Define 'psychopath'.
I frown. The word 'psychopath' is written in red, bold letters. It jumps out at me like a sore thumb, throbbing and painful. I slump back in my seat, knowing it's too much of a coincidence to not be a set up.I capture the attention of my desk mate, Emma. The girl with mousy brown hair cropped to her chin, and thick rimmed glasses peers over to read what my slip says. I sat next to her last semester, and I've never met anyone as nosy as her- that's a lie, though. The entire town of Bethany is nosy. Especially when it comes to me, the daughter of the infamous ‘preaching murderer’.Glaring, I pull it away from her view, nearly crushing it between my fingers. Her gaze raises to look at me, eyes widening into brown saucers before returning to her own slip of paper. "God damn, nosy bitch," I whisper, lips pursing in distaste. She squeaks, shifting further away from me.That's right, move away, I think, ignoring the small pinch in my chest. I wasn't always like this, a girl who was fond of cursing. I wasn't the mean girl, or the badass, or even the Queen-Bee. I was just a regular, old me; normal. However, the world is adamant about showing me that I can't stay in my comfort zone forever. God forbid I ever do that.Staring down at the word once more, I somehow find myself blaming it. Afterall, it's the entire reason my world is turning upside down. I lift my head, eyes drifting to the blonde, barbie doll named Kensey, sitting across the opposite wall of me, and I'm surprised to find her ocean blue eyes glued to me. The tilt of a smirk forms on her plump, filler lips, and she raises the red sharpie she holds between her slim fingers.My eyes narrow, because of course it would be her to put me in such a position. It isn't a wonder that someone picked this specifically for me. I'd be stupid if I thought this is a coincidence. The blonde witch will thrive, seeing me humiliated. She doesn't have to gain anything from it, just as long as the daughter of a murderer suffers, everything will be peachy.She turns away, and I follow her gaze to find Lucas Melfick staring at me. He sneers, brown eyes burning holes into my head and lips pursed in disgust. My grip tightens around my pencil, slippery from how clammy my hand is. His thick brows narrow at me, and I can't hide the way I shrink back in my seat. At that, he smiles, a dark quirk of his lips that promises pain and humiliation.Tearing my gaze away from him, I unfold my slip of paper.The correct definition of a psychopath -according to g****e- is a person suffering from chronic mental disorder with abnormal or violent behavior. But I know that our English teacher, Mr. Williams, wouldn't accept that answer. He wants us to define it based on our personal experience.Everyone in the class thinks I have plenty of experience.I glance around, no one else seems to be focused on me. They are either scribbling they're answer to their own question or trying to come up with one. I stare back down at the single strip of paper and the pencil between my fingers as I tap the eraser against my chin.In my own experience, the word psychopath means I’m cursed. One that has no escape. When I first saw the word, my thoughts immediately went to my father. A man who mastered the art of disguise, becoming a wolf in sheep's clothing. Tears prick at my eyes, and I quickly blink them away.I can't show weakness; not here, not now. It will only fuel them more.Mr. Williams sits at his desk, typing away on his laptop. There's just over thirty students in this class, what are the odds he'll want every single one to stand and answer? Will he go by last name? Or will he pick and choose at random? I stare down at my wooden desk, debating if I should smack my head against it. What are the chances that I can knock myself out doing that?I sigh."Alright, time is up. Pencils down." Mr. Williams gets up from his desk and walks to stand in front of it. He crosses his arms over his olive green dress shirt before leaning back and saying, "Ariella, why don't you go first."He hates me. I know he does, and it’s confirmed by the way he narrows his eyes at me. He knows I'm ripe for the picking. I mean what teacher doesn't think; Hey, this girl is going through some major fucking trauma, let's put her on the spot with a question that will completely ruin her further?I suck in a deep breath, my chest suddenly tight. My hands begin to shake, and I hide them behind my back."What was your word?" Mr. Williams presses.Kensey starts to giggle, blue eyes glued to my red face. My mouth opens but nothing comes out. Clearing my throat, I force it out."Psychopath," I answer.He raises an eyebrow, and my fingers twitch. Oh, cut the innocent bullshit out. You know damn well you gave that to me on purpose. His raised brow is an indication to speak and not just stand there like an idiot."Well," I breathe out. "You won't let us use g****e, so..." I shrug."It would be boring if you used it." He smiles back."Psychopath is... always there, but not to the visible eye." I think about my fathers kind smile before it morphs into something much more sinister."It definitely passed yours." I recognize the hateful voice that belongs to Henry Brackintaw. I glance to the left, clashing with his emerald green gaze. The whites of his eyes are red, and his lids are dark with circles. Blond strands of hair fall onto his forehead, shaded by the hood he has pulled up. I couldn’t guess what drug he’s on today; weed, xanax, aderalle. You name it, he’s on it. It doesn't matter that he's on the football team or that Coach Merlin doesn't allow his players to use any drugs. For a fraction of a moment, I want to threaten him by telling his coach that maybe, just maybe, he should drug test him. The want doesn’t last very long, despite being a christian town, like everywhere else, snitches get stitches.With a stiff neck, I turn away. I focus on the dumbass ABC's strip that lines the top of the wall. I know we have some special students, but does Mr. Williams really think it's necessary? Then again, here I am talking about psychopaths.Of course he thinks we're stupid enough not to know the alphabet without having to sing the song."It's a mental illness that not only affects the host, but also the people around them. They become victims to the rotten thoughts that plague the psycho’s mind, driving them to do insane things," I force myself to continue."I read that being a psychopath is hereditary," Kensey says while raising her hand. Her wide innocent eyes turn to me, and she smiles. Why the hell is everyone smiling?Maybe because their parent isn't a serial killer? "What are the chances that you're a crazy murderer too?" she asks.The image of walking into my fathers office after hours comes to mind. He was late to dinner, and I was worried he would over work himself along with th
I pull open the church's door, and cringe. The main lights were turned off, leaving only the dimmed bulbs on the walls. I always thought the place looked creepy with the lights turned off. Like a haunting waiting to happen. I make my way to the kitchen in the back, reserved for the Sunday bread splitting and the holiday potlucks. I’m surprised to find the lights on, but the room is abandoned. Butter knives were left on the counters, and some sandwiches left unmade.With a sigh, I walk over and put the lids back on the peanut butter and jelly. I guess they just forgot to clean up after themselves. Mrs. Nolt has alsheimers, yet despite that she still helps out every Wednesday. When the room was back in order, I make my way back to the main hall. I know no one has left yet because their cars were still in the car park when I arrived, so they have to be around somewhere. Maybe Dad convinced them to stay for some other task, it wouldn't have surprised me if he did. Assuming they were prob
Stone leans back against the trunk, one tattooed arm crossed over his chest while the other brings the cigarette to his lips. That boy is Satan's spawn with a mouth of broken glass that spit words meant to make people bleed. Being his neighbour doesn't stop me from being intimidated. Hearing him yell at his father, the crash of glass breaking… it only solidifies just how toxic he is. His dark, blue-tinted hair is shaved on the sides, leaving a messy tuff on top. Strands fall into his dark, onyx eyes. They pierce into me, sharp and unyielding. Before I was at the bottom of the food chain, I once witnessed him cutting a boy's cheek with the pocket knife he always has on him. I later found out he did it all because he was bored, and the boy was in the wrong place at the wrong time.Swallowing thickly, my gaze moves to the guy standing next to him, Haeden. Although mellow compared to Stone, he is just as scary. He glares at me with hooded, red strained eyes. His blue irises glow in the su
A scream tears from my throat, and I shoot up into a sitting position. The air is cold against my sweaty skin, and I frantically search my surroundings. My chest heaves as I struggle to control my breathing. It was just a nightmare, one that will plague my mind forever. I cry, the image of Mrs. Nolt imprinted into my brain. Her corpse sitting peacefully on the church pew. I run my hand through my brown hair, pulling at it as tears stream down my face. Around this time, grandma would have come in with some chamomile tea and a piece of chocolate. She's not here this time, having gone out with a friend to the casino in the city.It was just a nightmare. However, the thought doesn't calm my racing heart and shaking hands. I flip on the light switch, chasing away the dark shadows that taunt me, but it doesn't do anything about the ones inside my head. I sit back down on my bed and force myself to take a deep breath.One.Two.Three.I count all the way to ten until I hear loud banging com
I’m relieved that the halls are empty. After getting my late pass from the secretary in the front office, I make my way to my locker. I slow when I see the red spray paint. Stopping in front of it, I glare at the word written across the space of my locker. Merderer.I’ve never killed anyone. The only crime I’ve made related to taking someone's life was against mosquitoes, flies, and spiders. But just by association, by being his daughter, I’m unfairly marked. His crime becomes mine. “At least fucking spell it right,” I grumble under my breath as I try to wipe the first ‘E’ away. Part of it smudges, but the letter remains. “Damn idiots.” I push away the urge to cry. No more tears, not today. I’ve done enough of that this morning.I remember Stone staring at my egged figure and cringe. I’ll never be able to look at him again. Never be able to make eye contact. Never be able to be in the same room. I twist the number lock and open my locker up. I pull out the text book for my class, a
She stares at Kingston with flushed cheeks, and I roll my eyes. She’s had a crush on him for years, and only after making friends with the others did she grow the vagina to talk to him. I don’t say balls because facts are, vaginas push out babies. Balls cry at the flick of a finger. An image of Mrs. Nolt kicking my dad in the nuts before his murder weapon could reach her comes to mind. Who knows if she actually attempted it, but I tell myself she did. I tell myself that she fought for her life because she wanted to live. Right? Who wants to die?Kingston gives her a casual nod, eyes taking in her figure. No longer seeing the point in being here, because clearly they're done harassing me, I side step them. “As fun as this has been, I’m gonna go,” I mutter. “See ya later, Psycho!” Kensey calls after me. ***Crumpled balls of paper were thrown at the back of my head all throughout the next two classes. And despite the number of them piling up on the ground, the teachers said nothing
I can’t believe Haeden asked me to join. He knows I’m a social pariah, the daughter of a psychopath. Then again he slept with Lacey Parks, even after she got caught getting gang banged by half the football team. He’d fuck anything as long as it had a pussy. With a sigh I lay back and stare up at the bottom of the bleachers. The sight of gum stuck from years ago makes me gag. Not a pretty sight.A yawn escapes me, I’ll just take a nap and catch up on the sleep I missed. ***I sit up from my desk and put away my homework. My back is stiff, butt numb from sitting on it for an hour and a half. I turn around and freeze in my spot. Dad is there, his button up shirt and black slacks are stained a dark red. The smell of iron fills my nose, and blood drips from his collar. “Dad?” I ask, voice trembling. I glance down at the knife held tightly in his hand. It’s sharp, and the blade glistens like liquid rubies. “Dad,
The first time I talked to Kingston Acheves, I was nine and at church. He wore a black button up shirt with matching black slacks. And as he stood next to his father, I couldn't help but notice how pretty this boy was. I stood there, next to my father, the Pastor, as he talked with his dad. I swished my blue summer dress around my thighs, suddenly desperate to get this pretty boy's attention. "Are you always this pretty?" The question is out of my lips, my impulse control severely lacking. "Ariella," I struggle to tear my gaze away from Kingston, the boy who now glowers at me like I said something wrong. But how could I be wrong? Being pretty wasn't a bad thing, it was a good thing. Dad didn't seem to get that though. "Ariella, apologize please. That was very rude." My father tugged my hand, forcing my attention to him, and my brows furrow. I wasn't trying to be rude though."But mommy always said it was nice