𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐇; Tom Riddle

chapter thirteen

Cries and sobs filled the room. Abraxas Malfoy was loved amongst many, and now we'd never be blessed in his presence once more. I decided to wait for students to clear out so I could speak to Headmaster Dippet alone and in solace.

I did just that, and eventually, all the students had gone. As he realized that, he kept a suspecting eye on me. I looked up at him, who was now walking towards me.

"Ah, Miss Kane. How might I help you?" his voice was dull, as he tried to appear welcoming.

"Is nothing going to be done about our safety, I mean, what if his perpetrator tries to strike again?" I spoke slowly, thinking about my words and how I could avoid certain phrases.

"Perpetrator?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"Yes, the ministry questioned me about it. It's true, this wasn't an accident." I said, a hint of passive aggressiveness already lurking in my tone as I lost my patience.

"I'm sending my condolences to you, Elizabeth. This was an accident." he tries to reassure me, but I am anything but reassured.

"An accident? No, he was beaten. That's not an accident." I almost yelled at him, my jaw hung open.

"You may leave now." Headmaster Dippet spoke softly, gesturing towards the door.

This isn't right, this is wrong. Someone is covering up his death in deceit, Abraxas has gone in vain.

"This isn't fair." I shook my head, my lip curling as a bitter taste was in my mouth.

"I can't help you," he came in closer to me, "but perhaps Dumbledore could." his voice was low, and secretiveness fell through the cracks.

We stared at each other for a moment, and something finally registered for me. Of course, Dumbledore knew something, he always has a few tricks up his sleeve. I nod my head and thank him silently. I decided not to visit Dumbledore - I didn't have the patience.

I walk away, motivated to change things for the better.

-

I slam open the wooden door that lead to our dorm, expecting Tom, and found him nowhere in plain sight. The wood and the wall being slammed into each other made a loud bang.

Heads turned; it was Kiara and Katherine. I glare at them with shame in my hues, a frown praising my face.

Katherine was mourning the loss of her brother, wild tears streaming down her face and rolling onto the ground. As was Kiara, though the two of them were never close, Abraxas was a dear friend of hers. Kiara was comforting Katherine in a way I never could because all I'd do is cry with her. And what help is that?

Their tears are my tears.

Watching my two beloved best friends so distraught and heartbroken, was a pain I couldn't understand. If I could take all their pain away, I would.

Just for them.

I couldn't watch them hurt anymore - I ran into the girl's bathroom and locked myself in a stall. I prop myself up onto the wall and hug my knees.

It should've been me.

He never got to tell me he loved me, did he ever actually love me?

I wept into my hands until they were soaked in my salty tears, and my head felt so heavy that it might've rolled right off. I hiccuped, choking on my own tears. My eyes felt like they'd fall out if I cried any longer.

"what am I supposed to do without you?" I asked no one in particular, but a boy who no longer existed.

He was but a ghost now, a memory of what should've been.

I sobbed carelessly for hours until I heard the bathroom door swing open. The bang echoed across the entire room, and I placed my hand over my mouth to conceal my cries.

"Shall I go through with my plan, then?" An unexpected voice beckoned.

I suddenly smiled, immediately recognizing the voice that I was so used to hearing. By now, his usually cold voice was a familiar sound.

No other boy I'd met before ever hung out in the girl's bathroom, he was odd. But, just the right amount of odd.

Peculiar boy, and even more peculiar girl.

"how do you suppose that got there?" he spoke to no one I could hear, as I continued listening in to his conversation with a ghost.

His intimidating voice came to an abrupt halt, and I wondered if perhaps he knew that I was there now.

"Tom?" I called out, my body slicked off against the wall slowly. I opened the stall door and found him standing there, already facing me.

"Who were you talking to?" I blinked.

There was no emotion behind his eyes, as he kept staring at me with the same lifeless glare, "Get out." He finally broke the impending hiatus of silence.

"Is that all you have to say to me?" I frowned, my arms swinging back and forth lightly, as tears tempted me.

"Yes." he looked me dead in the eye, and I didn't catch a lie in his hues.

The knot in my throat grew, and it was hard to breathe as I shut my eyes tightly.

I lost the battle with my tears, "I never knew you could be so heartless."

He shrugged, and it enraged me how careless he was towards my feelings. My eyes peeled open. I stormed up to him, my hand flying towards his cheek. He jerked backward, catching my wrist and holding it tightly in his clutch. I looked him in the eye, everything inside me crushing.

"Let go of me," I spoke through gritted teeth, as more stray tears meshed from my eyes.

He didn't say a word, only clenching his jaw.

"I hate you." I tried my best to stop the tears, not wanting to give him the satisfaction, but eventually, I caved into the odd comfort. The tears just kept coming, and I used my other hand to strike him again, of course, he caught it just like the last time.

"Stop." he directed me, his jaw clenched.

I felt so exhausted that I eventually gave up on it, and began breaking down and sobbing. I fell down to his feet, while he still held my wrists in his hands. He pulled me up by my wrists, and I tried hitting him again while still breaking down in tears.

He then reluctantly pulled me into a hug, his hands still wrapped around my wrists. His body wrapped around mine, to restrict me from hitting him any longer, and I cried into his chest. His cold embrace was somewhat a comfort, for someone who was so alone.

With each other still in an embrace, we slowly glided down the wall; onto the ground. I was cradled in his arms, as his arms fell down at his sides. I cried into his chest, soaking his sweater.

"You'll be fine." that was his attempt at comfort, as he glanced down at me with uncertainty. His body became stiff, as he tore his eyes away from me and didn't say a word for the rest of it.