Frozen Memories

Bully Of Bullies

After my small walk, I went up the stairs and into my room. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Jess nor her little minion was nowhere to be found. I quickly hopped into the shower and returned before lying down for a few hours. 

When I woke up again, I still didn’t see my roommate. I reached over to the nightstand to catch the time when I realized that there was nothing there. 

I quickly shot up, cutting the lamp next to my bed on, and saw that my cellular device was nowhere to be found. Immediately, my heart began to race. I shot up out of bed, checking underneath my pillows and my blankets to see whether I unintentionally placed it there. I even searched underneath the bed and the nightstand to see if it was there but it wasn’t.

I jumped up and quickly left my room, trying hard to figure out where I could have left my cellular phone. However, deep down, a part of me knew that I had not done such a thing. I left that phone in the same place-every single time; and I seldom ventured anywhere outside of my room and when I did, I rarely took it with me for fear of losing it, unless I was leaving the house. Where could it have been?

I rushed out of the room, quickly down the hall and down the stairs. The noise from the kitchen alerted me to dinner time and so I went into the kitchen, wondering if someone knew what happened to my phone. 

“Have you seen my cellular device?” I asked one of the nicer girls but she quickly shook her head no, as if she were afraid to say anything. I already figured this to be foul play but her sudden odd behavior toward my question confirmed suspicions. Nevertheless, I  knew that if she answered this way, that my luck would most likely be the same with the others.

Panicked, I went back up the stairs and down the hall. In my room again, I sat on my bed trying hard to figure out where my cellular telephone was. Who had taken it? I couldn’t help thinking that maybe that Max Powers had something to do with it. I had said some pretty nasty things to her earlier. Maybe I should go talk to her.

I stood up to leave, preparing myself for one of the two ways that I would choose to approach her; apologetic or confrontational, when I was suddenly face to face with another problem; Jess.

“Excuse me.” I said, averting my gaze from her, against the suggestion of Ms. Groves, taking into consideration that my smart mouth may have been the reason behind my phone going missing in the first place.

Ignoring my plea, Jessica intervened. “So, I hear you have a lot to say about me during your sessions.” 

“I do not have time for this!” I hissed, trying to get past her.

“Where are you rushing off too?” 

“Jess-I do not-”

“Have time for this?” She said again, her minion, behind her laughing. “Yeah, I heard you the first time.” I tried to get past her again when a small grin showed across her dark lips. “There you go trying to rush off again-almost-almost as if you’ve lost something.”

“I-” I thought to try and get past her again when I thought of what she said. I looked into her eyes this time-deep into her eyes. “What did you say?”

She repeated her words verbatim before she shook her head from her would be trance and backed away. “Something maybe resembling a phone or something?”

I could see that she was trying to recover from the look in her eyes. My gaze unsettled her-just as it did others; or at least most others. I then remembered Ms. Groves’ words….’look them in the eye.’

“Where is it?” I asked. She didn’t answer. “Where. Is. It?!” I demanded this time, grabbing her by the throat and slamming her against the wall of the room.

“Hey!” Her minion said-I never could remember the girl’s name. She attempted to intervene when my gaze shot her way. She suddenly froze in her steps.

“I wouldn’t.” I growled. “Or you’ll be next.” I heard the girl’s steps retract as I returned my attention back to Jess. 

“Nerede?!” the word escaped me in angst. I knew what I meant to say. And in fact was sure that I had said it; only not in the language that was of the English origin. Still, my lividity caused me not to care about that at the moment. “Where-” I yanked her to me and aggressively shoved her back against the wall with a strength I forgot I possessed until now. “is it?” I reiterated in English this time around.

    “What’s going on here?” I knew at this point that the confrontation caught the attention of a few other girls before that of Mrs. Falton.

    “She has taken my cellular telephone!” I said in a low voice, though one of obvious aggression-my gaze unwavering on Jessica. The newfound fear in her eyes, granting me gratification and simultaneously, still, confusion, as I wondered that if she were so afraid, why not relinquish the whereabouts of my phone.

    “Alright, alright, break it up!” Mrs. Falton demanded breaking me away from her. “I’ve -had about enough of you two and your tension. Frost you’re re-bunked.” She said. “Grab your things.”

    I watched the girl for a long while, still livid at the fact that I do not have my cellular device. I looked at Mrs. Falton incredulously, wondering if that was all she had to say but I knew that there was little else that she wanted to do concerning the situation anyway. Which only angered me even more. 

Not to be mistaken that I was utterly delighted to be rid of the horrible Jessica; at least for the majority of my day from then on. Nevertheless, the whereabouts of my phone still weighed heavier at that particular moment. 

    “And what of my portable cellular device?” I looked up, ignoring the gasps of the girls that finally saw the full extent of my unusual features. I no longer cared whether anyone saw my odd looking eyes anymore. I was done feigning timidity just to avoid awkward instances. If this was what it took for people to let me be in peace then I would oblige.

    I watched Jessica grab her throat and look at Mrs. Falton. She turned to me, her body trembling while she pointed hysterically toward me. She looked at Mrs. Falton and mouthed ‘I can’t talk’. Everyone watched her in befuddlement as she looked at me again, shaking her head.

It was easily evident that Jessica assumed it my doing of her predicament. And it seemed from the uneasy looks on the girls surrounding us, that they believed the same. But I knew that my grip on her throat was not as tight as she wordlessly insinuated.

    “Surely, my grip was not that tight. Though, I’m sure more than a few of these girls wouldn’t mind hearing less from that mouth of yours.” I hissed.

    “Alright, that’s enough.” Mrs. Falton said. Apparently, she had very little to say concerning the loss of Jessica’s voice as well. She only turned to me. “Pack your crap. Jenkins, take her to Power’s room. Apparently, an eye needs to be kept on you.”

I grabbed the little of belongings that I did possess with derision and frustration before I started out of the room. I was unable to resist glancing Jessica’s way with disgust, noticing that the portion of her neck where my hands were rooted now possessed a lighter hue than the rest of her. I slowed my pace as I saw a subtle white mist emitted from her lips with every breath she took. An awkward coincidence that I honestly took little notice in before I stormed out of the room, following the lanky short girl, whom I presumed to be Jenkins to my new roommate.

When we arrived to the front of the closed door, the little girl stopped me. “So-do you think you crushed her windpipe? Maybe she won’t talk anymore! Do you think she’ll talk anymore? And what is up with your eyes?” she started bombarding me with questions at random. Upon closer observation of this girl, I recognized her to be one of the smaller ones that Jessica and her minion teased and ‘bullied’ around.

I shook my head in surprise at the conniving look on her face as I attempted to answer her. “I don-”

    “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” a voice cut through our awkward conversation.

    The girl called Jenkins jumped, her gaze switching over to the girl standing at the door. Powers. Jenkins seemed fearful of her, as she vigorously nodded her head.

    “Sorry, Powers-I didn’t-”

    I noticed from a side glance that Powers looked my way and then back at Jenkins. “You’re still here.”

    And with that, the girl rushed off and headed down the stairs. My attention then shifted to Powers, watching as her eyes stayed on the girl until she was out of sight before returning her gaze to me with a stoic gesture. She moved aside and allowed me space to enter, my gaze not fully reaching hers, I came into the room.

    Looking to my left, I saw the empty side of the large room that would be mine and began to place my things down.

    “Heard you picked a fight.” I hear Max Powers say in a low voice.

    I processed her comment before deciding to present a response. “I do not see how that concerns you.” I hissed, exhausted of holding my peace while others say what they choose. I heard her shift slightly. I knew then that she was approaching me.

    “Leave the snippy attitude down the hall. I’m not the one that twisted your arm back there.”

    Her choice of words caught me off guard. But then of course I wasn’t accustomed to the terms of the current era. “No one has twisted my arm-”

    “It’s a figure of speech, genius.” She cut me off. “Finally stood up for yourself, I see.”

    Turning away from her, I continued to unpack my things. “Had no choice.”

    “You always have a choice.” She said. “You just always choose the wrong one. Up until recently, that is.”

    “She has taken something that belongs to me.” I replied in frustration. “I had no choice.”

“What about earlier with me? At the convenience store?” She asked me.

Convenience store? Hmph, I was close, I thought to myself. I turned around and looked at her. “I was just sick of your smart mouth.” I simply admitted.

She apparently found this amusing as she smirked and nodded her head, arms crossed before she spoke. “What did you do to her?”

I sighed, tired of the question-even after only one inquiry. I turned away. “Not nearly as much as I should have.”

“Dark, new kid-dark.” I heard her chuckle. “Tell you the truth, I’m surprised Falton put you in here. I never get roomies.” There was another moment of silence before Max Powers spoke again. “Is it true that Jess can’t talk?”

“I certainly hope so.” I mumbled. “Not much use of that voice if she’s not telling me where my cellular device is.” I hissed.

“Ouch.” Max Powers said. Another chuckle escaped her. “You’re colder than I thought, Frost.”

I didn’t say anything but I had to admit to myself that maybe this girl was right. Maybe I was a little colder-a little more hateful than I had previously thought.

Figuring that she was done I continued to unpack when I see something drop on my bed. I glanced over momentarily and doubled back when I saw that it was my cellular phone. At that moment I was filled with both relief and confusion.

    “You-took it?”

    “No-but I told her to.”

    Seething in anger, I take in a deep breath. “Why?” I asked.

    “Nothing personal.” she replied. “I needed to see what kind of person you were; how much would it take for you to break. Not surprised that the phone is what set you off. It does with everyone. Hmph, except usually, they’re never brave enough to do what you did. Funny what a lost phone can do.”

    “I thought that Jessica was the bully.” I said, realizing what a bully truly was.

    Powers didn’t answer at first. “She used to be-until I got here.”

    I rounded to face her, she only flinched slightly but not as much as the others did. “You are the bully!” I hiss.

    Her gaze unwavering on my own, she answered. “No-I am not the bully.” She said in what seemed an attempt to correct me. “I stopped the bullying.”

    “Then what do you call what you have been doing since I have been here?” I said. “Upon my research, scaring kids into doing sneaky and terrible things to others is called bullying!”

    Powers laughed, not evil more so than that of amusement. “When-I first got here, I was quiet, and kept to myself; still do.” She said. “But that didn’t stop Jessica and Leslie. My first day, she took all of my clothes, or what little I had while I was down at dinner and burned them outside.” she made a disgruntled noise. “It still boggles me to this day as to how someone’s mind can be so….” she looked at me with a grim like smile. “Well you know.”

    Powers began to chuckle but there was no longer amusement in her laugh. I could feel the sarcasm in it. “I had to sleep in my outside clothes and wear them to school for two months before another kid had pity on me and donated some of her things.” Powers then turned to face me. “When Jessica and Leslie found out what the girl did, they went into her room later that night, tied her to the bed, lit their cigarettes and snuffed them out on her skin, stripped her naked and threw buckets of ice on her all night until morning.” She further explained. “Falton didn’t do a thing.” Powers said, looking at me. “The girl did end up in the hospital with third degree burns. And hypothermia. She was anemic, so it didn’t take much.”

    Hearing the cruelty of those two ignited an anger in me that I had not ever felt before. When I felt a wetness run down my cheek, I realized that I was crying.

    “She lived, but she never returned.” Max Powers added. “That was-the last straw. Which is a win for her-I hope.” She finally said with a smile.

    “What did you do?” I asked, though the fact that they were still walking around pegged me to believe that what she had done was not sufficient enough of a punishment for them. Or Mrs. Falton for that matter.

    Max smirked. “I took care of it. Now-there are no bullies here.”

    “But there still are!” I countered. “They still are! I’ve seen it!”

    “Well I don’t.” she replied. “I can’t patrol around here constantly. I do have a life.” The girl said in a half-hearted attempt to defend herself. “But if you have seen it then you should have done something.” She added in truth.

    “You’re right.” I admitted. “However, that does not explain the callous and manipulative behavior that you have shown towards me.” I rebounded.

    Turning away from me to sit on her bed, she finally spoke again. “You are too passive, and you allow others to do as they please, concerning you.” She said. “Falton included.” She shook her head; and though I couldn’t see her face at this point I knew that there was disgruntlement there. “That was me when I first got here.” She sighed. “Your life is already in the sewer because you have no family. Don’t allow these pathetic excuse for human beings to bring you down lower-because then you’re no better than they are.” She pointed out. “The others fell in line; never taking up for themselves. Fortunately, they won’t be picked on because there is a certain order at this group home now. Or at least as far as I can see. Nevertheless, falling in line after a so called bully only proves how complacent and pathetic a person is.”

    “So you admit that you are a bully.” I returned.

    “If that’s the term you want to use I won’t stop you. I’ve been called worse.” She admitted, beginning to pick at her nails. “And if that’s what I have to be to make sure that no one else suffers as I did-or the way that girl did, then that is what I will be.” She shrugged. “It’s not my fault that they are so pathetic that they do not have the mind to stand up to anyone.” She chuckled. “I guess I am the bully if you think about it. But only a bully to the bullies around here.”

    “That young girl, Jenkins is not a bully yet she fears you.” I said.

    “That- is not my problem.” Max Powers countered. “Like I said, had she the mind to stand up for herself, she wouldn’t be fearful at all. And if she weren’t afraid I would respect that. As long as she doesn’t cross me.” The girl said with a stoic laugh. “However, that just isn’t the case is it?” she added rhetorically.

“These girls have been thrown away like garbage. Naturally, they are afraid to step out of line in fear of being rejected as they have been throughout their entire lives. You cannot blame them for that.” I attempted to defend.

    “Do you have fears, Frost?” Powers asked me.

    “Of course I do.” I replied. “I’m sure more than any of the girls here combined.”

    “Hmph, exactly.” She simply stated. “That proves that everyone doesn’t let fear take control over who they are. Which is why I made Jessica and Leslie do what they did. To see which one you were.” She snickered. “However much they enjoyed it is not necessarily my problem.”

    I didn’t agree with the way Max Powers went about proving that point to me, but I did, however, understand where she was coming from. 

“Regardless of how correct you are in your proven point, there is something that you must also realize Max Powers.” I said.

“Oh?” Max looked at me, obviously tired of the subject and so was I. However, I could not end it without making my own point. “And what is that?”

“Some people are just not meant to be alpha; they are simply not made to lead nor are they capable of taking care of themselves. Those few of us that are, however, may be meant to help those who can’t help themselves.” I said and continued unpacking my things.

There was yet another prolonged silence before Max Powers responded again. “Hm, well-you look at it your way and I’ll look at it mine.”

Her response caused me to pause for a moment before I agreed with her sentiment. “Fine. Though...so we are clear…if I see any girl in this home being treated less than a proper human being, I will not stand for it.” I said in as calm a tone as I could muster, though I was seething in anger as I thought about the inhumane treatment that I’d gone through in earlier pasts that I could no longer remember. “That includes the bully of bullies.” I added as I finished unpacking my things and placed my bag underneath the bed. I looked at Max Powers to allow her know that I meant every word I said.

Her eyes on me were prolonged but she didn’t say a word. There wasn’t a grimace on her face, not even a glare in her gaze. She was just stoic, sitting there watching me, sizing me up. Our stare down lasted only a half a moment longer before a grin reached her features and she scoffed, standing from where she sat.

“See you around, Frost.” And with that Max Powers disappeared out of the room and into the hall to tend to whatever business she had.

I fell onto the bed laying back with my hands to my face now no sooner she left, realizing how quickly I’d spoken-maybe too quickly. Jessica was a tough one yes, but this Max Powers seemed one on a whole other level; especially if she was the one pulling Jessica’s strings in the first place.

I sat up, rolling my eyes at myself. Regardless, of how tough this Max Powers was, I meant what I said; I wouldn’t allow anyone else to be bullied if I could help it. Even if it meant facing her.