The blessed souls

Ch1: Nightshade

Something is wrong with me. Many people outside my friend group often see me as strange or unusual. It's not like I blame them, seeing as I also find myself to be rather odd. I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Adeline Metztli (Addie for short). I'm an eighth-grader here at Phoenix Academy and an outcast among the other kids. It's not like I mind though I have some good friends. 

Now, you may be asking yourself, what happened in my life to turn me into this. Well, sit down and let me tell you my story. 

It all began the moment I turned seven. That was around the time my family began to break apart. My father would spend days away from us, wasting money on something neither my mother nor I knew about, and would never come close to finding out. Mother became suspicious and began to withdraw herself, leaving me almost completely abandoned. I say almost because they were always there for me, my best friends. 

Though my family life was pretty much garbage, I still had my social life to keep me happy. They'd stayed with me, even after I had begun to doubt everything. Anyway, with my family now broken, my mind slowly followed suit. It started with a strange voice that echoed in my mind, almost seeming like something was stirring from a long slumber. When I'd told my parents about that, they seemed worried and carted me off to some psychiatric clinic to see what was wrong. 

I don't remember much after that, but what I do know is that the doctor diagnosed me with something called Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD for short. Funny, huh. I'd always longed to know what was wrong with me, but when I found out, it didn't seem to be the case. Looking back on it now, I think it might have been better for me to believe what they told me. After that, things only got weirder. 

Every night, I'd hear the horrible screams of a woman demanding her freedom. Soon, that started to affect my grades and my physical well-being. Every day, I'd suffer through pain, feeling as it intensified by the day. By my thirteenth birthday, the voice in my head had learned to force messages through nightmares. 

On my first day of Eighth Grade, the pain had become worse than it had ever been. I'd woken up screaming and having a panic attack. I know, what a great way to start the day. I'd had to deal with the screeching hag (A.K.A. the voice in my head) and walking to school. Now, if you're wondering: Why are you walking to school? Don't your parents drive you? Hah, no. My mom works, my dad's a deadbeat. They don't have the time to get me to school. 

RELEASE ME NOW!!!! GRANT ME MY FREEDOM!!! Hag screeched. Ugh, not again. I thought. I plugged in my bulky cat-ear headphones to drown her out with music on the way to school. Once I was about a block away, I heard a familiar "Hi Addie!" from behind me. I managed a smile and turned to the owner of the voice. 

"Hi, Leo," I responded. Leonel Huitzilopochtli, my childhood friend. He's the school's prince. The girls always wanted to date him. Though, he'd never tell us the reason he'd turned each one down. Leo was tall and tan, with the most beautiful black curls anyone has ever seen. The moment he went and hugged me, I could feel the glares of every girl directed at me. Oh boy. 

"So, I was wondering if you'd like to go..." His voice slowly began to fade, and I'd noticed the world begin to spin. I focused on Leo's voice, trying to avoid seeming weak. "... Addie. You okay?" He asked. I rubbed my temples, attempting to get rid of the migraine and the screaming. "I'm okay. Just tired. Don't worry, Leo." He nodded before taking my hand and guiding me the rest of the way to school.

"Let's get you out of the sun then." 

"I promise you. I'm perfectly fine." I muttered. I realized I should have shut up when the screaming was replaced with a dark chuckle. No, you're not. I gasped as horrible pain rushed through my head as I stumbled back. "Addie? What's wrong?" I heard Leo ask. "Adeline!" I began to shake as I saw black spots dance across my vision before everything turned black.

****

I looked around, the darkness of the room, noticing a small silver light. It was strange, almost like a beacon. A sudden flash of purple light caused me to turn away, nearly making me hiss in pain. Once the light had dulled, I looked up to see a pulsing silver flower, dark purple vines encircling it. You. Girl. I need your help. Please loosen these chains.  I recognized the voice, narrowing my eyes at the flower. "Why should I help you?" I asked. Please! We don't have much time! You need to awaken-! The voice was cut off by static. 

I woke up. Not only that, but I was soaking wet. I looked around to find the offender, Nicholas LeBlanc. "Niko, you realize you didn't need to do that, right?" Xian stated, fighting back a fit of giggles. He smirked, placing the empty bottle next to him and readjusting the uniform sweater. "Well, if I didn't, then my brother would have done it. So, you're welcome." Nico or Niko (he didn't mind either nickname) is Leo's adoptive brother. He happens to be Leo's complete opposite, as well as our group's edge lord and the king of sass. He swept his shaggy black hair to the side and looked at me. 

"Would her majesty like to explain to us why my big brother ran in carrying her unconscious body?" He asked. Xian elbowed him. "Niko, I swear you gotta get rid of some of that sass, idiot." Xian was a pretty Asian girl with a fiery spirit. That gave her the advantage of keeping Nico under control. "Ugh. Fine. But she still has to tell us." I sighed and sat up. "I'll tell you guys at recess. But does anyone wanna tell me why none of you are in homeroom?" 

"It's a free period." A quiet feminine voice said from behind Xian. I smiled at her. "Hi, Quin." Quin was a reserved, cute, sweet girl. She was short compared to the rest of us, with tan skin, cinnamon hair, and beautiful emerald eyes. "Are you okay, Addie?" She asked. I smiled and nodded. "Yep, just didn't sleep well." She nodded before going back to her hiding place behind Xian. 

I stood up as my friends left the Nurse's office. All but one left. Leo walked toward me, "Addie, we need to talk." He said. I nodded, fighting back the anxiety that was rapidly building in my chest. "Just before you passed out... you were staring at nowhere. You didn't respond to my voice, but you muttered something about being set free." He seemed worried as he asked this. I sighed. "I probably meant that I feel trapped. Don't worry about it." I lied with ease. Something that years of telling my parents that I was fine had helped me. 

He examined me, sighed, and nodded. "Alright, fine. But after school, you're coming with us all to the arcade." I agreed, somewhat relieved that he didn't ask any more questions. After I grabbed my stuff and got a tardy slip, I walked by Leo to our first period. 

****

It was insufferable! The teacher gave us all detention for being a minute late it was the first day of school! She should have at least given us a pardon! I growled in annoyance as she reprimanded us in front of the whole class. Quin looked to be on the verge of tears, making Xian glare at the teacher. "Why don't you just stop it! We were a minute late! It's only day one!" I said without thinking. Her ugly drooping eyes turned to glare at me as her lips pulled back into a sneer. I swear this woman could be a demon. 

"What gave you the right to talk to me like that? You will be spending a long time in detention, girl. My eyes widened as I looked down. I already hate this teacher. Yes! Get Angry! Make her regret it! The voice began once more as pain once again engulfed me. No. I thought back. I winced as I walked to my seat, failing as the teacher grabbed me by the wrist. "You are not going anywhere. The conversation isn't over yet!" Because of that, my bad luck went from normal to skyrocketing. 

YES! TIME IS NEIGH! FREE ME!!! FREE ME!!!

The pain intensified to the point where I fell to the ground, clutching my head and screaming. The teacher seemed to think I was faking it, looked down at me with annoyance. "Get up. Now, before I go get the principal." FREE ME! END THIS PAIN AND UNLOCK MY CHAINS!!! I screamed more, begging someone, anyone, to make it stop. Out of the blurry sight of my teary eyes, I saw one of my friends rush out. No... Please... don't leave me alone. I thought. 

I saw three people enter the room, one that I recognized as the school's caregiver and the other as the principal, and the third was one of my friends. She quickly made her way over to my writhing body, and, with the help of my friends, she managed to get me out of the classroom. The last thing I saw before blacking out was the figure of a chained woman who looked like me. "Please... we don't have much time."

****

I once again woke up in the office surrounded by worried people. For some reason, the voice in my head was quiet. I noticed everyone staring at me, expecting something. I felt the sudden urge to look anywhere but at the judging gazes of the adults. 

"Adeline. When you were on the floor, do you remember crying?" Asked one of the staff members. I nodded, avoiding eye contact. "Maybe she was wearing makeup?" Another asked. That confused me. "What do you mean?" I asked. The principal offered me a mirror, trying his best not to look panicked. I looked, staring at an inky substance that seemed to run from out of my eyes. I took a deep breath and thought to the voice in my head, Did you do this? Silence. I noticed the looks I was receiving from the adults. Who were all trying to make sense of this. 

I took the only rational decision and lied. "I wore makeup to school. I'm sorry for having caused you any trouble." I saw them finally relax a little. "Alright. Wash your face, and we'll let you off the hook for now. Just don't wear makeup next time, okay?" Mr. Joyce, the school principal, stated. I nodded, feeling grateful for having a great principal. After thanking him and the staff one last time, I walked out of the office and made my way to my favorite class: Art. 

Seeing as the Specials classes were mixed grades, Nico was present during this class. As soon as he saw me, he smirked, "Her highness lives! Nice one, but I'm the only one allowed to scare this friend group." I smiled, knowing it was Nico's way of expressing relief and worry. "Easy there, Edge Lord. People might start thinking you care." I replied. He punched my arm playfully before he pulled out his leather-bound sketchbook. 

**** 

The rest of the classes until lunch went decently well. The teachers weren't too strict, and the other students gradually ignored us. Everything was finally going back to normal until lunchtime when a boy named Nathaniel Carter and his scrawny cronies decided to poke some fun at Leo and Nico. Seeing as I was already royally ticked off, something in me seemed to c***k. It was as if the dam that kept seven years worth of rage at bay had collapsed. Nothing could stop what was about to happen. 

In the back of my mind, I heard the rattling of chains. Yes... Yes! I'm finally FREE! 

I felt the control I had over my body taken away. I stared down at myself, or rather, the thing inside of me. I watched as the monster in my body chuckled darkly, stalking toward the boys. My sight began to flicker. At least, it was what I believed was happening, only to notice that the lights were strange. Plants began to move toward it. Only when it spoke was I able to remember the voice in my head. I flew in front of her. 

"Please stop! Whatever you are, don't harm anyone!" I said. She smiled and stopped. "Don't worry, little flower. I won't harm them." She looked up at me, and I could see gratitude in her strange, flower-marked eyes. "I will merely erase this from their memories." She nodded and walked past me. I trust her. I thought. That was a mistake. A couple of seconds later, the lights exploded, and a heavy cloud of dust settled over the entire school. I don't know how, but even out of my body, I was affected by it. For some reason, she'd decided it was a good idea to return me to my body, and I slowly lost consciousness.