4. Don't Touch Me

Zach stepped back and left me as if I'd been slapped hard. A storm of emotions filled my chest.

I quickly ran after him and grabbed his shoulder. Gasping for breath, I stared into Zach's icy blue eyes.

"Do you really want Sara and I to die? How could you say something so horrible?"

But he immediately shook my hand away. Zach didn't answer. He just kept walking.

"Weren't you there? You're the one who saved me, aren't you?" I yelled.

Damn it! He wasn't answering at all!

I needed answers. I rushed after Zach again, reaching for his shoulder—

But this time, he grabbed my wrist.

"Don't touch me! You have no idea who you're up against!" His deep voice was filled with menace.

Then he sped off and disappeared back into the school building.

I was left standing, drenched in sweat, my knees shaking from Zach's intensity.

I could barely breathe. I had to catch my breath and calm down.

My memory started to come back - and yes, I was sure that Zach had been there when I was dying.

If no one had found Sara and me, I would have died.

So why did Zach deny it? Was he afraid of getting involved? Afraid of being a witness?

Maybe. It was possible.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and many guys came out. The hockey team. They never came here.

What the hell were they doing? I thought it best to get out of the way.

But the team captain tapped me on the shoulder just as I passed them.

"You're Bernice, right?" he asked, shoving me roughly.

It was Adam; honestly, I didn't want anything to do with him.

Then it hit me. Maggie must have told her boyfriend.

Is that what Zach meant? If I stepped out of line, would I have to deal with the rest of East Bridge High?

"I heard you turned badass after surviving that bear attack," Adam scoffed. "Even had the nerve to slap my girl."

His buddies spread out and surrounded me. Six huge guys boxed me in.

Cold sweat ran down my temple. Could I take them on?

"Hey!!"

A rough voice yelled from behind Adam.

All the boys turned around, and I felt a wave of relief.

It was the school counselor who was hurrying toward me.

"Are you Bernice Jennings?" he asked, his eyes fixed on me.

"Yes, sir," I nodded quickly.

"Come with me."

Thank God. I was saved - at least for now.

I glanced at Adam.

Yes, Maggie's boyfriend still had that vengeful glint in his eye. God... I felt like peace was a thing of the past for me.

*

My day ended in the counselor's office.

Apparently, slapping Maggie had become controversial, and the school was taking swift action.

I couldn't defend myself. What was the point? Maggie had power. Her parents were big donors. I knew there was no point in speaking up. She'd always win.

By the time I finished, it was late. They made me write repeatedly in a notebook, "I will not act out or hurt others again."

And the worst part? I've never hit anyone in my life. That slap...was impulsive. Had I gone crazy?

I left the book on the desk and left the counseling room. Even the teacher seemed to have gone home a while ago.

The school was eerily quiet. I smelled bleach in the air, and the janitor must have mopped the classrooms.

I went to my locker and froze. Why was it slightly open?

I opened it and saw red paint splattered everywhere. My books. My bag. Everything ruined.

What the hell?!

Fighting back tears, I stuffed what I could into my bag. I couldn't let Mom find out. She'd lose her mind.

Just as I closed my locker, Zach suddenly stood beside me.

"Oh, God!" I yelped.

How long had he been there?

I looked away and walked past him. I didn't want to talk. I didn't want to admit that he was right.

But Zach grabbed my arm, and I quickly shook him off.

"What do you want?" I snapped.

"Tell me—what changes have you noticed? Is your wound completely healed? Not even a scar?"

His intense gaze made my skin crawl.

"Are your senses sharper? Smell? Hearing? Can you see in the dark?"

"Don't ask me weird questions like that!" I snapped.

"You'll thank me if I decide you're worth training. But if I decide you're not, your life will go to hell, Bernice."

"Is that a threat?"

"No. That's a promise."

Zach walked away, leaving me alone in the hallway.

That cold, mysterious act? It's not cool anymore. Just annoying.

Furious, I punched my locker—

And the door cracked clean off.

Shit! What did I just do?!

In a panic, I ran out of the building before anyone could see me. I stopped in the courtyard and looked down the hall. Beyond it, the woods. The place where everything had happened.

Was that thing the cause of Sara's death? Or... was it me?

If we hadn't taken that path through the woods, she'd still be alive. I kept running from the truth. But how long could I do that?

I walked toward the forest, following the path. My heart was pounding with a mixture of fear, anger, and desperation. When I reached the edge, I took a deep breath.

"If I'm the reason Sara died... then I'm going to find this thing and make it pay," I whispered.

I walked into the woods, ignoring the buzzing of my phone. Mom was calling. But I didn't stop walking.

Crows cawed in the distance, and I shivered. I tilted my head. My hearing was really sharper. They weren't even close, yet I could hear them clearly.

"Weird," I muttered.

I didn't even know why I was here. Was it grief? No... it was more than that.

I had to prove to myself that what had happened was real. That I couldn't undo it. And maybe… I could find that monster—and destroy it.

I stopped at the yellow police tape. A heavy weight was on my chest. I dropped to the ground and cried softly.

"I'm sorry..." I whispered. "I'm so sorry, Sara."

Suddenly, I heard twigs breaking. Footsteps.

I stood up and turned around. Oh, no.

Adam. And his friends. Again.

I could feel his hatred. His buddies? Just here for kicks.

"You should have gone straight home, Bernice." Adam sneered. "Don't want your mommy to worry, do you?"

I swallowed hard and stepped back.

"You're that asthmatic girl, right? Aren't you afraid your little condition will appear in these woods?"

I glared at Adam, watching his every move. As I thought, they were circling me.

"What? You need backup to take on an asthmatic girl?" I challenged.

"Oh, it's just for the memory," Adam grinned. "A day you'll never forget."

A punch came flying. I dodged. But another hit me in the back, the pain exploding through my body and knocking me to the ground.

They stomped on my arms and legs. I could only moan in pain. Adam knelt beside me, his face inches from mine.

"We're going to have some fun, Bernice." Then he stood up and yelled to his friends, "Strip her! Take pictures of her naked!"

I struggled but couldn't get free. One of them started pulling down my pants. I kicked him.

He punched me in the face. My vision was blurred.

"You won't get away with this!" I screamed.

"Oh, we will," Adam laughed. "And you? You'll carry this shame forever, bitch!"

They turned me over and ripped my shirt off. Their laughter echoed disgustingly.

"You sick bastards!!" I sobbed.

"Go ahead and scream, Bernice! No one's coming to save you!"

"Take off her bra! I want to see if she's flat or not!"

"You want to taste her? I bet she's a virgin! She won't say a word if we keep the pictures!"

One of them pointed to a cell phone with a flash on.

Monsters. They weren't human.

They did this because I stood up to Maggie.

I kept struggling, pushing their hands off me, but they pinned me down again.

"Nooo...!!! Don't...!!!" I sobbed.

Somebody, anybody, please help me!!!