MANIAC

Chapter 1

My heart began to pulsate faster and faster. The pressure and the tension pushed my body into a trembling mess as I ran. Farther from here, farther from him. Him, calmly chasing me with the alarming smile on his face that signed murder. The garden began to wilt with every step, the sea began to savor wine red, the doves who once carried peace, claimed into death and destruction.

This paradise, this heaven. Shriveled into nothingness. Scraped into dust. Burnt into ashes. His laughter mingle with the hurricane who followed. Closer, closer, closer. The blade strikes my back, I didn't dared to look behind. I just kept on running. The thorns of madness confine my wedding dress causing me to trip,

Causing him to kill me...

"Until death will do us part."

Those words slither in my head as he impaled his knife into my weak and bruised body. A scream that ended as soon as it started.

"MAYA!" I hear Emma scream at me as the sunlight interrupts my sleep.

"Gah! W-what?!" I scream in horror.

I found myself on my bed with my phone buzzling the alarm repeatedly. I was gripping on my stomach like a mad man as my dorm mate looked at me with worrisome eyes.

It was all just a bad dream.

"Dude! Are you okay?!" She asked still worried.

"Yeah, I guess so..." I replied, scratching the back of my head and stretching afterwards.

"Were you having a nightmare?"

"Maybe..."

"What's it about?"

I stayed silent, I wanted to tell her but somehow I couldn't. My mouth can't process the words correctly. All I remembered was that man, his smile sends shivers down my spine.

"I don't wanna talk about it..."

"Aw... Ok then. Dude, I gotta go now. You better hurry up." Emma winked at me.

"Yeah thanks." I smiled at her and walked to the bathroom. I wore a polo and a red skirt and organized my books.

Soon I was power walking to the cafeteria and ate an apple on my way to class. I sat down patiently and began reading my chemistry book.

Nerd, slut, freak, white trash. I ignored the men who kept insulting me. Those words aren't so effective to my sensitivity anymore.

-----

Ms. Trick dismissed classes due to a seminar. My locker was vandalized with insults, all written in black markers and spray paint but I didn't mind it. When I opened my locker, a note was laying on my notebook.

You are special. It read. It was the first time I've received something like this. I turned the note around which revealed some red blots. The note was written with red ink I think, not thinking of anything serious. The paper was purple, a color that I adored.

I looked around to see if anyone was spying. None. I kept the note in my pocket and took out my English book.

-----

It was lunch time. I sat with Emma who was cramming her assignment. I was explaining the note to her and she listened, done her homework and ate.

"Really? So does that mean... You have a... Secret admirer~?" She grinned and winked at me as she looked up from her homework.

"Secret admirer? Now who would love me?" I chuckled. Emma didn't answer, she turned back to her homework and nervously smiled. Uhh...

"But how did this person unlocked my locker?" I asked curiously as if Emma knew the answer.

"I know right, it's not like they can just magically open it. Weird as hell." She took a bite from her sandwich. I just watched her.

"... Hey Maya, could you help me with this?" She passed her notebook with a equation written on it. I sighed and helped her.

"I heard you have band practice after school." I said as I easily answered the question for her.

"Yeah, you should join! Your voice sounds so good!" She suggested. I smiled at her and said:

"No thanks, I'd rather just study. But thanks anyway."

"No! Thank you! You helped me with my assignment." She smiled widely as we returned to our classes.

-----

The bell rang just in time my history teacher was about to ask me my score. He dismissed it as the students ran outside like horses out of their stables. I remembered Emma will be in band practice, so I walked back to the dorm alone.