Born With His Tattoo

The Day She Walks

Third POV

A sigh escaped her lips before she could toss the books she was holding onto the desk in the middle of the room. She waited patiently for the bell to ring only to realize she still had a good three minutes. Throughout the years, Evangeline had come to hate this classroom, she claimed that time always seemed to slow down in it, I’m blaming the witches she thought.

You might be wondering where this is going. Okay so in this world humans are no longer the only creatures. They aren’t sure about who else is on this planet with them, but they at least know about the beasts and vampires. If you ask Evangeline, we have them all, mermaids, fairies, witches, and the list goes on. 

Humans and these vampires and beasts to which we refer to as the supernatural is at never-ending war. A war that won’t start nor end, we are stuck in this fear of the supernatural.

The so-called unwritten agreement that only a few followed had flaws. It didn’t stop hunters from hunting, and the sacred from being scared. 

What does this have to do with her? Well, ever since she was born, she was never liked by others. She was never the one who was picked first in gym class and seemed to always play by herself at recess. She was never invited to birthday parties and she would be known as the strange kid who never had any. Evangeline is what they like to call an outcast, and she, over time, have come to terms with that. 

Since she has never fit in, it wasn’t a shocker that she didn’t feel the same way humans did. Now, five years after finding out about them, schools seem to base their requirements around them. Forcing them each year to learn about the kinds of ‘dangers’ out in the real world instead of preparing them for the future. She was just grateful that this was my last year sitting through these classes before college.  The echo of giggles dragged her out of her thoughts and back into the classroom filled with the same classmates she had since she started high school. 

“Evangeline James,” The teacher spoke making an entrance placing her books on the desk, “Do I need to call the principle before I start class?”

“Let me think about it for a few minutes,” Evangeline replied as she got off to a great start already.

A simple eye-rolled was the answer Evangeline received before the teacher continued her exhausting lesson like she does each day. ‘You would figure that eventually, they would get bored with teaching the same information. There  only so many details about these creatures anyways.’ 

Evangeline quickly got comfortable before staring at the beautiful green trees freshly out of winter. It was barely spring but felt more like fall given that this was Washington after all. But she also had fifty four minutes and twelve seconds to kill because learning was not an option.

“Evangeline, would you like to explain to the class why the supernatural is dangerous?” Silence filled the air as they waited on an answer that she wouldn’t give. “Does anyone want to help her out?”

“How about I answer for myself. Let me find a lie really quick, oh wait how about the truth? The supernatural is not dangerous.” 

“Not dangerous?” The teacher dropped the marker onto the floor before spinning around, “Have you seen what they can do?” 

“Yes, but even each and every human is capable of even the worst crimes when in danger.”

“What is your problem, James?” A classic jock, Nate, questioned leaning on his desk.  Evangeline started beating her head on the table but stopped after she realized that it wouldn’t help. He was still here, and nothing she did would change that. 

‘I mean, I could always kill him. Then again, I run the chance of ending up in jail. Meaning I would have to make a friend on the outside to bail me out after I get caught. Then again, that seems like too much work. Maybe he’s not worth it.’ Evangeline continued to wonder.  

“Well Anderson, you are my problem.” Evangeline delivered snapping, she was tired of him and he just said five words. It’s going to be a long day. You know what,  I might actually bury him in the woods, or would that be too obvious? I mean the humans wouldn’t search for him. If the beasts found him, they would just cook him. She quickly snapped out of her thoughts and decided to take this a step further. The kids, unsure of what to do, simply listened in without making a peep.

“This is a joke, I’m sick and tired of hearing about beasts and vampires being monsters. Like the fact that we should fear them is just bullcrap. I’m sorry that you aren’t the only creature on the plant anymore. There is no reason for it, just suck it up already!” 

Evangeline finished sitting back in her chair ready for the room to explode. Sure enough, she lit the fire and the teacher reacted. 

“Well maybe you should meet one, then you’ll change your mind. We have a reason to fear them.” 

The teacher started crossing her arms over her chest, doing the only thing she was good at, glaring at me. Her brown eyes were filled with anger like they were every time they landed on me. Her brown hair was pulled back in a bun, as you could start to see her grey hair finally starting to show. 

“Have you ever met one?” Silence filled the air proving her point once again like it does every day, “Which proves my point, this whole mess is a joke. It was probably set up by the government to keep us freaking humans out of the woods.”

“Alright let’s go with this theory, Evangeline. Why would the government make up a story about the supernatural just to keep us out of the woods?” 

Nate questioned. For once she could tell he had some brain in that big head of his. 

“I don’t know, ever hear of deforestation? The government probably got sick and tired of us trying to cut off our air supply so they probably made it up so we won’t step foot into the woods ever again. We would have to find somewhere else to raise our cattle and plant our farms.” Evangeline finished up her current theory before quickly thinking of another one. 

“Or maybe the supernatural sent you here to lead us back into the woods just so they could kill us all or eat us. Think about it, you’re the one who was born with a tattoo on her neck. Maybe your plan was to kill us all along.” Nate suggested as I laughed. 

“Hey no Mr. Anderson,” Evangeline spoke out making sure she had Nate’s attention before pointing at herself and carrying on,” only I come up with conspiracy theories. But all this time, I thought you were just a pretty boy but maybe you can actually think. Anyways my point proves that this is just all a big joke.” She added on. The teacher looked as if she was interested in what Evangeline had to say. 

“Maybe the teachers were the supernatural that came here to convince us that their kind was dangerous. Maybe the teachers acted like humans all along, just to get close to our kind and brainwash us. Think about it, we are the next generation meaning that we would teach our kids the same way. Within three generations, you have your problem solved. ” 

She stated causing the teacher to roll her eyes at me. With that, she lost the teacher once again. “Oops” She thought, Maybe I could get it back but did I really want too?

“Haven’t we told you before. You let your imagination run wild and it’ll cause problems. There is something known as too much freedom. You have too much freedom and it’ll cause too many issues. You’ll get yourself killed with it.” Evangeline watched and listened as she talked. She, for once, paid attention to what she had to say. 

“Yeah time and time again but my theories could be true. Who knows?” Evangeline pointed out, still determined to win this. 

“I know.” The teacher snapped, right about now she was doing everything but pulling her hair out. 

“Yeah, that seems like something a beast would say.” 

“I’m not a beast.” She sighed, picking up the marker that she dropped a while ago. 

“Fine, a vampire? You look like a vampire.” Evangeline stated as the teacher slammed her hand down on the desk, glaring at her. Didn’t I tell you before? She hated Evangeline with every ounce of her body.

“Yup theory confirmed. Vampires tend to have short tempers.” Evangeline conutined snapping her fingers pointing them at the teacher. The teacher sighed before walking over to the phone.

 “You can’t call the principle, he got tired of you calling about me so he gave up.” Ms. smartie over there pointed out, laughing at her defect. “So you are kind of stuck with me.” 

“It’s only twenty minutes, Rose. You can survive for twenty minutes.” She mumbled out loud slamming her head into the wall. 

“And after school.” Nate pointed out. The teacher's head snapped towards Evangeline, her eyes were wider than the room. 

“What?” She questioned, fearing the worst. 

“Remember you gave me detention for the rest of the year and you kinda are the detention teacher.” 

“No! I quit, you can just go home. I don’t want you here anymore.” The teacher spoke holding the annoyed tears back.

“Nah, I kinda want to be here.” Evangeline continued to taunt a little more, seeing how far she can go before the teacher breaks. 

“Don’t you have something to do after school anyway?” The teacher questioned while Evangeline thought about it for a few moments.

“Nothing that can’t wait.” 

“Miss. Can we get back to the lesson, you said we had a test tomorrow over this.” A kid who Evangeline never talked to, spoke. The teacher took a deep breath in before nodding.

“Their names are Alpha Taylor, the vampire king is still unknown to this day. They have lived for god knows how long and can kill anyone.” The teacher went to explain. 

“You fear them because we don’t know of a way to kill them?” Evangeline question, interrupting the teacher once again by sitting up in her seat wanting to so-called learn. 

“Well yes, they’re able to kill and they can’t be killed.” The teacher agreed, a slight smile came to her face once she thought Evangeline, of all people, wanted to learn something for once. 

“No, trust me everything can be killed.” Evangeline scuffed.

“Evangeline, it’s not possible.” The teacher explained.

“Bombs, the way everyone could be killed!” Nate shouted as a few laughs sounded through the classroom while he earned several glares.

“Not helping, Nate.” The teacher snapped.

“Okay, humans kill. In fact, we do an amazing job at that. What's the difference? A beast can shift into a wolf and a vampire can drink blood and live forever? Humans. How are we different? Last time I checked, humans kill each other too. The supernatural just kills in a different way than humans. Change is happening in this world and fear gets you nowhere.”

 I finally found the dots, but other humans probably would never figure it out. 

“Alright Evangeline, you say fear is happening to this world. Yes but beasts and vampires can’t just pop up out of nowhere.” The teacher pointed out, she started to draw a messed up picture on the board, one I didn’t care about. 

“Maybe the supernatural has been around forever, they just laid low until now.” Nate agreed with me, I turned around. The shock was an understatement, he actually was on my side. 

“That’s impossible.” The teacher snapped, glaring at Nate instead of me. 

“Fine. God got bored.” I suggested earning the glares from almost everyone in the room. 

“Okay freak you can’t say that.” You see this is why I hate Nate. He changes sides quicker than I can change my hair. 

“I’m the freak here?”

“Yeah, you’re the girl born with the tattoo.”

“You’re the boy born with the ugly soul, what’s the difference?” 

“At least my parents didn’t leave me for drugs.” Nate added.

“Go to hell, Nate.” 

“The point is, the supernatural can kill us.” The teacher again joined herself in the conversation.

“So?” Evangeline stated, still not understanding why the humans were making a big deal out of these people. “Give me a knife I’ll kill Nate right here, right now.” 

Nate quickly screamed jumping out of his seat and running to the corner. If I really wanted too I could just corner him, but deciding to be nice she simply rolled her eyes before facing a teacher who had steam coming out of her ears. 

“I quit, just go to the office now!” The teacher shouted pulling towards the door. She looked between the door and the teacher before making another comment to tick people off.

“I would, but the office doesn’t like me. Okay now back to my point. We don’t know the whole earth, there could be mermaids for all we know.” 

“There aren't any mermaids.” She spoke, glaring. She probably should get her eyes fixed if she glares this much at her. 

“How do you know?” The simple question floated around the room as everyone stayed silent waiting for a reply from none other than the teacher. You know, Evangeline wondered if this is what the president goes through on a daily basis. 

“I have lived for forty-six years. There are no mermaids. If they were alive, I would have heard them by now.” She argued. 

“So, humans and beasts can exist but mermaids can’t? I hate to break it to you but you don’t know everything. You can be a hundred years old and still don’t know everything. Does anyone know every single inch of the ocean? No, they don’t so mermaids are alive until proven not.” 

She listened and for once I thought she would agree with me, man was I wrong.

“Did you ever stop and think that the mermaids are hiding from us? We do have a problem with destroying things that aren’t ours.” 

She didn’t pay attention to my last comment as well as she did the one before that. 

“You know there could be neon orange flying raccoons.” That’s when Evangeline lost the entire class as it broke out into whispers.

“There aren’t any flying raccoons let alone orange.” One spoke.

“I think she is losing it.” Another added.

Evangeline, hearing all this just simply rolled her eyes as she didn’t care for what anyone had to say about her. 

“Back on topic Evangeline, mermaids aren’t deadly.” The teacher spoke trying to win this argument fair and square. 

“Vampires and beasts aren’t deadly either.” Evangeline continued. 

“Yes, they are.”

“Humans are deadly.”

“How?” She questioned.

“Well, one of our biggest issues that we as a country are facing, shootings. Not just shootings are malls, but so many that happen right in our schools.”

“No, we aren’t. We haven’t had any really.”

I couldn’t help but glare at this teacher sitting right here. It felt like there was some type of shooting on TV daily. It was sad how normal it had become almost like it was expected to happen.  

“You obviously haven’t been watching the news for the last few years.”  

“No matter what humans do, we’ll never be monsters.”

“So, no matter what the supernatural does they’ll always be awful creatures?” 

The teacher seemed to think about it before slowly nodding. Evangeline’s anger seemed to grow quickly with each second staring at this person. She slowly stood up, slamming her hands on the desk as hard as she possibly could. A tingly feeling aches throughout her hands as the table took the impact but she quickly dismissed it facing the larger problem at hand.

“Fine, I’ll solve this. I’ll go into the woods and meet both kids. Prove that they aren’t deadly and decide if I want to come back to this brainwashed school.” Evangeline added heading out the door. 

“You’re not going anywhere.” 

“And who’s going to stop me? Last time I checked it’s still a free country.” Evangeline smirked leaving her stuff behind, it wasn’t like she was going to need it anyway. 

“No, let the freak go. She’ll be dead in about ten minutes so I won’t have to worry about getting killed, now will I?” 

“Yeah, Nate I guess we’ll see about that.”

She assumed that proving humans wrong would be easy; little did she know it was a lot harder than she had thought.