. I'm here. Ju-just hang on, please. You’re hurt. I need to get help.” I cradled her head on my lap as I spoke. She lifted a hand weakly and pointed at the window. I looked at the window and then back at her, confused. She opened her mouth to speak. I had to lean close to hear her.
“L-lee-leave n-now. He wi-will k-ki-kill y-you,” she said, barely above a whisper. Her words were hard to understand, but I got the idea of her message. Someone else was here.
I looked at her again, more closely this time, and I couldn't believe I missed it before. Dripping down the side of her neck were two long trails of blood. They flowed down her neck until they soaked the collar of her white shirt. My stomach coiled at the sight of the blood, and I had to fight back a gag. Her eyes closed again and my panic rose. Oh god! What do I do? I felt for a pulse on her wrist. Very faintly, I felt the beat of her heart. I decided then and there that it was time to go. With her warning ringing in my head like cow bells, I used my shaky, fearful hands to lift her body into my arms, bridal style.
She was a small woman, but I had no body strength. Contrary to belief, being fat didn't make you strong. Luckily, adrenaline was on my side. As quickly as I could, I made my way back to the steps, determined to get us both out of here before whoever did this to her came back to finish.
We made it to the top, and just as I was about to use my foot to push the door open, it flew back with a loud bang. A small scream tumbled from my mouth, and I clutched the woman to my chest.
Blocking the exit was a tall man with broad shoulders. He easily stood at six foot. He was dressed in all black with long dark hair flowing around him. His stance was casual but alarms of dangerous and deadly went off in my head. I couldn't make out much of his facial details in the dark. My heart thudded against my chest, and I tried to control my shaking body. The man smiled, but it was not friendly. No, it was menacing, and it sent a frightening chill down my spine.
Pure: A Paranormal Romance Page 2