Mei's POV
I tug at the sleeves of my hoodie, pulling it further down, hiding the scars that line up my wrists.
No, I'm not really suicidal.
They did this to me. It's a fun thing for them… making me scream in pain.
The woolen fabric doesn't hurt too much when it rubs against my skin, but it does make the cuts sting.
Still it's better this way because if they see the marks on my hands they'll only laugh harder.
As I walk through the school gate, my strides quicken. I don't waste time in crossing the distance from the gate to the entrance doors yet…
"Freak," a girl seethes as I walk past her. With shaky hands, I pull the hood low over my face, keeping my head bowed as I slip past the door into the hallway.
"Hey swine!" someone yells, chuckling like a maniac. I don't look. I keep my head low.
It's all laughs until I look. Then they feel challenged… then they hurt me.
A shoulder slams into mine, causing me to stagger with a wince.
"Should've stayed in the gutter." they spit out, their face twisted in disgust.
"What the hell are you looking at?!" Someone else shouts and I quickly drop my gaze, sprinting further down the hall, the curse words sticking to my mind like super glue.
Over the years I have taught myself to ignore them. No matter what they say or do, I just need to keep my head low.
Don't talk, don't argue and most definitely don't fight. 'Cause I'll lose, terribly.
I've never tried fighting back because I know I'll never win. Tried it once and had to lie to my dad that a bus hit me due to the degree of my injuries.
I only need to make it through this year without breaking. And then I'll be free. Done with highschool. I can build a new name for myself. I won't have to feel ashamed that I'm schooling with the city's dumbest.
Perhaps when I eventually graduate, my parents will remember me and not just focus on my younger sister.
Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike her. In fact I admire her. She's prettier, intelligent and an award winning athlete.
She's everything my parents hoped to find in me. But I failed them.
I should have been out of highschool three years ago but something always came in the way. So this time, I'm determined to do things differently.
"Hey, look, our little swine's coming!"
Laughter explodes across the hall as a group of five boys lazily stride towards me from the opposite end of the hallway.
My steps falter as my stomach drops.
No, not today. I can't walk through their midst. Not when I'm barely holding myself together.
"Where are you going?"
"Oh, little swine don't run. You'll piss me off."
I turn back around, walking briskly and breaking into a run the moment I turn the corner. I head for the female restroom, the only place I truly get to breathe.
I gently push the door open, releasing a sigh when I notice there's no one else in here.
My eyes catch my appearance in the morning and I swallow down the bitterness in my throat.
I look unfortunate. There's a purple bruise on my left cheek from a punch yesterday, my upper lip is split, my eyes lifeless…
How is it that no one at home ever notices?
My heavy steps take me to the last stall, the one place I've managed to personalize.
I lock the door, sit down on the closed lid, and press my forehead to my knees, trying to control my breathing.
I'll wait five more minutes. The bell should have rung by then. Teachers will be out in the hallway and classrooms and then I can feel safe again.
"Little swine!" The door slams open, the bang blasting through the restroom.
I slam a palm against my mouth, sealing in my gasp.
"I told you not to run from me," a familiar voice tsks.
Tears well up in my eyes. What are they doing here? They shouldn't be allowed into the female restroom!
"You fell right into our trap, little swine."
My blood runs cold as the group of boys laugh, the sickening way they always do.
I carefully climb up onto the toilet seat, bending my legs till my knees are tightly pressed against my chest.
If I'm quiet, maybe they'll think I'm not here.
But their voices get closer, till they are standing right in front of my stall.
"Come on out, swine."
"We just wanna talk."
"We miss hearing you scream. It's been long since I got turned on."
More snickers fill the space around me. I clench my eyes, hoping the cruel pain in my chest will ease.
"Fine, she's too stubborn. Throw it in." The first one yells, sounding angry.
Just then the sound of a hissing can crashes into my stall. Smoke immediately rises in the small box, choking me, piercing my eyes.
I cough, unable to hold it back as I start struggling to breathe with tears pouring down my face.
"Ouu, hear that?" one of them laughs. "The piggy's choking."
"Guess the piggy's finally learning her place." another scoffs.
The smoke thickens and I know if I stay here any longer, I'll pass out. But I'll first die before opening this door.
My hands tremble as I squeeze my bag, searching the insides until my fingers close around my phone.
I hastily click on emergency. My father's number instantly pops up.
"Please, please pick up… this once." I choke out in a sob.
Angry fists slam against the door, shaking it from its hinges.
"The teachers are in a meeting, swine. Nobody's coming. You're ours till we're done."
My sobs get louder when he doesn't pick up. I call again, ignoring how their laugh worsens.
"Listen to her cry."
"Hey, Mei! Wanna squeal for us?"
Suddenly, the door bursts open with a crash as the lock snaps. A
I scream as a boy twice my size storms in with goggles over his eyes.
I kick at him, hitting his hand as he grabs my hair, dragging me out.
"LET ME GO!" I yell, fear consuming me as they all surround me, each of them pulling out pocket knives from their pockets.
My heart pounds painfully against my ribs as the leader of the group steps forward, twirling his weapon lazily between his fingers.
"So, Mei… tell us. Where do we start?"