The Secret Room In My School

Beaten Against Choice

Maya’s POV

“What’s going on?” I asked, my chest heaving.

The words came out louder than I intended.

Silence stretched between us.

Kai didn’t even turn to face me.

His eyes were on the scattered papers on the table. “You shouldn’t be here,” he said coldly.

“You still haven’t answered me.”

I took a step closer.

“People are disappearing and you expect me to stay away from a building filled with their faces?” I narrowed my eyes.

Kai finally looked at me.

“One hour,” he said, meeting my gaze steadily.

“What?” I asked.

“Just one hour and you leave it alone.”

“You’re joking,” I snapped quietly. “You expect me to walk away right after seeing my name here?”

He nodded, his expression unreadable.

“Exactly,” he said. “That’s why you need to stay away from it all.”

I stared at him.

His gaze softened briefly.

He was warning me about something and I needed to know what it was about.

Before I could ask anything else, he turned slightly away. “You must not come back here.”

Then the door slammed shut behind me.

***

You must not come back here.

I kept replaying his words in my head.

At Blackthorn Academy, the hallway was always crowded between classes.

I kept my head down as I walked into Biology class.

I just needed to survive the day.

“Pair up,” the teacher announced without looking up from her iPad.

“Lab partners, quickly.”

Students began pairing off, hurrying to pair up with their friends. I stayed where I was. No one came toward me.

A few minutes passed, yet I was alone with no partner.

Before I could think much about it, I stood up and went towards him.

Kai Blackwood.

He was sitting beside the window, arms folded like he wanted to be somewhere else other than here.

“Will you be my partner?” I asked quietly.

The students nearby stopped talking, eyes focused on us.

Kai looked up at me, expression unreadable.

“No,” he said.

I clenched my fists so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

I nodded quickly. “Okay.”

I nodded quickly and hurried to my seat.

Before I could take another step—

“Sit.”

His voice stopped me.

“What?” I turned back slowly.

“Sit down,” he repeated.

I sat slowly; as I did I felt eyes on me.

Everyone was looking at me now.

Their whispers were low, yet I could hear them clearly.

“Why did he tell her to sit there?”

“But Kai Blackwood doesn’t talk to anyone… Why did he ask her to sit?”

A girl behind me laughed softly, whatever was said was definitely funny. I didn’t hear it.

I immediately regretted sitting here. I’d draw attention to myself—exactly what I don’t need right now.

***

Kai didn’t speak to me all through the class.

His eyes were on Tamara.

She laughed too loudly at something one of her minions said, flipping her hair like all eyes were on her.

His gaze lingered on her longer than normal and it piqued my curiosity.

***

The bell rang and school was over.

I grabbed my bag, I’d waited for this moment all day.

“Look who it is.”

It was Tamara..

I stopped walking.

“Do you think you’re special now because Kai talked to you?” She asked softly.

“Can’t you answer me?”

“I didn’t —” I started.

A hand grabbed my wrist hard.

Pain shot up my arm causing my books to fall straight onto the ground.

They laughed at me.

Then Tamara stepped closer.

“Scholarship kids really don’t know their place and it is my duty to show them.” She said.

I swallowed hard and bent down to pick up my things.

Damn!

A shoe stepped on my hand.

Pain flashed through my fingers.

“Oops,” the girl said unapologetically.

“Let’s go,” Tamara ordered, already bored.

I stood up and smoothed my dress.

***

My mother came home late as always.

I was upstairs in my room.

“Maya?” She called from downstairs.

“I’m here,” I answered softly.

That was usually all we said to each other on nights like this.

Work had drained her and she was so tired.

She didn’t come upstairs to check on me.

My wrist still hurt.

I winced as I moved my fingers, my wrist still ached.

I lay in bed staring at the ceiling.

Hopefully, tomorrow would be better.

My phone buzzed.

I frowned, I rarely got texts.

It was from an unknown number.

My chest tightened slowly as I unlocked it.

Unknown: Hey

I stared at it for a moment, then I typed back.

Me: Who is this?

Unknown: It’s me

Who texts someone just to say “Hey” without even saying who they are?

I was in no mood for some stupid prank.

Just as I was about to drop the phone, another message came in.

Unknown: Kai

My body went still as my heart thumped a little louder.

I sat upright as I held my phone a little bit tighter.

Me: How did you get my number?

Kai: That doesn't matter.

Of course it did. Why—

Another message appeared.

Kai: I know who is next.