Vidi
The ringing sound repeated again and again and again. Ire's eyes slowly creaked open. She lay on the couch within her apartment, a thin blanket covering her body. The apartment was split into a kitchen and living room, divided by the former's counter. The latter was kept neat and tidy, with an arrangement of three couches facing toward an old hardback television backed against the wall. At the center of them all was a circular rug made of red wool.
Ire looked beside her head for the source of the beeping noise. Placed beside her was a digital alarm clock; stuck on it was a yellow sticky note with the words, "Don't be late for school."
Ire reached her hand out from under the covers and pressed a button on the back of the clock, causing the beeping to stop. She slowly sat up from the couch and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She stood up before laying the blanket back upon the couch. She slugged her way to the kitchen. It was mostly empty: a counter, oven, sink, and a pair of cupboard doors. Two doors were present on the far wall, one to Aster's room and one to the bathroom. Brushing past the counter, Ire noticed a white porcelain plate left on it. On the plate was a sandwich filled with lettuce, butter, and cut tomatoes, atop another sticky note that read, "Don't forget to eat :3."
Ire sighed before going into the bathroom.
Vici
The bathroom was small, consisting only of a sink, toilet, and bathtub with a shower. A window brought light to the room that would otherwise be cloaked in darkness. Ire sat in the bathtub, curled with her legs in her hands. The showerhead from above poured water down like rain onto her. Ire looked blankly down at her legs. She stared there for ten minutes, and like any other day, she spent those ten minutes doing nothing, just blankly staring.
After ten minutes, she stood, her legs aching from the stillness. Ire turned the showerhead off and stepped out of the bathtub one leg at a time. She stumbled to reach for a towel hung from the top of the door, but on the way she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror above the sink. She stopped in place and looked in the mirror.
Scars and stitches decorated her slender body like a puppet made from sticks and bones, and fresh bruises were present on her wrists. Ire ran her hand across the wounds, feeling the thread of the string that held her skin together. Her hand made its way to her other wrist. The second she touched it, a quick spike of pain hit and her hand retracted. She turned away from the mirror and reached for her towel.
Veni
Ire stood in front of the door, wearing her school uniform with a white notebook wrapped in her hand. She reached for a black coat hanging on the front door, putting it on and zipping it over herself. She held the doorknob, but her hand failed to move, failed to open the door. She mumbled to herself, "I'll be alright, I've been alright."
Ire's hand twisted and opened the door. She looked outside, feeling the breath of wind blow on her face and the sun shine in her eyes. She took a breath before stepping outside.
Vidi
Ire walked the street, focusing on keeping each foot steady after the other. The overwhelming sound of cars and the rush of people polluted the air. Ire looked down, trying to avoid the bright light of the sun. Everything was so loud, so bright, but it had been like this every time. Ire tilted her head up to look ahead. She saw it—her school building, St. Ennis Secondary School. The overarching building, wider and grander than any building nearby. It stood affront to the sun, the dark brown bricks making a massive shadow. A flood of students washed into the school building. Ire paused before walking forward, making her way to its large metal gates.
Vici
Ire walked through the packed halls of her school; her eyes gazed left and right, searching the crowds as she trudged through the mass of students that would push her along. She felt gazes that would fade once she stared back. She was riddled with a singular feeling: the sense of overwhelming dread, the fear of the threat to come, a wolf that would attack until she was bleating and bleating, then bleeding. Ire held onto herself; she held her eyes open. She couldn't cry, not here.
Veni
Ire entered her classroom with weary steps. There were only a few students, and the teacher had not yet arrived. She was early, after all. She found her seat in the back right corner of the class. She sat down and placed her notebook on the desk. The door would open and close, and each time Ire would grow fearful. The class grew more and more full until only three seats remained: the seat to her right, in front of her, and behind her. Class would be starting soon. That is, until the door opened and three people entered.
Vidi
Tayo, a shorter boy with umber skin and curled black hair that was cleanly shaved, his eyes a dark shade of maroon. He wore an overused black shacket over his school uniform and a golden pendant on his neck that dangled as he walked. Myrra, a girl with emerald-colored eyes and long blonde hair. Her button-up was freshly ironed and purged of wrinkles; even from where she was standing, Ire could smell the scent of lavender. Isaac, a taller boy with blue eyes and rough blonde hair. He was the tallest of the three, standing a whole head above them, and his school uniform was rough and rugged. The second they had entered, he briefly glared at Ire.
The three sat in their seats: Tayo behind her, Myrra to the right, and Isaac in front of her. Ire's breath started to quicken. She brought her hand to her mouth to try and quiet down, but to no avail. The three were talking with each other, Tayo going out of his way to lean around her.She could hear their messages as nothing more than static. Pure, unfiltered, TV static. She started to tap her foot rhythmically. She held her head down, not daring to look any higher. Isaac started to lean backward, balancing the back of his chair with her table. Ire wanted to stand up and leave. She didn't want to be there anymore.
I have to go, I can't stay here! she told herself. I can't stay here!
Her mind flushed her with visions of her body in the mirror, the scars, the bruises. It only made the stress worse, as the perpetrator was right in front of her—Isaac.
I have to go, I can't stay here, I have to go, I can't stay here! she repeated like a mantra in her head.
Faster.
I have to go, I have to go, I have to go!
Faster.
Go, go, go, go, go!
And faster.
GoGoGoGoGo!
But her thoughts were broken by hearing a single sentence.
"We should bring Ire with us."
Vici
The sound of her name caused Ire's thoughts to go black as she raised her head upward. Myrra had been the one to say it, but now all three of them were looking at her. Their gazes were like daggers or starving vultures.
Isaac sat backward in his seat to face Ire. He waved cheerfully, a smile crossing his face. "Hey Ire, are you free today after school?"
Ire tried to respond, but before she could, Myrra reached out and patted Ire's head. "Of course she is, it's not like her to have anything planned."
"I d-don't have anything," Ire said, moving her head away from Myrra's hand. "What… do you have planned?"
Tayo answered, staring at the black phone in his hand. "Going to a club. Myrra's brother flaked, probably out doing drugs."
"He said he had work to get to!" Myrra shouted.
Tayo chuckled. "You poor thing."
Isaac spoke, stopping Tayo and Myrra's banter before it escalated. "Anyway, you're coming, right?"
Ire stuttered, "I-I don't really— I don't really do—"
"Is that a no?" Isaac questioned.
Ire looked up toward him. A disgusted frown was planted on his face. Ire slowly nodded up and down. Isaac smiled, reeling back away from Ire. "Well that's great. Meet us outside the school at 6."
"I won't be there till 7," Tayo mentioned.
Isaac groaned. "Then hurry up and get there an hour earlier."
Tayo looked up from his phone. "I'm the driver. We're leaving at 7."
"You actually suck," Isaac said. "What could you possibly be doing?"
Ire stared down at her notebook as the dialogue in the background turned to static. She flipped through pages filled with essays, reading to distract herself, but every now and then she could hear them.
"I can probably stay till 12."
"What should we get to eat?"
"I don't even have anything to wear."
"This will be so fun, especially with Ire here."
Ire felt her body grow weak. A ringing blared in her ears and her arms slowly gave out; she fell face first onto her desk.
Veni
Ire stood in front of the school in her lonesome. The school was empty; all the other kids had already left. It was completely quiet, no sound breaking the peaceful silence. The sun had already begun to set, basking the area in a warm orange light. Ire watched the street, watching as cars and people occasionally passed by one by one. As Ire watched the street, she had a conversation in her mind.
They're still not here. Are they even coming? It wouldn't be unlike them to leave me here… I don't want to be here, I want to go home… But what if this isn't a bad thing? What if they want to apologise? What if—
A red car stopped in front of Ire. The driver's window opened and Tayo waved. "You're early."
Ire bowed. "I'm sorry."
The passenger door opened, revealing Isaac and Myrra. Myrra stepped out of the car and looked Ire up and down. "Why are you still in the school uniform?"
"I didn't have anything to wear," Ire explained. She quickly looked at the three; they were all in their own outfits. Tayo in a white hoodie with jeans, Myrra in a neat brown belted coat, and Isaac in a navy blue suit with a blue tie to match. Ire nervously tugged on her button-up vest.
Myrra laughed. "You're so funny, let's go."
Myrra wrapped her arm around Ire and brought her to the car, letting her get inside first before going in herself. The car's interior was dusty and ragged, crumpled wrappers, coins, and bottles scattered on the floor. A faint scent of lavender was present, radiating from Myrra. Ire sat in between Isaac and Myrra. Isaac was staring out the window to his left; his expression was filled with boredom. The second the car door was closed, Tayo pushed the gas pedal down and the car started moving.
Myrra suddenly ran her hands through Ire's hair, playing with the locks. "Your hair feels so nice, but it's so brittle. You should start taking more care of it."
Ire nervously shuffled in her seat. She spoke, "I—"
Et tu
Ire took a moment, taking in her surroundings.
What do I taste?
Ire's mouth was filled with a bitter metallic taste that lingered in her saliva. She wanted to gag; she wanted to throw up, but she didn't. They weren't addressing her; she couldn't be noticed.
What do I smell?
The scent of alcohol filled Ire's nose, followed by the smell of burning cigarettes. The smell of lavender hid beneath the two scents that surpassed it; it acted like a constant reminder of where she was, what she was doing.
What do I feel?
Ire felt the constant vibrations of the club's speakers that made her chest expand and shudder. Occasionally, one of the others would brush against her, bringing a sense of disgust with each touch. The club was warm, too warm. Ire could feel herself sweat in her uniform. It was too tight, gripping tightly onto her like a straitjacket.
What do I hear?
The sound of the club's music was so loud that it flooded her ears with constant heavy bass; just under it she could hear the partying of the others. They laughed, they yelled, they conversed. Everything was overwhelming; the sounds brought a painful sensation to her mind.
What do I see?
Ire sat in the middle of the club within a secluded room lit by a single light above them that faded from blue to purple to green. The walls were covered in art depicting images of boastful women in provocative poses. There was a small black camera in the upper corner of the room. The group sat on red cushioned chairs with a dark wood table between them. The table was covered with a variety of wine bottles, used cigarettes crushed and bottled in an ashtray, several half-filled cups, and in its center a speaker that was vibrating from the music. Tayo and Myrra were taking shot after shot, laughing and joking as they did, Myrra's face already growing red. Isaac sat looking down at something below the table. The entire way here he had the exact same stoic expression.
What do I thi—
"Hey Ire, you haven't even drunk anything!" Myrra said, interrupting Ire's thoughts. "You've got to do something!"
Ire muttered, "Wh-what?"
"Yeah, you're being so boring," Tayo joined in. He slid a bottle across the table in front of her. "Have a drink."
Ire waved her hands frantically. "I–I don't drink!"
Myrra sluggishly laughed. "You're so cute, come on just this once, drink with us."
Ire stared at the bottle. She reached forward and grabbed it. She slowly raised the bottle toward her lips. Her eyes looked at Tayo, then Myrra, and then Isaac. He was looking back at her curiously. Ire lifted the bottle up, her hand shaking as she did. She reeled her head back and took a quick sip, taking less than a cupful. She could feel her throat burn. She had to focus to avoid throwing up immediately. Tayo and Myrra both started to clap and cheer.
Tayo laughed. "Fuck yeah, Ire!"
"Let's keep going!" Myrra suggested. "This is so fun!"
Myrra poured shot after shot. They would all drink, Ire would gag, and they would repeat it again. They went again and again and again. With each shot,Ire felt weaker and weaker and her vision became less and less clear. Just as she was about to take another sip, Myrra stopped her, bringing her hand back to the table.
Myrra chuckled. "You've had more than enough, Ire. You should clean yourself up in the bathroom."
Ire nodded. She stumbled up to her feet, crawling over Myrra and reaching toward the door. She briefly looked back and saw everyone looking at her, each stare lingering. She opened the door.
Brutus
The bathroom was dark and isolated, the ceiling light barely functioning and only the light from the ajar door leaving its dark blue stalls as barely visible shadows. Ire stumbled into the room, falling to the floor. The ground was cold, rough, and hard, the bathroom ceramic tiles feeling like jagged ice against her skin. Ire slowly rose back up to her feet and looked around. Opposite from the stalls on the bathroom's right wall was a mirror and below it a sink. Ire stumbled to the sink and looked at herself in the mirror. She was barely able to stay still; her pupils were so constricted that they looked like tiny black specks. Ire held onto the sink, using it as a handle to keep herself upright. Her vision was splitting and her stomach was turning. Ire uttered under her breath, "I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm—"
The door slowly creaked open and Isaac stepped inside.
Quoted, Julius Caesar