The Chronicles of Nia Cicida, Book 1: The Light at the End of the Tunnel [CHAPTER EIGHT ADDED]

Chapter 6- I Walk Alone

"I am a little bit of loneliness, a little bit of disregard
Handful of complaints but I can't help the fact
That everybody can see these scars."
Faint, Linkin Park

Somewhere in the bitterly cold state of Seattle, Washington, a small school was still in session. It was time for Gym Class, or better known as P.E. [that's short for Physical Education] The Science teacher, Miss Lepter, was trying to convince the Middle School principal to excuse the students from their sixth period class. The class was made up on twenty-nine bright seventh graders. They were in the advanced honors classes, so they had to be bright, or else they wouldn't be in this class.

All of their eager heads were turned up, staring at the Middle School principal with pleading eyes. A few of the girls gave her puppy dog faces, but, of course, the principal simply smiled, and shook her head. "Sorry, students. You guys will still have to go to your sixth class." The class booed, and 'awww'ed. "But maybe your teachers will let you guys run in the gym." She finished, and then left the classroom, her high heels clicking quietly against the white tile floor.

There was one head, though, that was not turned up. Somewhere in the far corner of the room, in the very first row, sat a fair-skinned girl with very dark, almost black, hair. She wore it up in a low ponytail, and it had a few curls when it reached the end. She seemed to be sketching something, a black charcoal pencil in her small hand. It flew across the paper, making quiet scratching sounds.

The loud bell [which sounded very close to that of a boat's horn] sounded, releasing the students from their fifth class. The small girl was the last to leave.

She slowly slid her books off of her desk, and into her plaid colored book bag. She zipped up her pencil pouch, and threw it in her bag. As she walked out of the door, the Science teacher called after her,

"Beatrice, try to pick up the pace a little next time, you're going to be late for your next class."

"Yeah." Replied Beatrice, closing the door and pulling her jacket tighter around herself. She shivered, and ran into the girl's locker room.

She looked around. The class was half gone, there were only ten or eleven seventh graders, and about eight eighth graders. Everyone was getting sick and breaking their bones. Kim broke her arm, Emily fractured her arm, Cynthia twisted her ankle, and many more random types of injuries.

Beatrice was one of the shorter girls in her grade; she stood at about four feet and five or so inches, the fourth shortest girl in her grade. And if it was even possible, there were shorter girls.

Quietly, she placed her bag under one of the benches, and slowly dressed for Gym class. She would nod, and smile to everyone who waved at her, but very rarely would she use her voice. She didn't see the point of it; Beatrice didn't like showing her feelings. She couldn't show them when she was at home, so she wouldn't show them now- for fear that she would be put down.

Everyone was wearing sweatpants, a long-sleeved under shirt, their Gym shirt, and their sweatshirt. Beatrice only wore white sneakers, her navy blue gym shorts, a white undershirt, and her gym shirt. She let her curly black hair down loose. She pulled her sweat shirt down over her head, and walked out of the locker room.

Everyone was huddled together in little bunches, the air so cold that their breath came out in a white mist. Beatrice sat down by a few people she was familiar with, and laughed at how they were taking to the drastic change in weather. "Trust me, guys, I've seen colder." She said, grinning at them. Where she came from, it was always, always cold...

The girls were silenced when the coach blew her whistles. "Alright, girls!" She said, raising her voice so the girls wouldn't have to crane their necks in order to hear. "You're running in the park. But I can see y'all are freezing your butts off over here, so we'll make a deal. All you have to do, is run a whole lap, without stopping." She made the last part clear. "If you walk, you run, again. Understand?" She asked.

"Yes coach..." Said all of the girl's simultaneously, standing up and stretching their backs and legs out.

"Alright. To the park!" She pointed in the direction that the park was in, and walked behind as the girls walked ahead of her, trying to warm themselves up by jogging, or speed-walking.

As they got there, the girls started off on their one lap. Beatrice was stuck in the back, though, for her legs were just too numb to operate properly. Her little nose was red, along with her cheeks, and the palms of her hands.

She stopped when she reached the rose bushes, and arched an eyebrow slightly, jumping back when she heard a growl. She blinked, closing her eyes for a good five seconds, but when she opened them, she found herself deep in a dark and frightening looking forest.

Beatrice jumped, startled. She spun around, "Hello?" She called, her voice echoing back to her a few times. She knew exactly where she was; and she did not want to be here. She didn't belong.

She rubbed her hands together, and blinked slowly, holding her eyes closed for a few seconds before opening them. But when she opened them, she was greeted by Delaney's familiar, mocking face.