She walked to a concrete bench, sat down, pulled out her favorite book about a love story between a strong warrior man and a woman with magical powers, and found the last page she had left off on. She smiled and anxiously chewed her lip, knowing they were about to kiss soon!
The students were always mean to her that way. She never had a friend, except for Benny, but he was her brother, and he was also younger than she was. She didn’t mind, though. She was officially done!
She had a few hours left before curfew and wanted to sit and relax before going home, where her family was anxiously waiting, but she didn’t care. She was now officially an adult, with her test scoresexpected to come back within the week. They would notify her about her placement and performance.
She grabbed a sandwich from her bag and began to eat it as she slowly read through the pages of her book.
“There she is,” someone said, diverting her attention from her story. She looked up at the two boys approaching her.
“The albino-freak. What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be celebrating being the first one finished?” Michael, the tall boy, asked. His greasy, dark hair had tendrils that clung to his face.
“Nah, my mom says girls like her like to gloat to make us feel inferior,” said the shorter, second boy with red hair and freckles.
“Is that so?” Michael smirked as he slowly raked his eyes over her body.
“Leave me alone,” she huffed in annoyance.
She hated them. Out of everyone in her class, these two were the worst. They constantly targeted her, making her feel insecure about her pale eyes and white hair. She knew she looked different, and they continually reminded her of it.
As she always did, she would simply leave and ignore them.
She put her sandwich back in its sack and then into her bag. She began to put her book away when Michael roughly snatched her wrist, causing her to drop it.
“Why should I?” he hissed in her face, and his rotten-smelling breath assaulted her senses. “I’ve spent the last ten years having to look at you… at this…” He looked down at her modestly covered breasts and smiled slowly. “And now we won’t get to see this anymore. We might miss you.” He paused and nodded at Alexi. “Right, Alexi?”
Alexi walked behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. He slowly moved his hands to her hair and gently twirled a loose strand between his fingers. “Yeah, Michael. I will miss her and this shiny hair. I think she wants one last goodbye.”
Seda’s heart rate rose, and she swiftly stood up, knocking over her belongings and shoving the boys aside.
They grabbed her roughly and pulled her into the prickly bushes, the branches scratching at her skin.
Michael ripped open her dress and got on top of her, holding her legs down.
Seda started screaming as confusion and horror overwhelmed her mind. What were they doing?
Alexi swiftly placed his hands over her mouth, silencing her.
She fought back, slapping and trying to bite. She scratched Michael’s face as hard as she could. Blood and skin caked under her nails, leaving behind jagged cuts down his face.
Her necklace caught in one of their hands, and they ripped it off her forcefully, throwing it to the side. Her eyes filled with tears, and her vision went blurry.
“Stop fighting back, or it’ll be worse,” hissed Michael as blood dripped down his face onto her.
He ripped her underwear to the side.
She felt a distant sensation of tears trickling down her temple as her mind drifted into the clouds, and she thought she heard the cawing of birds.
Chapter 11
Seda
When the clock struck five, Seda and Cahir left their office, hand in hand, and slowly made their way home. Cahir explained that he had to go outside the dome and found her father in a cell. He tried to free him but had to run when the Rozzers attacked. It took him days to find a way back in without being caught.
He assured her that no one knew who he was, and no one would come for him.
They ascended the winding stairs to their apartment and entered through the door. Seda paused and said her prayer, but Cahir walked by her and took a seat on the couch. Seda looked at him with a puzzled expression, but she didn’t want to pushhim. She was relieved he was home and safe. He’d clearly been through a tough time and looked exhausted.
She sat on the couch next to him, her ear and palm against his chest, listening to the gentle beat of his heart, the soothing sound calming her. They sat together in silence as he gently ran his fingers through her hair.
