After hearing the words from the darkness, I promptly awaken. I am not sweating like last night but instead, I am having a major headache. I feel like I could pass out at any minute from it. Getting out of bed, I immediately head to the bathroom and open up the medical cabinet to grab some painkillers. After grabbing the painkillers, I grab a glass of water and swallow the pills with water.

With the headache subsiding, I am able to focus on getting ready for the day. Quickly eating a bowl of dry cereal, I dress for school and leave my house. Of course, Heather is waiting for me by the curb where we usually meet.

“Hey Cameron! How was your night after I left?”

“It went well, I grabbed some books from the library like I said. Once I got home I started to read one of them. I chose well, it’s the journal of one of the first inhabitants here! She made some references to the house, but they were far and in-between.”

“So, you didn’t go to into the archway after I left?”

“Do you take me for a liar? Of course I didn’t go back in, besides I was too exhausted to continue exploring the forest.”

“Good, we were a bit too off the edge when we came back. Look, I have to hurry to the school, some of the teachers are having more issues with the new system. That means I have go and help them figure it out. I’ll catch you maybe at lunch or after school okay? Thanks!”

With that, she rushes off to the school. I am left by myself, heading to the school and pondering my thoughts. Not really having anything to do, I decide to pick up my pace. What a mistake that was to do that.

On my own, I am a target for the popular kids. Especially since Ben goes nearly the same route to school that I do. Of course, it is my luck that the one day I am heading to school alone, I run into Ben and his group of lackeys. I see him before he sees me, and I try to hide my presence. I try this to no avail as one of his groupies sees me and points me out to Ben.

No, no, no, no, no! If they reach me they will harass me to no end! On the other hand, if I try and make a run for it, they will basically smell the fear and seek me out later. So, the only thing I can really do is subtly pick up my pace and pretend I don’t see or hear them. Sadly, they are bigger, stronger, faster and have more people than me.

They quickly catch up to me and surround me. I slowly look up and see that Ben is the person in front of me.

“Well, well, well if it isn’t Cameron! Where’s your friend today, is she sick or something?”

I stand there in fear, as if I’m a deer in the headlights. I don’t really know what to do, as I have no options to get out of this. As far I can see at the moment, I don’t see a way out of this.

“Hey, he asked you question little man! You going to reply or not?”

“She- she had to head to school early to help the teachers.”

“Oh, ho ho! She had to help to teachers! Now it looks like you are on your own now huh?”

Ben then closes the distance between us and begins to whisper to me.

“Now look here little man, why don’t you help me with something? I want to slide into Heather’s DMs if you know what I mean. So, help another guy out alright? Oh, and by the way, no isn’t an answer.”

With those words, I am kicked in the private parts. The pain immediately hits me as I cripple to the ground. The group then goes on their way, leaving me on the ground in pain with bystanders ignoring me. They just ignore me, they ignore the person who looks injured on the ground. All I can do is lie there in pain and slowly get up to head to school.