Heina: The Red Demon Dragon

HEINA

With a heavy exhale, I stepped out of the car, listening with anxiety as the car fell shut and the engine roared into the day.

Trepidation ate at me as I stopped watching the retreating vehicle and turned to face the building. I didn't love coming to school, and not because I hated learning.

It was just that more than a few people loved school for reasons that were far different, and one of those someones had taken unwarranted interest in making my life as unbearable as possible.

My legs shook slightly as I walked in the direction of the arched entrance. The building of Royal Ridge College was so befitting for the name of the school itself.

Impressively long and curving driveways, a huge parking space that could house another dorm or two if they really thought about putting that much land to good use. The building was a regal monstrosity, complete with intimidating pillars that sat on either side of the sprawling doorway.

I hoped today would be a good day. Mondays were often less hateful since everybody had had the time over the weekend to forget about me.

As soon as I crossed the doors and stepped into the hallway, someone bumped into me. Hard. The push almost sent my backpack to the floor, but I caught it.

I didn't bother raising my head for an explanation, I never got one anyway. The brunette in a pink tank and huge black sweatpants didn't even turn around. She just continued walking ahead of me like I hadn't almost fallen thanks to her.

My lungs expanded on a sigh, gaze lowered to the floor as I blended into the body of students that milled about - some heading to their lockers, others to class.

If I hadn't overslept thanks to obsessing over my physics homework last night, I would have been here earlier and already seated in the hall for my first class. But alas.

I got to my locker in record time, turning the combination just before I pulled it open. I stacked my books inside, alongside my backpack.

"Look who it is," someone sneered from somewhere beside me, and even though my locker door prevented me from seeing who it was, I already knew who it was.

"Hi, chub-o-lens," one of Jocelyn's minions drawled out in insult.

I ignored them both; getting the rest of my stuff from the locker before I closed it and started to walk away.

"Where are you going, fatty? I was talking to you." Jocelyn sounded a lot harsher now, meaner - if that was even possible given her record.

I didn't pause, though. Fear had made a camp inside my stomach, and it forced me to flee as quickly as I could from here.

"There's no way this piggy on lens is ignoring me," Jocelyn muttered from behind me. In a much louder voice, she called out. "Yo, fat turd. How does it feel getting fat on your own family, huh? Or are you an outcast in the pig land now?"

At this point, all the students in the hallway had paused and turned to stare at the drama. I clutched the sleeve of my backpack, hoping the ground would just open and consume me.

My wish was soon granted as a pair of hands landed on my back, shoving me so hard I tumbled to the floor, my glasses flying off my face immediately.

Pain ran across my spine like an athlete on steroids. For a slender female, Jocelyn packed one hell of a punch.

I felt around for my glasses, my vision blurring even further as panic and tears started to make themselves present in the tragic affair.

My gaze soon landed on the small two-eyed object and I crept toward it. The familiar sound of a crunch reverberated through the halls as a pair of brown heeled boots stopped in front of me.

"Oops." Jocelyn exclaimed in a fake voice. "I didn't see it there."

I reached for the glasses as she stepped off their now shattered frame, but a cry tore through my throat as the familiar brown heels pressed down on my hand, sending pain through every crevice of my body.

"Oh, look. Four eyes can't see anymore."

The hall erupted into snickers, and even though my vision was going darker around the edges the longer my eyes stayed without my glasses, I could hear the telltale signals of cameras shuffling.

I reached for my glasses - or what was left of it - again, but this time a rough shove forced me back, my elbows connecting with the floor in a thud.

A sob caught in my throat as blood seeped slowly from the bruise I was now sporting. The chuckles and murmurs increased in intensity, my tears falling harder now as I struggled to see what was happening.

More insults and mockery flew off Jocelyn and I wished for once that I was able to fight back or that at the very least they would all disappear.

Suddenly, as if my wish was granted, silence descended over the students, replaced by the sound of shuffling feet as they hurried away.

Jocelyn's voice floated over the now silent hallway, reverence and flirting wrapped around each word she uttered.

"If it isn't the men of the year. Hello, handsome."

I used the distraction to retrieve the remains of my glasses, bringing their cracked frames over my face once again.

My vision was not one hundred percent yet, but at least now I could see. I turned to face Jocelyn and whoever it was she was talking to, probably some sports jerks, and a gasp fell straight out of my mouth.

Those were definitely not sports jerks. Identical faces stared back at me, both of them carved to utter perfection. Their jet-black hair fell over their shoulders in a straight wave.

The men before me were built... different. Lean muscles that curled in invitation and made my mouth go dry, but that wasn't even the most unique thing about them.

Their eyes were non-identical. One shone a brilliant sapphire but was trapped in a gold ring that seemed to glow as I stared at it. The other had beautiful topaz-blue eyes, the same gold ring surrounding the pupil.

I couldn't stop staring at them, and I wasn't the only one under that pull. Jocelyn and her minions were also staring, and each time she uttered a flirty line or ran a finger along their forearm, her smile inched higher.

Both boys stared back at me as though they were transfixed. They didn't look at anyone else, didn't even react to Jocelyn's shameless offering of herself; they only looked at me.

My gaze drifted from theirs to find Jocelyn's and the glare she was sending my way caused my brain to short-circuit. Shit.

I dropped to my knees instantly, lowering my head as I retrieved my fallen items. Then I got back to my feet and ran, as fast as my chubby body would allow, in the direction of the restrooms.

Lord, no. Why did they have to stare at me like that and ignore Jocelyn? No one ever ignored Jocelyn. What if she...

The thought died in my head as I was spun around, my back slamming hard into the mirror that lined the other end of the bathroom walls.

A surprised sob flew from my throat, shock and pain a dangerous mix inside my blood. Jocelyn stared at me, anger evident in her blazing eyes.

"How. Dare. You?" Every word was enunciated slowly.

I forced myself to swallow despite the fear that was clawing at my guts. "I... I... I don't... I don't know..."

My sputtering was immediately halted when she dragged me to herself by the scuff of my collar then shoved me against the mirror once again. The force of the hit this time sent shards of glass flying against my skin.

I cried out as one of them lodged in the side of my neck, sending tears down my face as blood started to trail down my neck.

Jocelyn swiped a finger over the wound and brought it up between both our faces. "Every good thing that goes through Royal Ridge belongs to me, Piggy, and that includes them. The next time I see you cast so much as a glance in their direction, you'd hate the very concept of your own existence. Do I make myself clear?"

Her voice was dark and laced with a rage I had never before experienced with her. If I was scared of her before, now it was terror that seeped into my blood as her eyes became twin pools of hatred and venom.

I nodded my head eagerly, desperate to get her to leave me alone.

She smiled as if pleased then pulled me close again before sending me to the ground in another heap of pain and blood.

Her slender frame leaned over me this time, a handkerchief in her hand. She swiped it over the blood that spilled from my neck, and now the one that was moving along my temple.

"Today, it's just your blood. The next time, I'd take your soul, the very essence of your being."

Then she turned and stormed out of the room. The door shut with a resounding bang, her words lingering in the space like a haunted shadow.

Darkness rushed up to meet me and I let it consume me whole.