Chapter 2 The stranger
I wanted to leave Sandalwood. And the only way for me to do that is to put more effort into my studies. So that I could graduate and leave. Anything to take me away from these people. That was what woke me up every morning to prepare for school.
My outs stretched out. I did a few more body stretches before getting out of bed.
The blue bedspread was replaced with a bright pink one. The dirty one was dumped into the laundry basket.
I then made my way to the bathroom, took a quick shower and got dressed for school. I did not forget to wear my black long-sleeve dress to cover the marks on my hand. I did it to avoid unnecessary attention and despicable eye-rolling , although everyone in my class knew about them. I also did that so that Calix could at least forget sometimes that I had them.
My hair still had the black dye in it, it would take at least a month or two before it wore out. That was another part of me I did not want them to uncover.
With everything in place, I grabbed my backpack and headed for the stairs. My movements came to an abrupt stop just above the stairs. I watched Ma'a paced back and forth in front of the mahogany table, her hands behind her back. She still had her red kitchen gloves on. She paced like she had something heavy on her chest and she wanted to let it.
The scent of freshly baked breath reached my nostrils as I descended the stairs.
"Good morning, Ma'a?" I greeted, looking up at her trying to figure out what was going on.
Her head whipped around, her nostrils flared as she glared at me.
"Why did you agree to kill the werewolves, Naomi? Do you know what you have done? They could trace you, Naomi.” She threw her hands up, shaking her head.
Just great. I should have known that. Just like me, she didn't like the creatures.
“Did I not tell you to leave that hunters group? Do you have the strength to hunt down those beasts? You look like something that can be snapped in two halves and you want to hunt werewolves?"
It was always a sermon whenever she started to talk. She pushed a strand of her gray hair behind her ear, watching me intently as I went to take a seat on the breakfast table.
She kept talking. I rolled my eyes and leaned against the chair. I wish she could just stop immediately.
I was given no choice. It was mandatory. I had already told her that. Being in a group with Calix as the leader was the last thing I ever intended to do. Hence, I would not be in that group if I had the choice to leave.
"They killed your mother, Naomi. They can come for you.”
My brows furrowed. My hands slammed on the table as I stood up.
"You keep telling me about my mother. What about my father? Where is he? Where is my grandfather? Other relatives I have no idea about? You keep bringing up my mother, where are the others?"
My voice cracked, and tears began to fall.
She stopped talking.
I closed my eyes and bit my bottom lips. I shouldn't have said that, considering how much she had taken care of me on her own. Yet, there was still a form of emptiness in me. She kept telling me that, but never told me about the other people.
With my backpack in my hands, I bolted to the door. I didn't turn back when she called.There was a heavy downpour. I didn't care about an umbrella. The rain could wash my tears away if it wish.
Physical education was the last class of the day. Calix wasn't in school, neither were her friends. That left me with a calm atmosphere to study although I still got some side gazes from the students.
It was 1:00 PM and the physical education teacher was yet to show up.
I packed my books in my bag and left the classroom.
I rounded the corner to the hallway and stumbled into someone.
Whatever cold liquid they were holding came crashing on the floor, spilling on us.
I lifted my head up to apologize but froze.
Calix stood in front of me, a blank expression on her face
I swallowed hard, staring at the two cups of coffee on the floor.
Uneasiness crawled inside me and I immediately wanted to hide, not only at this moment but forever.
A dark smile stretched across her face as she took predatory steps towards me. I staggered behind.
“I-I'm sorry.” I said, my eyes darted around, looking for an escape. But I guess there was none. There had never been any.
"You just wasted my coffee, Naomi. And that pathetic sorry won't do enough.” She stopped in front of me, her presence looming as my back hit the opposite wall. Her index finger reached my hair, coiling a strand around it. A forced smile stretched across her face but her eyes glinted with something darker.
"I want two cups of coffee and a third.” She stepped away from me and cleaned her hands like I had stained them.
"I-I don't have any money on me." I admitted shrugging. I hadn't waited for Ma'a to give me school money. I had been in a whirlpool of emotions when I left the house.
Her hand reached the neckline of my shirt, her finger tips grazed my neck. I felt a sharp stick before she folded that part of the clothes in her hands and started dragging me behind her.
"I hate when people say that. You don't lie to me, Naomi."
We reached the bathroom section. One of the male stalls opened. A student walked out with their hands around their belt. He raised a brow and turned his head away.
"I swear, I don't have any money. I promise to get your coffee when I have the money." I knew that would fall on deaf ears ,but I had to try.
I didn't want to relive what she did to me the other day. Marks of her inflictions were still evident on my arm.
She shoved me roughly into the open bathroom.
“Think of how you can pay me for that coffee while you stay there.”
The door slammed with a loud bang and I was locked inside.
The lingering scent of stale urine hits me.
I moved to the door and rammed my fist against it, hoping that someone could hear and come to my aid.
It happened minutes later, when I heard heavy footsteps coming towards the stall. I banged against the door again and waited.
There were a few clicks and the door opened.
I hurried closer to thank who it was, but then my body tensed.
Julian.
His brows rose as he took me in, probably trying to understand what I was doing in a male bathroom.
He didn't say a thing as he stepped aside, his hand inside the pockets of his school pants.
"Thank you." I bowed my head as I walked past him.
We had crossed paths on more than two occasions and never said more than five words to each other. Generally, it was like he rarely spoke.
"You should be careful."
I turned to him but he disappeared inside the male bathroom.
I hurried home. Ma'a wasn't present when I came.
I dropped my bag on my bed. Change out of my uniform, and made my way to the ravine. It was at the end of the woods behind my house. It was a sacred place to me. A place I often went to when I needed to be alone, to collect my thoughts.
There was a flat black stone overlooking the ravine. That was the spot I always sat on.
My hands gripped the rough edges of the stone. I climbed to the top and sat crossed-legged.
The waves of the water crashed against the stones inside the ravine. I couldn't see it, but I could hear them. You could only see the water when you moved to the edge.
My gaze shifts to the vast land across the ravine saturated with green shrubs and herbs.
A movement at the corner of my right eye caught my eye.
There stood a figure. He moved closer, prompting me to stand up immediately.
“Hey, I'm sorry if I scared you.” That low soft baritone voice from days ago spoke. The biker guy who asked me about Xylos.
My eyes narrowed as I took him in. What was he doing here?
He wore a black baseball turned backwards. Loose black hair spilling behind.
His broad chest strained against a long sleeve shirt, dark jeans clung against masculine legs. He stuffed his hands into his jeans pocket as he moved to the edge of the ravine, peering down at it.
“I was just passing by.” He offered without being asked.
I scoffed and looked around. The last time I checked, there was no footpath in these woods. No one wandered around here.
I watched him. He was big. He didn't look like a student or maybe he was, but not just the ones at Sandalwood. He turned to face me this time, with his hands across his chest. His gaze was deep, predatory. There was something odd about the way he looked at me and I didn't like it.
I needed to leave. I climbed down the stone and without a word, I started to walk away.
When I heard the rustling of leaves behind me like someone was following me, I turned behind. He stopped walking. He pouted and cock his head to the side like I had just stopped him from taking something he badly wanted.
“Why are you following me?” I demanded, my gaze strongly fixed on his face, given him no room to see fear in me.
“Let’s just say, I find you interesting, and I want to know you more.”
A sinister smirk crossed his face as soon as the words left his mouth.