Chapter One

In the car on the way to school, I stare at the door handle and pray silently.

I am not going to touch it, I am not going to open the door, I am not going to…

I am not going to jump out.

Mrs. Johnson would stop, right? Would she? I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t. She would soon get over my death and maybe life would be better for her. If I’m as worthless as he’d always told me I am, it would probably be a wise decision to end it here and now.

“Trinity, what’s on your mind?” she asks, glancing into the rearview mirror. She then focuses on the road again as we turn into my school’s parking lot. “You seem very distant. Is something the matter?”

“No, Mrs. Johnson,” I answer. “I’m fine.”

“Alright.” She doesn’t seem convinced. I’ve only known her for only a month, but I know she already knows me better than to believe my constant lies. “Have a nice day at school, sweetheart. If you need anything, and I do mean anything, just give me a call. Okay?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I reply. “I will.” I’m about to close the door when Mrs. Johnson stops me.

“One last thing: Please call me ‘Mom’,” she says sweetly. I can see sympathy in her soft brown eyes. “I know I might not have much time left with you – who knows how long it may be, but I want you to feel at home. If you’re not comfortable enough with me, then that’s okay and I’d understand.”

“I’m sorry… I… I… I can’t.” I close the door before she can utter another word and, with my head down as if admiring the pavement, quickly walk away.

I can’t because ‘Mom’ is a name I despise. It’s like… a bad word. In my head, anyway. I like Mrs. Johnson way too much to call her that.

“Hey, there she is!”

Instantly recognizing the voice, I run without a moment of hesitation. I run as fast as my legs will take me. When I look back, I see that they’re gaining on me, so as soon as I find the bathroom, I duck inside. Surely they wouldn’t dare come in here.

The door opens and the first person I see is the leader of the pack’s face as he hurries in my direction. The members follow closely behind.

I bang on the closest stall, but hear, “Occupied! Patience please!” then dart into the nearest one that I’m sure is open, locking it behind me with a moderate amount of trouble. Fear causes my sweaty hands to slip, making me panic even more.

I back up as far as I can, then sit on the toilet lid and pull my knees up to my chest as I shake uncontrollably.

“Hey beautiful!” shouts the leader, Gary, as if his voice won’t be heard if he doesn’t. His voice is naturally loud. “We just want to apologize for our behavior toward you. It’s just that you’re so beautiful that we can’t help ourselves. Blame teenage hormones.”

“Leave me alone!”

Gary and his friends laugh, and I figure that it’s at my super girly voice. I’ve never liked my voice because it’s devoid of bass and often causes me to lose the respect of others. That’s what I’m guessing the issue is, anyway.

“I miss your pretty face,” Gary says in a whiny voice. His hand suddenly appears under the door and slowly, it inches toward me, crawling creepily. “You can’t hide in there forever. Come on, Church Girl. Bless us with your pretty face.”

“Just go away!”

“No,” he replies, mimicking my voice. In his normal one, he says, “Fine. If you won’t come out, I’ll go in…” Gary’s head follows his hands under the stall door, tilted and low to the tile floor in order to fit under.

Hesitantly, I step down from the toilet and carefully walk over to him. I’m not entirely sure that my next move is a wise decision, but without a second thought, I lift my foot and then bring it down hard onto Gary’s hand, but I don’t stop there. Next, when he shrieks and mutters a curse, I kick his head. He instinctively moves it, but unfortunately for him, his head bumps into the edge of the door.

“You shouldn’t have done that!” he shouts, banging his fists on the door. “Don’t just stand there! Help me!” I imagine he’s talking to his friends as he says this.

“Boys!”

The banging stops.

“Yes, Mrs. Davison?” all five of the boys answer nervously.

“I want you all to get out of this bathroom now, and leave Trinity alone,” she says firmly. From her tone I can picture the look on her face. “And Gary, I would get your face checked out by the school nurse.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Gary answers quickly.

Mrs. Davison continues, “And if I find you in here or harassing another girl on this property again, I’ll be sure to have you all expelled!” and a moment later, there’s a knock on the stall door. “It’s me, dear.”

I open it slightly and peek through the small gap, then walk out and look around to be sure they’re no longer here. They aren’t.

“Thanks,” I mumble.

“I’m sorry they’re treating you this way,” she says, her face softening significantly. “If they continue to bother you, just let me know and we’ll take care of them. Alright?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I answer. “Thanks.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I’d better be going. Remember: Report them if they keep this up.”

“I will.”

“Okay, good,” Mrs. Davison says with a frown. “See you later.” She walks away and I follow her out.

The rest of the school day goes by smoothly, aside from the fact that these… strange urges that I often have… are really showing up today. I find myself opening and closing my locker a number of times, causing me to get odd stares from passersby. Throughout the school day I’ve also been touching objects my brain tells me to, for no reason at all. Sometimes I even walk backward to touch something that I pass as I try to fight this. It’s so frustrating!

I’m now outside as I wait for Mrs. Johnson to come pick me up. The longer the wait, the more anxious I become about Gary and his group, but I haven’t seen them since I came out here.

“Watch out!”

Before I can turn around, my arm is grabbed and almost yanked right off my body as I’m pulled away from the road I was about to cross. I find myself in the strong arms of a stranger. At first I fear it’s one of the members of Gary’s crew, but when he releases me, I take a few steps back, look up and breathlessly study his face. Usually I’m not one to look someone in their eyes for more than two seconds unless I’m talking to them, but there’s something different about him.

“So, um…” he says slowly, his hand on the back of his neck. He is obviously uncomfortable, as am I.

I turn around to see what it is he was supposedly protecting me from, and see a silver truck coming our way, fast. Not a second later, it hits the sidewalk next to where I was standing and comes to a screeching halt. A few girls shriek in surprise when it does.

How did I not see that coming? It wasn’t there a moment ago!

My brows knitted in confusion, I turn around again, this time to question the stranger, but when                                                                  I do, he is out of sight… nowhere to be seen.

“Wha…?” I say, even deeper in confusion. Where did he go, and so quickly?

My phone buzzes in my pocket, startling me a little. When I pull it out and see the text, a frown comes to my face.

Mrs. Johnson: I’m so sorry sweetheart, but I can’t come pick you up today. There’s a serious emergency at work. Do you think one of your friends can drive you home?

I begin to type, ‘I don’t have any friends’, but I don’t want to make her feel bad, so I instead say, ‘Yes, it’s ok’.

Mrs. Johnson: See you tonight. Love you darling.

Me: See you.

I sigh.

I guess I’m walking.

° * ° * °

I suddenly hear a flirtatious whistle from behind me and quickly turn around.

Gary stands right in front of me, towering over me as he smiles sinisterly.

“It’s just you and me, beautiful,” he says. “I’m guessing your old lady isn’t home yet? Why don’t you come home with me? I’ll keep you company. You won’t be bored; I’ll keep you busy.” He laughs a little, continuing, “What do you say?” Instead of answering verbally, I stomp as hard as I can on his foot and turn to run. “Come here!” he says sharply, grabbing my arm. I twist it, trying to get free of his grasp, but it’s no use.

“Let me go!”

Gary drags me all the way to the back of the house as I fight him, scared for my life. My efforts go to waste as he is too strong for me. I’m then roughly turned around and pushed against the wall, which I now face.

“Relax, Church Girl,” he whispers in my ear as his hands roam my sides. “You’ll thank me later.”

“Get off of me!”

As soon as those words leave my mouth, his hands leave my body and his sudden grunt startles me.

What happened? I’m too frightened to turn around for a moment to see what happened, but I force myself to muster up the courage to investigate.

Then I see him. The mysterious stranger who saved me earlier.

At his feet lies Gary, who does not move, nor make a sound.

“Are you all right?” he asks. I hesitate to answer as so many questions are flying around in my mind.

What does he want with me? Has he been saving me just to keep me alive so he could soon get me alone… like he has me right now? How did he know I was here? He came at just the right moment. I just don’t understand.

He takes a few slow steps toward me, and I inch away, my back grazing against the exterior wall of the house.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he says softly. I wouldn’t give him the chance.

His hands are out in front of him as if I’m some terrified wild animal, and his amber eyes are focused on mine as if he’s trying to gauge my next move. His eyes somehow show apparent innocence, but at the same time make it known that life has thrown some unwelcomed situations his way. No matter how innocent he could possibly pretend to be, I will not be deceived.

Frantically digging in my pocket for my phone, I threaten, “I’ll call the police!”

“No, don’t,” he responds gently. “I promise, I’m not here to harm you. I’ve proved that like, twice already.”

Gary begins to stir and opens his eyes. He looks around, then from me to this stranger, and rage instantly covers his face upon seeing him. As he tries with great difficulty to get up, the boy standing in front of me puts a foot on his chest to keep him down.

“Go,” he says to me. “Quickly.”

And so I run.

When I enter Mrs. Johnson’s house, I close the front door a bit too roughly and nearly break the lock as I try to comfort myself by repeating in my mind, ‘He can’t get you now. You’re safe.’ I close the blinds and curtains of the two windows in the front of the house, and then close the blinds of the sliding glass door so there’s no chance of him seeing in.

A moment later, Mrs. Johnson walks through the door and, after setting her purse down on the shoe cubicle and hanging her keys on the key holder, hurries to hug me. I keep my arms at my sides as she squeezes me tightly.

“Who brought you home?”

“I walked,” I answer, stepping back and out of her arms. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell the truth…”

“No, Trinity, I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to pick you up this time,” she replies, sincerity in her eyes. “Were you okay walking home?”

“Um… Yes, I’m fine. It’s okay.”