Waking up is always difficult. Sometimes, I wish I just didn't wake up.
"CHARLES RAITHEL! GET OUT HERE, NOW!"
I curl into my matted blanket, its warmth protects me from the cold outside. I close my eyes, ready to return to my slumber, when I'm interrupted.
BANG BANG BANG
Shut up...
"GET UP! IF YOU MISS ANOTHER DAY, I SWEAR TO GOD!"
My mother's voice pierces the thin walls.
"I'm up..." I croak in response.
I taste the blood in the back of my throat.
BAM!
The door flies open, hitting the wall.
"I TOLD YOU TO GET UP!"
My mother flinches as Eric responds from the other room.
"SHUT UP!"
A few seconds pass before I open my mouth.
"I'm up..."
She glares at me with contempt.
"Not soon enough. You don't have time to eat. Get dressed, then go."
I'm not hungry anyway.
I really don't want to get up... as I consider going back to sleep, I cringe at the possibility of mom coming in again. She might hit me again. Weighing my options, I force myself from my warm bed. I groggily get dressed. At least this is easy, all I need to do is put on jeans and a hoodie. I debate brushing my teeth, but who cares?
Avoiding my mom, and Eric, I leave the apartment.
Exiting the building, the light of the sky blinds me. I miss winter...
I miss my bed... I want to go home...
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I flinch as a voice I don't recognize calls out to me.
"Good morning, Charlie!"
My head snaps in the direction of his voice, I've never seen this guy in my life... have I?
He looks normal enough, I guess. He looks a bit like a model you'd see in a magazine... he's about a head taller than me. Why is someone so popular looking talking to me?
We stand in silence for a good 10 seconds.
...
Why isn't he saying anything? Why isn't he leaving? He's just... smiling. It's so... creepy.
"H-Hello..."
He chuckles at me.
"Haha, I guess you don't remember me? That's alright, my name is Felix."
Felix holds his hand out to me.
"O-oh... nice to meet you..."
Go away...
Felix puts his hand down.
"Not in a talking mood? That's okay, I hope you have a good day."
Thank god... what a weirdo...
...
He didn't seem mean, at least...
***
This weather sucks... it's so hot... why does school have to be so far?
***
School really isn't my thing... I fell asleep in class again. It's not my fault it's so boring.
I put my head down in the next class too. It's faster this way.
My stomach growls... it hurts...
***
Once the class bell sounds, I wait until everyone leaves before going to the cafeteria.
Making my way there is always tough... despite the separate lunch times, there's still a flood of students going to the same place... I ignore my nerves in favor of my screaming gut. I need food... I hardly have the energy to walk...
A million voices conjoined together, seas of people everywhere. My stomach drops just looking at them... I want to go home...
I quickly get food from the line, then head to the bathroom to eat.
***
Shit... it hurts... what if someone notices? No... nobody does. I'm fine. I slice into my flesh. It's relaxing, seeing the drops flow. Feeling it run down my arm... it's nice
Fuck... there's so much blood... I shouldn't have cut so deep...
It hurts... it hurts...
I squeeze my arm, but it doesn't stop the flood of blood releasing from my reopened wounds. The wound throbs, it's not unpleasant.
It hurts.
I'm fine.
It hurts!
I freeze as I hear the bathroom door open.
I hear the claps of shoes hitting tile, and I see the person stop right outside of my stall.
"You're loud as usual, Charlie."
This voice..?
"W-wha—"
BAM!
The Stall door quakes, the door latch rattles.
"Quiet."
...
I'll be okay... I'll be okay... He won't hurt me... I have a box cutter...
"You think a little knife will stop me, Charlie?"
!!!
"Come out."
I don't want to... stay away...
"Come out."
I clench the cutters tighter.
"G-go away! Y-you don't scare me!"
Felix responds coolly.
"Alright."
I sigh in relief as I hear his footsteps walk away. He closes the door behind him.
What was his problem..?
As I look down, I notice the stained floor covered in my blood. That's not good...
Exiting the stall, I head over to the sink. I look up in the mirror, seeing me. I look... normal for me, I guess. I wince as the cold water hits my injuries.
My mouth is invaded with the taste of rust as a sharp punch slams into my neck. Electricity. I try to scream, but all that comes is gargles. I grasp my neck, feeling the warmth of my blood on my palm.
It's flowing... gushing...
Warmth rains down my chest, my life spills over the tile, blood on the faucet.
My world spins.
Vision blurs.
I stumble.
I fall.
I hear the creak of the faucet being turned off.
