Hazel knocks on the bathroom door, peek inside, and smiles mischievously. It's a handicapped bathroom, so it's a lot larger and has a specially-made toilet. Rebecca blushes looking around, "If I get in trouble and a teacher has to escort me to the bathroom from now on, I am killing you with your own robot." 

Hazel opens the door wide, "Of course, ladies first!" 

The bathroom is simple in design, with a single toilet, and a single sink with a mirror behind it. It's clean, a bit cleaner than the regular girl's bathroom. Rebecca just shakes her head as she wheels on inside, Luna and I right behind her. 

Once inside, Hazel closes the door quietly locking it. "Now, let's summon the Silver Tree!"

Rebecca can only sigh, "How will we do that?"

Hazel thinks for a second, before turning to me, "How did you summon it?"

I avoid looking at the mirror, because of the blood that's still there. "I didn't summon it, it just appeared. What are people on social media saying?" 

Hazel rubs her chin, spinning on her heels, "Not much, just a bunch of selfies and people exclaiming they've seen the Silver Tree. It's strange how no one can capture a picture of the tree."

Luna steps forward whispering low, "My aan, go kiss the mirror." 

I nearly screeched, "What?!" shaking my head I gag, "You do know this is a public bathroom. I have problems sitting on the toilets let alone kissing a mirror that has who knows how many germs on it!" 

Hazel nods in agreement, "Even the prep kids don't do that. And they are all about their lips."

Luna shrugs, "I just feel that... if she does it... it will work." She smiles, "It's a gut feeling I have. My Aan, if you want us to see it, you have to kiss it." She nods to the mirror. It looks clean... but... 

Rebecca and Hazel clean the mirror with soap and napkins, turning to me expectantly. While Hazel is openly bouncing and eagerly tapping my shoulder to get me to do it, Rebecca just gives me quick glances to and fro. I know they both are seriously curious about the Silver Tree and in reality, so am I. But... I don't like what I am seeing right now. Dark rose red blood dripping down my neck like some bad Halloween costume. Then again, if the tree appears and they all can see it. Then I am not crazy... If they can't...

Sucking in my breath, I give the mirror a quick peck, before rushing to wipe my face clean. 

We all are quiet, expectantly waiting. Soon... Rebecca cries out covering her mouth with both her hands. Hazel breams from ear to ear, unable to contain her excitement. While Luna just nods as if this was expectant, to her it probably is. 

The Silver Tree, here is the school's bathroom mirror. 

It's a weeping willow, with long sweeping leaves the color of silver emeralds glistening in the sunlight. Branches flutter wide, with roots as thick as trunks rising around them. Mist bellows from around it dissipating a few inches from the image. It's easily the size of my head and right where I kissed the mirror. I can see my lip prints there. 

The tree rustles, and something from within the tree moves. 

My heart burns with fire, causing me to cough roughly. My fingers sting as if I've stuck them into the snow. A twitch in my gut moves me, something telling me to touch the tree to reach for it. Tears drip down my cheeks soaking my shirt. 

Hazel next to me pumps the air, "We have made contact! Do you think it's ghosts? Or possibly aliens! I think ghosts!"  

Rebecca has yet to retrieve her voice, staring in awe and shock. I can see her mind whirling with lyrics to a new poem. 

Luna states, "Aliens. Or what we consider to be aliens." 

Hazel shakes her head, "It has to be ghosts! Aliens would reach us by other means, don't you think?" 

I zone them out, lightly brushing the foggy mirror and watching as they swirl around my fingertips as if I am really touching them. My heart thumbs, something echoing deep in my blood. Leaning in further, I almost touch my face to the Tree when Luna grabs my waist pulling me back. I let out a cry of surprise. 

Luna whispers in my ear, "Don't go touching it yet. Be careful..." Her grip tightens, "You don't want to rush things."

"Rush things?"

She wipes away my tears, "The future is set in stone. Don't go playing with it." She lets me go frowning and glaring at the mirror, "And don't let anything get in between our friendship." 

"Why would..."

Hazel pumps us, "Hey, what are you two whispering about?"

Luna smiles, "Just telling my Aan a few things. How about we head out before the teacher gets suspicious." 

Rebecca nods, "And I get in trouble." 

I want to keep talking, but Luna walks on out, Hazel after her bouncing excitedly. I stop by the doorframe glancing back at the mirror. It's fading away now, nothing more than a thin line of mist thinning further and further until it's gone. 

Rebecca behind me tilts her head, "Something wrong?" 

"N...No..." I hold the door open for her, closing it shut. 

PE ends, and I head to my next class with Mrs. Bird. It goes by quickly enough and the bell rings for lunch. 

The halls are a slow stream of students heading left and right. Keeping to myself, I keep an eye out for my friends. Pushing open wide double doors, there's a blast of noise and smells assaulting me from every direction. Unlike the movies and books I read, there aren't any regular clicks such as nerds, jocks, dor,s popular, or poor. Most of the groups are a mingle of children, yes with similar interests, but from all varying backgrounds. There isn't food flying in the air, or bullying occurring. It's loud yes, but rather peaceful. There are lots of kids just being kids, and teachers talking to one another not bothering actually be vigilant. Because there isn't anything bad happening. 

I scan for familiar faces. Then I see Hazel, Rebecca, and Luna all already sitting down and claiming a seat for me. I wave both arms shouting their names. They see me shouting back and waving me over. I sit between Luna and Hazel. 

With glutinous glee, I zip open my bag pulling out the ham sandwich Dad made. It has tomatoes, lettuce, onions, mayo, cheese, and a sprinkle of pepper. There's a small little vanilla yogurt cup, and a large red apple rolling around the table until Luna catches it and places it by my sandwich. 

Luna has a sandwich as well, with several slices of fruit. Hazel, her daddy's cooking from yesterday. Which smells divine. Hazel notices, smirking and flaunting her wealth. Rebecca has... only a single slice of mango and an apple. Hazel glances over at her frowning. We all do... we worry a lot about Rebecca. 

Hazel wraps her arm over Rebecca teasing and shoving her food at her, "Smell that! Daddy's homemade chili. And guess what he made some for you too and if ya don't eat it. I'll tattle on you, and daddy will walk on over to your home and bring you some more. You know he's prideful with his chili." As she says, she has a small container. "Just take a bite will ya." 

Rebecca rolls her eyes but does take a bite. Nothing more, but it's good enough. 

Luna has that look in her eyes again, I nudge her. And she straightens a touch startled, she turns to me smiling faintly. "I'm ok my Aan, just thinking."

I bite my lip. I want to ask so many questions, but can she answer them? Does she have the answers? 

A girl behind Luna knocks the chair to the side. Luna falls, gasping. I don't think, I leap forward grab her, and fall hard onto the ground jarring my shoulders. Luna however is safe and sound.  

Hazel leaps upwards growling, "Hey!" 

The girl looms over me and Luna. I recognized her, she is possibly the richest kid in the school with her father and mother a part of the school board. She is a beautiful teenager with perfect straight pale brown hair and lashes over slightly blue eyes. Her pale skin has been tanned over the summer and I can see the lines around her neck where she had her bathing suit. She's wearing a designer shirt and pants with a purse swinging from her side. 

She sneers, "I'm sorry. I tripped, I thought as a psycho you'd be able to tell I'd accidentally pump right into you." My apple that has fallen from the table bumps her foot. She frowns, kicking it away from her. 

Hazel scowls, "Luna is not a psycho! She's a psychic, and who in the world would be able to predict your asshole move!" 

Bridget doesn't even glance at Hazel. Her pale eyes are strictly on Luna. I have no idea what happened between the two of them, but Bridget has always tormented Luna since kindergarten.

Teachers do nothing, none of them wishing to lose their job by addressing Bridget. She has gotten a few fired for daring to tell her to stop. but that also means they won't do anything about what we say as long as we don't physically assault her. Bridget can't comment without admitting to bullying us, and the teachers won't acknowledge the problems at hand. it's like we are in this invisible little bubble everyone placed us into, not by our choice but by the situation placed on us.

Hazel curls up her fists, taking a step forward. Rebecca stops her, whispering, "Don't. It's not worth it."

Luna tightens, her eyes going blank before she blinks several times. It's unsettling... when I watch her it's like I see red threads around her waiving and weaving in and out of existence. I rub my eyes and they fade away. Luna sits up, her unblinking eyes steady on Bridget. Her voice is soft as a breeze. "Bridget..." Bridget glares her full attention pinned onto Luna. "My passing will come true soon. All your evil-doing will come back onto you unless you repent. If you do not, your death will be particularly gruesome. You have less than five months to live."   

Bridget rears anger seething from her pores. "I didn't ask for a seering you fucking psycho." She takes a step forward-leaning down. I hold Luna tight, feeling the hairs on the back of my neck lift up. There's something off about Bridget. Usually, she'd leave by now, but she's being extra venomous today. 

She reaches down, and I pull Luna away, Hazel stepping between us and her. "Are you done being a bitch? Leave us!" 

Bridget growls, actually biting her lips and drawing blood. "I wasn't talking to you."

I stand, "Please... we are at school. Bridget, look around you." 

She does, her eyes scanning. She snarls stepping back, "I'll be back. Psycho..." With a flip of her hair, she vanishes into the hallway crowd. The once loud lunchroom is quiet and hushed slowly, regaining in volume. 

As I watch her leave, a pit of cold sprouts in my belly. Something has attached itself to her. No, it's more like growing from her. A pure snow-white thing, seeping from her neck and oozing down her back and wrapping around her chest. It glows like a miniature sun, with dark ruby-red eyes that float along its body. Sharp white fangs lightly press into her throat drawing blood. 

No... no, no no! It can't be, I can't... I can't be seeing them gain! I gasp, covering my mouth, tears falling. I'm about to make a noise when Luna turns and abruptly covers my cheeks with both her hands. She leans into my ears, "Don't say anything. It will kill you." 

Choking it back in, I look down and away from the thing. 

Hazel fumes running her mouth for a bit before being reeled in by Rebecca. it takes us a bit to get the table back from the floor and sit down. My apple has been bruised and broken in several places, no longer good to eat unless I want gum and shoe dirt in my mouth. 

Hazel plucks my apple and tosses it into the trash can to get it right through the middle. She pumps her arms, "Goal!" 

Rebecca sighs, "Hasn't Bridget been a touch ruder than before? She's never done that, only harassed and left. Never anything physical like today." She shivers, "What are we to do if she actually does throw a punch next time?!"

Hazel hisses low, "We fight back then! Punch her right in the face."

"And have all our families sued to the ground?"

Luna quietly sips her drink, "That will not come to pass."

Rebecca frowns, "Really?"

Luna pats her back, "Really." 

Hazel snarkily states, "She's on her period isn't she."

I let out a snort, unable to stop the smile stretching over my face. Rebecca tried and failed to hide her smile with a huffy tone, and Luna just shakes her head amused. 

Taking bites of my lunch my thoughts tumble about my mind trying to clean themselves but unable to kick off the dirt that clings to them. My stomach sours and I become queasy. I'm developing a massive migraine, that pushes on top of me like a boulder. First Silver trees, than blood on my neck. And now those creature things... the Monsters. I glance over to Luna. What does she mean Bridget only has five months to live... 

[To be continoued]