Coral

A Chapter by Amethystblue

CORAL

The girl who stepped out the car hesitated with one hand resting on the door. She seemed to be staring of in space and contemplating her next move. Apparently reaching a decision, she stooped down and picked up her belongings: a thin white binder and a brown leather shoulder bag. The girl’s flaming red hair fell down her back in luscious waves swaying slightly in the breeze. Contempt lurked in her eyes as she gazed back at the receding car. It turned and with a defiant sigh the girl strode toward the school looming in front of her. Her clear blue eyes read “San Diego d they hushed at the sight of her. The girl’s chin rose a few inches. People in Morocco, where she came from, laughed and stared at the lightness of her hair and skin. The memories of those taunts and jests stung at the girls eyes. The girl pushed the thought aside as she passed the crowd. The girl dared herself to not to meet their eyes. Even without looking, she knew they were tracking her every move with their ever-prone eyes. She imagined them as birds of prey circling high above, their keen eyes watching for a misstep leading them to their next meal.

I am not going to be their next meal. Think positively here, Coral. OK, only a few more steps…

Coral cleared the gates. Behind her, she heard whispers and laughter break out. Tuning them out, she sought the solemn navy blue front office. She entered a cool office, which felt like the Arctic compared to the heat outside. The receptionist met her with friendly eyes and kept talking in fast French to the phone. Coral slid her registration form across the counter and the receptionist nodded her thanks. She immediately started to enter information onto the computer in front of her. Finally, the receptionist bade the phone a goodbye and clicked into its stand.

“So you’re the new student here! Coral, is it?”

Coral nodded her head. The receptionist went on after shaking Coral’s hand.

“I am Mrs. Frindley, but everyone here calls me Nora. I am up to my neck in work and I have to keep changing languages every few minutes. It can be so tiring sometimes.”

Coral asked with curiosity, “Changing languages?”

Nora replied with a smile, “This is an international school. I have to be able to answer in all of the major languages of the world when parents call. But trust me; you should be glad you don’t know that many languages. Especially when many angry parents start to yell and things get ugly. Russians are the worst.” She shook her head sorrowfully but brightened.

“I am going to send you to the Student Body President. He will fill you in everything you need to know, ok?” When Coral nodded her head, Nora smiled. The phone rang and Nora sighed. She checked the caller ID and groaned.

“It’s a Russian.”She picked it up and started to listen and reply. Coral felt bad for her. She could hear the person yelling. Nora gathered some papers, scribbled a note and slid them across to Coral. Coral smiled and turned to walk away. She glanced down to look at what the note said. She read across the top, “Coral, here’s where you need to go. The ASB president comes through the office every morning meet him in the..”Coral stopped in her tracks and panicked. The rest of the note was written in Russian.

Was knowing Russian one of the requirements in order to go to this school? If so, I am screwed. Coral looked back to Nora. Nora stood with her back facing Coral holding the phone about six inches away from her ear. Coral decided not to bother Nora. She looked around. She guessed she was supposed to meet the president in one the rooms in the adjoining office. There were about seven doors around the office. All of them were tinted so you could not see out. Coral chose a wall with two doors first. She tried one and it was locked. She faced the other. It looked considerably older compared to the other doors. She tried the handle. It was rusted but unlocked. She jiggled the handle and put her shoulder to the door. The door gave and Coral stumbled into the room.

This is not outside.

Her hand resting on the door handle, Coral looked up and around the room she was in. IT was a brightly lit room with a lone metal chair nailed to the ground in middle of the room. Curiosity bubbled up inside of her. She took a step inside the room. Her fingertips left the door. It swung shut. She looked back in horror at the sound but relaxed when she saw it was just the door. Coral felt a longing to sit in the chair. She stood above it smiling down at it.

Wait why do I want to sit in this chair? No wait no don’t sit down, no, no! She thought. But her body did not obey. Her body whirled around and sat down hard against the cold metal. Her body relaxed but the thoughts were continuously running through Coral’s head.

OK we can do this. Get up body….I said get up…I said GET UP!!!!!

Her thought were useless. Her body sat there. Coral looked around. There was a small cooling breeze circulating in the room. She watched it make circles around her.

Wait why can I see this breeze? Am I going crazy? She thought to herself. As she thought she saw it gaining substance forming into a solid. It was a milky white cloud and drew up in front of Coral. She gazed up at it and it whispered in her ear, “I am the worst of your memories,” in such a chilling voice ripples of goose bumps ran down her skin. Coral swallowed and looked at its face. The “breeze” had no eyes but indents where they would be. IT smiled and reached out its arms to slam her hands against the arms of the chair. Coral knew this was bad. She gasped and struggled to release her hands but to no avail. It was as if she had handcuffs on. Coral cringed and glanced up at the monster. It smiled back down at her , evil etched in every molecule of its face and attacked.