"Come on Victoria wake up you're already late," my mother's voice boomed interrupting my dreams.

My eyes snapped open. I jolted upright and I lept out of bed. My mum giggled under her breath watching me scramble around for my clothes. "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" I complained.

"You were peaceful sleeping and you were up so late doing homework last night," She replied. 

In reality, I was still unsettled about the construction site incident. I couldn't sleep because of it and I was also falling behind in homework because of all of these distractions. Even though there wasn't much she could do about it my mum did like to cut me some slack when she just somehow knew things were hard at school.

Still, it cost me what could have been a morning talking to Flame.

I looked up at my clock it was 8:35 am "Ahhhh mum I'm meant to be at school now!" I screamed.

"Get ready and I'll drive you there," she said, smiled, and walked out of my room.  

***

When I finally got to school it was 9:00. I opened up the car door, got my bag and got out. My eyes were already searching for orange. "Bye sweetie," my mum called out to me.

"Bye mum," I said quickly then closed the car door. My mum drove away. 

I quickly ran into the school building and over to my locker. I wondered if Flame was coming to school today? Probably not but I still had hope, there were so many questions I needed answers to. I guessed he must be in a lot of trouble so there is the possibility that I could never see him again.

Instead, I hoped that there was another explanation for all this.

I got my books from my locker. There were students and teachers walking around going to their next classes. I started walking but saw fire coloured hair in the crowd. 

Excitement filled me. It had to be him.

I ran toward it; pushing past all the student who just weren't walking fast enough. 

Suddenly I tripped and went flying through the air before landing hard on the ground. Pain erupted from yesterday's bruises. I looked back and there was Frank laughing at me. Cruelty glinting in his eyes. I sighed, picked up my books and walked the rest of the way to class; I had lost Flame.

It seemed like the world was intent on my never getting answers.

***

When the class had finished I quickly rushed back to my locker and put away my books. I wanted to find Flame and fast; there was so much I wanted to ask him. I couldn't bear sitting through another class struggling to concentrate because all I could think about was that pool of blood and the bodies.

 I quickly walked down the hallway to where his locker was with hope flickering through me. Sure enough, he was there putting his books away. "Flame!" I called out smiling and waving.

He looked up from his locker and over at me "Victoria?" he questioned not believing his own words.

I walked up to him and said, "Look I'm not going to play around I just want to know, what happened? What did I see?"

"I can't tell you but you need to stay away from me," Flame said there was a hint of fear in his voice. 

That hit me hard.

"I'm not staying away from you, you're the first friend I've ever had, I know there is some kind of explanation, I haven't told anyone what happened because I want to hear it. I know you would never do that," I told him on the verge of tears.

"I know I want to be friends with you too but I don't want to see you get hurt. Victoria there are things out there that could really hurt you. Besides, you don't know me that well you just meet me. Look for your own good keep what happened a secret, I know how it looks but it's not like that you don't want to get involved so let's just pretend you weren't there," Flame said then walked off. I didn't follow him. 

There was a lump forming in my throat and tears in my eyes. Had I just lost my first friend?

***

I sat in my second class of the day, English, trying not to cry. 

I wished I wasn't so abrupt with him. I would take not knowing what was going on if it meant I could keep him as a friend. There was no way I could go back to being alone. I had had a taste of what it was like to have friends and I never wanted to go back.

Whatever god was listening I wished to that Flame would come back to me. That he was just too scared but things would get better. 

I sighed and looked back down at my work; a few tears falling down onto my page ruining the essay I just couldn't focus on.

***

It was lunchtime and I felt completely alone. It was worse now, more than it had been before. I had a friend, Flame. That happiness helps me to experience the pain of being alone because before I never knew that happiness. 

I knew it was a terrible idea but I just needed to see Flame again. I took a deep breath and I entered the construction site again. Water has washed away the dust and polished the concrete floor. The hallway was empty no sigh of what had happened earlier in the week. 

Walking over to where the blood was there wasn't even a stain it was just all completely gone. Though what was even worse. No Flame. 

Feeling helping and a little scared I walked back into the school building, putting the Do Not Enter sign back in place. 

My heart was heavy as I found an empty space to be away from everyone. It was just so confusing and so utterly lonely. 

I had drifted off too far into my own thoughts that I didn't even notice someone approaching me.

Frank walked up to me and asked, "Hey purple-eyed-freak why isn't that fire head here?"

"As if you care," I said.

I felt pain ripple through my shoulder as Frank punched me. I looked up at him; his eyes were full of anger. "Don't talk to me like that you worthless freak," he spat.

"I'll speak however I like," I muttered rubbing my shoulder. I stood to make a get away from him, regretting letting my guard down. That was another reason why I couldn't go back to normal. Frank hadn't. Sure he was violent before but now he was so much worse. 

Frank raised his arm and clenched his fist ready to punch me again but I ran as fast as I could away from him. He chased. My legs were already sore from past beatings but I pushed them as fast as they would go. He hunted me down like a horrible beast. I hadn't got very far before he leapt and tackled me to the ground. I just wasn't fast enough. 

"I'm a footy player you can't run from me you stupid witch," he whispered in my ear before getting off me.

He kicked me in the ribs then spat. 

I waited for his footsteps to recede before I got up slowly; I hurt all-over. I dusted myself off and looked up. The man who smiled at me yesterday when I was walking home was there. I looked at him in disbelief. He was wearing normal teacher clothes but it was definitely him. Those green eyes twinkled.

"It seems speed isn't on your side huh?" he said.

I didn't reply I was still too shocked that he was there standing in front of me. Was I just imagining things?

 "That kid is pretty nasty isn't he?" He said, his eyes trailing all over my face.

"Y..y...yy..yeah ummm... what are you doing here?" I asked him.

"I'm a new teacher here, a replacement teacher if you will, you can call me Mr ... Pan," he replied and smiled, his eyes sparkled.

Edited - 14/5/2016

Edit 2 - 22/6/2020