9 Ravenous (2/2)

”…'M..o..ay” Dale was trying to said with shattered lips. His fingers that touched the swollen face bounced back as if met by hot melt lava. A few drop of tears escaped my eyes without knowing seeing him.

”Oh my Satan! Leigh!” Dylan appeared at that instant.

This is the worst! Why does he have to show up now? When I cry? Oh, bother!

I rubbed the tears out quickly, reasserting my previous self. ”I'm alright. I'm taking Dale to the infirmary.”

”Then, I'll go with you!”

We were in silence until the nurse finished with Dale's wound. She gave him two more Paracetamol and two more anti-septic, and asked him to lie down in the infirmary for a few hours. So I left with Dylan.

”I'm sorry I was late.” Dylan said suddenly. ”I couldn't help Cartner.”

”That's alright.” It was good Conner was the one who saved us. Or I would have to pay the demon the price of my life!

The first hour had already ended. Students flowed out of the square doors in stream. Adam, Rose, Jaden and their classmates just came in by the front gate, back from PE, sweating in their white PE shirt. Dylan walking with me caught all their attention. They murmured and stared. Then, the crowd parted way for the Queen and her friends to come up front. They all dressed in theme today. ”Nurse”, I thought, because all the skirts were tight and white. Natalie shook the fold out of her short skirt and stood with one hand rested on her hip.

White… But so many people dressed in white today.

”What do you think you're doing hanging onto Dylan?”

That voice--it's definitely her. Well, it could be her.

Natalie went on saying. ”You can't keep Dylan to yourself! You have nothing to match him! I'm a lot prettier than you!”

What the?--It must be her!

The Queen nudged Dylan intentionally and gave him a sugar-coated eyes before advancing on to me. Her sugar-coated lapsed into X-Men's Cyclops' laser beam. Argh! Somebody put a sunglasses on her!

She shoved my elbow and said nastier things, something like I made myself look pitiful and tried to lure Dylan with my painting skill. Nonsense! There were too many, too dirty, and too stupid to remember or even listen. Natalie's glossy lips flapped open and close with such speed. It blurred my concentration. For god sake! Are you crazy! Don't you have better things to do?

I could only scream to myself. So pissed was I that the Queen's presence and the crowd could no longer threaten me. I was going to have a go at her. I would fight until one of us die if that's what she wanted.

”That's enough Natty.” Dylan interjected unexpectedly. My tongue was held by what he said next. ”I help Leigh because she's my friend too. And I don't like it that you bully her.”

The Queen was taken aback. I, too. But I regained myself first and used my arm to keep Dylan out of me and the Queen. ”I can deal with this.” I said defiantly.

”No.” Dylan said. ”I won't just stan…”

I inserted trying not to let him spoke anymore. ”It's ok. I--”

”No, it's not.”

”Yes, believe me. The Q--Natalie and I are good friends.”

”No, we're not!” The Queen squeaked, curling her upper lip in disdain.

God! Why can't you just get along? I thought feeling rather fed up.

”Just let me talk to Natty, Leigh. I believe she will understand.” Dylan said again. ”Let me help…”

That's the thing I fear! ”No! Don't help me…”

Dylan grabbed me and covered my mouth shut with his big hand. I looked at him in alarm, so did the Queen and other people, as he dragged me away out of the exit, into the parking lot. He let me go there.

”What do you think you're doing--” I started to complain.

”It's not good like this Leigh.” Said Dylan. ”Natty won't let you go. You should go home today.”

I didn't get to say anything else when he called Stix and friends, and the four ravens came gliding down. They pecked my back forcing me to move forward and walked out of the school. As soon as Dylan was out of sight, I said. ”Okay, okay. That's enough! Let it go Stix!”

So Stix stopped pecking but his friends went on. I ground my teeth. ”And your friends too.”

My back ached and I swiped my hands on them to soften the pain. The ravens flew ahead and went up high into the sky.

Potentilla blossomed yellow in the small square garden of the houses. It reminded me that I should bring a bouquet of flowers for Dale. It would make him feel refreshing even with that face. The summer flowers colored the path and the atmosphere became a little more warm. The view was nice until two big muscular men narrowed the already narrow street.

”Erm excuse--”

One of them had a beard and tiny eyes while the other had sunglasses on so I didn't know the size of his eyes. The bearded guy's glances flicked from sideway to sideway, at the same time; the other observed me. I didn't know who were they and didn't get to finish what I was saying when the bearded guy yanked both of my arms behind; pressed a smelly dirty handkerchief on my mouth. Eyes wide with horror, I struggled to breathe and kicked wherever my legs got. The sunglasses guy punched me in my stomach, muted the voice muscle as I curled like a millipede. My lips mouthed 'Ow' silently. Everything was so fast and they were too strong. I didn't get a chance to react or even think! And ouch…the second punch…that hurts.

The sky was raven-ous as Stix and his friends flew in circle and cried aloud in alarm like siren. It was like something even worse was going to happen. And for the moment I was really ravenous for some luck.