Aloe Vera

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 s**t. “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 f*****g 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 . . . f**k. Black spots blurred my vision as his grip got tighter. "St-" I couldn't finish it, I felt like my neck was being crushed. He lifted me for a second, lifting my head off the ground, only to harshly shove me back to the ground, causing pain to soar through my head. The moment I decide to stop fighting though, his body goes soaring in another direction. The air rushed back into my lungs, and I felt warm, drops of blood rolled down from my nose. Heaving, I rolled over to get more air in, and slowly lifted my head. I noticed a giant standing over Mace. His build was insane, unlike any other male I've seen on the compound. I gulped, wiping my nose as he clenched his jaw. The crowd went quiet. Mace raised a hand, even though the giant hadn’t even made a move. Mace visibly shook from underneath him. The giant lifted a foot, and my lips parted as he stomped onto Mace’s head. Mace screamed from under him, his face . . . Crumbled. I didn't know what to do. The stranger climbed onto Mace, exactly as he had done to me, and started landing steady and calculated blows all over his face. I looked around, frightened. Another group of men came running towards the stranger, and I thought they were going to get him off of Mace, but instead, they attacked his friends. I didn’t know what to do, so I scrambled to stand. I needed to find Danielle. I felt completely disoriented, as I stood drowsily. But I limped in the direction of the school only to have a hand clamp around my arm. I screamed and tried to pull it away, but the person was strong. The giant stood before me, his eyes still ablaze and filled with rage. My voice gets stuck in my throat. He began to drag me in the direction of his truck. "Hey!" I yelled, but he ignored me and gently placed me on the passenger side. His body was inches away from mine as he leaned over and pulled the seatbelt over me. “Don’t get out of the vehicle,” he warns, “you won’t get far.” "Are you k********g me? W-wait - please don't kidnap me! My friend she's-" "She's fine,” he replied roughly, starting up the engine and quickly pulling out of the school, “and I’m not k********g you.” I let my eyes settle on him for a moment before I looked back and found Mace on the floor, unconscious. I waited for the feeling of dread . . . or fear to develop, but it never did. People stood over him taking pictures. I silently wondered if he was dead. "How do you know?” I asked him . . . “how do you know that my friend’s okay?” “The words are thank you. I didn't have to save your ass,” he grunts. “Thank you . . .,” I shifted in the seat, “but if you . . . don’t mind me asking again . . . my friend . . .” "My friend has her. She’s safe.” "Who are you?" I asked after a moment. I hoped that he wouldn’t snarl at me, or bite my head off. From what I saw and experienced, he isn’t very patient or kind. "Sam.” "Okay. . . Sam . . . what were you doing at my school?" "I go to your school,” he looked offended. "Oh. . . But you're like twenty." "I'm seventeen,” I frowned, my eyes dropped to his body, which barely fit on the car seat. It was brought all the way back because of his long legs and his face just didn't scream teenager to me with the light gruff that covered his cheekbones, and his defined jawline. "Why haven't I seen you in any of my classes?" "You do B-level subjects, I'm on Z." That makes sense. Subjects are separated by letters, and Z is way on the other side of the compound – they also move at a much more advanced pace. They get picked for everything; school debates, contests, and event planning, and they are at the top of the hierarchy. "So won't what you just did affect your record?" He shrugs. "Probably? And you're not worried?" He shrugs again and my lips part as I continue to stare at him. "Probably." "Is he dead?" I hesitated and his eyes met mine as he smirked. "Probably."