CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT
ROXANNE
It was that Monday again. The rain had just stopped an hour ago, but the air remained chilled, the sky dark and menacing. Thunder grumbled in the distance, while lightning occasionally slashed through the grey clouds.
I had let my hair down today and wore my favourite black dress with a scarf, hoping to hide my face. Whenever I showed up at school like this, the bullies didn’t recognise me, granting me a rare peaceful day without a visit to the nurse.
How I loathed Mondays. And school. I wouldn't be here if mom hadn't insisted. I loved learning, but school was another matter entirely. They were two different things, but my mom was big on education. The only reason I kept coming back was for her. It made me feel closer to her, even if I had to endure this daily torment.
Being the Alpha’s kid didn’t give me a free pass. I would've homeschooled like Missy across the street, but no, I was sentenced to this asylum called school. Not just any school, but a school for special children.
This weather was my favourite and I had faked sickness, hoping to stay home but it didn't work. Zane didn't wait for me either, so I had to get to school soaked.
So much for being an Alpha's child.
I hugged my books to my chest as I dashed down the hall, towards the nobility class. Anymore delays and I’d be late,and professor Richards wouldn’t let me in.
Lost in thought, I collided with a huge figure. Panic surged when I looked up to see who it was.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa thought we wouldn’t recognise you, nerd?” Chloe Hudson sneered, a cruel smile playing on her lips.
My heart skipped a beat, and I wanted to turn and flee.
“I would recognize that dress anywhere,” said a familiar voice. “Hi sister”
“I am not your sister,” I muttered, disgusted. “Siblings wouldn’t treat each other this shitty.”
“This is why I hate seeing your face at school. One or two punches gets you crying and you always have this sick expression on your face. If I stay a minute longer, I’ll throw up,” Zane said, turning to Chloe. “Do as you please, hun. I have responsibilities.”
He smirked at me and walked off. Hatred swelled in my heart for my brother. Zane always saw himself as the pride of the Colton family. To be honest, he was.
Chloe, my worst nightmare at The Nobles Academy for Lycans, was the queen of bullies and my brother's girlfriend.
“Even your brother wouldn’t help you. What a shame” she said, yanking off my scarf.
I shivered, feeling like I might pee.
“I’m sorry I crashed into you” I apologised quickly, bending to gather my books.
“Apology declined. So you want me to just let you off the hook nerd,” Chloe laughed and kicked me. “Maybe I will if you apologise more properly.”
“I already said sorry”
“Wow, so now you talk back to me?” She shook my shoulders aggressively.
“I-I didn’t talk back” I stuttered, tears threatening to spill.
I hated that my tongue and body always failed me. I was nothing but a stupid weakling.
“You don’t talk when I talk. Now apologise properly,” Chloe ordered.
I hung my head low. “I’m sorry”
“Look, our nerd is about to cry. Missing mommy? What a worthless girl you are, that's why your brother denied you.”
The tears I had been holding back fell. With all the strength I could muster, I punched Chloe in the face.
Chloe staggered, clutching her nose “Oh shit.”
Her minions ran to her.
“I’m much better than you who was born a mistake.” I spat, taking flight. But they caught up with me quickly.
“How dare you break my nose?” Chloe raged, blood dripping from her nostrils onto her dress.
That moment I knew I was dead. I knew I wasn’t going to go Scot free. Why couldn’t I keep my emotions in check? Why did I react when I knew I couldn’t deal with them all?
They pushed me against the wall and punched me hard in the stomach. Tears welled up yet again. The more I tried controlling it, the more it flowed.
Chloe smiled. My tears were her therapy.
I was too weak to retaliate as they continued beating me up. My lip bled from all the kicks and punches. I was too angry to feel the pain.
As always, I let them have their way with me. My eyes closed.
“Leave her alone,” a voice ordered.
It wasn’t Zane. It was a voice I didn’t recognise. A feminine voice.
Almost immediately, the beating stopped. I forced my heavy eyelids open.
It was a woman. A pretty woman in a brown royal dress. Her red hair was in a messy ponytail. She looked me over and gave me a sympathetic look .
“The guts to beat up a student within the school premises,” she said, crossing her arms and glaring at the bullies.
“It’s not what you think Ma'am,” Chloe started.
“How would you like detention or suspension? Or maybe you wouldn’t mind being expelled?”
“I’m sorry, actually we are all sorry.”
I was stunned. That was the first time I heard the bullies apologise. Maybe it was because she was a teacher.
“That’s none of my business. You think you can do as you please because your parents are rich? Picking on freshmen. preying on the weaker ones, have you no shame?
Any day I see or hear you bullying a student again, I wouldn’t mind making you relive last year. After all, you wouldn’t mind being comatose or stuck in a wheelchair. Right ?”
“You're not from here, are you?” Chloe asked, crossing her arms on her chest. “I can tell by your hair. It's red. Just like the outcast. And I know every teacher here so you're not.”
The woman smirked. “You're right. I'm not. I'm the Luna of Red Moon and if I report to the authorities, I can bring everyone down.”
Their faces fell and immediately they fled.
“See them running like a group of scaredy cats. Even bullies don’t like being bullied.” She mocked.
“Thank you Luna,” I said, bowing.
It was the first time someone had fought for me. Someone I didn’t know.
She smiled at me and looked me over. “Are you from around here?”
I nodded.
“Why then do they call you an outcast?”
I sighed. “My hair colour.”
“Are you just waiting to die? You’re a woman, a strong one. Act like it, unless you’re ready to get killed.” She said.
“Thank you so much.”
“You should go to the nurse for treatment,but you look like you can’t even stand.”
I gave a tight smile, “I’ll make it there, thanks.”
Ignoring me, she came up to my side and supported me as we headed for the school’s clinic.
“Seems like you’re their victim. They see you as their prey that’s why they feed on you. Your fear is their strength.”
I sighed “I always try not to get involved with them”
“The only way to not get involved is by defending yourself. You can’t avoid bullies, they’ll find you. The day you defeat a bully they’ll never bother you again. Worked for me.” She paused to look me in the eyes “To survive in any place you must always be ready. If you can’t defend yourself now, how would you defend yourself in the future?”
We got to the nurse’s and the Luna had to leave. I thanked her again and all she did was smile.
“Take care of yourself,” she said.
I nodded, feeling overwhelmed that I had just met the Luna of Red Moon.
The only place I could ever be safe was within the closed doors of my room.
When I opened my eyes this time, my vision was blurry. It all seemed dark at first before my eyes adjusted to my surroundings.
Suddenly there were flames everywhere and I heard lots of noises. I was suffocating from claustrophobia.
"Help!" I heard someone say and I forced myself out of my hiding hole. Everywhere was in chaos. People were screaming and everywhere was being set on fire. Flames were eating at the skin of the people.
“No, no this isn’t happening. Not again,” I shivered. It seemed like I was back in my nightmare. Reliving it.
“Go back,” I heard my mother's distant voice say. “Hide.”
Before I could grasp what was going on, I was knocked down and I saw people coming after my mother.
"Mom!" I yelled out “Mom please, watch out”
She didn't hear me.
Without thinking, I forced myself up and limped towards her.
“Somebody help her. She’s going to die” I screamed.
Hot tears burned my cheek as the world continued moving. It felt like I was In a world of my own,one where no one could see or hear me.
“I’ll save you, mom,” I said, trying to limp faster but my knees gave way and I fell face down.
I groaned in pain. Before I could do anything, I heard a loud scream and blood spurted on my face. My mother fell, stabbed deep with blood oozing out of the wound.
“Nooooooo” I cried out “Mom no.”
She stared at me, her mouth moving but no words came out.
“It’s not real,” I repeated, trying to convince myself.
Her face fell to the side, her lifeless eyes staring into mine and I saw a final tear roll down her cheek.
“Mommmmmmmmmmm”