Chapter 2 A New Beginning

Meet Emily, a depressed human girl struggling to cope with school and her strained relationship with her mother.

She had a frown on her face which she had been carrying about ever since her dad left.

School had been a terrible experience for her, especially because of her antisocial nature and poor academic record – she had even failed Geography, a subject that once sparked her interest.

Her mother had suggested homeschooling on multiple occasions, but she consistently rejected the idea.

|Emily's POV|

My first day at senior high was a whirlwind of emotions. As a newcomer, I was anxious about starting afresh. My moving back to Florida, to the house my mom and I had left behind ten years ago, stirred up a mix of feelings.

I was excited too. But the real reason for my eagerness was harder to pinpoint. Was it the carefree summer days still lingering in my mind? Or the thrill of going back to my old school?

Perhaps it was a combination of both. But if I'm being honest, it was mostly because of Louis – my childhood crush.

We had been inseparable back in the day, with everyone assuming we were a couple.

Our first meeting at the school-organised Halloween night still felt like a romantic scene playing right before me. And I played a role, the best one. And Louis was my Prince Charming.

'Emily Winter?' A voice called.

I shivered, then peeked narrowly at the owner of that voice – Louis. His piercing blue eyes sparkled as he approached me.

'Emily!' He exclaimed, opening his arms for a hug.

Louis was more than just a friend; he was my only true friend, both in and out of school.

Time had barely changed him – he still had that charming smile and captivating presence. The only difference was that he had become wealthy and popular.

My feelings for him, however, remained unchanged. I couldn't deny the truth: I was still in love with him.

But after realizing he didn't reciprocate my emotions, I had made a conscious decision to move on. Or at least, I tried to.

The truth was, I couldn't get rid of my feelings, no matter how hard I tried, and no matter how much I hated him for not loving me back. And that realization filled me with frustration and self-hate.

6:30 am. School again.

Ugh, Thursdays were the worst.

I was already running late, and to make matters worse, I got stuck in the chaotic hallway traffic between classes.

My locker seemed to be conspiring against me, refusing to open no matter how hard I tried.

And the homework load? It was overwhelming – a million pages of math problems and essays due tomorrow. How was I supposed to get it all done?

I had attempted to join the swimming team, but it was a total disaster. Then, I joined the basketball club after the girls who used to bully me got kicked out.

As I stood on the court, Louis strolled up to me, a basketball tucked under his arm.

'Hey, cutie,' He said with a charming smile, tossing the ball in my direction.

I laughed nervously. 'What?'

Louis' frown deepened. 'I see you've lost your spark.'

I tossed the ball back, trying to appear nonchalant. 'I don't feel like it, maybe next time.'

Louis' grin returned, and he teased, 'Hey, don't worry. You can join the cheerleading squad, trade in your sneakers for some spirit fingers. Who needs to dribble when you can shake your pom-poms?'

A loud, wheezing laugh burst from Louis, making me glance up in surprise.

I caught the stifled giggles from the girls nearby, and my brows furrowed in annoyance. 'It's not funny!'

It was Monday, the longest day of the week.

School was over.

And I couldn't wait to escape.

I quickly grabbed my hoodie from Clinton's shoulder – Louis' best friend, who was as annoying as he was playful.

Clinton had a peculiar habit of sharing bizarre anecdotes, which often left me bewildered.

As I got home, I grumbled to myself, frustrated that Mom wasn't home yet. The emptiness and silence of the house only increased my hunger and exhaustion.

Feeling suffocated, I decided to take a walk, seeking refuge from the place that constantly reminded me of my worthlessness.

As I stepped out into the crisp evening air, I wondered, 'Where will I go from here?'

The question echoed in my mind like a mantra.

My feet carried me to the park, a place that held a special place in my heart. It was where Dad would take me every weekend after basketball practice.

He'd coach me, encourage me, and reward me with ice cream when I did well. Those were the happiest moments of my life.

I settled into our favorite chair, and as I sat there, memories came flooding back. I could almost feel Dad's presence around me, and the sense of peace and tranquility that filled my heart was overwhelming.

Time stood still as I relived those cherished moments.

The sound of my watch beeping brought me back to reality – 4:15. I hastily gathered my belongings and headed home.

Later that night, I woke up to the horrendous feeling of Louis' muscular arms wrapped around my waist on my mini bed.

'Louis?' I asked in confusion.

He smirked, 'Surprised to see me?'

I was quiet.

He stepped back, poured himself a glass of wine, and downed it in one swift gulp.

His eyebrows arched upward, and a sly grin spread across his face. He refilled his glass and headed to the restroom.

'How did you get in here?' I demanded.

He ignored me.

I quickly followed him, snatching the glass from his hand. Then I quivered with fear.

'Mom?' I called out.

But Louis' attention was fixed on something else.

I turned to see my mom lying unconscious on the floor, and Louis' mouth dripping with blood. His hands and chest smeared all over with it.

'Mom!!!' I screamed, with tears streaming down my face.

I was paralyzed, unable to move or help my mom. In desperation, I grabbed a mop, attempting to strike Louis with it. But he quickly caught it.

He turned to face me.

His skin was deathly pale, his eyes a haunting red, bulging from their sockets. His face twisted into a deadly grimace.

'Get away from my mom!' I shrieked, hurling the glass at his head. It shattered, leaving a gruesome fleshy scar on his forehead.