I changed in silence, the rugged, oversized uniform—stitched up in more than one place— rubbing against my skin. Breakfast was a rusty can of beef stew probably close to expiry, I sat down on the cold floor taking slow bites of my colder food, barely tasting it. By the time I looked up, the sun was already high up in the sky
" Damn it. I'm gonna be late! "
Shooting up I bolted out the door, cutting through grassy fields and small patchy clumps of trees scattered through wilderscape, the burn coursing through my legs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I staggered to a stop outside the school falling onto the hard brick wall— the only thing preventing me from completely collapsing. Pant after pant, I slowly forced air back into my lungs. As my strength slowly returned, mental clarity hit me like a slap to the face,
I was late.
The steel gates usually wide open were fully shut before me.
" Hahhh " I exhaled "There are two ways to go about this I can either ask the guard to open it and risk getting a detention... or I could climb over. If I get caught the consequences will be way worse "
My brows furrowed mulling over the choice. Before long I decided
" We'll sneak by "
I crept to the far left of the gate then walked backwards around 12 feet. I broke into a sprint, pushing my exhausted legs as far as they could. A half foot before the collision I jumped full force, barely managing to grab onto the top rail.
hanging I slowly pulled myself up inch by inch until my body slowly tipped over the gate.
As soon as I cleared it my body desperately cried it was too weak to safely lower itself. I gave out and collapsed to the floor. For a brief blissful second, I felt at peace, that I could sleep there forever.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end.
I heard a familiar grating screech tear through the sky.
Before I could even think my body bolted upwards and shot for the building the only things coursing through my body and mind were adrenaline and fear
" AHHHHH! " I screamed at the top of my lungs " that stupid bird is chasing me "
If it caught me it wouldn't just alert the guards—it would beat the absolute shit out of me before it.
A sense of urgency coursed through me— I've never run so fast in my life, you know except the times it had chased me before.
For some reason, this bird has always hated me. I don't know if it was for the same reason as those rich, pompous assholes did, or something else but the way it treats me is vastly different from anyone else.
Thoughts clouded my mind shrouding the pure terror I felt clawing at my heart, but alas, salvation.
The wide double doors where only a few steps away.
They'd never looked so welcoming before.
For the last gruelling steps I pushed myself as hard as I could. my hand firmly slammed into the handle before violently jerking back with all the force i could muster. I jumped through the doors sliding against the carpeted floor as the door swung back behind me.
" THUD! "
That stupid bird had fully crash into it. Leaving some black plumes floating in the air.
Ignoring the pain coursing through my body, I coudnt help but laugh
The little asshole tumbled to the floor, slowly lifting itself back up. giving me the most maniacal stare whilst at it, totally freaked me out but it's not like it could hurt me through the door.
Well... it could
but if it broke school property I would lose its job—and subsequently, it's only source of food.
I felt a grin smug layer my face.
And before I knew it I got up and mocked it, sticking my tongue out and hurling vicious insults its way. luckily for it, I had to stop—as I was already really late.
I walked up the stairs to my form class coming to a stop outside the sliding doors.
I stood there, feeling... sick.
My vision swirled, the world seeming to distort into a multitude colours and shapes
The lighthearted atmosphere shattered instantly. Everything that happened this past hour made me forget the horrible reality waiting behind these doors.
School.
The thought alone made my head churn with thoughts of disgust and fear.
Walking through.
Everyone's eyes trained on me.
The boys openly mocking me.
The girls silently jeering at me.
Even trying my hardest to steel myself
I–I coudnt do it.