Who is That

Who is That

Dr. Richards expression didn't change. His sunken eyes stared blank into mine as if he was having a war inside of his head about what to say next.

"I can explain in a minute, but, do you mind telling us who this young lady is and how she came out of that forest with you?" His eyes moved from my face to Lily's.

Lily backed up and moved behind me where half of my body was hiding hers. Did they seriously not know who she was? She hadn't been in the forest for no more than a year.

"You really don't know her?" I gave Dr. Richards a questioning look.

"No, I don't." His response was flat, unamused. He crossed his arms across his chest and gave a look, waiting for an explanation.

I guess Serenity wouldn't have to wait very long after all. Let the fun begin.

"This is Lily. She used to go to Maybury. Until she was forced out by that bitch standing over there. Dean Lainey and Susan put her in the forest. Alone. With that monster." I shot Serenity a glare.

Serenity's eyes widen the more I went on. Her glance flickered between Lily and I like she couldn't believe what she was hearing or who she was staring at.

"You said Dean Lainey? And Susan? Why them? How did they get in and then back out of the forest?" Dr. Richards didn't seem convinced.

"I don't know that part. All I know is that Serenity was jealous that Finley was showing Lily more attention than her and got Lily removed from the school. And that eventually something similar would have happened to me because Serenity is one big insecure, backstabbing, ugly bitch."

My gaze never left Serenity. She was fuming at this point. Pissed. Honestly it was an understatement to how she was probably feeling. Even if she didn't remember Lily, she knew what I was talking about.

"You bitch. I will have both of your heads for this. You will pay for how you're speaking about me!" Serenity started barreling towards me, smoke pratically blowing out of her ears. Her face was beet red.

"And how will we pay? You'll tell Dean Lainey and have her send us back into the forest? Or will someone actually lose their life this time over your dumb shenanigans?"

We were chest to chest now. I could feel Serenity's breath on my face as she exhaled rapidly. I was hoping she would pull the first swing and then I could beat the shit out of her like I've wanted to do since the day she threatened me.

"Now is NOT the time for this ladies. We still don't know what's going on here or in there!" Dr. Richards got in between us and pushed us away from each other. Party pooper, that was fun.

Serenity turned around and pushd into the crowd of students, disappearing between everyone. I had a feeling this wasn't over between us.

"Now. You said this was Lily. I'm Dr. Richards. I teach archery at the college. Can you tell us what happened and how you got out here?"

Lily was still partially cowering behind me. I guess being isolated that long really does something to you.

"Uh, uhm, sure. I guess?" Her voice was quiet as she lowered her head and twiddled with her thumbs.

"Lily, it's fine. Remember what I said? Tell your truth. I will back you up 100%." I placed my hands over her shoulders and gave her a wide smile.

She nodded and blew out a breath.

"A little over a year ago, I was once a student in your class. Everything was normal, and I had a small relationship with Finley actually..."

Lily shifted on her feet and kept her gaze down. I had kind of forgotten about the whole Lily and Finley situation. I snuck a glance towards Finley who was now turning red and probably remembering exactly who this red head was. Even Dr. Richards looked slightly uncomfortable about not remembering who she was.

"Everything was great, until I met Serenity and her friends. They threatened me a bunch, telling me to stay away from Finley and to make myself scarce whenever he came around. I tried my best, truly, but Finley always came looking for me. It didn't just stop there, Serenity would throw things at me in the cafeteria when no one was around. She stole my books one day and ruined them before dumping them back into my backpack. She would mess with my clothes during archery, place things outside of my dorm room, and humiliated me in front of everyone."

Her eyes were welling up with tears now. I understood half of what she went through. Serenity might not have been as viscious towards me just yet, but Juniper always told me to watch my back and I always took it jokingly. Now I understand.

"Then she took it to the dean. I was in her office every week for the stuff Serenity was doing. She knew what was going on but no one ever helped or stopped it. The last night I was at the college, everyone was at the house party. It was a normal party until Serenity walked up to me and told me the dean had requested to see me and that it was over for me. She called me a whore and told me I was getting exactly what I deserved for taking what was hers. The dean confirmed it when I went to see her. But she told me I couldn't go home. It was too dangerous. So she and Susan built the cottage in the forest. Over that weekend, I stayed with the dean until the cottage was ready. By Sunday, they had taken me into the forest, placed all my stuff in the cottage, and left me there. They only came by once a month to drop off supplies. It's been over a year since I've seen the sun. Touched the grass. Seen real people and not just screams of the ones that dared enter the forest."

Everyone was silent. What she was saying was heavy information, things no one would have ever expected to come out into the light. No one probably expected her to come out into the light.

Lily was silently crying now. Dr. Richards was shaking in what seemed to be rage. I couldn't tell if he was pissed that she came out, or that they stowed her away and hid the truth instead of cutting the head off of the snake.

"Someone call Dean Lainey and get her ass up here NOW!" Dr. Richards voice boomed through the clearing.

Another professor scrambled toward the vans, obeying Richards command.

"What are you doing?? You can't call her here! If she sees Lily she might take her!" My voice was laced with my own rage.

"Trust me. Please." The softness returned to his face.

Could we trust anyone at this point?