1 The Crazy Lady In The Bathroom

Placing my pencils in my pencil case, I listened to the bell ring, causing movement in the corridor. I waited for my classmates to leave, I did not want to be pushed into a locker today, or get my lunch stolen. People always acted this way towards me; no matter what I did they would be bitter. It had happened my whole life, and it was the reason I had no friends. Dad and I had recently moved to Ballimore from London because of the bullies, people were painting pentagons on our door. It was my 4th week at Ballimore middle school, and things had been ok. People had left me pretty much alone and, apart from the issues with being a new 7th grader halfway through the year, my time had been almost enjoyable. The teachers were good, and I picked up the work easily.

I was about to walk out of the class when the teacher called me.

"Azriella, could I have a word?" Mr. Parkers stated. My stomach lurched. I hated talking to people one on one; I basically had a heart attack every time I got asked to answer a question in class.

"Now, Miss Veramouth. I hope you have adjusted relatively well to Ballimore Middle School" He said calmly. I had a feeling there was more to this conversation. I nodded unsure as to where it was heading. "However, I have begun to notice that you are disengaged with your peers. I think it would do you well to socialise more" He said matter of factly. Although I disagreed, I nodded, afraid to appose him.

"But sir" I found my voice. "I don't understand, my grades are good"

"yes, but myself and other members of the faculty are concerned. We seldom see you engaging with your peers. At lunch you sit by yourself with your book, and do not even attempt to join the others. Now I'm aware that you had some issues in London with students, but it is different here" He said rising. "At least try to put your book down this lunch, it may make you more approachable, who knows what will happen" Mr. Parkers gestured to the door. I turned, not wanting to get in trouble, but did a double take when I saw the room. In the corner was a 4-year-old boy, ghostly white with lifeless eyes, just standing, staring at me. He was not there before; he should not be there now. I froze looking at him and realised he was dripping wet. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, but water just flooded out of it.

"Miss Veramouth?" Mr. Parkers was calling, but it sounded far off, like he was an echo in a distant land. "Miss Veramouth?" He gave me a small prod on the shoulder, and I snapped back into reality and faced him. "are you ok Azriella?" He said concerned. Glancing back to the boy I was succumb with shock as he was no longer there. I nodded, terrified of what I saw. Mr. Parkers shooed me out into the hallway, and the door swiftly closed behind me. I stood numb with shock, my heart beating in my ears. Was I seeing things? Was I going crazy? Maybe it was Mr. Parkers son who hid under a table. I knew that it was not true, but it made me feel better. I shook my head to clear it. I was being stupid. I made my way onto the oval and found my tree. Ignoring the advice Mr. Parker gave to me I opened my book and submerged myself into its pages. I nibbled on my sandwich and read as the minutes flew by, other children ran past playing but did not give me a second glance. I heard my name being whispered and I looked up. No one was walking towards me or beckoning me, so I returned to my book slowly. No sooner had I settled when I heard it again, louder this time. I jerked my head up wondering if someone was playing a prank on me. On the other side of the oval the 4-year-old stood. Students ran past him, as if he were not there, but he did not flinch. He just stared at me with his sole-less eyes. My hands were shaking as I slid from my tree. I gingerly took some steps towards him; he did not move. I crept closure, more confident, and he tilted his head to the side.

"Help me" He whispered. He was still 50 yards away from me, but I could hear him as if he were right next to me. A shiver ran down my spine. I got withing feet of him and I almost turned away. His flesh was too pale for a normal child, and under his eyes black veins were visible underneath his skin. His lips were such a dark blue they were practically black. He was dressed like a normal 4-year-old; however, he was sopping wet. Water trickled down him, pooling onto the ground where he stood.

"who are you?" I asked as I approached him. He turned and ran. "Wait!" I said running after him. He did not turn but kept running; through the playground; through the entry doors and through the corridors. We reached the bottom of a stair well and I flung myself around a corner when I collided with someone.

"Oof" I said falling, I hit my head hard on the concrete and the world spun.

"Christ" I heard someone say. "Watch where you are going" I pulled myself up and saw Zoe and Blake the two most popular people in my grade, and the meanest.

"did you see a little kid" I slurred, the world still spinning.

"Jeez, how hard did you hit your head? I think you killed off your remaining brain cells" Zoe said. A breath of wind blew threw the stair well, and it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It was like someone was whispering to me, but I could hear them – I could feel them there though.

"I'm fine" I mumbled but felt myself stumbling. My vision was flashing with blackness.

"well, get out of the way next time" Blake said pushing me into the wall and walking off.

"sorry" I muttered under my breath. I put a hand on the back of my head and saw blood on my fingers. I groaned and set off to the sick bay.

The smell of rubbing alcohol and latex clung to the hair in the sick bay. I sat in a hot room, in a plastic covered bed, with a mattress so thin the floor would have been more comfortable. My vision had stopped blacking out, but I still felt dizzy, and with the neon light flickering, it felt like the whole room was inside a washing machine. I had a small icepack on the back of my head, and a paper cup filled with water next to me.

"How are you going?" The first aid lady asked me. I knew she just wanted to go to the café and buy a donut.

"I'm…" I saw the boy standing in the doorway, still dripping wet. "fine" I remember to finish my sentence. "much better, ill be off then" I said standing up, but not taking my eyes off the boy, the world swam before my eyes, but I ignored it. The first aid lady tried to reason with me but gave up easily. Once out of the room I followed the boy down the stairs, and into the bathroom. The bathroom had been closed since before I had arrived. A bunch of year 9's was smoking in there but got caught, and it had been closed off ever since. My feet echoed on the tiles, and it was dark. The only light was coming from the window with glass as thick as a tree. The second stall was roped off, and the door was on its hinges, but there was no sign of the boy. I looked in all the stalls right down to bottom, but it was empty.

"He's not here" I voice said behind me. I turned quickly, but my knees threatened to give way, so I held onto the wall for support.

"Who are you?" I asked. The woman was tall and slim with white hair that had a blue hue to it. She was young – in her mid-twenties – and had a pretty face. Her eyes were a startling blue that pierced right into your soul, she reminded me of the white queen from Alice in Wonderland. Something about her had an air of innocence, and I was almost drawn to her.

"I am Virgo" She said. She was wearing a long white gown. I frowned, was that her name, or was she telling me her star sign.

"Who was the boy? Is he ok?" I asked deciding to ignore my other questions.

The woman smiled. "You have a sweet soul Azriella Veramouth" She said surveying me. "The boy's name doesn't matter, he is being cared for by my brother, he is safe now"

"oh" was all I could manage to say, I was confident that I had never met this woman in my life, so I had no idea how she knew my name.

"May I see your arm Azriella Veramouth?" She asked politely. I knew I should not feel safe, but something about her made me trust her. "specifically, you left forearm?" She said patiently. against my better judgement I raised it, pulling my jumpers sleeve up. She took it gently between her hands.

"Aah, not long now" She said more to herself than anyone. "We will meet again Azriella Veramouth, and very soon" She smiled at me.

"what isn't long? When will we meet?" I asked confused.

"Patients is a virtue little one. Be sure to remember that" And with that she walked out of the bathroom. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I seemed to be a polar opposite to the woman. I had hazel eyes with light brown hair and golden skin. I was average height and my face was not breathtakingly pretty like hers. I opened the bathroom door and she was no where in sight. Maybe this was a side effect of my concussion. I walked back into the playground as the bell for class rang, and I tried the best I could to put the women who called herself Virgo, and the little boy out of my mind. I made my way towards my class, and a wind picked up, lashing at my face like a dozen whips. i put my head down and wrapped my jumper tighter around myself. My hair flew wild, and my eyes stung, I was halfway to class when something catapulted itself into me, launching my forwards.

There were a group of students, ninth graders by the looks, that were laughing at me stumbling. One of them grabbed my bag and threw it into the garden, another pushed me again. I knew better than to fight, they would find a way of getting me in trouble. The tripped me over as they walked past and left me on the concrete. I picked up my bag once they were out of sight. I better get used to this; it was what the rest of my time at Ballimore would be like. I sighed and made my way towards class again, wanting the day to be over.