I couldn't believe I was doing this.
"Hey that's insane," a student said taking out her phone to film.
"How weird is that?"
"Is there ever a quiet day at this school?"
"You said did it just because Melody told her to?"
"Melody beat up Helen. Would you say no to her?"
"True but honestly didn't you find Lia kind of annoying?"
"Well yeah, she was always so high and mighty because she's Fauna's friend but it looks like she's met her match."
"That's what I'm saying. That obnoxious girl deserves it." The two students giggled.
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!! ILL REMEMBER YOUR FACES!!! YOU JUST WAIT UNTIL-" I cut her off by pulling the leash hard, yanking her back. I indeed got her to put the collar on and walk on all fours through the hallways like a dog, and I was only getting away with this because all the teachers took advantage of break to smoke or get away from students leaving things lawless.
It felt terrible. This really wasn't my style, but someone had to feed Darius. I'd made such a huge commitment to him and there was no choice but to follow through.
I had to torture her soul. That means crushing her dignity first.
I know all about that.
Yet a small part of me was begging for more.
"How could you bark at your friends like that? Should I get you a shock collar so we could train you?" I asked, hearing laughter behind me. "Ah, make sure you guys understand, we're just doing a tiktok challenge."
Lia went pink. "You-"
"Let's go to the boys' classroom," I suggested loudly.
"You never mentioned that!"
"Did you think just going down two hallways was enough exercise for you? We've got to take at least a lap," I said. For reasons, the girls and boys took separate classes, girls on the left side of the school and boys on the right, we only shared lunch, gym, and break times.
"That's crazy!" Lia looked more than terrified now. Believe me, I feel crazy right now.
"Relax, it's not like I'm going to force you to pee in front of everyone," I said.
Lia flinched. "I didn't mean to-"
I kicked her back down onto her hands and knees. "A dog doesn't talk or argue. Let's go."
I walked forward quickly before I could change my mind. I accidentally ended up dragging her a bit, letting up out of guilt. Shit! I thought about this a lot: to get a good revenge on Lia, I'd have to embarrass her worse than she did to me! I said I'd do it!
I'm going to! Why isn't that damn fog kicking in yet? Is Darius testing me?
Even more of a reason I had to follow through with this. Because I didn't know a thing that could happen if I didn't.
Why did I have to open my big mouth and promise something so big just because I felt empowered in the moment?
Am I an idiot?
"No! I don't want to!" Lia cried but kept crawling.
The audacity. When I begged her to stop did she? Why did I have to feel like shit about this? I didn't exactly want to escalate like this either, but we're both in no position to argue for something different.
I swallowed hard. "Well, it's happening once we turn this corner." I yanked her forward into the hallway with the boys' classrooms.
An entire hallway of boys turned their heads to see the spectacle.
"What the hell is that? Have the girls started some new crazy tiktok trend?" Some guy said.
"What the hell do you mean dude? It's clearly bullying."
"Wow, girls are insane."
Lia looked like she wanted to drop dead as I walked her forward.
"Damn, that's crazy," I heard Darius's voice approaching. He looked more than satisfied. The ring on my finger started to tingle. "What's this game called?"
"Can't you tell? I'm walking the dog," I said.
"You're hilarious," he chuckled, tilting his head and raising a brow. Is he asking for more?
Fuck. "Lia, say hi," I said. "This is... someone very close to me. Darius Malverne."
The energy in the air seemed to shift as I said that. "Can I also try walking her?" Darius asked.
"Sure," I said, handing the leash over to him. Better him than me honestly.
I feel gross.
"What? Melody, wait! This isn't right! Who are you to even be acting crazy like this?! Fuck this! Let go!" Lia hissed.
"What the hell? A dog that talks? Is this real?" Darius's amusement quickly faded. Dammit! I'm not some expert on how to break people down to get them to submit! I'm trying not to shake myself!
"Lia, stop provoking my upload instincts," I warned her.
She went silent. Then "Ruff!"
His amusement returned. Phew. "Now you finally sound like a dog!" Darius laughed along with the growing hallway crowd.
"You dare... do you know who my brother is?!" Lia snapped.
"Why should we care? If you're a dog then your brother's a mutt too!" Another guy stepped forward. "You know Darius? The more I see this girl the more pissed off I get. She uses that brother of hers to make shit difficult for people."
"Huh?" Lia asked.
"Weren't you the one who made up stories just because Kyle rejected you? Your brother made a bunch of lives hell until he dropped out, you damn bitch! Just thinking about how much we all suffered pisses me off all over again," the guy said. "What the fuck did he do to you that was so bad?"
Oh? I had no idea. "Well... that's because of-"
"Now's not the time for excuses, Lia," I said. "Looks like your brother crossed a lot of people. This is why you two should've just chosen to be good people."
"What?"
"Okay, line up!" I said loudly. "Each pull on the leash is $5. For $10 she'll do a trick or obey a command!"
There was an instant chaos.
"Hey move, I'm going first!"
"Just thinking about all that shit her brother did makes the $10 worth it!"
"Step aside! I was here first!"
"Line up, you idiot!"
"Here's the $10!"
Good. I could take a breather from this unpleasant feeling and still keep the revenge going for Darius to enjoy. After all, I bet he wasn't expecting me to instigate other people to get revenge on her as well.
"Lia! BANG!" A boy yelled. "I said bang! Why aren't you playing dead like a good dog?!"
What a confusing emotional rollercoaster. I honestly can't decide if I liked this or not, and the fact I couldn't choose scared the shit out of me.