Chapter 5

"Oi, you've got your personal toys, Damien. Hands off." Draven scowled wrapping his arm around Rayne's shoulders pulling her closer to his body.

The lean boy tilted his head, looking unimpressed at the presence of the stoner. "Why don't you do us all a favour and go kiss your brother’s ass, field worker."

Draven snarled and lunged at him grabbing the front of his shirt. "Say that again weekend special. I dare you."

The entire classroom had fallen silent and watched on waiting for the two to start throwing punches. They had a history that bred disdain for each other that everyone except for Rayne was aware of. She remained silent as she watched the two have their silent battle, silently cursing at herself for allowing herself to get caught somewhere with no way to escape.

The boys failed to notice two new people approaching. A fair-skinned girl with vibrant red hair and a tall, tanned male with dark hair. When the girl got close enough, she reached behind both of their heads and pushed them together making them slam into each other muttering curses.

"What the fuck is your problem, Hayden?" Damien snapped turning his glare away from Draven

"You're making her uncomfortable dipshits, I had to find a physical way to get you two to calm your knotted tits." the girl's voice was an octave or two higher than Rayne's but remained alluring and attractive to listen to.

She must've been a few inches taller than her. Her eyes were a deep blue colour that you could get lost in. The guy that had followed behind her stood a good height over the girl, he had a strong muscular build that was being made even more noticeable because of the skin-tight black shirt and skinny jeans.

She turned her attention away from the boys and reached out to Rayne, grabbing hold of her hand. "Why don't you come sit with us for the rest of the time? I'm sure you'll enjoy our company better than these meatheads." her smile was small but still warm and welcoming.

"Oi, this fucker is the one that started this crap Rayne was completely fine with me." Draven snapped pointing accusingly at Damien.

The taller male glared at the two before turning his green eyes towards the girl. Her body went rigid as every memory of that night hit her all at once.

The feeling of the smoke clogging up her throat, the view of a tall, winged figure looming over the bloodied bodies of her parents and the unmistakable shine of jade green eyes rimmed in a striking yellow.

"Hey, are you ok? You're looking a bit pale." His hand was inching closer to her

("GET AWAY FROM HIM! NOW!")

For once she had allowed herself to listen to the voice in her head. She jerked back and slammed into somebody that had been standing close by. Instantly their hands had wrapped around her and pulled her closer to them forcing her to bury her face into their chest.

"Dantae, what the hell is your problem?"

"Me? I didn't do anything; I was trying to get her back to reality!" His deep voice shouted back. "If I didn't do anything then she would've had a breakdown!"

"Hey, phantom. Look at me." Draven's calm voice gently called to her. "You're safe here, I'm here. Nothing is gonna happen."

("You need to get out of here. Right now.")

Once again, she followed with no resistance. Pushing Draven's hand away she bolted out of the classroom, ignoring the shouts for her to come back, ignoring the curses hissed at her as she ducked and weaved past the lingering students clogging up the halls.

("You should be good here. You can quit running now.")

A sigh escaped her lips as she slowed her pace and came to a stop at the base of a willow tree. She was far enough from the campus to be able to effectively hide from security personnel or teacher.

("So, it seems you're finally coming around and listening to me for once. Does this mean you'll finally take my suggestion and kill yourself?") the voice bitterly laughed out.

"You're not real."

("Nothing more than a side effect, right? Tell me, princess, if I'm only a side effect then why did you listen to me back there when tall dark and deadly tried to touch you?")

"Because. He reminded me of the man." Her voice quivered.

("You mean the other figment of your imagination? Your sad put together excuse to hide the fact that you murdered your parents in cold blood?")

"I-I didn't. He was real. He killed them." her breathing became more rapid, panicked.

("Come now, we both know that's not true. I mean I don't blame you. The man you once so lovingly called 'dad' forced you to learn how to fight, fire a weapon or simply craft a weapon if you didn't have one handy and punished you with all forms of torture he could come up in that sick little head of his. Not to mention he would senselessly beat the crap out of your mother like she was his piñata.")

"Shut up."

("Oh, and while we're on the topic why don't we talk about mummy dearest, hmm? How she would sit by and watch as daddy chained you up and whipped you. Or how about the time she strangled you because you were the reason everything fell apart? Oooh or how about- ")

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Just shut the fuck up!" her breaths came out in short haggard puffs as she fisted clumps of her hair attempting to rip it out of her head.

Tears had broken free and fell down the section of her face that was exposed before being soaked up by the material of the mask. "I am not the one who killed them. It was the man with green eyes. I know he was real. Nothing you or anyone else says will make me believe otherwise."

("What if I were to tell you that I would be willing to help you find the man?")

She stayed silent for a few seconds, allowing the sentence he purred out to settle in.

"I wouldn't believe you for two reasons. One being the fact that you aren't real and two even if you were to help me somehow find him, I couldn't go out looking for him since I'm stuck here."

("My dear if you believe that the man you saw is real. How is it so difficult to believe that I am?")

"Let's assume I were to trust you or begin to entertain the fact that you are real, how would I find him?"

("Well, that's easy. You've already met him.")