Aloe Vera

1. Concrete Strong

If eyes could kill, I'd be dead. There's no denying it. I could feel – see their scorching eyes on my body, watching me like a predator watches their kill. Danielle, my best friend, and a classmate strolled beside me as we tried our best to make it to the school's gate. She kept her head down, probably already anticipating what was to come. But I guess I wasn't so smart that day . . . I actually looked back at them.

When she noticed, she slapped her hand on my arm, her eyes wild with fear. Danielle clenches her jaw and looks left to right to ensure the coast was clear.

"What're you thinking, Loa?" She rasps quietly, "keep your head do-"

My lips parted as a violent force pushed into both of us. Danielle went down before me. She lets out a loud noise as she made contact with the ground, but before I could react, I crashed into the concrete, scraping my knees against the ground. I shut my eyes, practically feeling the blood draw out of my body.

When I reopened my eyes, I noticed so many different pairs of feet around me. Our predators circled us, and to be completely honest, I was getting tired of his shit.

"Where are you two going in such a rush?"

"Danielle," I called out, as she laid on the ground crying. She had given up before she even put up a fight.

But what could I do?

These boys, these people, were stronger than us. They've proven that much before. Standing up to them was useless, and I think Danielle had accepted that fact long before me. Seeing her so fragile on the ground, a sobbing mess while everyone just laughed . . .

"Mace, just leave us alone, please," I murmured, climbing onto all fours and reaching to grab Danielle.

We were drawing an even bigger crowd, and this worried me. If there was one thing Mace loved, it was attention.

No one would scream for him to stop when he bashed our faces into the ground, no one would call for help when he stomped on our hands and twisted our ankles, they would all just record and yell encouragements, as if this was a fucking underground ring.

Mace tilted his head at me, his chest rose and fell heavily as he struggled to breathe. He took pride in beating us senselessly every chance he got, and I had the marks to show it. It would be easy to escape if it was just him, but he always had his band of goons standing right there beside him.

"Loa, I think this is the first time I've heard you speak," his eyes held a sarcastic glint, while his mouth opened widely.

I rolled my eyes.

A slap rings me out of my inner thoughts, and I gasp for air as I fall onto the ground again, my palms hitting the ground. An electric shock shot up my arm, and I winced in pain.

His foot collides with my stomach, and I roll over onto my back, my hands immediately flying over my face.

Two of his friends grabbed Danielle and began dragging her away screaming. My eyes widened into saucers as I tried to stand and reach for her, but Mace pushed me back onto the floor.

I looked up at him and tried to kick his chin but he merely collapsed on top of me. His weight alone was enough to cut my breath off, but then he wrapped his hands around my neck . . .

He grinned his spoilt teeth at me as I desperately tried to claw at his arms. The sounds of everyone drowned out, and I just looked right into Mace's eyes. But there was nothing in them. I furrowed my eyebrows, scratching and slapping, but it was no use . . .

Did he want to kill me?

My mind settled on Danielle instead. I could only imagine what she was going through right now, and I didn't want to. If I was going through this . . . fuck.