Moonbound justice

I wish that I never left home; that I had never gone out that Sunday morning. I wish I never decided to surprise him. Perhaps if I didn't my life would have still been normal.

********

LYRA

It hardly snows this early but it did. I knew Lionel, my boyfriend would love to go skating so I put together all my pocket money and bought a red one of him.

Everyone told me not to but I did anyways and that's to show my undying love for him. It funny how after all that, he crushed my heart beyond repair and slowly I became a monster. It all started with that knock on the door.

It was noon. I had wrapped myself up in a pint sweater and wore black boats. In my hand was a blue package, Lionel's roller skates placed neatly in it. I had run the door bell three times now but still he wasn't answering the door.

An uneasy exhale escaped my lips. I tried to calm my nerves but my heart kept beating faster. He was home, certainly so why wasn't he coming to see who was buzzing him.

'Is something wrong?'

I rang the door bell again; still nothing.

My feet were taping continuously on the floor; my hands fumbling with each other. I was worried, I couldn't just sit around.

I dipped a hand into my pocket and pulled out the spare key that lioncel had forgotten in my care. I opened the door, stealthily slipping into the house. I clicked the door shut and slowly, I took one step at a time, my ears up in the air like a rabbit, listening to see if I could hear anything.

At first, I heard something creaking, the sound was continuous. I followed it, my heart in my stomach as I approached. The closer I got the clearer I could hear everything else.

The creaking sound kept getting fainter and fainter, swallowed by something else. I paused for a second, a disbelieving look on my face.

'No way, it can't be.'

A shaky breath escaped my lips. My heart wrenched, pain coursing through me, I gripped my chest and gasped.

'It can't be.'

I tried to lie to myself but I couldn't. It was obvious that the sound I was hearing were whimpers and moans coming from the direction of the bedroom.

I gulped, my body trembling. I covered my mouth, tears trickling down my cheek. I bit back a yelp, balling my fist. I wouldn't believe it. Lionel would never do this to me. It's not him in that room. It's not him.

I staggered, my head felt so light, my gut twisted as I came closer and closer until I was right in front the half-open bedroom door.

My body quivered as I stood staring at Lionel's behind. He was naked and on top a bondie. Her face was covered by his back. He thrust his full length in and out of her; she dug her nails into his back moaning out of sexual tension. Lionel asked her to beg and call his name. She did.

I covered my mouth with my quivering hands, staring at them with wide eyes. My breath seized and my heart ached. My tears streamed down slowly, wetting my shirt.

I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe, my knees buckled and I slumped to the floor. It was the loud sound of my limp body colliding with the hard floor that made them stop. They were surprised at first. Lionel looked behind him, to find what made that sound, the instant his gaze fell on mine, his heart jumped. He scampered off the girl immediately, grabbing whatever he could to cover his little dick.

"Wha... wha... what the fuck are you doing here? How did you get in?" he stuttered, asking the most ridiculous questions.

I scoffed, a painful laugher threatening to escape from my mouth. My lips trembled as I muttered.

"How could you do this? How could you? I... I loved you."

He cleared his throat, his eyes trailing off and wandering around the room.

"I told you to call me whenever you are coming, now look what's happened." He huffed, not a hint of remorse in his voice.

I glared at his, with my eyes wide open. Perhaps I wasn't hearing right. Is he actually talking to me?

"Don't look at me like that. A real girlfriend satisfies her boyfriend. I asked you like a dozen times and you refused. What did you want me to do? I have needs."

'What the hell? Is that what you have to say?!" I yelled. He filched, moving away a little.

"Jeez Lyra, quite being so dramatic." He blurted out,

My head fell, my gaze fixed to the floor. I started chuckling, manically. My tears breaking my voice but I was still laughing. I knew Lionel was cold but I never thought he was a monster.

I chuckled painfully, dragging myself off the floor. I stood up but I lost my footing. I staggered back hitting the glass case he hung his baseball bat from his high school win, on. The bat fell off. I picked it up and threw a bloodshot eye at him.

"I loved you. I practically lived for you and this is what you do!" I yelled.

"I gave you my heart, and this is what you do to me," I beat myself on the chest, the pain made my ribs feel like they would crack.

"You will pay for this. I will kill you and this bitch!" I sprang towards him, swinging the baseball baton like a hysterically maniac. That coward ran immediately. The bat missed him and collided with the blondie's skull. She screamed.

I froze, breathless.

Her blood spattered all over the place. She slumped, falling of the bed. I freaked, scurrying away immediately. I stared at her still body.

My heart sank.

"Fuck. What have I done?"

"Hello. Please my girl friend just killed someone and she is going to kill me. I need help."

I turned sharply, my eyes wide, staring a Lionel.

"I'm on no 7 oak street. Hurry." He begged like he was really in danger.

"You damned son of bitch!" I yelled, rushing him. He ran, I jumped him, wrestling him down. I ripped the phone out of his hands and shattered it.

I looked back at him. He had a smug look on his face. My heart sank.

"Oh my god, how could-" my voice broke. I choked on my tears. I gasped, grabbing my chest. Oh god, it hurt so badly.

Lionel chucked. 'Have fun being a fugitive, bitch."

The telephone in the sitting room rang the third time, vibrating on the table and waiting for someone to pick it up.

I huffed, throwing down the bags in my hand. That damn caller wouldn't stop would they? I had so little time in my hands right now. If I didn't leave soon, I could never be able to.

I skipped through the passageway and into the parlour. The telephone was still singing. I yanked it up putting it close to my ear angrily.

"Dude stop calling me, whoever you are."

"Lyra, is that you?" the voice at the other end of the receiver sounded frightened. I recognized it immediately.

"Mom?"

"Oh thank goodness Lyra. I thought something bad happened to you. The cops where at the house and they were ransacking your room. Lyra did you do anything wrong?" her tone was laced with concern that made my gut twist.

"You didn't tell them where I was right?"

"Of course not."

"Good Bye." I went straight to hanging up but her sudden shriek stopped me cold.

"Lyra!!"

I huffed, shaking my head from side to side, in frustration. I really didn't have time for this, for her and her fancy worries.

"What!"

"I know we have our issues but I'm still your mother and I am worried. At least tell me you are fine?"

I let out a sharp exhaled, she was being so absurd right now I couldn't help but scoff.

"We have our issues? I hate you mom. Stop pretending you care all of a sudden. It makes me sick. You know what, never mind. You want to know if I'm safe then know this: I will survive just like I always have; no thanks to you."

I hung up, swung my bag onto my shoulders and left the house. The night train to Graham Avenue had almost loaded up full when I finally made it. I boarded immediately and hid away at the back.

I hugged myself and took slow breaths yet it didn't feel like there was any oxygen left in the world until the train began to move. I heaved, slipping down on the cabin chair, my chest rising and falling. I can't believe I actually got away with this.

Last night, I became a fugitive after I hit that blond girl. Now the cops were running around the city and hunting me like I was a killer even though I didn't kill her.

Well it didn't matter now; I was on my way to Graham College. The school was located way beyond those sucker's jurisdiction. I was a free man.

I sat up and placed my head on the table, perhaps I could get some sleep before the train stops.

'Who would think that places like Graham College would end up being a place of refuge for me?' a small smile tugged on my lips. I always thought that place would be none other than hell, to me.

The last time I saw that school was when step-brother, Jason died. Well ex-step-brother. Mother divorced his father shortly after Jason died; another one of her brilliant decisions. I scoffed.

Anyways; I stretched my hand out on the table and then folded it to seem like a pillow. I buried my face in it

I wasn't going back to Graham collage because I wanted to study: I was going back to give Jason the justice he deserved.

I heaved, snuggling nicely on the cabin chair. The bastard who killed Jason, when i find him, I will kill him.

* * * * * * * *

TWO DAYS LATER

I walked into class, like a breeze. No one noticed me as always. I perched on a seat at the back and covered my face with my ball cap. It's been two days already and the lectures aren't getting any better. I puffed, rolling my bored eyes around the room, hoping something could busy me.

"Why don't you answer it?" a voice said, from afar. The class fell into grave silence immediately. I noticed they were all looking back. I turned too; my brows furrowed.

'What the hell are they looking at? Geez have they all gone crazy, there is nothing here.'

"You in the ball cap, I'm talking to you." The voice spoke again. I turned sharply, looking up. The lecturer smiled at me. I frowned.

'What the F is her problem? I don't even know what the question is.'

I cleared my throat and stood up, taking off my hat. My thin black hair fell, scattering on my shoulders. Murmurs rippled though the room.

"Oh my god, it's a girl."

"Tomboy?"

"I bet she is gay."

I rolled my eyes, and crunched my nose. They disgusted me.

"I don't know the question, mam." I said as polite as I could.

"Well you should pay better attention then." She politely scolded me. I feigned a bright smile.

"Well the question is..." the bells rang immediately; their jingling echoed though the school halls. The students started standing up instantly. The lecturer and her question became background noise. I grinned. 'Damn I have some really good luck'.

I picked up my bag and hobbled though the seats heading for the exit but something halted me; a grab. The grip wasn't too strong but it was enough to hold me down.

I exhaled. 'What now?'

I yanked my hand off, spurning around to face this bold fool. I glared at the bitch behind me with my cold dead eyes.

"Fuck off."

She scoffed. "You don't scare me Lyra Mason. You are a freaking murderer. So this is where you came to hide."

I chucked, devilishly. I had finally recognized the girl. She was Lionel's overprotective cousin. I seriously had no time for her. I finally have a plan on how to find Jason's murderer. I had no moment to spare.

"I don't have time for trash." I spat next to her and turned around, holding my head high. I took a step forward..

Something hit me.

The force was so hard and so unexpected; I stumbled forward, almost falling on my face. It was a water bottle, I realised because i was drenched.

My lungs pumped air so fast, I was panting. My heart was in my stomach and my chest hurt.

'Oh damn, she is going to pay for this.' I sprang up and turned; before the bitch could react, I smashed my fist into her face. We both crashed into the hard classroom floor. For a moment, the world went black.

My eyes flickered, opening slowly. Everything was so blur, but I could recognise the red coloured stretcher and the medic symbol. I watched those hazy figures lift Lionel's cousin onto the stretcher. A grin tugged on my lips. That ought to teach her a lesson.

The paramedic guy came to me, lifting me to my feet. I quivered a little, my legs wobbled but eventually I regained my balance. I shook him off dismissively.

"Hey, kid we are trying to help you." One of them snapped.

"Don't touch me." I muttered, staggering away. I wasn't running from them. I was running from those paramedic symbols. My gut tightened and I felt like I was going to be sick.

Everything about those paramedics made me nostalgic. I swayed down the hallway, my heart thumping harder and harder against my chest. Suddenly the whole place began to disappear, my memories floating past my mind. The images I thought I hide so well came up before me. It was like that day all over again.

The eerie feeling that damped the room, Jason's cold dead gaze fixed on me, the metallic smell in the air, blood on my trembling hands; I shut my eyes immediately, falling against the wall.

I tried to catch my breath, but I couldn't it.

"Oh god. Damn it." I muttered, crumbling to the ground. Tears weld up in my eyes. I winced them back. I had to be strong, to be strong for Jason.

"Lyra Mason?"

I looked up immediately. There was a lanky fair boy with wavy black hair standing over me. He wore a very blank expression. Clearly someone put him up for whatever he was doing.

"They are calling you in the disciplinarian's office." He said dryly.

"Where?" I asked, sighing exhaustively while I stood up to my feet.

"Down this hallway; last door on your left. Good luck." He said unenthusiastically. He was gone seconds later.

I walked down the hallway and stopped in front of the door. I sucked in a breath and exhaled. 'Here we go.'

I knocked.

"Come in." A baritone voice spoke from behind the door. I raised a brow. That voice.

'No way, it can't be him. He can't be here'.

"Come on in, young lady." The man spoke again. My eyes grew wider. In the past, he could always tell it was me.

'Shit.'

I turned around, shutting my eyes a bit. My expression made it clear that was so no ready for this. I licked my lip and stroked my chin. Damn it, I can't go in there. I can't face him. Not looking like this and certainly after what I just did.

'Fuck he always had the worst timing in the world.'

"Come in, Lyra."

My heart skipped a beat. I froze, breathless.

'He still remembers. Oh. No.'

I rubbed my chest a little. Maybe I don't have anything to worry about, it's been years. I couldn't be able to feel that way again.

I sucked in a breath and let it out through my open mouth. I cleared my throat, huffed and muttered a word of encouragement to myself then I pushed the door open and stepped in slowly; foot first them my body. I kept my head down.

"Shut the door, chin up and look at me, Lyra."

I obeyed. I shut the door; I chinned up, held my breath and looked at him. Our eyes met.

My heart stopped, cold.

He smiled. "Hello Lyra. Long tine no see."

I gulped. My heart thumped faster and faster, perspiration gathering on my forehead. His eyes, his perfectly curved lips, his chiselled jaws, his thick muscles and his unnaturally long canine teeth which made him unnaturally handsome when he smiled; everything was still there. Better that I remember they were.

Just like back then, my heart fluttered and my face flustered. He quietly gestured to a seat opposite him. I took the one that didn't face him directly. He watched me with those devil eyes. They made my body behave naughty. And I hated that so much.

"To be honest, I was very surprised to hear you were here. I didn't expect you to come back here." He started off firm and professional but half way through, his voice softened and shifted to personal. Well everything we had was personal.

"I should be saying those words not you." I murmured.

"What happened back there? You were never the type to be aggressive." He remarked. I scoffed.

"You know nothing about me. Not anymore."

He just stared at me for god knows how long. His eyes were burrowing into my soul and it made me uncomfortable. He sighed and looked away for a second, picking up a file and some forms.

"As the school disciplinarian protocol imposes on me the job of asking you some questions and recording your reply."

"Then get on with it already. I have punishment to serve." I leaned back on the seat and puffed up the strand of hair that kept falling on my face.

He looked down on the paper he was holding. It was only for a split second but the way he looked, completely stolen by the words etched on that report, his glasses falling to the tip of his Greek nose and his shirt losing two buttons; it was almost ecstatic.

He looked like something AI images created. I pouted; I always wondered how someone could be so handsome.

He raised his face, I threw my eyes elsewhere. I didn't want him to know that I was staring.

"Alright," He started slowly. "Let's start with something simple. What is your name?" he pressed a recorder on and placed it in the middle of his table.

"I'm Lyra. Lyra mason." I said.

"Lyra, why did you enrol into Graham College?"

"I'm not answering that." I turned away immediately.

"Lyra, this is protocol."

"Fuck protocol, I AM NOT ANSWERING THAT." I spelled it out for him, angrily.

He sighed. "Let's try this again."

"Are you here to study and become successful?" he rephrased the question. I tilted my head slowly, my eyes fixed on his.

"Everything isn't an interrogatory question, Lyra."

My eyes fell to my hands. I was slightly embarrassed. It was a simple question, why did I think the school wanted to know about Jason? Of course they didn't. They probably don't even renumber.

"Yes I am."

"Alright. Now tell me why did you attack Miss Kathy?"

"Self defence. She tried to crack my skull open with a water bottle."

"Isn't that a little exaggerative?"

"I don't know; let's hit you with a water-packed bottle and see."

He looked away, wrote something down and then returned his gaze to me. "You should have reported. Fighting or retaliation isn't allowed. You are suspended for a day. I suggest you use-"

I pushed the chair back, stood up and walked towards the door.

"Little Lyra."

I halted my hand on the door handle. That nickname, how dare he call me that?

"When I was still your step father, you weren't like this. What happened to you?"

I let out a deep exhale.

"Nothing you could ever imagine."