Chapter 2

Previously: 

The man screamed: NO PLEA---- BOOOM the sound of the gun shot was sooooo loud. It made me jump and a scream escaped my mouth before i can hold it. The three alive men's eyes shot to me. It felt like daggers cutting through my skin. 

Stupid Annie!! Why did you have to scream?! And why the hell do you have to think like that when a man was being cut in front of you minutes ago?! A loud sound of glass-breaking echoed in the forest. That seemed to cut our thoughts, all of us, and bring us back to reality. "RUN AWAY" this phrase was repeated billion times in my mind. I turned around and the girls seemed like they were having the same thoughts because they turned with me. 

Unfortunately, we wanted to outrun tall strong fit men. I never liked gym class, I'm clumsy, lazy and I was never good at any physical stuff. Emma was drinking a while ago. And Hannah ... That girl, all she cares about is her nails, clothes, shoes, etc. so yeah, we were soon between their hands. 

Man L: since when were you here?

He looked at us with intense eyes. I swear to god I can feel my heart beating like crazy. Its only goal is too leave my rib cage. We stayed quite too scared to talk. 

Man L shouted, you'll see the rage clearly if you looked at his eyes: are you deaf? Answer my question you little brats or else...

Oh god please help us. I didn't know that one word can scare me this much. Only his "or else" made me shake like a freak. It's like he's saying talk or I'll torture you 'till death. 

Me: we we uu-uh-umm we...

I wish I was invisible at that moment. I can't even describe how scared I was. I was going to pee in my pants. LITERALLY. 

Police sirens saved us. One of the men rushed to get the car ready, the other one got rid of the dead body. And we were left with their leader. 

Man L: open your mouthes about what you've just saw and the murder of that man? Would be merciful considered to yours.

We nodded. In the matter of seconds, they were gone. The police sirens were getting louder and clearer. I felt a grip on my wrist. Emma dragged me and Hannah to the camp's fence. We climbed it and ran to the tent. 

We stayed silent. Each one of us lost in her own thoughts. All my life I kept myself on the safe side. what life is throwing on me is enough. And now I'm being threaten by a scary dude who has a lot of men under him waiting for his order to kill us. 

Emma: was I too drunk or did that really happen?

Me, still looking at space: it did 

I turned my head to Hannah when I heard her gasps, she was crying hysterically.

 Cold water drops fell on my cheeks. I lifted my hand and touched it. I was crying. It's been a long time since I have cried. After all the problems I had faced, I became immune. I figured out that tears wouldn't solve my problems so why waste my time shedding them. But this time is different. Maybe because I feel like I'm chained. I don't have a choice except doing what I've been told, even if I didn't agree with it. Or else I'll get in bigger trouble. 

I walked to Hannah and hugged her. Emma came and joined us, she was crying too. 

It's the first time I see her like this. She always appears tough. she keeps a wall surrounding her so people wouldn't find a way to hurt her. But this time? She let her walls fall down and showed what she was hiding. She was so vulnerable. We all were. 

But can you really blame us? 

What gives you the right to judge?

You weren't in our shoes, you don't know what we've been through.

You know my name but you don't know me.

You know some of my problems but not how I felt.

You see my smile at daylight but not my tears at night.

No matter what you do, you won't understand. 

So you do what suits your life and I'll do what suits mine. 

Ms. Jolie's high-pitched voice woke me up. I opened my eyes to see her head popping out of the tent's door.

Ms. Jolie: we need to talk. Get dressed and come to me. 

We did as told .

Ms. Jolie: you weren't in your tent when we checked in last night. 

Hannah, Emma and I: we're sorry. 

Ms. Leena: they were two simple rules for your own safety. Not leaving the campsite and being at bed on time, were they that hard to follow?

Ms. Jolie: pack your stuff and be ready, a bus is coming to take you back to the school. You'll see a list of the chores you have to do there. 

Post 1

I'm a 17 years old girl who lived a normal life, or can i call it normal? Actually, is there such thing as a 'normal life'? I seriously have no idea. All i know is that my life experienced a big change lately.

 Going back to the letter i received informing me i was accepted to almost the best school. People all around the world pay lots of money to get their children in it, students work their best to get accepted, and here i am getting a scholarship to enter this school. That's the best thing that happened to me.

Getting into a plane, flying to the other side of the country. Walking in their modest airpot, it wasn't crowded. Everyone was walking in a fast pace, minding their own business. I searched for the paper that had my name on it. 'this is a dream come true. After all the hard work, you're getting what you've always wanted' i thought as i let out a squeal, a happy one. 

The ride to the school took almost 15 minutes. We entered the gates and the spacious, well-taken-care-of gardens came to view. The man who picked me up from the airpot told me he'd take my stuff to my room and that i have to go to the headmaster. He gave me the directions and left. 

I knocked on the headmaster's office door. 

Headmaster: come in. (i opened the door and walked towards her desk) sit down, dear. 

Headmaster: anna, we are grateful to have you in our school, i wanted to personally welcome you, if you needed anything feel free to ask me. ( she gave me a warm smile as she handed me a file and a key) this is a key to your room and you'll find the campus' map in the file and other papers you might need, including your schedule. 

Me: thank you very much

Headmaster: anytime, dear. Your room is number 99 in building A, you may leave now. 

I took my things and left. Using the map i found my room. 

Girl 1: god! Why did they give me a roommate like you? I'd rather have any other roommate. 

Girl 2: good, so the feeling is mutual 

I unlocked the door and stepped in. The two girls' faces switched to me. One of them was a white blonde dressed in an elegant blue dress with a silver necklace and grey heels. The other girl was the total opposite, she was a tanned brunette wearing a ripped denim jeans with a sleeveless black shirt and spiked sandals.

I saw the disgusted look on blondy's face: another one that looks like you, just great. 

'Bad girl' averted her gaze from me and looked at blondy: she doesn't look anything like me (she looked at me from top to bottom) look at her. 

Okay i admit i don't have the time neither the money to look good, but do i look that bad? I looked down at my clothes. I was wearing a baggy light jeans with a navy tank top. Hmm, i don't care.

Me (smiling): hi, i'm annie

Blondy: i'm hannah (she extended her hand for me to shake it, and i did)

Bad girl: (she gave me a "hello" nod) emma 

I emptied my bag and organized everything. We were all laying down on our beds when ms. Leena, she's the supervisor in our building, knocked then opened the door. 

Ms. Leena: girls, we'll go camping this weekend. Your camping bags should be ready at friday morning. 

She closed the door as soon as she finished her sentence. It was time to sleep. 

Days passed by, i spent it at class, library or at my room. You see, i'm a nerd who was never good at making friends. So this time is not an exception, i didn't befriend anyone. That's why i stay at the library in the break.

It was friday afternoon, we were on our way to the campsite. I'm really nervous. I've never camped before. I'll probably embarrass myself in front of everyone. 

Ms. Leena: al right students, you'll be sharing a tent with your roommates, i'll be distributing a paper of the rules and activities. 

We got out of the bus and worked on setting up our tent. 

Me: i give up, these pictures aren't understandable

Hannah: oh well, at least we've tried 

Emma: you mean annie and i tried, you were as useless as that broken bench over there (she said as she pointed at the bench)

A huge grin formed on hannah's face.

 Hannah: the boys came, we'll ask them to help 

We turned our gazes to the boys as they got out of the bus. I swear, i saw a wave of sadness pass through emma's eyes but she quickly washed it away and rolled her eyes. 

Hannah pouted: jayden, can you help us please 

Jayden: sure beautiful (he winked) 

We were sitting around the bonfire, marshmallows on a stick in my hand. I turned to hannah.

Me: i'm going to sleep. When are you coming?

I ate the two marshmallows on the stick and threw it in the garbage.

Hannah: i don't know. Of cause before the teachers start turning around checking on us. Trust me, i don't want to get punished as much as you do. 

You see, one of the rules states that we should all be in our tents by midnight. If someone wasn't there, all the students staying at the same tent get punished. 

I went back to the tent expecting to see emma sleeping by now. But she wasn't. I saw her bag opened and a bottle of alcohol was showing. Dammit i get it this girl loves trouble and all but does she have to get us in trouble for her reckless manners. She was breaking more than one rule. I quickly ran my way to hannah. She was now saying bye to her friends ready to leave. When her eyes met mine she looked confused. It's not like i was having the time of my life to come back. 

Hannah: what are you doing back here? I thought you were going to sleep. 

Me: yeah, i know but emma isn't there. We need to go look for her it's already 20 minutes 'til midnight. Oh and i think she went to drink.

Hannah: when i find this girl i'm going to kill her (her face was red out of anger) 

Hannah: she's not going to drink here in front of the teachers. Come. 

She held my wrist and pulled me to the end of the campsite behind the water and electricity whatever-they're-called so they'd cover us when we climb the fence. 

Hannah: now where the hell are we going to find her in here? 

There were trees all around and it was dark, making it impossible for us to find her. 

Me: do you have your phone? 

Hannah: yeah?

Me: call her. We'll follow her ringtone. Maybe she didn't turn it off. 

She instantly took her phone out of her back pocket and called emma. 

"i woke up today surrounded by blackness, a small warning sign devoured the process 

It's always been fine when i get up ignore this, and it's hard to say but i feel like i'll be weightless 

The more i admit i feel up and anxious, the more i go on the less i can face this" 

The song: when i was young-blink 182 (ina hatha stylha)

Her ringtone blasted at the dark quiet forest. We followed the sound, and lucky for us she let it ring not bothering to close it. 

There she was, sitting on the muddy ground, her back leaning on a tree's trunk. Her blanket was rapped around her body and a bottle in her hand. At that moment, hannah's face was changing colors.

Hannah: you fucking bastard, you had to come here at the end of the night and break the rules?

Emma (as calm as ever): oh princess can curse (she let out a giggle)

Hannah (huffing): you're unbelievable 

Me: alright you girls, let's go. After 5 minutes the teachers will be turning around checking on everyone. 

Emma reached for her bottle when we heard a car's engine nearby. We looked at each other scared as silence took over us. A man's deep voice hissed at someone. Emma was able to take a glance at the man. As soon as she did, she pulled both of us and hid us behind the trees. I peeked from behind the tree and i can see why she did that. There were a group of scary men behind one man probably their leader and a man in front of him that he was shouting at. He pulled him from his collar and looked at him with an intense glare. 

Man L (the leader): did you really think you could've ran away?

Fear was all you can read in the other man's eyes. 

Man L: now, you know what will happen to you, don't you?

The other man (nodding): y-e-s yes i do

Man L: guys, you can practice your arts on him. 

When you hear the word arts you imagine something beautiful and creative, you would never think it would be so harmful and violent. The other men took out their knives and started cutting his skin. I couldn't take this. I swallowed a lump in my throat and placed my palms over my eyes. Minutes later i turned around and looked at hannah and emma, they were terrified.  I peeked again and saw that the men already left only 2 of them stayed, the leader and the other man they were torturing. He was lying on the ground covered with his blood from the cuts the carved on his skin. The leader was on top of him with a gun in his hand pointed to the other man's head. 

The man screamed: NO PLEA---- BOOOM the sound of the gun shot was sooooo loud. It made me jump and a scream escaped my mouth before i can hold it. The three alive men's eyes shot to me. It felt like daggers cutting through my skin.