Storm

Chapter 1 Broken

"Good for nothing idiot!"she screeches at me, her icy blue eyes boring into me like a knife. She stalks over to me, hands on hips, and gets right in my face. I slowly back up, fear seeping like ice into my veins.  I shiver as the air feels like it drops ten degrees colder.  She takes a huge step forward, as I stumble backwards.
Her cold, icy blue eyes glint menacingly as she smiles wickedly.  Predator and prey.  Lion and Zebra. Tom and Jerry.  Sierra slams me into the wall, caging me with her iron grip. I desperately glance around seeking a way out, but there is no escape. Trapped. Sierra violently yanks my long, thick, ink black hair, and whispers icily in my ear,"I saw you were flirting with Brennon today and YOU KNOW HE'S MINE! Today I am going to break you like I have never broken you before. You are going to suffer, you wretched girl." I feel numb, like a empty, enormous black abyss. I slump in her grip as she beckons to her friends to hold me down. This was our ritual. Day after day, I let her beat me into pulp. Thousands of sleepless nights spent tossing and turning, petrified of what the next day would bring. Putting on a facade that I was okay. Fake smiles at the dinner table, polite chit-chat to ease my worried parents.  But, behind closed doors a different story emerges.  When I am alone, I cry my heart out, tears flowing down my face like a waterfall.  I am the wet clay that Sierra molds to her satisfaction.  I am the ancient, dusty doormat that she and her cronies step on.  She is the hurricane that devastates my life, making sure I having no happy memories. The chains can never be broken, the hurt will never stop.  So I give up.  Her friends Sam and Blakely smile manically as they tighten their grips on my wrists and legs.  Sierra quickly draws back her hand, aiming at my face, and punches me as hard as she can.  Her fist connects with a snap!  I cry out in agony as my cheek throbs with intensifying pain.  Punch after punch rains down on different parts of my body.  For a moment she stops and stares at me like I'm dog poop at the bottom of her shoe.  She grabs my chin, hate in her eyes.  "This is only the beginning,"she snarls.  She then grabs my wrist squeezing it like a vice. CRACK! The sound of bones snapping in several places resonates through the air. I give an ear shattering scream as white-hot pain sears through my bruised body. Sierra and her friends slam me to the cracked, hard ground, guffawing at my pitiful, broken form. They slowly walk away, leaving me to fend for myself. Warm, wet tears cascade down my face, spilling onto the earth like rain. "Can I get up?" That thought terrifies me. I panic as I try and rise, accidentally shifting all my weight to my bad wrist. Like a wildfire, burning pain erupts through my entire body.  I crumple backwards, my head hitting the ground with a sickening thud.  My vision starts to go black and I'm seeing stars.  I suddenly hear someone shout,"Do not black out on me that's a command and I mean it!"  I can't see the figure, and I can't do what the stranger asks of me.  The pain is too great.  Darkness engulfs me, and I black  out.
                                ***

Beep.  Beep.  Beep.  I groggily groan in annoyance as my stupid alarm clock won't shut up.   I sleepily open my eyes, but quickly close them as blinding light fills my eyes. I cautiously open them them and my vision is fine. With a jolt I realize that I am in a hospital, not my room. It was not my alarm clock ringing, instead it was a heart rate monitor. "Why am I here?"I wondered. I panick, trying to rip my IV off, when suddenly a pair of strong, tan arms gently move mine and pin them with the upmost care. I glance upwards and see a shockingly handsome guy about my age staring at me. "What do you want?"I scowl, unsuccessfully trying to escape. "Get your hands off me!" "I can't keep my hands to myself,"he smiles, calmly quoting Selena Gomez.  I angrily glare at him and yell, "THIS is NOT choir! NOW LET GO OF ME!" He smirked, looking amused at my annoyance. Wow! I guess my anger was just too hysterical! Hardy har har. "Looks like we have a feisty one!"he chuckled, heartily.  I, not in the mood, angrily gave him a frigid glare.  He stares back at me unblinking."This is NOT a staring contest!  Now take your nasty hands OFF mine, and let me GO!"I snap.  "If you stop struggling, I'll let you go,"he proposes.  I groan, but relent.  "Fine!"I huff.  He gives me a crooked, boyish grin exposing his straight, white teeth.  For the first time in years, someone besides my family had given me an actual authentic smile.  I soften a bit and tone down my anger.  He releases his grip on me, and plops down on my bed. I have a lot of questions, and I want to know what happened. "Who are you?  What happened?!  What's your name and where are my parents? Where am I?"I ask my mouth running a mile a minute.  He smiles and takes a deep breath as if he were about to read a long book.  "My name is Rylen Matthews and I'm the one who found you at school and brought you here.  I go to your school and I just moved to this quaint little town.  Your parents should be here soon.  As for why you are here?  Well, I stumbled into you and I saw three people running away from you.  I assume they are the ones who beat you up."  He looks extremely concerned for me, his stunning, emerald green eyes searching for answers.  My eyes widen as dark memories resurface for what had happened on that long fateful day.  Tears prick my eyes, and I desperately blink my eyes in hopes that they fade.  I suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder, and startled, I quickly bolt to my feet.  I sense a heart wrenching sadness in his eyes, and I feel a huge twisting in my gut, for I absolutely  despise sympathy.  "How long has it been going on, if you don't mind me asking?"  I frown and stare out the window, like it's the most interesting thing in the world.  I feel a nervous energy start to build up, and I fiddle with my blanket to quell it.  "What do you mean how long has this been going on?"I gesture towards him and then to me.  He blushes as red as a watermelon and quickly ducks his head in embarrassment.  "Cat got your tongue? Well mission accomplished."I smirk to myself, and watch as the poor sap finally regains his composure.  He coughs nervously and says,"I uh didn't mean like that, sorry if you thought that's what I meant."  "Chill, I was only teasing you,"I say, and then realize with a jolt that this is the first time I have smiled genuinely in years.  He grins good-naturedly and is about to say something when suddenly the door opens with a resounding BOOM!  My parents practically break down the door as they rush over to me.  "Layla, my baby!  Rylen discreetly exits the room.  "Are you alright pumpkin?"Mom shouts hysterically, as she dramatically grabs my hand.  I groan in embarrassment as she kisses me all over.  "We were so worried honey!  What happened to you?"  "I fell down the stairs, mighty clumsy of me, huh?"I giggle smoothly, desperately hoping my anxiety-ridden parents wouldn't detect my honey-colored web of lies.  Unfortunately, lying to my parents was second nature to me as was breathing.  I didn't want them to be hurt and worry about my life problems, for they already had enough on their plate to deal with.  "Honey,"My dad tentatively asked.  "You've shown up with more bruises than you can count already this year, are you sure there isn't more to your story than you let on?"  I instantly relaxed my features into a immaculate innocent look, and quickly answer",Why would I lie to you Daddy?  You know I've always been extremely clumsy!"  Dad rubbed his head, as if he had a splitting headache, and then gave a fake, hearty laugh.  "You know what, you are right!  You sure inherited your mother's clumsy genes!  Even a gentle breeze would blow her away!"  Thwack!  Mom had hit dad with a hospital pamphlet. "What? it's true!"Dad mutters sheepishly.  That earns dad another hit on the back of the head.  I hear shuffling and the click of a door, and the doctor pokes his head in.  He looks like he should be a model rather than a doctor, with messy dusky blonde hair, pale skin, and familliar unatural green eyes.  "It's nice to meet you Miss Everette, my name is Dr.Mattews and I assure you, you are in good health."  I immediately liked him, which was rare for me considering I trusted no one but myself.  His green eyes sparkle brightly as he holds out his left hand to me.  I shake it using my non-injured hand, which led to an awkward handshake.  He chuckles in embarrassment, and then tells me a dumb dad joke", I'm sorry that we got off the wrong hand."  "It's all good." 
"So Mr.Matthews,"My dad begins.  "How long will it be until Layla can go back to school?"  Fear churns in my gut, making my breath go out in short pants.  Tears stream down my face as I shake my head no.  I would rather be in a hospital than go back to that hellhole of a school.  Everyone looks at me, concern in their eyes.  "Layla, what's wrong?!"Mom asks, her voice delicate as glass.  "I just don't want to fall down those stairs again!"I laugh weakly, my voice on the verge of breaking.  Dr.Matthews gives my parents that look that says he wants to talk with my parents in private later, and then returns his gaze to me.  "I believe she'll be out in a week or so, as she has four cracked ribs, a major concussion, a fractured wrist, and a broken leg.  She needs time to rest and  recover."  He then turned to me.  "My son Rylen has volunteered to keep you  company everyday after he comes home from school, only if you want him to.  I believe you have been acquainted with one another, and that he would cheer you up.  It's your choice though."  Without hesitation, I quickly responded with an enthusiatic yes!  I was not going to die of boredom, no matter how independent I was.  "Mom, dad tomorrow could you drop off my laptop and phone, along with my earbuds, and a week's worth of clothes?  I'll also need my chargers, and my sketchpad and art supplies, thanks!"  "Of course, honey, for now I believe you should get some rest, though."  "She also needs some food, what do you want Layla?"asks Dr.Matthews, as he hands me a menu.
I skim through the items as I am in the mood for something simple, and I know what I want.  "I would like a sandwich and two bottles of water please."  "I'll have a nurse bring them right down, now have a wonderful night, and sleep well, Layla."and with that Dr.Matthews exits the room.  My parents order something as well, and sit down with me.  "So Layla, I believe you met the Doctors son,"my mom smiles innocently.  "Indeed I did," I don't elaborate.  "He's pretty handsome isn't he?  What's he like?"  "Mom!  I just met him!  It's not like I'm going to date him or anything!"  "Layla, you can have guys as friends you know!  Now what's he like?"
I bit my lip, trying not to sound too interested.  "He's very well mannered and friendly, extremely nice too."  I felt a flush in my cheeks, which was probably the hot air in the room.  Mom looks triumphant, and my dad looks like he's  about to lock me up.  In his eyes, I was still his baby girl, and no boy will ever snatch me away.  "You think way ahead in the future, Emma.  We need to know the boy's age, if he smokes and drinks, if he's a v-!  "DADDY!  I have standards!"I let out a strangled moan, mortified beyond belief.  Mom glares at dad, and says",William,  you are embarrassing Layla."  The door opens again and the nurse gracefully walks over to my table, carrying three platters of food, and gently sets them down.  We say our thank yous and she leaves.  My stomach rumbles and I quickly gray my mayo, lettuce, ham, and cheese sandwich and rip it to shreds, like some wild beast.  In about a minute, my plate is stripped clean.  Out of the corner of my eye, I notice mom and dad staring at me in shock.  "Well Layla, looks like you just set the world record for the world's fastest sandwich eater,"Dad says, shattering the silence like glass.  It was true,  I did tend to clean my plate in less than a minute when I was starving.  After, we all finished our meal, my parents straightened my blankets, and kissed my forhead.  "We love you, and hope you get better soon,"Mom said tears streaming down her face.  "Oh Mom, don't be so melodramatic, and I love y'all  too!"  "Sweet dreams my Princess Laya,"Dad says kissing me on the cheek.  My parents reluctantly leave the room, leaving me to fend for myself.  I sigh and close my eyes, suddenly, I hear the crinkling of paper and feel the crack in my bed.  I pull out the folded leaflet of paper, and open it.  My eyes strain to read the note and when I finally do I smile.  The note reads You are beautiful, xoxo Mom and Dad.  With that I close my eyes fall into a deep sleep.

I do appreciate constructive criticism, also it would be greatly appreciated if you leave an upvote and drop a comment!
  ~Bryleigh