by B C Morgan
“Leighbear,” Noah sounds hesitant and I hate that I’m feeling so awkward, snap out of it Henleigh, everything is fine.
“Hey you,” I say as I step into his open arms and I can’t help the sigh I release and he does the same.
Oh no. Something did happen last night, I’m not sure if I want to remember or remain in denial.
“Amias is behind you,” he whispers, but I’m not going to whisper my reply.
“Amias can take a running leap for all I care right now,” I may as well be spitting acid as I say his name. “What’s happening after I see my Dad?”
“Are you kidding me, what did I do?” Amias is raising his voice and I do not appreciate it.
“Outside the club, you want to be an arse that’s fine with me, I'm just not going to be around for it,” I say before giving a kiss to Noah and Elijah and walking outside to spend some time with my Dad.
I don’t know what’s happening after, if I need to go back to school on my own or meet back up with them but either way, they have my number and they can always let me know.
I have had the best day with my Dad, I can’t believe he’s organised an intensive driving course for me and organised school passes so I can take my lessons whilst in attendance. Noah does text me and lets me know to meet them at the beach but as Dad drops me off I can’t help but notice that Amias is nowhere to be found. It’s bothering me, why wouldn’t it? But if he won’t tell me why he was so short and frankly mean to me, then I don’t want to be around him right now.
“Hey guys,” I say with a little wave, making my way over to them.
“Hey beautiful, before you say anything Amias isn’t missing because of what happened it has something to do with Harrison.” He’s talking gently, with his hands reaching for me. He’s worried, and it’s affecting me, this can’t be anything good.
I stop in my tracks and I don’t know why but my legs are hurrying me back to my Dad and he’s soon driving me to the hospital. I look back for a split second to see the looks of shock and confusion on their faces. But whether he was an arse or not, if he’s at the hospital I won’t let him be there alone!
I rush through the main entrance and I won't stop until I make it to the ICU. I get to his room and see a girl with her head turned away from me, so he has a girlfriend. She lifts her head and I’m not going to wait around and find out who she is, nope I’m out of here.
“Henleigh,” Amias says, peering out of a waiting room.
This boy jeez Louise, he scared me half to death.
“Are you okay, the guys told me something happened with Harrison.” I’m worrying and I’m making it clear to him. I need to calm down, my voice is way too fevered.
“I had to come, I needed to see him for myself but someone else was in there and I chickened out. What are you even doing here?” He’s baffled, why? Did he think I wouldn’t come?
“I may be annoyed with you, but I won’t let you go through this alone. I’m here for as long as you need me,” I say, but I can’t let him hold me, not right now.
“I think I just want to go, I’ll try again another day. I wouldn’t even know what to say.” He starts to move closer to the exit and I don’t know why, but in his eyes, I can see a scared little boy. Forced into a scary world and instead of being protected by his parents, he was out right in the middle of the darkest parts of this world.
“It’s easy really, you just talk and don’t think too hard about what you’re saying. At least that way it’ll be honest,” I reply, as we leave the unit and luckily my Dad takes us back to the others. What an eventful birthday weekend this turned out to be.
Six
I can’t believe it’s been a month since my birthday and Amias is teetering on the edge, Harrison has started to wake up, but we still don’t know if there are or will be any lasting complications.
Fuck.
Opening up my locker kick starts a chain reaction as a fire breaks out and my books set aflame, people are crowding around and someone has set off the fire alarm as paper starts to filter out.
They’re newspaper clippings, some have caught fire but some seem to have made it out fairly unscathed. I’ve got to grab some of them, I don’t know why but I feel compelled to do so.
I haven’t got time to read them now, someone is putting the fire out and the teachers are hurrying us to our classes. While talking about calling the cops, yeah because that will help. It doesn’t matter that I’m in the year thirteen mansion now, seeing as my enemies are here as well.
I’m trying not to think of the clippings but I’m finding it really hard to concentrate on my classes, it doesn’t really matter I have the books and I can easily catch up on my own time. The thing is, it’s Sod’s law that when you have something you need or want to do, time always passes slower. Plus, once today’s classes are over, Mattias is going to start teaching me how to hack. Knowing my luck, I’ll suck at it which means I’ll have to move onto plan b, asking him or Noah to do it for me. I really don’t want to do that.
Yeah, I really need to get out of class, I haven’t taken any notes and I don’t even know what we’re supposed to be learning today. What could I do to get out of here for the day? Okay, here goes nothing.
I’m holding my hand up and Mrs. Collins is making her way over to me. I feel bad for lying but she’s such a sweetheart, the downside to saying that I feel sick and like I’m about to faint, I have to go to the nurse first.
Now there are always two problems at least with lying. One, you always get found out no matter how practiced you are. And two, it can blow up in your face in a single moment. I really should have thought about that before telling the teacher, why can’t I stop and just think for a minute?
“Finley, seeing as you aren’t paying an ounce of attention today, you can escort Henleigh to the nurse.”
“Whatever you say Miss,” he replies as I stand up and he wraps his arm around my waist.
“I can walk,” I’m shooting out to his delight.
“But you feel faint, I wouldn’t want you to fall,” he says loud enough for our teacher to hear. Great, guess he’s going to be holding me all the way there.
Walking outside, I swear I’m going to punch him right in his smarmy face if he doesn’t let go of me.
“She can’t see us anymore, let go.”
“I'm concerned brownie, what kind of guy would I be if I didn’t lookout for my fellow student?”
“Drop the act, you don’t give two shits about me,” I say and I really hate smirks, unless Amias is doing it.
“You’re my ticket out of class, trust me you’re stuck with me until we get you to the nurse. Want me to carry you brownie? I bet you’d feel great wrapped around me.” If I was any other girl, surrounded by any other group of guys his words may stir a flicker of excitement within me, but it’s nauseating. And the way he licks his lips is nothing more than vulgarity dressed up in a pretty bow.
“You really are a pig, that is never going to happen Fin,” I shoot out, as his hand starts to wander lower on my back.
Sod it, I can’t resist I have to punch him. He knows it’s coming, so why is he smiling? Something is going on, damn it. Pull your fist back, fight the urge.
“Keep your hand above my waist and below my chest or so help me God, I will shove my foot so far up your arse you’ll be licking my toes all the way to summer.”
He’s stopped suddenly, great what’s he up to now? But he’s not looking at me, he’s looking in the distance.
“Brownie, do you know that guy or something?” That’s throwing me for six, why the sudden change and who is he talking about.
No, Mr. Terrifying.
“Do you know who that is?” I ask, please say yes, a name would be a big help.
“Not personally no, but I know Harrison is friends with him or at least associates with him on occasion. Nasty piece of work, the funny thing is, I don’t think he even goes to this school.” His eyes are scrunched together as though he’s trying to work
something out, but he shakes it off with a laugh.
I feel cold inside, an icy dread is filtering through me. If he doesn’t go to this school, then why is he here? How is he here? And why does he keep showing up?
The nurse has given me a pass for the day, I do feel bad for lying but at least I can sit down in comfort and see what was shoved in my locker this time.
These don’t make sense, lad left institutionalised after witnessing horrific event. Could teenagers really do something so heinous?
Dreams cut short, a future made bleaker.
There’s at least thirty of them, about a lad who I guess went off his rocker. But what did the teenagers do? And why were they shoved inside my locker, unless this is what they think my secret is? Well they made a vital mistake, my victim was female I have no idea who this guy is.
Hang on, they’re not all clippings, some are handwritten.
Runner, druggie, hitter, coward, destroyer.
On their own, I wouldn’t think twice about this, but with them written together it only proves that someone really does know what I did or they are getting closer to the truth. Please Mattias, help me to figure this out. But what if he can’t, what if I never discover who my tormenter is until it’s too late to do anything about it?
Maybe I really should come clean, at least to two of them. I don’t think Amias deserves any of my honesty not right now. If he won’t confess his sins to me, then he can find out with the rest of them. An implosion is about to occur, I just wonder how many pieces my heart will be in when it comes to an end.
I’m sitting here just waiting for the clock to hit four, Ivy came to check on me earlier things feel different between us though and I can’t put my finger on what has changed.
Walking to Mattias’ takes barely any time and I feel better now, especially as I’ve just spotted Leah. I haven’t spoken to her in ages.
“Hey Leah, how’s it going?” I ask, walking over to her with a smile on my face.
“It was going great until now. Fuck off Henleigh, I’ve made it pretty obvious I don’t want to be anywhere near your skanky arse.” There is utter disdain and venom pouring from her and I don’t understand why.
“Excuse me, what crawled up your backside and died? I haven’t done a damn thing to you,” I reply, her words hurt. It’s not what she’s saying, more the fact that she’d want to say them to me.
“You know I really didn’t put any stock into what people said about you, you seemed decent enough but even the tart rumours are true it makes me wonder what else could be.” She looks me up and down, and clearlyhi finds me lacking. “You think you’re the hottest girl around and you work your way in until it’s too late to do anything about it. The others may think the sun shines out of your arse, but I know the truth. You’re a whore and if you ask me, you deserve everything that is coming your way.” Her face is scrunched up, it reminds me of a pug. It’s funny what pops into your head when cruelty is thrown at you.
She pushes me into the wall and I hit it hard, my breath whooshes out of my chest right before I slam my fist into her mouth.
“Screw you Leah, think what you want I don’t give two shits about your opinion.” My tone is hard and unforgiving, I’m done with this judgemental bitch.
“I wonder if Noah or Elijah will feel the same, see you around runner. Enjoy your boys while you have them, they’ll soon see through your facade and you’ll have to find another group to whore yourself out to.” With one last deprecating look, she waves her hand at me, as though she’s trying to rid herself of a bad smell and turns away.
She walks off as I pound my fist into Mattias’ door, I know I’ve surprised him but I can’t think straight. I can’t believe she flipped so easily and all because I’m dating more than one guy. The thing is, I’m not ashamed of it and I refuse to hide it from anyone.
Three hours! I have been sitting at the damn computer for three hours and although I can picture everything I have been shown in my mind, I still can’t wrap my head around it. IT has never been my strong suit and I know it’s only been three hours but I can’t see myself ever getting to the point where Mattias and Noah are at. I’m going to have to ask him, I can’t drag Noah into this and I won’t, not if I can avoid it. He has enough going on as it is, and he deserves to enjoy the rest of the school year with as little drama as possible. A difficult feat with me in his life, but I’m trying my hardest to keep things stress free.
“I don’t understand it, I hate technology give me paper and a pen any day of the week.” I feel like a failure, I wonder if this is what it’s like when you read a book a hundred times and it never sinks in. I’ve never had that, this must be my own personal downpour, it’s only ever going to wash away.
“Why don’t I just do whatever you need, for you. If I can’t do it at least you asked,” he says, it’s the perfect opener but my throat is closing up.
I need to get the words out. He could help me figure everything out. So why won’t my body let me ask, I think I’m scared that he’ll do it and give me what I seek. What if I don’t like what I find, what if I can’t handle it?
“Henleigh, are you okay?” I hope Mattias is never ruined by this harsh world, whether he’s untouched by the pain or danger or simply oblivious. I have no idea, I just hope for him, this life will remain kind instead of chewing him up and spitting him out into his own, personal hell.
“Yeah, I’m fine, I’m just trying to decide if it’s worth all the aggro and pain it could cause me. Okay, I wanted to see if I could determine who had been sending the emails as PastFinder and I also wanted to try and gain access to some sealed files. My Dad had Elliott’s accident and Devon’s trial buried and I need to dig it up.” I can’t keep the frantic, desperation from my voice, my hair is dishevelled from how many times I drag my fingers through it and no doubt my eyes are looking a little wild.
“I can try but who is Devon?” He asks and I can’t believe I have that many people in my life I can’t even remember who knows what.
“Devon was like a brother to me, right up until the point he was arrested for killing my actual brother and their friends,” my voice catches and I take a couple of moments to find my composure. “I don’t think he was responsible, but I can’t get anyone to tell me what really happened. I need to know, and I refuse to ask Noah. He has enough on his plate already.” I run my hands down my face, pulling the skin tight under my frustration.
“I agree, Noah shouldn’t be brought into this. I’m not as skilled as he is, but I’m good, I’ll make a list of all the information I will need. Get me that and I will see what I can do,” after he says this, he writes a list and hands it over to me. He isn’t thinking of all the ways this can go wrong for him, he’s only considering how it could help me.
I can answer it now, so there’s no point in beating around the bush if I don’t need to.
“Thanks for this Matti, I really do appreciate it,” I say softly, I don’t think I can truly convey how much his help means to me.
“I know that and don’t worry what the simple minded idiots think, we know they’re wrong.”
I give him a quick hug and leave, I think I’m going to go back to my room. I can’t risk being seen up and well by the staff, and it’s never a hindrance being cooped up with my ever growing pile of books.
What the ever loving… I can’t believe this. I didn’t think anyone knew my new email address, how did they find me.
Henleigh, Henleigh, Henleigh.
Did you really think you could hide from me? You can change you addy as much as you’d like, but I will always be able to reach you. Tick Tock Monterey, you’ve already lost one friend, who do you think will be the next to go. Tick Tock, tick tock, when the hand meets twelve your world will fall down and everyone will know your secret.
See you soon, Monterey, you loved being alone so much I’m about to give it back to you.
PastFinder
Definitely more creative this time. Blow me they keep threatening it but
nothing has happened. The thing is the wait is killing me. My heart is pounding, why can’t they just leave me alone.
I can hear my heart pounding, what a moron it’s the door. Of course it is, I’m just surprised it’s taken one of them this long to come over. The smile on my face is genuine but its gone in a moment, pulling open my door oh shit.
Trying to slam it shut isn’t working, he’s got his foot in the way and he’s a lot stronger than me. He pushes against it hard enough that the door rebounds and slams into my shoulder, jarring me straight away.
Moving back isn’t helping, it’s just giving him more room to follow me. Oh crap, he’s closing the door, what’s he going to do? Mr. Terrifying is in my room.
“Hello Henleigh, my oh my. You really are a beautiful girl, it’s a pity, really.” He uses a tone so icy; I expect to see frost pour from his mouth and form across my furniture until it freezes me to my spot.
“What’s a pity?” I ask, my voice breaking on the words.
“Don’t worry sweetheart, nothing’s going to happen to you, today at least. I was curious and thought I’d come and say hello,” He has his head cocked to the side. It reminds me of a dog that hears a strange noise but it can’t quite figure it out.
“What do you want?” Trying to act cool and collected is hard to do, despite the frigidity in my room.
“Use your ears to listen Henleigh, I just told you I was curious. I wanted to meet the girl who has everyone in a tizzy. From guys and girls, to students and even prisoners. You sure do get around,” he says, his eyes just as dead as before.
“You don’t know a thing about me, just fuck off will ya,” I say back and his hand shoots around my neck.
“Girls shouldn’t use that kind of language Henleigh. You know, I hear you got quite excited when Harrison did this to you, was it the guy or the action?” His head is still cocked to one side and his eyes are worse than his voice, no warmth, inflection or emotion to be seen. “And don’t worry I’m going, don’t want your boyfriends to find me just yet. But I can’t leave without giving you a little something to remember me by.”