My Fiery Mate

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟹: 𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗

The rest of the day passed in a blur for Lireal. She sat through her classes, numbly staring at the board, unable to focus on anything the teachers said. Her body ached from the beating, and every time she moved, it sent a sharp pain coursing through her. She wanted nothing more than to go home, to curl up in bed and forget about everything that had happened. But she knew that wouldn't be easy.

As soon as the final bell rang, she made a beeline for the exit, not wanting to risk running into Willow, Thalia, Celestia, or Elara. Once she was outside, she broke into a run, tears streaming down her face. She didn't know where she was going; she just needed to get away from there. She ran until her legs ached, and her lungs burned, not caring about the curious glances she received from the other students.

Finally, she collapsed onto a bench in the school's courtyard, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The cold wind whipped through her clothes, making her shiver uncontrollably. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, trying to find some small measure of comfort. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, her face bruised and cut from the beating she had taken. She felt dirty and used, like there was something inside her that could never be clean again. Then the bell rang from inside the school and Lireal stood up.

Lireal walked down the hallway, her head hung low, she could feel the stares of her classmates burning into the back of her neck. The halls seemed to echo with the taunts and laughter of Willow, Thalia, Celestia, and Elara, making it impossible for her to forget what had happened. Her body ached from the beating, and every step she took was a painful reminder of the damage they had inflicted upon her. She wished she could just disappear, become invisible, anything to escape the relentless torment.

When she reached the cafeteria, she hesitated before entering, her stomach knotted with anxiety. The room was crowded with students, chatting and laughing among themselves, oblivious to the pain that Lireal was going through. She wanted nothing more than to find a quiet corner where she could eat her lunch in peace, but that seemed like an impossible dream. Instead, she forced herself to navigate through the crowd, careful not to make eye contact with anyone for fear of drawing attention to herself.

As she made her way to an empty table in the corner, hoping to avoid any unwanted attention, Willow, Thalia, Celestia, and Elara strutted over to her, their smug expressions a clear indication of their intentions. Lireal’s heart sank as she saw them approaching, her muscles tensing in anticipation of the pain that was sure to follow. She wanted nothing more than to run away, but there was nowhere to hide in this crowded cafeteria.

She tried to step around them, to continue on her way, but Willow blocked her path, hooting with laughter. “Oh, no, it’s the pathetic little wolf-less b***h!” she sneered. Thalia, Celestia, and Elara joined in, their cruel laughter echoing through the cafeteria. Lireal felt her face flush with shame as the other students nearby stopped what they were doing to watch the scene unfold.

“Please, Willow, just leave me alone,” Lireal whispered, her voice barely audible over the taunts of the other girls. Willow stepped closer, her face inches from Lireal’s, her eyes narrowing with anger.

“Oh, we’re not here to give you trouble, dearest cousin,” Willow purred, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “We’re here to give you a little... makeover.”

Before Lireal could react, Willow and her friends grabbed the trays of food they were carrying and dumped them over Lireal’s head. The cold mashed potatoes and chicken nuggets splattered against her face and body, sticking to her clothes and hair. The cafeteria erupted into laughter as Lireal stood there, shocked and humiliated. She wanted to scream and fight back, but she was paralyzed with fear and embarrassment. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to wipe the mess off herself, only to smear it further.

As Willow and her gang walked away, laughing and high-fiving each other, Lireal stood there, feeling utterly defeated. She wanted to run, to hide, to escape from this nightmare that had become her life. But she knew there was nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. She was trapped in this hell, with no one to turn to for help.

As Lireal wiped the food from her face, her cheeks burning with embarrassment and humiliation, she couldn’t find the strength to look around the cafeteria. But when she did, she saw the students whispering and pointing at her, their expressions a mix of amusement and disgust. She wanted to disappear, to vanish into thin air, to escape from the constant pain and torment that had become her existence.

Without a second thought, she bolted out of the cafeteria, her face burning with shame. She dashed through the halls, her heart racing, tears streaming down her face. She wanted nothing more than to be invisible, to escape the prying eyes and mocking laughter that seemed to follow her everywhere she went. But no matter how fast she ran, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape the terrible truth that she was a target, a victim, in this cruel and unforgiving world.

As she stumbled into the nearest bathroom, Lireal locked herself inside one of the stalls, her heart racing and her breath coming in ragged gasps. She collapsed onto the cold, hard floor, her body shaking with sobs. She wished she could disappear, to be anywhere but here, but she knew that was impossible. She was trapped in this endless cycle of pain and humiliation, with no escape in sight.

Lireal cried for what felt like hours, her sobs echoing through the empty bathroom. She felt as though her world was crumbling around her, as if she were the only one who truly understood the depth of her pain. The harsh fluorescent lights above her cast a cold, unflattering glow over her pale face, drawing attention to every flaw, every imperfection. She hated herself for being so weak, for not being able to defend herself against the relentless taunts and attacks.