Emily never expected her school to become a battlefield — but now, it felt like a war she was slowly losing.
The torment had gone far beyond whispers and ruined books. Every day, her body ached, her voice cracked from holding in screams, and her spirit dimmed — like a flame constantly smothered under cruel hands.
But nothing compared to what happened that Friday.
It started with a lie.
Vanessa passed Emily a folded note during Physics class. It simply read: "Meet me behind the gym after school. I need to talk. Alone."
Emily should have known better. But a part of her, that hopeful part that hadn't yet died, still believed maybe it would end — maybe Vanessa had had enough.
So she went.
The area behind the gym was deserted. The tall fence blocked view from the main road, and the janitor's shed was locked tight. Emily waited — then heard footsteps. Five of them.
Vanessa. Madison. Chloe. Brooke. Jason.
Her stomach turned, but before she could run, Brooke lunged forward and shoved her hard against the wall.
"What are you—" Emily began, but her words were cut off as Madison yanked her wrists behind her back and tied them with gym rope.
"Did you think we were done with you?" Vanessa said with a smile so sweet it made Emily sick. "You embarrassed me. You made me look weak."
Chloe hesitated. "Maybe we shouldn't—"
"Shut up," Brooke snapped. "She deserves this."
Then it happened fast.
They dragged her to the middle of the grass behind the shed. Brooke pulled something from her bag — a metal rod, the kind used for flagpoles. She'd heated it over a portable burner.
"No, no, no—" Emily cried, trying to twist away. Jason stood off to the side, eyes dark and unreadable, saying nothing.
"You want to cry now?" Madison taunted. "Where's all that genius brain of yours? Bet you didn't calculate this."
Brooke brought the hot rod close.
The searing pain that followed was unlike anything Emily had ever known. She screamed — loud, raw, shattering. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as the metal scorched her skin.
Her voice cracked, but no one came.
No teachers. No students. No help.
When they were done, they left her there — tied up, bruised, and burned.
It was Lucas who found her.
He'd stayed late to return a book to the library and had heard something — a faint sound, like a wounded animal. Following it, he found Emily on the ground, barely conscious, sobbing through the pain.
Within minutes, he'd untied her and called the police.
The ambulance arrived. Emily was rushed to the hospital.
Her body had second-degree burns. Her wrists were torn from the ropes. Her spirit, though, was the most broken part of her.
At the police station, she tried to speak, voice weak and hoarse. The officers looked uncomfortable. When they heard the names Vanessa Rivers, Brooke Hayes, and Jason Cole, their expressions changed.
One officer whispered to another. Then came the waiting.
And finally: "We'll look into it."
That was all they said.
Emily overheard them mention something about Vanessa's mother being a donor to the mayor's campaign. Brooke's father was a lawyer. Jason's uncle was on the school board.
By morning, the case had been quietly dismissed.
Emily lay in her hospital bed staring at the ceiling.
Burns on her skin. Scars forming on her soul.
No justice. No protection.
She was just staring at the ceiling, crying silently..