Elaise smiled sympathetically and walked into Raven's room, sensing the negativity hanging like a dark cloud. It made her skin crawl as she crossed the room and saw Rover tossed aside on the floor. She picked him up and brushed the teddy off, glancing over at Raven's bed. The blanket was pulled back to reveal a huge amount of blood staining the white sheets. How forceful had Kyle been to cause that much blood?
She placed Rover on the desk and took the blanket from the bed, pulling the sheets off and quickly wrapping them up, knowing she was going to have to get them dry cleaned before Raven saw them. She put the sheet in the washing basket Raven had to the side of her room which she had gotten on a Saturday when students were allowed to go to the shops and buy things from the school budget.
She went back to Rover but her attention was quickly changed when she saw something on the desk. She slid the piece of paper out from under the book and almost jumped out of her skin when she saw the picture drawn there. Raven had always been a good drawer, but as Elaise looked down at the creature displayed there, she couldn't help but feel more concerned. She picked up the drawing and Rover and went back out to where Raven was still sitting on the couch.
"Raven?" Elaise spoke up and sat beside her friend, giving her Rover and holding out the picture. "What's this?"
Raven blinked at it a few times before opening her mouth. "I saw it a week or so ago. I was going for a walk after curfew on my own and it…" she looked up at Elaise and seemed deep in thought. "Jason made me promise not to tell anyone, but there's people that kidnap girls from this school and they used that creature to grab them."
Elaise frowned. "Who's been taken?"
"Stephanie," Raven bit her lip and Elaise flinched. "And a few others. It was going to take me that night, but Jason scared it away."
"How?"
The blonde was thinking again and Elaise was patient. "Jason used to work for those people. He used to help that thing kidnap girls… They used to kill them. But he's changed now," she looked up at Elaise as though she was expecting the brunette to condemn him to Hell.
Elaise was surprised with herself when she nodded. "I believe you. But you saw this thing?"
"Yes, and I was in the library the next day, going through all the books to try and find out what it was," Raven muttered. "Jason told me I wouldn't find anything and he was right." The brunette recalled that day when Raven had been scanning through all the books with Jason casually sitting at the table, laughing at her.
Elaise looked down at the picture as Raven hugged Rover. The brunette stared into the evil eyes of the beast, her eyes scanning over every detail of its head, its vicious jaws and its hunched body. She knew what it was. She knew exactly what it was. But she couldn't tell Raven yet. The blonde had enough to deal with. Elaise felt nerved that Stephanie had been taken, she had been told that the girl transferred. Did that mean she was dead? Gone forever?
She changed the subject, however much she didn't want to. "Has Kyle tried anything before today?" Raven nodded. "When?"
"Last week," Raven frowned. "He dragged me into the forest and tried to… He was going to but that thing" -she nodded to the picture in Elaise's hands- "turned up and looked like it was going to kill Kyle. Then Jason and Jake scared them both away. That was when Jason stopped talking to me, because he got really angry and Jake told him to go for a walk."
So the beast saved Raven? Or had its' plans been to scare Kyle away so it could take Raven for itself? Elaise tried to register it all in her head, but it was all worse than her Math classes, which she still struggled to understand!
"Jason told me he snapped at you."
Raven nodded again and Elaise eyed the blonde's bracelet and necklace. "He was getting so angry over something and I tried to get him to calm down and he snapped at me before he realized he did it."
Elaise smiled. "He didn't mean to. The reason why he hasn't spoken to you since then is because he's scared you'll never want to talk to him again."
The blonde girl looked appalled by the thought and she hugged Rover tighter. "I thought he didn't want to talk to me again…"
"Well at dinner I'll call him over so you can both talk," Elaise offered. "Okay?"
Raven nodded. "Thank you, Elaise."
"It's okay," Elaise noticed her glass was empty. "Would you like another drink?" another nod and the brunette took the glass, getting another drink for her friend.
For the rest of the day, Elaise kept Raven company and made sure she took it easy on her ribs. She was shocked that Kyle had done such a thing, but there wasn't much she could do about it except repair the damage he caused. Elaise was glad her and Raven were talking again, but she wasn't glad for the circumstances it was under. If not for Brittany and her minions, they may never have had a fight at all.
The afternoon came around and before they knew it, it was time for dinner. Elaise led Raven down to the dining hall. The brunette spotted Kyle at once, sitting with a group of his friends and already enjoying a meal. He glanced up at Raven with a sick smile and Elaise coaxed her friend not to look back at him. They got trays and filled them up with food. Elaise made sure Raven got a healthy dinner and they sat down at an empty space on one table row. Kyle kept glancing over and Raven took more notice, keep her head low and toying with her food again.
"Raven, you need to eat," Elaise murmured to her friend. "Just ignore him as best you can." She ate a few mouthful of vegetables and the blonde obeyed, shoving a small spoonful of mashed potato in her mouth. Elaise jumped when Raven choked on it and spat it back onto her plate, pushing the tray away and covering her mouth, looking as though she was going to be sick. Elaise glanced up at Kyle and saw him almost bursting into laughter. Raven hadn't explained everything.
"What else happened with Kyle?" Elaise whispered urgently to Raven. The blonde shook her head, keeping her mouth covered and Elaise was worried she might cry again. But the brunette understood clearly. "He forced you to give him a blowjob, didn't he?" Raven shut her eyes tightly and tears cascaded down her cheeks, nodding. Elaise bit her lip and glanced up when she saw movement behind her.
Jason leaned against the table beside Elaise and looked at Raven, who hadn't even noticed his approach. "Is she okay?" he asked but before Elaise could say anything, she saw him sniff and his nose scrunched up, the pupils in his emerald eyes diluting and his lips drew back in the makings of a snarl. He raised his head in Kyle's directions and Elaise felt fear clutching at her heart.
"Jason?" Elaise heard Raven mumble as Kyle got out of his seat and made for the door. Jason stalked towards him, leaving the two girls and meeting him in the center of the hall. He didn't even give Kyle a chance to say a single word as he swung his fist and caught the boy's jaw, sending a loud snapping sound echoing through the hall. Everyone looked up and Raven clung on to Elaise as Jason attacked Kyle again, both of them snarling loudly at each other.
*.*.*
"I want the job done, tonight!" the man snarled at the beast that lay in the corner, being bothered by Speed's attack of petting. "The refugees are leaving the school tonight, which gives you a chance to snatch her. Jason did a good job at keeping her safe from us this long."
The beast growled at him but Speed spoke up. "But, sir! Why can't I go? I can help him-"
"No!" the man snapped at him. "The whole assignment will fail if you join them. Snake and Slayer will go with him."
"When you will have us complete the task, sir?" the man heard Snake ask from where he stood at a doorway. Slayer stood beside him and both of them had eyes shining hungrily.
"As soon as the refugees have left the school," the man replied. "Everyone else will be asleep so you will have the chance to grab her."
"What if she's not outside?" Slayer asked.
"It doesn't matter!" the man roared. "You will infiltrated the school and find her! You won't be detected so it will be easy enough."
The beast growled and shook speed's hand away, rising to its giant paws and towering over the boy. Speed whined as
the creature stretched and headed for the main door, growling at Snake and Slayer.
"Go now," the man said to his companions. "Bring her here, and bring whoever else is with her. She might like some company while she's here. But remember," he added as his companions made a move to follow the giant creature, "wait for the refugees to leave the school." They nodded and left the room quickly.
"It's not fair!" Speed crossed his arms and remained where he was sitting, looking like a grumpy child. "I wanted to go with them."
"And risk the whole mission?" the man retorted. "No. You will remain here and wait like a child should."
"I'm not a child!" Speed poked his tongue out. "I'm heaps mature."
"Well you have a funny way of showing it," the man turned his back to the boy.
"Sir?"
"What?" the man rolled his eyes with a sigh.
"Can I have my sugars?"
The man looked over his shoulder and glared at the boy, trying to hold back his temper. "You mean your drugs," he snorted. "I'm surprised a child of your age can't live without them. But no, I don't want you hanging from the ceiling again."
"Fine!" Speed grumbled. "But if I can't have my sugars then I want to go with Snake and Slayer."
"No."
"Pleeeeeease?"
"Can you shut up?!"
"Let me go and I will," Speed raised his chin.
"Okay!" the man threw his hands up in frustration. "Tell Snake I let you join them. But if you mess up then you're in a lot of trouble!"
Speed shot to his feet with a grin. "Thank you, sir!" he cheered and disappeared from the room in a second. The man hid his face in his hands and shook his head, praying that the boy didn't ruin everything!
Not As Safe As You Think
16. Not as safe as you think
Raven held onto Elaise as she saw Jason pinning Kyle down, attacking him with all the aggression he had. Kyle threw him off and made a move to attack him but the green-eyed boy rolled out of the way and rose back to his feet, smacking a rock-hard fist into the other boy's chest with another loud snap. Everyone remained in their seats, not sure what to do and certainly not brave enough to try and stop them. All anybody could do was watch the boys fight in the middle of the hall.
Kyle was trying to match Jason's strength, but Raven knew that Jason had the advantage completely; he grew up doing what he was doing now. Jason used to be a murderer, and the blonde had no doubts that his self-control had left him entirely.
But how had Jason known? Elaise hadn't said a single word to him and Kyle definitely hadn't said anything. As soon as Kyle had saw Jason's glare at him, he knew he was in trouble. She reminded herself that there were several things that happened which made her wonder how Jason instantly knew the things that went on. After she had punched Brittany in the face that day, Jason had found her without a problem. When Kyle had dragged Raven into the forest, Jason had gotten there in the nick of time to save her, and even managed to find Jake along the way.
Even Jake seemed to know what Raven had been up to. He had commented on several occasions about her 'reeking' of Jason without even knowing she had been with him. It made her wonder just how strange the boys at the school were.
She shivered when her thoughts trailed back to when Kyle had trapped her in her room. She tried so hard to suppress the memory but she still felt the pain of it. Her ribs ached and her entire body pulsed with pain after the brutal treatment. It had been a long time since she had felt that kind of pain and the things he made her do… She bit back tears and tried to block it out, watching Jason attack the sick-twisted boy.
As soon as Eliza entered the room however, everything changed.
Raven watched as the girl with the golden eyes napped something to Jason's friends and they all got up, rushing over to Jason and grabbing him, pulling him away from Kyle. Raven felt her heart thud painfully against her chest when Jason snarled at them and attacked his own friends! He shoved them out of his way and went at Kyle again, who was being held back by more of the boys on Eliza's command. Kyle tried to shake free of them, but didn't need to as Jason did the job for him.
"I never thought he was this crazy," Elaise whispered as Jason grabbed Kyle and punched his shoulder. Raven's gut twisted in many more ways than one when she saw Kyle's shoulder pop out of place. Jason wrestled with the boy to the ground again and they snarled at each other. Eliza snapped at their friends and they once again tried to split up the snarling, violent pair; having no luck.
"What is going on here?!" Raven looked up as the headmaster walked in and spotted the fighting pair. "Jason! Stop this at once!" Jason ignored him and bashed Kyle's head into the floor, making the ground beneath Raven's feet shudder.
"Ugh!" Eliza threw her hands up and yelled at the boys to back off. They obeyed her at once and Raven blinked when the black-haired girl approached the fighting boys. Storm said something to her to warn her back, but Raven's jaw dropped when she saw Eliza delicately grab Jason by the throat, pick him up and choke slam him into the floor. Kyle made a move for him but Eliza grabbed his shirt and pushed him back. "Stay!" she snarled.
Jason still hadn't settled.
"Raven, he's not going to calm down," Elaise looked at the blonde and Raven understood. Jason was going to tear Kyle apart!
Raven got out of her seat as Jason found his feet again, about to push Eliza out of his way to lunge at Kyle again. Raven skirted past Kyle without even glancing at him and Jason recognized her, snatching her up in his arms as soon as she reached him.
"If you ever go near her again, I'll kill you!" Jason threatened and Raven buried her face in his shirt, feeling his strong arms wrapped about her. She had forgotten how safe she always felt within his grasp and she wasn't sure how she managed the whole week without him.
Eliza spun around to face Jason, pure shock written on her face. "This was over her?!" she exclaimed, turning back to blink at Kyle who glared at Jason. "You were trying to kill each other over her-" Raven turned her head to look at Eliza as she took a sniff, a shadow crossing her face. "Oh, that's why…"
"She's not officially yours," Kyle scoffed. "I had every right to take her."
"You had no right to rape her!" Jason growled through barred teeth, keeping his voice low for Raven's sake. "She's more so mine than she is yours."
"You haven't had anything to do with her for a week!" Kyle muttered.
"That doesn't mean I dropped my claim," Jason shot back and Raven blinked up at him. He claimed her? What did that mean?
"Either way, she had fun," the other boy chuckled. "Didn't you, Raven?"
Raven buried her face in Jason's shirt again as her protector growled loudly. "She doesn't have to answer that. I can smell the blood you left behind. She reeks of it. Don't you dare touch her again!"
The headmaster stalked over to them with a glare in his eyes and Raven risked a glance up at him. "What in God's name did you think you were doing?!" he snapped at Jason. "I let you into this school on the condition that you behaved! By attacking other students it is not convincing me of your promise-"
"He damaged my property," Jason snorted and Raven felt his arms tighten around her, someone not enough to hurt her injured ribs.
"You couldn't have solved your issues later?" the headmaster raised his chin as Kyle rubbed his chest, quickly popping his shoulder back into place. Raven was surprised Kyle was even able to talk after the punch Jason delivered to his jaw.
"No," Jason answered. "But it doesn't end here." He glared over at Kyle and the boy returned it.
"I accept your challenge," Kyle smirked. "We'll settle this on different soil."
Jason nodded. "I'll make sure you can't even crawl away to lick your wounds."
"Well if you're both done arguing, get something to eat so we can leave," the headmaster growled at the boys. Wasn't he just furious with Jason? Raven blinked and looked up at the old man. He was going to allow them to fight later? Why? She knew they were going to chess club, but why would they be allowed to
fight there?
"I lost my appetite for normal food," Jason scowled and released Raven, leaving the hall faster than a cheetah with a lobster latched onto its tail. Everyone watched him go and Raven felt her body turn cold as Jason's warmth was gone. She didn't dare look at Kyle but she noticed him try to approach her. Eliza intercepted and pushed him back in the direction of his friends, keeping him away.
"You okay?" Eliza asked as the headmaster rubbed his temples.
"Yes," Raven nodded slowly, trying to register everything in her mind. She was Jason's property? What did that all mean? She had never heard a term like that before.
"Go sit down," Eliza smiled warmly at her. "Thank you for calming Jason." Raven dipped her head blankly and was quite surprised that Eliza, a girl half the size of Jason, had been able to choke slam the green-eyed boy. What kind of strength did she really have despite her small size?
Silent World Page 21
