Gab's PoV

By the time I made it to my first hour class, I had several new cuts and bruises, had my ribs nearly broken, been called a bunch of names regarding my sexuality that I don't want to repeat, and been told that my gender identity didn't exist because "you can't just switch from feeling one gender to another." Basically, I just had a usual Monday morning. Although, the comment about being attracted to kitchenware was so stupid it was almost funny. Almost.

Finally, after a day of avoiding people in the hallways and ignoring the pangs of hunger I've had since my food was stolen at lunch, it was time to go home. As the last bell rang, I swung my back pack over my shoulder and winced as it slammed into my back. I didn't slow down to make sure I didn't bruise my injured torso even more. Instead, I ran as fast as I could toward the bus. I couldn't miss it today. I had to get home to make sure no one broke into my house. I had almost made it half way down the bus ramp when a foot came flying out of no where and connected with my side. I toppled over in pain before I was pulled up by the arms and dragged to who knows where. I heard the rumble of the buses driving away from the school as I fought my captors uselessly.

Did I mention that I hate Mondays?

"Thought you can escape us you stupid f**?" John's voice laughed in my ear. I continued to struggle harder than ever, but John and Trevor's grip on my arms were like steal. I heard Courtney's laugh like nails on a chalk board as she watched with amusement at my struggling. I almost gave up and let them take me where ever they were going to beat me up this time when I looked up and saw we were heading for the pool. I shrieked and tried desperately to rip my arms out of their grasp.

"No! You don't understand! I can't swim well! I'll drown!" I started yelling, panic rising in my voice.

They only laughed and quickened their pace. I tried everything to at least slow them down, but the boys were too strong. Every time I would almost get an arm free, the other boy would yank on my other arm, and Courtney would rush forward to help grab my loose arm. Usually I try my best to hold my fear in whenever I was around these three because I didn't want to give them the satisfaction of knowing they got to me, but now I couldn't take it anymore. They were going to actually kill me.

I started screaming as loud as I could for someone to help me, anyone, but either no one was around to hear me or nobody cared. Sobs escaped my mouth and my body was shaking uncontrollably which only made my tormentors laugh harder.

When we were at the pool's edge, Courtney came up to me and whispered, "Say hello to your poor dead daddy for me." She then pushed me forward and I fell into the pool.

The cool water filled my lungs as I was struggling to keep my head above the water. I heard distorted laughter through the water and watched as the three teens walked away. My head broke the water for a second, and I gasped for air. As quickly as I had broke through the surface, however, I was going back under. Hot tears mixed with the cool pool water as I tried to relax enough to float. It wasn't working, and I couldn't relax.

Time for plan B. I kicked with as much strength as I had left and tried to use my arms to steer me toward the edge of the pool, praying that I would make it to the edge before I passed out. I was making very little progress, however, and my hope started dwindling as my vision turned black at the edges. Finally, after what seemed like eternity, I managed to break through to the surface again. I lunged forward and slammed my hand into the concrete wall. Pain shot up my arm as I gasped for air, but I didn't care. I held on to the side as tightly as I could and coughed up water. I don't know how long I stayed there like that, but eventually I pulled myself out of the pool and shivered in the cool October air.

I looked around, and I didn't see anyone near me. I let my feelings run wild and started crying. I didn't really know why I was crying at the moment because there were so many feelings pouring through and out of me. I recognized a few as fear, anger, anxiety, and gratefulness for being alive. I sobbed at the pool's edge for a good half an hour before I pulled myself to my feet and searched for my back pack that I had lost on my way to the pool. I finally found it a few feet from the bus ramp, thankfully undamaged, and I put it on and started walking home.

I had planned on grabbing some warm clothing, so I wouldn't catch hypothermia. What happened instead was something that I thought could only happen in dreams. As I opened my unlocked front door and stepped inside the house, I saw two full grown cyclopes and a hellhound in my living room. How did I recognize them you may ask? I may have forgotten to mention my obsession with Greek mythology although I never imagined it would jump out of my books and sit around my living room to wait for me to come home.

I stood there staring at them for a couple of minutes while they stared back at me. My wet clothes dripped onto the floor, soaking the tile. Then I did the only thing any sensible person would have done. I bolted out the front door and ran as fast as I could to any place that wasn't anywhere near my house.

I hope you enjoyed this next chapter!