Lilliana's POV
The scrub of my sneakers against the concrete is a sound I'm very familiar with, so is this path. Myriads of thoughts swim in the pool of my mind and I relax knowing no eyes are watching my every move.
As expected, going to the library helped. The emptiness and silence my thoughts failed to fill, a brief history of Initiation Rites helped fill the void, and my mind is brimming with thoughts, ideas and a thirst for answers I can't wait to quench.
I walk through my usual route from the Library to the Dormorium Sector, skipping slightly as a quiet hum of contentment leaves my lips.
Everything else can wait. The truth, lies, Mum, Velmora, Initiation…
All of it can wait. But right, I'm going to savour a bit of this feeling. I've been so down lately, this simple feeling of contentment is a strange thing.
The sun dips further beneath the horizon, retiring for the day and I increase my pace, mapping out my plans for tonight.
A hot, relaxing bath, snuggly pyjamas, a sweet dinner and finally a book and a cup of hot chocolate to end the day. I smile, letting out a pleased hum at my plans, suddenly more eager to get to my Dorm Complex.
Just one more corner and I'll be on the main road leading to the Dormitory Wing. I turn for the final corner, my body awash with excitement.
Huh
That's odd. Three shadowy figures loom in the distance, I pause for a moment, surprised by the strange occurrence. I've never met a single soul since I started walking this path. That would normally freak me out, but soon enough I found solace in the silence, accompanied by the rustling flowers and the wind in my hair.
After my initial surprise, I walk forward, deciding to mind my business. When they come in sight, the shiny blonde hair swaying softly in the distance catches my attention.
On a closer look, a blonde-haired girl stood in front with two other girls standing a step behind her, their faces unperceivable under the receding light.
I nod politely at them before tearing my gaze to walk away.
Ahh
I gasp at the sudden pain that assaults my senses, a sharp ache slams into my skull as I scream in shock at the abrupt turn of events.
"Where do you think you are going?" A calm, amused voice says. I turn around with excruciating pain to look at the girl pulling my hair in a fist.
"What are you doing? You're hurting me?" I whimper in pain, hot tears sliding down my cheeks. She smirks, tugging my hair down harshly.
HAAA
I scream, falling to my knees, my head throbbing like a thousand tiny needles are sinking into my skull. Without any warning, she pushes, and I fall to the cold ground, sand and dust smearing my moist cheeks.
"Whhho aarree yoooou??" I stutter, my head aching and dizzy from the pain.
Haha Haha Haha
The blonde-haired girl laughs coldly, staring down at me with burning hate in her eyes.
"Whaaat are doiingg?" I crawl back in fear when the blonde girl steps off, a menacing look on her face.
"Don't come cloose to me or I'll scream!!" I yell at her, backing away slowly as she approaches.
SLAP
"Who the hell do you think you are, huh?" The world goes silent the moment her hands land on my face, the sound deafening me to everything except the ringing sound vibrating in my ears.
SLAP
SLAP
SLAP
Tears gush down my eyes as she hits me, "Please, stop it.."
"You're hurting me, stop it!"
"Let go of me…" I beg, trying to crawl away from her.
What did I do?
Why is she hurting me? I sob in pain as I fend off her attacks to no avail.
"Answer me!!! Who do you think you are, Lilliana?" She shrieks maniacally, sending an icy feeling of dread down my spine.
"Hold her!" She screams, pointing at me.
"No, no, please leave me alone.."
"I didn't do anything, please..
"I'm sorry if I offended you, please don't hurt me…." I plead, my voice shaking with fear as two girls come to my side, pinning me down to the ground.
"You!" The blonde girl screams, her chest heaving in rage.
"You ruined everything! How dare you take my spotlight?"
"Do you know how hard I worked?"
"How much I spent to be number one."
"And a filthy thing like you just come in here and steal my thunder!"
"You attention whore!"
"I'm soorrry.." I scream as she pulls my hair into a fist.
"I didn't do anything, I'm so sorry.."
"Please let me go," I cry out in pain, snot and tears running down my cheeks at the ruthless cruelty I didn't do anything to deserve.
SLAP!
"You didn't do anything?" She yells, her spit falling on me.
"Then who did? Did I do it? Did I do it?" Clamping her hands around me, she yells, jerking me up as her nails dig into my forearm.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't want any of this."
"I never wanted to be here, I didn't ask to be trending, please forgive me…"
"I had no hand in all of this."
SLAP SLAP SLAP SLAP
A barrage of hits descends on my swollen and bruised cheeks.
"LIES! LIES! LIES!" The blonde girl screams, getting off me in anger, pulling at her hair in frustration.
"I really didn't do anything," I beg. She looks down smiling cruelly at me
"You're still telling lies."
"I know you planned it." She screams hysterically, pulling at her clothes.
"You're jealous of me, that's why!" She nods, sounding convinced by her words as her eyes moisten with unshed tears.
"Yes, you are jealous of me and you want to hurt me." She continues mumbling, and I go silent watching in horror as her body trembles with every word like she's going mad.
"Everyone is jealous of me and they want to take away my spotlight." She cries, trying to stifle her sobs, tears fall from her eyes
"Beau.." The girl that pulled my hair earlier calls out cautiously.
"You're jealous of me!" She screams and the girl shrinks back in fear.
"You want my spotlight?" She turns to the smaller girl, who shakes her head frantically in denial.
"Everyone wants my spotlight!" She says and turns to look at me, I flinch and try to crawl way, luckily, the two girls were also frightened and I managed to move about five meters back.
"So, I will use you as an example. So everyone knows what happens when they want what's mine." She smiles, wiping away her tears, approaching me with a crazed look in her eyes.
"No, don't come any closer." I scream, my throat closing up in fear at the sight of the dangerous glint in her teary eyes.
"Please stop her." I scream looking at the other two girls for help but they just move to the side, looking frightened.
I plead with my eyes, crawling away with everything in me.
"You like to walk about, to show off, right?" My heart slams into my chest with so much force as her pale, trembling hands curl around of my left leg.
"I'll break it, so she'll never take my spotlight. You'll sit down for a long time and regret wanting what's mine."Her eyes darken with bloodlust and I go stiff in fear at the madness dancing in her eyes.
"Please, let me go, I didn't do anything.." I plead, struggling to get out of her iron grip.
"Please, I'm sorr..AHAAA¬!!"
A scream of terror rips out of my throat as she stomps on my leg with her heels, the metal digging into my flesh as she continues with a wild thrill at my pain.
"You'll pay for stealing my spotlight." She smiles chillingly looking down at the pain marring my face.
I scream and scream as she continues her onslaught, a warm liquid trickling down my legs into the ground as the metallic smell of my blood fills the air.
"Please, stop it." I say softly, voice going quieter with every stomp and my consciousness slipping away.
"I didn't do it." I sob, crying into the dirt and my tears flow endlessly mixing with the pool of dirt and my blood.
"Enough." A familiar voice cuts through the silent terror and relief floods the entirety of my being at the sight of those purple hair fluttering under the early moonlight.
A sudden sleepiness tugs at me and I stop fighting knowing that she's here.
Beauty's POV
The tiny whimpers from the sobbing girl echo softly in the quiet path, I smile watching Star throw her harshly, her pretty face eating dirt.
I grin seeing fear in her eyes as I approach her, crawling backwards on her hands.
That's it. She should be scared. A shiver of excitement courses through me at the sound of her pleas.
"Whaaat are doiingg?"
"Don't come cloose to me or I'll scream!!" I frown at her soft, innocent voice, slapping hard across the face.
How dare she?
What does she think of herself?
'How dare her steal what's mine and pretend to be innocent?'
Waves of rage I thought I calmed stirs up within me and I descend on her, the pale flesh of her face swelling red with her slap.
Her broken pleas fall on deaf ears as hatred blazes within at the sight.
Weak and Pathetic, yet she dares steals my spotlight.
I don't care who are mother is,
I'll teach her a lesson.
Smiling, I get up from her body, "Hold her!" I order coldly to the two girls watching stiffly by the side, my fingers pointing at her whimpering figures and she tries to run away.
Crystal flinches at my words, while Ciara calmly walks to the crying girl. I turn my gaze to meet Crystal's hesitant one, my eyes narrow at her in warning.
Lowering her head, she joins Ciara to hold down the little thief. Walking closer, I take my time, indulging as she writhes pathetically in her hold.
Looking so weak and innocent. A spark of annoyance flares in my eyes, innocent?
It's all her fault, she ruined everything.
I roar in anger seeing her pretend to be the victim here.
I'm the victim here!!
She ruined all my efforts.
"YOU!" I roar, hatred gushing in every word as my spit drizzles down her blotched face..
"You ruined everything! How dare you take my spotlight?"
"Do you know how hard I worked?"
"How much I spent to be number one."
"And a filthy thing like you just come in here and steal my thunder!"
"You attention whore!"
"I'm soorrry.." She apologise weakly and I grab the lush locks of hair curling it as I pulled down.
Always saying sorry.
Will her sorry give me back my spotlight she stole from me?
Will sorry compensate me for the resources I lost?
"I didn't do anything, I'm so sorry.." My grip on her loosens from her hair and I look at her wailing profusely.
A familiar itch burns my skin, my hands clenching into a fist.
'She didn't do it.' My expression distorts into something frightening as bloodlust fills my eyes.
Is she calling me a liar?
Does she think I'm throwing a tantrum?
If it isn't her fault, then who's fault, is it? My body trembles at the irrational thoughts that swarm my minds and I slap her blinking to rein in the madness erupting in my bloodstream
Is it my fault?
No, she's lying?
She's not just a thief, she's a liar.
I scream, the itch in my skin intensifies into a fire across my skin.
She's lying, she's jealous of me, she wants my spotligh.." I cry out loud tears streaking down my face as I pull my hair harshly to quieten the voices in my head.
Yes, she's jealous of me.
She stole my spotlight.
She tried to hurt me.
She's just like her…
Everyone is jealous of me, they want to hurt me.
I nod in understanding, turning to stare at her, her truth dawning on me.
"Beau," The only friend I have calls and I stare with blurry eyes.
"You're jealous of me?" I yell, calming down when she backs away in fear.
'Not jealous, she's scared of me.' I say happily, the small smile disappears when I stare at the smaller girl observing me calmly by the other side. A jolt of fear spikes through me, making me growl defensively at her.
"You want my spotlight?" I ask, eyes wild with panic and rage. Ciara pales at my attention, shaking her nod fiercely in denial.
LIES. They are all lying.
Everyone is jealous of me..
Everyone wants my spotlight.
I have to stop them from taking what's mine.
'I've to do something' The sniffles of the little thief draws my attention as she tries to run away.
No, she can't run away, I need to clip her wings
I'll make her a scapegoat.
I grin watching her cry for help, as I stalk closer to her.
She's like fluttering right?
She's like running around to steal my spotlight.
An eerie gleam of excitement settles in my eyes as I decide, 'I'll break her legs, clip her wings, then I'll see how she tries to take what's mine again.'
Excited, I hasten my steps holding her down and I stomp on her right leg, digging the metal material into her snowy white skin as blood paints them crimson.
The sight of blood excites me and I stomp much harder and faster settling into a melodic rhythm, the blissful sound of her bone cracking as her cries grow faint.
THUMP
THUMP
Fireworks lit up the sky and I smile intoxicated on my victory
Ding!
[ The First Ever Pre-Initiation Quest has been fulfilled ]
Appears in the dome-like structure in the sky, shining for miles across all of Velmora.
My spotlight is here!
[ Congratulations, Initiate Beauty Iris for fulfilling the Limited-Time Quest ]
[ Congratulations for understanding the hint and executing it safely ]
[ All rewards have been earned. ]
[ Great attention to detail was made, two spins of the Wheel of Fortune have been granted. ]
[ Would you like to reveal your identity, Initiate? ]
Rows of notifications fill my sight and my smile widens as I continue my onslaught on the little butterfly.
"Enough." A cold voice speaks calmly, and I freeze, shocked.
Just who dares to ruin my celebration? I turn around in anger. My body locks in shock on seeing who was before me.
I gulp, an icy chill running down my stiff spine in fear at the sight .
The half-blooded witch of the Sills.