INFERNO

CHAPTER SEVEN: FIRE IS AN ESCAPE

[Maybe you didn’t hear it yet. Rumor has it the freak was caught in bed with a grandpa.]

[Huh…! Are you serious? That’s disgusting!]

[yeah, I heard she is already pregnant and went to abort the baby. Gabriella saw her outside the local clinic the other day, she was looking so weak and pale.]

[Is that why she didn’t come to school last week, this is an eye opener]

[Yeah right…! Don’t let her innocent face fool you. People like that who pretend to be all weak and pitiful on the outside, are deadly venomous snakes.]

[Dating a p*****t and murdering her own child. This b***h is bold.]

The whispers followed Tamarys throughout the day. Her supposed amoral relationship with the ‘old man’ is all everyone seems to talk about. People sneered at her and called her repulsive names. The girls gave her the stinkeye as they passed by, Some even threw spittle at her in disgust when they see her. The boys jeered at her and made very lewd gestures when they see her. The truth is that some of these children were the worst stock out there, yet they had the guts to appear in front of Tamarys to condemn her for her supposed immoral behavior.

Isn’t this kettle calling the pot black?

Tamarys could see everything and hear what they had to say. It's not like they were even trying to be quiet about it anyway.

The worst part is that Marsha, her dear sister, the main source of this delectable episode, was right in the midst of her overly dramatic friends, fanning the flames.

Tamarys wasn’t bothered about what they were saying. It happened just like this in her past life. Everyone cursed her out and threatened her. They even went as far as stalking her to the bathroom, ripping her dress, and beating her up. Some of the girls held her down once and chopped off chunks of her hair, under Marsha’s directives of course. She could recall running naked around the school in just her torn-up second-hand undies trying to escape from her abusers, and the pictures anonymously posted on the internet the very next day. These students made life so miserable for Tamarys she almost quit school. In her past life, she barely Made it till graduation. She held on only because she believed education was her only ticket to freedom. Everything will end once she goes off to college. She doesn’t want anything from anyone. She will attend the farthest college she can find, and work two, three, or even six jobs to pay her way.

She was so wrong.

Her step-mother made sure she didn't attend college, then saddled her with that perverted old man as a husband, who then maltreated her, murdered her child, and nearly killed her.

Tamarys sighed.

Every single person seems to know she was out on a date with that person and because she returned home drunk and in a skimpy dress, she was locked up at home. Then Marsha’s mom noticed something was not right, she took her to the hospital only to find out she had a D&C.

Tamarys sighed again as she watched Marsha prancing around like a peacock.

She has always known her sister to be wild and do as she pleases, but isn’t this a little too far? In the end, why did Marsha choose to do this?

When a finger touches oil, it will spread to the other fingers. If there is one thing that doesn’t go away, it is a bad name. once people tag an irresponsible person, it gets etched in the deepest recess of their memories. And people never forget, they will remember you even when your soul has returned to your maker and your body returns to the dust from which it was made. There is a saying that goes; when a man is favored by the gods, even his poultry and beasts are favored too. Even if no one condemns Marsha now, there will always come a time when these children who she calls friends will condemn her for being related to Tamarys, and when that time comes, she will have none other to blame than herself.

Gathering her thoughts together, she walked straight to Marsha as she stood by the corner talking to one of her plastic friends.

“Here she comes,” Trish whispered to Marsha when she saw Tamarys coming toward them.

“who?” asked Marsha.

“Who else other than your stupid sister?” She replied

“Hey… I don’t have a sister!” she rebuked as they both watched Tamarys approach.

“Say, does she dare appear In front of me right now…? How stupid can she be?”

“Hey, Trish !” She greeted “Marsha, Can I speak to you for a second?” she said timidly pleading with her eyes.

“Why, what do you have to say?”

“You really are an i***t, aren’t you? Haven’t you got the message yet?!” She replied harshly.

“If you know what’s good for you, quickly disappear from my sight! Stop stinking up the air in front of other people.” She began to walk away from Tamarys. Discussing and laughing happily with Trish as if there was no other person there. Tamarys followed, she had no other choice but to. Even if it was impossible to save herself, she can not just fold her arms and watch her only sister walk off the deep end. Although the taste of the recent bout of maltreatment she got from her family, especially Marsha, was still fresh in her memory she would like to give her another chance after all she was doing all those things under Mina’s influence and Tamarys believed she was redeemable. moreover, apart from their parents, she was Tamarys’ only family in the world. If she can mend their broken relationship, it will be easier to protect them during the coming apocalypse.

“Look, I don’t want any trouble. I just need to talk to you in private.” She pleaded as she grabbed Marsha’s shoulder.

“Talk In Private… Do you think you deserve that?” she sneered. Marsha replied harshly, her teeth clamped together. But she immediately calmed down like it wasn’t a big deal.

“Fine…,” she sighed “Not that you deserve my time, meet me in the garden in five minutes.” She said and walked off with her friend.

“I will be there, thank you.” Tamarys smiled gratefully. Hopefully, after this talk, they will be able to fix their relationship. She was so excited to begin anew with her sister.

But twenty minutes later, Tamarys who had gone to the garden immediately after Marsha told her to meet her there paced the garden waiting for a sister who has gone AWOL. The lunch break was over ten minutes ago, and the student has already gone back to class to continue with their midday lessons. Tamarys could go back too but…this was her only chance to make up with her sister. If she threw away this opportunity right now, it will be difficult to get another, and judging by Marsha’s temperament she will count it as an offense. So she waited. No, this was worth getting punished for playing truancy.

Fortunately, just when she was beginning to get seriously worried, Marsha appeared but she didn’t come alone. Unfortunately for her, she wasn’t alone. She came with all her friends, the popular students of their academy, the rich, prideful and famous, and the biggest bullies. Basically, the thickest thighs of the student body. And they were ready for a witch hunt.

Tamarys was confused for a second but then she understood. She might have wanted to reconcile with Marsha, but Marsha has no reason to want to reconcile with her. In her opinion, Tamarys is the worst of the worst, a great evil that needs to be destroyed. She will not lose any opportunity to embarrass her enemy. Obviously, she has brought all these people here to witness Tamarys’ humiliation.

“Okay, what do you want to talk about? Wait! If you are here to plead for mercy, save yourself the trouble, You won’t get any from me.”

“But all these people…”

“Not your problem.” she cut her off. “let's get to it, shall we?” Tamarys stared at awhile. She loved her sister no matter what. Everything Marsha has ever put her through, hurt so much because she loved her. They grew up together in one house fighting each other as most siblings do. Even when it was obvious that the things they fought over, Marsha didn’t need any of them. But she is her sister, her flesh and blood. And blood they say is thicker than water.

“Marsha, if I have wronged you in any way, please forgive me.” She pleaded calmly “I promise I will do better henceforth. You are my only sister, the only other family I have other than our parents. Please let’s not hurt each other anymore.”

“Hahahaha…” she laughed “what did you think? You can come here, in front of me, move your lips a little and get anything you want? she seriously accused.

“You are not my family. You can never be my family. You are an abomination. Your flesh and blood are repulsive. How can you compare yourself to me? She screamed in Tamarys’ face

“How you have erred and sinned, you, yourself know. If your mother did not seduce daddy, we won’t be in this situation today. I will be the only child. That is okay. It is only right that you take her place.”

“This is not right Marsha. I and my mother,… we hurt you a lot, but you are hurting a lot of people by doing this, what will be the gain at the…?”

“Who cares who I hurt or who I don't? all that matters is that you are receiving everything you are due. I will make you suffer so much you will beg to join your stupid mother! Guys, get her!!”

The group of students behind Marsha rushed forward to restrain Tamarys. Only now did Tamarys realize that even though the venue has changed, things were going just as they did in her past life. These kids, who started pulling out scissors and razors are planning to hold her down and repeat what they did in the past. She struggled against her captors.

“let me go! Marsha, guys don’t do anything stupid!”

“oh…hohoho…! It seems she already knows what is going to happen, yo.” One said

“Relax Tee. We just want to address some of your issues. I mean you can do with a nice haircut and wardrobe improvement, can’t you?” urged another.

“ Yeah, You know how they say ‘look the profession’? you can finally improve your looks to attract more mature flies and all you have to do is relax.” Yet another whispered in Tamarys’ ear, coaxing her like a Baby. The boys jeered at her and relaxed to watch the show. Some of the kids who weren’t holding her down or getting ready to strip her brought out their smartphones to document the historic event happening in front of them, quite a few brought out expensive cameras.

Looks like they prepared well for this moment, the bastards! Tamarys thought as she struggled. She watched the scissors in Trish's hand get closer and closer.

How can this keep happening to me?

Tears pour out her eyes as she demanded her freedom.

Once was enough already, no way was she gonna allow this to happen the second time.

Things were already so bad, she tried to be the better person, took on all the blame even when she’s wronged no one, just to foster peace and this is her reward?

Where have all the fairness and justice in the world gone? She screamed in her head.

The more Tamarys struggled with these tenacious children, the more frustrated she became with her life. She has already been beaten down. Life already let her down so many times, but if there's one thing she won't let happen again, is to allow herself to live the same way she did before. She was no one’s punching bag for crying out loud. No one was allowed to treat her like the gum stuck under their booths.

Anger filled Tamarys’ soul. She was so full she pushed down half a dozen girls who held her down. Where she got the strength she didn’t know, but damn, the feeling she got after regaining her freedom was awesome.

More students rushed forth to help restrain her, but she pushed them away and ran off towards safety. Still, the students gave chase swearing at her and demanding that she obediently return to them on her own.

“Freak! Let’s see how long you can keep running!" Tamarys ran on without turning back. She was so tired she would fall asleep on her feet if was given time. But first, she has to survive. The people pursuing her do not intend to stop anytime soon. Her lungs burned with each breath she took and her back was damp with her perspiration.