Fake Love

Chapter three

2 months ago.

“Hey Hailey, you look amazing today.” Said Rebecca sweetly. She wore a mint green crop top, a black mini skirt with matching mint green boots along with a huge black leather handbag with her books peeking out of it. Her pale skin was caked in heavy make up, green eye shadow, winged eyeliner, baby pink gloss for her lips surrounded by sandy blonde hair with bright blue eyes staring back at me. the ultimate stereotype for an American bully.

“Leave me alone.” It’s not even midday yet, last thing I want is to be bothered today. I already had a bad beating this morning for bumping into father on my way out. It is taking everything I have to tolerate the agony caused by the burns he gave me this morning. She looked hurt by my response.

Ugh!! She is so FAKE, like honestly how stupid does she think I am.

“Awww Hailey bear don’t be like that. I meant what I said you do look good today.” She said in the most disgustingly sweet voice matching her tone with a fake smile. I know for a fact that she’s lying because my eyes are rimmed red from crying, my outfit all washed out black and full of holes. I don’t have the patience for this nonsense today, so I bite the bullet.

“What do you want? Spit it out already.” I said irritation laced my tone. I swear I saw a flash of anger crack her mask, but she hid it quick. Plastering her mask back together with a happy expression she said “Well Mr Reese asked me to come and get you. He said he wanted to talk to you about something.” She sounded so innocent while flipping her hair off her shoulder, to an outsider you would think she was a nice person, but I knew better. However, Mr Reese had taken an interest in me recently, he’s been helping me improve my maths tremendously and has been asking students in his classes to fetch me when he is free to help me so I am inclined to believe her….slightly. sighing in defeat I ask, “Where is he?” She smiled again and told me to follow her, so I did. She led me to the library, I let my guard down a little since teachers did help students in their free time either in the library or one of their dedicated classrooms.

We rounded the corner past the history section to the private area for teachers and students. Rebecca stopped suddenly making me almost bump into her. She turned around to sneer at me then I felt someone grab me from behind. I screamed but someone gagged me with cloth and clamped their hand on top blocking all attempts at screaming. They removed my bag then tied my arms behind my me, I tried to fight but they were stronger plus I was still hurting from this morning, and I had not tended to my burns. Once I was bound, they pushed me to knees roughly that the hard floor greeted my knees painfully. Based off that I knew exactly who her helpers were this time, it was the twins Seth and Brian Harrison. No wonder I couldn’t do anything I got jumped by jocks. They were both starting to buff out a bit, both wearing their sports jackets on one with blue jeans the other with black. They were non identical twins but still had good looking faces again typical bully. Seth had light honey brown eyes with black hair while Brian had dark brown eyes and strawberry blonde hair.

I was terrified I began shaking, last time they did something similar to this they drugged me, kicked me relentlessly and I swear they did other things, but my memory was affected by the drugs, so I wasn’t sure. “Awwww she’s scared, don’t worry sweetheart we’ll look after you.” Said Brain grinning as he stroked my face. I flinched away from his touch my eye clenched shut. This must have displeased him because next thing I knew someone had slapped me hard across my face with such a force that it knocked me over. My head hit the floor with a loud thud, pain radiated from the left side of my skull and the burns on body.

“You i***t why did you hit her? You can have your way with her another time but NOT NOW!” She yelled quietly. Rebecca was pissed now and the boys shrugging in response only pissed her off even more. Something else was said but everything hurt too much so I couldn’t concentrate on their exchanges. When everything came back into focus, I realised they were dragging me somewhere very warm and slightly dimmed. Terror filled my entire being when the realisation hit of where they were taking me. They were dragging me into the library’s basement. No on ever really goes there not even the staff. They only use this place in winter to turn the heating on or to turn the water off for repairs and storage. They continued to drag my body on the ground but stopped when we reached the stairs.

Oh no.

They put me into position ready to push me down the hundreds of stairs that reached the basement. Without a second thought Seth gave me a kick to the chest that sent me rolling and bouncing down. I finally reach the bottom after hitting almost every single step, my body was screaming in agony from the assault, but I could not move. One of the three walked past me to open the door, the room was almost pitch black with pipes branching off everywhere. There were brick walls covered in dark blue paint which was beginning to peel slightly along with layers of dust and cobwebs. The floor was made from concreate and covered in dust and decaying insects. The smell was stale and muggy, it was hard to breath since the room clearly did not get much fresh air. It was a wide room with huge boxes lines up like a maze, at the centre back wall of the room was covered in smaller pipes and was the darkest part of the room. They dragged me through the boxy maze towards the darkest part with her leading the way, it was so dark Rebecca had to use the torch on her phone to see where she was going. When we reached the farthest part of the basement Rebecca rifled though her bag until she found what she was looking for. She produces a pair of hand cuffs from her bag my stomach dropped, and my eyes widened when their intentions became clear. I thrashed about trying to escape from the twin’s grip, ignoring the painful protests my body were screaming at me I tried with all my might, but it was in vain.

“You cannot escape so give up. Or do we need to knock you out like before?” Seth threatened. My body froze and my blood ran cold, last time they did that I was hospitalised for two months only to be sent back three weeks after I was discharged because my parents took their anger out on me. to this day no one knows what they did thanks to Rebecca’s family’s wealth and the fact that she also has family in the police force, so nothing was done about it other than it being cover up. “Good girl Hailey for obeying my brother. I hope you obey me just as well in future.” Brians words made me nauseous, for some reason he has an obsession with me and that he wants to “play” with me, yet he does not touch me. Apparently, he wants to wait until we turn eighteen to do all the things, he has promised me, none of them good. But I should be long gone by then that’s if I survive this. The boys pulled me closer to the pipes untied my arms then held one each. I obeyed them to avoid being sent back to the hospital again besides it’s not like I could do anything, I was badly injured and outnumbered. Rebecca cuffed my left hand then looped the cuff under the pipe then cuffed my other hand. Seth kicked the back of my knees causing me to fall to the floor again hitting my head on one of the pipes on my way down. They started laughing at me as they shone the light at me. I became overwhelmed with all kinds of emotions, my eyes stung as tears formed in my eyes.

“Hahahahahaha. Awww poor Hailey with no one to save her, not that anyone would. I mean most of us know that your parents don’t love you and that your dad is a lowly drunk and your mom is a pill popping junkie. Neither one will miss you if you just happen to disappear.” Said Rebecca. As much as I contemplate life and death at least I would have ended it quick and painlessly.

“Well, time to leave we classes to get to. I do hope you enjoy your stay here.” As she walked away Seth followed along with Brian but not before he blew me a kiss and a wink. The sound of their footsteps faded as they headed to the exit disappearing out of site. “OH, HAILEY. I HOPE YOU’RE NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK!” She yelled, in the same moment the barley lit fluorescent lights turned off plunging the room into a dark abyss. The last sound I heard was the heavy metal basement door slamming closed. They left me gagged, cuffed and panicking.

OH MY GOD WHAT IF NO ONE FINDS ME? WHAT IF THEY NEVER COME BACK? WHAT IF I DIE HERE?

My breathing became erratic but quickly calmed at the last thought. If I die, I would be at peace, no more beatings, no more pain but best of all no more entertaining. Despite the gag in my mouth, I smiled the biggest smile I could manage. Tears of relief fell down my face, my body slumped against the wall of pipes. Knowing death would eventually come I felt comfort like being bundled up in a dark blanket shielding me while I waited for the reapers embrace.

Unsure of how much time had passed eventually my eye grew heavy, the sound of water rushing past through the pipes lulled me into a deep sleep. The sound of the fire alarm going off above me startling me awake. Fear coursed through me when I was welcomed by the dark, in my panic I tried standing so I could flee but failed to because my hand was stuck to something. Yesterday’s events flooded my mind reminding me that the terrible trio had trapped me here. The fire alarm finally stopped going off, I calmed my frantic heart then returned to my spot on the floor. Since there was no escaping, I decided to go back to sleep.

Waking up to the abyss once again disorientated still not sure of how much time has passed, I sighed heavily through my nose since my mouth was full. Maybe I am dead already and this is purgatory. Just as I was convincing myself that that was true the boiler came to life with a series of rumbles and wheezing sounds. Disappointment overwhelmed me and before I knew it, I was weeping silently. It’s weird how numb I felt yet my chest ached as my heart poured all my pain out through my eyes in the form of clear liquid.

I waited and waited and waited yet not a soul came, not even Brian who even though terrified he me. I unconsciously hoped he would come for me which I hated. Death doesn’t scare but the thought of my final resting place being the basement of a high school library is not exactly ideal place. But there was nothing I could do about it. Feeling truly defeated I accepted my fate and moved along the pipe until my back pressed up against the wall into the corner. Tucked my knees into my chest for comfort and leaned my head against the now very cold pipe and let the numbness consume me.

Two weeks later.

I feel so weak, my throat is so dry, and my mouth is sore from the gag drying into my peeling skin. The burns I never got to tend to were stinging viciously giving off a putrid smell. But then again, I smelt disgusting, so it only blended in. I smelt of piss where I had no choice but to soil myself and had to sit in it. To top it off I was also cover in sweat because the room got exceptionally hot. So hot I thought I was going to burn alive. I did burn my wrists on the pipes when they heated up to scolding temperatures some days, they got so hot they would heat the cuffs up as well searing my flesh in the process. Right now, I was slumped with no strength or energy, softly panting through my nose with a raging fever causing me to sweat profusely.

Everything burning and freezing all at once. I started fading again but it’s different this time. It did not feel like exhaustion, I think I am dying. FINNALLY! I am dying if I weren’t so dehydrated, I would be shedding tears of joy instead I managed a ghost of a smile. I don’t try to fight it instead I embrace it eagerly and ever so slowly everything around me faded away. I could not smell the ghastly smell that was me anymore, I could not longer feel the volcanic fever or the sub-zero chill running up and down my spine. My body that felt heavier than stone that was thirsty and starving felt lighter than the air itself. Lastly the sound of rumbling pipes drifted far away as if it came from the end of a narrow tunnel like I was walking away from it.

This was it, I would finally be at peace and no one would know. I do wonder if my parents would care but since I have been gone so long and have yet to be found…..well I guess there’s my answer.

“Oh my goodness Hailey.”

Did someone call my name? Surely not.

“Hailey can you hear me wake up. Quick call the paramedics.”

It’s too late.

Silence

Endless darkness, weird I could see it and feel it. If I had to describe it, I would say it felt soft yet solid. I could see it like you would a painted wall not like the basement where I couldn’t see in front of me. Strange, darkness all around me but I could see my hands clear as day. I gasped, I was stark naked but my scars were gone along with my burns.

I really am dead.

Dropping to my knees I buried my face in my hands mourning my short sad life. A flash of light appeared amongst the dark, I stared intrigued by the silvery light my grief forgotten. As I watched it broke apart and multiplied into globe sized spheres with images flashing across them. I stood and walked towards them my curiosity burning.

Oh no they’re not images they are muted clips of my life. I don’t want to see it, it was bad enough having to live through it.

I was about to close my eyes when a globe displaying me and my parents happy at home when I was seven caught my attention. I remembered that day it was dad’s birthday so mom I and decided to make a surprise dinner for dad with all his favourite foods and desserts. We were so happy, and they loved me so much. Lost in the memory of happier times was short lived when another sphere floated past showing my parents faces full of hatred and disgust as they yelled at my cowering form. They started kicking my thirteen year old self then left me broken, bleeding and sobbing on the ground. Seeing that memory ignited a pain within me that was so severe it almost brought me to my knees. Turning my back on that day was a mistake because I was greeted by a memory of me in a hospital bed after the twins bashed my head in with a metal baseball bat after attempting to “knock me out” for fun.

I was laying in the bed, tubes attached to me everywhere. The door opened to reveal my parents.

They came to see me?

Without thinking I reached out to touch the globe for a closer look only to be transported into the memory. A beeping noise filled my ears the familiar scent of hospital disinfectant flooded my nose. My parents entered and once inside my farther closed then locked the door behind him. Both were wearing all black, mother in a black dress and matching coat with small heels while father had an all black suite on looking slightly drunk. I felt anxious waiting for their reaction but that didn’t last long.

“So, she IS alive. A shame really whoever did this would have been doing us a favour. Disgusting little brat after all she’s done the least, she could do is let go so could cash out the life insurance.” Father spat, he was clearly repulsed by my very existence. Mother walked over to my bed side leaned close to me and said, “If you can hear me then listen up. I have no intention of going to prison murder so do use a favour and die. We do not want you here. You are and will always be my biggest regret in life. If I anything I should have aborted, you or better still swallowed you. You complete waste of space, I hope you suffer before you die.” She hissed with all the venom she could muster.

The moment her rant ended they left my room without a second glance. Before I knew it, I was back in the memory room. After hearing what they said it destroyed whatever was left of me. Devastated I finally fell to my knees with my hands in my lap and staired at the floor as it switched from soft to solid. I waited for whatever came next while the visions flowed past me, finally the last one floated near me. It was jet black and looked almost like a black pearl as it drifted by. I assumed that was the moment I died since nothing could be seen from it. I waited a little more and still nothing happened.

Is this it? Is this what eternal rest looks like? Wait is that a person?

Snapping my head up I saw a cloaked figure making their way towards me. Before I knew it, they were right in front of me, the stranger extended their hand towards me. instead of taking it I just stared at it then shifted my gaze higher to see their face, but it was shrouded under their hood. “Who are you?” I questioned, my voice echoing through the vast space. The mystery person tilted their head to the side as if they were studying me. In that moment I became very aware of my nudity and instinctively wrapped my arms around my chest leaning forward a little, my hair fell from my shoulder around my face like a curtain hiding the pain my pain.

Warmth surrounded me bringing with it comfort, safety and peace. This stranger had covered me in their cloak, it was the softest material I have EVER felt. Trailing my fingers along the cloak it felt amazingly soft yet smoother than any silk, satin or even velvet combined. It flowed through my fingers elegantly and just like the living room it to change from a solid fabric to a soft flowing black flame with a silver outline.

This is beautiful but why was this person being kind to me no one was kind to me.

I hugged the cloak closer to me for support as I readied myself to confront the stranger. I looked up to look them in the eye but was stunned into silence when I saw the most stunning pair of eyes I could ever see let alone imagine. Purple gems stared back at me but not like any shade of purple I have ever known. They reminded me of a vast dark purple galaxy highlighted with silver flecks which were absolutely breath taking. I could not stop staring his eyes were just too mesmerizing any train of thought was instantly lost. “Hailey Sophia Morris. I am the reaper, and this is my domain.” He explained in the deepest voice to ever exist while gesturing around him.

So, I really did die. I should feel upset about it but I’m actually……happy. Really happy and I feel oh so free. But what is going to happen next? WAIT! He looks human, I thought the reaper was supposed to be a skeleton with black feathered wings and a massive scythe.

He had white cropped hair, almond shaped eyes, strong jaw, pouty lips, straight nose and of course galaxy purple eyes with silver flecks. I swear the colours were swirling around like a vortex of purple and silver. Confusion must have been written all over my face because he seemed amused by my expression. “When I was alive, I was human. After I passed away the original reaper recruited me. Those who were chosen to be recruited could decline the offer should they wish. If they declined, they would move on to the great beyond and either be reincarnated or stay in their rightful place. I however accepted the offer as it is an honour to work for those on the other side. And no, we are not winged skeletons, nor do we carry scythes.” He chuckled, his voice rang out with an air of elegance from a time long forgotten. It was refreshing and beautiful, I wonder what time period he was born in. “Can you minds read as well?” He must be able to since he pretty much voiced my expectations for a reaper. He smiled and shook his head “No I cannot. It is just people from this generation have the same picture in their mind of what they think we look like. However, the assumption that we are skeletons with scythes has always been around.”

Fair enough, can’t argue with that, I guess.

“What happens now?” my voice barley a whisper, I looked at the ground not wanting to know the answer. I know once I pass over to the other side that’s it no more Hailey forever. Fear of the unknown consumed me, I was never scared to die but the next part……….well I never thought about it. The reaper kneeled before me signing gently and placed a hand on my shoulder. This action made me look at him, he had a calmness to him that gave me peace and security. I felt safe like nothing could ever hurt me again. His eyes had a gentleness mixed with kindness that no one has ever looked at me with, it instantly quenched my fear. “I am sorry for how you died Hailey. It saddened me greatly and I have seen many horrific deaths.” He sighed heavily his eyes filling with sadness.

“But in the modern era such things should not be. Humanity has progressed so much, yet it has regressed just as much with greed playing a huge part in it. I know this to be true especially because of how your parents treated you. They valued money and others over you, for that you have my sympathy. As for what happens next, I am forbidden to say. But fear not for eternal peace resides on the other side.” He explained with a reassuring smile.

Wait if this isn’t the great beyond then what is this place. I need to know.