IceShine

I

Dark. That's the first thing I see. Suddenly, I'm aware that something is behind me. I start to run, I don't know from what. I'm running without knowing where I'm going, because I can't see anything. I start hearing screams behind me. But then I realize something... those screams aren't coming from behind me, no... They're coming out of my own mouth. Then I open my eyes. I gasp trying hard to breathe, and take in my surroundings. I'm in my room, in my house. I hug myself and try hard to stop my fidgeting. My whole body seems to be on auto pilot and I can't calm down. Every time I have this dream, it makes me scared of what is to come.

After 10 or so minutes of trying to stop my trembling, I hear my alarm clock ringing. Oh, great! Time to go to the shithole... I get up not at all excited to be going to school... But that's what my parents want me to do, so I don't want to disappoint them.

I dress in my casual outfit of skinny jeans, dark purple hoodie and my sneakers. I comb my long, dark brown, straight hair, and I look at myself in the mirror. Two eyes look through my soul: one dark blue like the ocean, and the other grey. A grey that seems white when you look at it from afar.

I sigh and decide it's time to go. I grab one apple, and I go out through the door. On the way to school, I eat my apple and brace myself for the day.

…

As I get into my school, I hear some girls gossiping.

"So, there are two new students, coming today... But isn't it strange that they come in the middle of the school year?"

"Yeah, they're twins, and it was an emergency, so they came, even though it was in the middle of the semester."

"Wow"

"And they are one guy and one girl... And he's so hot"

"Really?"

"Yeah... I saw him... They are my new neighbors"

"You lucky girl"

They were laughing now.... Oh great, two new people, that won't even talk to me... I hope. I got inside my classroom, and saw two faces that I hadn't seen before. They were talking to each other. They must be the new ones.

The girl, was lean, with beautiful characteristics. She has short light brown hair, with warm eyes that reminded me of honey. The guy had the same hair and eye color as his sister. He was quite muscular for our age, and his face had really beautiful features. I understand now, why they were calling him hot.

Then I hear them. The whispers.

"She came today."

"Freak"

"Why did she come?"

I ignore them and the weird looks the new ones are giving me and go straight to my seat, the most secluded one: the one on the back row by the window. The twins keep looking at me, but I look outside. After a few minutes, the teacher walks in.

"Good morning, class. So, as you may already know, we have two new students, as of today. You two, come over here."

He signs to the two of them, and they get up to go stand on the front.

"Go ahead guys, introduce yourselves."

The guy looks kind of uncomfortable, but the girl is more brave, it seems.

"Hello, everyone! My name in Miranda Korlin, and it's nice meeting everyone."

The guy still looks kind of uncomfortable, but the girl nudges him with her left elbow. He sighs and begins speaking.

"My name is John Korlin, and I'm her younger twin brother. Nice to meet you"

The girls of the class start giggling like crazy, also saying things about him being "cute".

"Great, now guys sit, so we can get on with our lesson"

He said, and then the class stopped talking, while John and Miranda went to their seats, which apparently were right in front of me. Great!

…

The whole day at school went by like a blur. John, kept stealing glances at me and I avoided him and his sister like the plague. The sister tried talking to me, but I brushed her off... I don't want to be the cause of her not having any friends at her new school, just because she talked to me on her first day.

I stand from my seat and begin to walk out of my class. But of course, I'm not that lucky.

"Hey, freak!"

Of course, he had to stop me just before I left. I turn around and there I see one of my frequent bullies, with his group of groupies... eh... I meant friends… But, he means so little, that even his name is a blur to me. I think it was something like Josh? Maybe Joshua… I can’t even be bothered to remember. Even though his main prey is me. And for what? Just because of my heterochromatic eyes. They believe they're so different that they are obliged to bully me.

Thankfully, they haven't touched me yet... They only speak mean words to me. Which, in my opinion, doesn't do much. Words you can ignore, and be seen as the smart one. But I really hope they don't touch, because then, I won't stop myself showing my fighting skills. By now, he's standing only a few meters away from me.

He wears this stupid smirk that he believes is attractive, I assume... only, I don't know why this is attractive.

"Well, well... the freak decided to come today, huh?"

"I was only gone for one day, and you missed me this much? Well, that's what I call a surprise"

His smirk dies and his expression suddenly becomes angry.

"Dont speak to me like that, you little w***e!"

"Oh and then what should I do? Should I be afraid of you?"

"You should... But because of your parents' deaths, I assume you didn't have anyone to teach you when you should be quiet and when you are allowed to speak!"

The crowd that has surrounded us begins to laugh, but I don’t hear them. I feel a sting in my heart for a few seconds, but I don’t dwell on that. I try to calm down, so as to not give them the satisfaction that their words hurt me.

"And who decides when or where I should speak? Because if it is guys like you with an IQ less than that of a monkey's, then, I'm doomed…"

Laughter echoes all over the place, and his face just keeps getting more and more red... I think I just enraged him. He takes a few steps towards me and grabs my arm forcefully. He looks me in the eyes in a challenging way.

"I dare you to say that again."

His grip on me gets tighter.

"Take that arm away from me, because I don't know what I might do."

I say, getting angrier by the second. But this only makes him smirk again.

"Why? Is it that little princess here is afraid of some marks on her skin?"

That's all it takes for me to remember that day... the day that I lost my parents... the marks on their bodies... But I quickly snap out of it, because I feel his grip getting tighter and tighter on my arm. Then I snapped. I quickly grasp the wrist of his free arm, and begin to turn it. Soon, he is groaning in pain. He lets go of my arm and I swiftly turn his arm on his back and kick his legs. I let his arm go and he falls down head first.

"The next time you pick a fight, choose someone who doesn't know how to defend themselves against assholes like you"

The crowd begins howling like crazy, and laugh hard.

"You crazy b***h!"

He stands and gets ready to attack me. I get in stance ready to defend myself, but before he has the chance to touch me, someone gets in the middle and grabs his arm with force, and pushes him back.

"Enough." was all he said.

It was the new student, the brother. And he said that word with so much force that even I felt a little scared... only a little...

"What exactly is your problem, new guy?"

"You should have just left her alone, and I wouldn't have a problem?"

Joshua and his guys just laughed at that. He took a step closer to John threateningly.

"You should know that things here work differently... I'm the boss around here, what I say goes... Hell, my uncle is the damn principal. And you should stop defending her! She's just a little b***h with crazy eyes that's got an attitude problem. Anyway, that's what's gotten her into this situation."

He's such a f*****g liar. He just gets bored and follows me to have some fun.

"I see..."

He said and I get ready for his next lines, that I'm sure, they will be of loathing towards me.

"It seems you weren't taught about respect... at least I expected more out of the nephew of my new principal... but it seems he's just an asshole who hasn't even heard the word!"

Then he turns to look at me. He gives me a small smile, but just as he is about to talk, I see Joshua ready to punch him. Oh, f**k! I won't be able to stop him on time.... Just as I'm thinking this, a voice roars in the hallway.

"What is happening here?"

It's the principal, himself. Joshua stops his punch midair, and pales as he looks at his uncle.

"Joshua, can you explain to me, why are you ready to hit, my new student?"

"I... "

"No, actually stop... we're going to talk in my office first thing tomorrow morning... I hope Miss Handbond here, and Mr. Korlin will be able to testify about what happened too, right?"

"Yes, sir", both of us answered at the same time.

"Good... Now, all of you dismissed!"

His powerful voice echoed through the hall, and in only a few minutes the hall was totally empty... well except me and John, who didn't move an inch.

"Um...",

He broke the silence. He cleared his throat and then continued.

"Are you alright?"

I looked at him, shocked. That's the first time anyone has ever asked me this question in a very long while.

"Yeah, I'm fine... Thank you for standing up for me... It's not something that happens often..."

He meets my eyes and smiles.

"You're welcome."

A long silence dwells between us, after that. His beautiful eyes, warm and sweet, like honey, never leave mine. Well, that's what I call awkward. I clear my throat and let go of his gaze.

"I must go now."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow..."

He says. I detect a sadness in his voice, but I let it go. I turn my back to him and begin walking away.

"Ah, I never got your name..."

He raises his voice a little, so I could hear his words. My heart thumps at that. I don’t know why... I stop and sigh. I turn my head a little, so I can see him out of the corner of my eye, without looking into his eyes. I'm afraid that if I do that, I won't be able to escape them this time.

"It's Lila... Lila Handbond..."

I don’t wait for his response. I turn around completely and walk away.

…

On the way home from school, I can't help but think about what happened. Miranda, Joshua, and... John... I don’t know why I feel that way around him, but it should be best to forget any feelings I might have for the guy. Because soon he'll be gone... like everyone.

I continue walking, but then I hear a strange sound... a sound that I know well... Oh, great... my day couldn't get any worse...

I follow the sound through the small roads, and when I arrive at a sandlot, near the sea, I see it: a giant monster ready to attack the people on the sea. I put my bag on the ground and relax my muscles. I feel the air around me becoming more and more strong. That makes the monster turn his attention to me.

I smirk as my grey eye shines brightly. I get into stance, and leap towards the monster, the air taking me with him. I call upon the water from the nearby sea, and I feel it surrounding me, dancing in circles that the air directs.

I feel the power surge within me, and I let it all out towards the monster, freezing him as a result. Then, I take my necklace, which is in the form of a key, and draw the symbol of the Selinor. Then, I kick the freezing monster back to the realm it belongs, and close the portal, quickly.

I take a deep breath, and turn around to continue my way to my home. But of course, I'm the most unlucky person on this earth.

There, 2 pairs of honey-like eyes stare at me, astonished.

"What the hell?"

Yeah, what did I say? That my day couldn’t get any worse… I guess it just did.