"So you know to go to school and make some friends today, don't you?" Darius asked. I don't know why I was expecting some magical way of getting to school suddenly but it was actually pretty regular. A luxurious car while he sat across from me in his luxurious suit.
"You mean meals," I scoffed. There was no way I could make a friend at this school. I've been an outcast since I was targeted in middle school. No one would ever want to be my friend.
Darius kissed my hand. "My wife is very perceptive. I'll be watching you today."
"How?" I asked.
"The ring is binding. I'll know everything and be everywhere you are."
Shit.
"And some advice, I want my meals freshly tortured. Just accept the boost I've given you free of charge. And when in doubt, think like a devil." Darius said.
Whatever the fuck a boost means!
I exited the car and looked at the school in pure terror. Being back a month after I'd killed coach Danners was surreal. I'd been deceived multiple times that resulted in me being married to a demon. I found out that no one living in this world was going to be on my side but me... and unfortunately Darius.
He warned that he'll be watching me too.
And clearly it's because he's using me to get back at my dad.
Not only that, I'm expected to torment the people who've been tormenting me somehow and get them ready to be eaten by Darius. Because the biggest loser in school can definitely make a comeback like that in real life.
I knew very well the odds weren't in my favor.
I walked in with the teacher seeing the classroom suddenly stop talking. The silence was immediate, a vacuum that sucked all the air out of the room. Every head turned, and I felt their eyes like physical touches, sharp and hostile. I recognized almost all of them, the faces that had haunted my nightmares for years.
The whispers started up again, a low, sibilant hiss that slithered through the room, but this time it was different. They weren't talking about how weird I was, or how I smelled, or how I didn't belong. They were talking about how I looked different. Good different.
I gulped. I can't believe a total makeover really worked. Instead of the messy, tangled nest I usually sported, my hair was now combed back and styled, falling in straight around my face. I didn't need my contacts anymore; my vision was perfect. My skin, usually full of stress-induced acne, was now flawless, almost glowing with a health I'd never seen before. My body was at peak physical condition too, my posture straight and confident, a stark contrast to the hunched, defensive stance I usually adopted.
"Silence!" The home room teacher snapped. "As the teacher said yesterday, Melody has had a head injury and doesn't remember much. I hope you all will help her."
Way to put a target on my back right away. There was really no need for an introduction.
Luckily I had a good cover. After an accident last month I've been living with relatives and was still recovering from amnesia. Of course it was all a lie but damn.
I took my usual seat and turned to the girl next to me as the home room teacher left the classroom again taking in her bright pink bob haircut. I vaguely remember that we used to be close but now she was just some background character usually.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked testing the waters. The girl went out of her way to ignore me. "It's nothing hard." She got up without a word but I grabbed her arm. "If you do I won't forget the favor."
She yanked her arm from my grip and glared at me. "Why bother?! How could you repay me?! You can't do a thing!" She snapped. "And don't talk to me. I guess you forgot but if I tell you-"
A sharp crack echoed through the classroom as a hand hit the back of the girl's head, hard. I looked to see two of Fauna's many minions looking smug and in charge. One blond, one brunette. "Did you forget our class announcement? How many hits should you get for talking to her?"
"O-one hit," the girl said in a small voice.
"Well now it's two!" The blond smirked and raised her hand. I sighed and grabbed it before it landed.
"What are you doing?" I asked trying not to show I was just as shocked as her I could even stop a hit. Did Darius making me healthier make me stronger too?
Is this the boost he was talking about?
Holy shit.
"Oh, are you fighting back?" The brunette girl asked laughing after regaining her composure. "Have you lost your mind?!"
The blond girl grabbed a fistful of my hair and threw me aside before kicking me in the stomach as hard as she could. The air rushed out of my lungs in a painful whoosh. Fuck! Why did I freeze up as soon as she touched me?
"Your mom should've swallowed you!" The blond snapped. "I don't even give a fuck that you were injured! You've got to change that shitty behavior of yours!" The blond grabbed a red pen from another kids desk and pressed it to my forehead. "We know where you live. You think we won't show up?"
"Is that a threat?" I asked. She looked a bit taken aback. "Why're you doing this?"
"I told you that you're a sin just for being born. Just looking at you makes me want to hurt you," the blonde said.
So just because. Of course there wasn't reason.
So is this where I'm supposed to think like a demon? I mean she's not as scary as Darius and he said was watching me. For a demon I don't think he'd lie. I can't flip things and torture this girl if I just do what I always do.
No matter how scared I am of this girl in my head, there's no way she could do something worse than Coach Danners could to me. Ok, it's time to just risk it all to achieve what I need.
"Aren't you breathing too much as well?! Why don't you open your eyes! I'll adjust that vision for you!" The blond said. She raised the red pen again, her face twisted in a mask of glee, and brought it down towards my eye fast.