I woke up... satisfied. Instead of still feeling guilty, I felt like I was just given a huge reward or something.
I'm happy. Unnatural but I wasn't going to question it too much.
My mind and conscience has never been clearer.
The sex distraction worked!
I want more. And I know that's just the artificial attraction and the bond talking but dammit. This rewarding feeling was intoxicating.
I could possibly get addicted to it if I'm not careful.
Even school felt like things were going smoothly. No one was bothering me and Lia was quiet as ever for fear that talking or letting herself be seen will lead to further humiliation. It was going to happen anyway of course but-
"I don't think this is right?" Pink bob said from next to me. "This is too much. It's not like you haven't done what others were dying to do. I don't want to be on the same side as those ignoring you anymore."
Oh and as for her, I remembered something important about her now that my head is clearer than it's ever been. "What?" I asked.
"Let's be friends again." She said.
"What do you mean ignoring me?" I asked.
"You aren't aware?" She asked. "Helen is going from class to class threatening to hurt anyone who tries to get close to you."
"Then why're you?" I asked.
"Because we have a history, even if it was a long time ago," she said. "Even if I'm beaten to death I can't just ignore it anymore."
I remember our history well.
In elementary school after something in the class was stolen and a kid tried blaming me, she stood up for me. But in doing so, the entire class turned on her and branded her a thief to ostracize her. When it became too much for her to handle even with me having her back, she flipped on me and spread the narrative that it was actually me who forced her to steal the item.
After that she began pretending she didn't know me, and I lost my only friend.
Why talk to me again now?
Especially after she brushed me off again so rudely?
"Don't act like we're close," I glared at her. "Just do what everyone else is doing. I can handle my own shit so mind your business."
"This is serious. Don't you know things are escalating-"
"I don't want to talk right now." I said.
"Fine, but I'm going to do what I want anyway," she huffed stubbornly. What the hell? I don't want to get other people involved in this. I can't even see how she'd be useful in helping carry out any revenge... except to tell me gossip.
"I don't care," I rolled my eyes. And I really didn't care at all. It was like my ability to feel anything unpleasant had been numbed significantly. Or maybe I stopped caring so much after being grounded.
The thought made me shiver. Why was I so comforted by some demon? Why did I want more comfort from him? It did indeed feel safer when I'm near him or connected to him but... I don't want it to be Darius.
Why couldn't it be someone normal?!
I've got to stop being so impulsive. Everytime I am, I do something stupid, like killing Coach Danners that first night.
Whatever.
As the teacher walked in and started class, I put my head down. Maybe I can sleep the discomfort off.
***
The room I was in was dimly lit and smelled like copper. I saw that I was straddling a limp body that was bleeding from multiple places.
What the-
I pulled the knife out of the man and jumped as the blood spurted up at my face. The taste was absolutely delicious.
"AHHHH!!!! SOMEONE HELP!!!!" A faceless woman screamed in terror.
I looked around. The blood spatter was everywhere, coating the walls, the floor, and the ceiling of the dimly lit bedroom. A man with no face was lying there, his features brutally eaten away by me.
My stomach growled from unbearable hunger and the meat in front of me looked so appetizing.
I stepped closer to the screaming woman. It was Lia! "DON'T COME NEAR ME!!! YOURE A MONSTER!!" She was backed into a corner, her eyes wide with pure terror.
I grabbed her hair and forced her face up. "You are the monster that made me, no? You deserve this!" I said calmly as I drove the knife down toward her face, savoring the red fountain of blood splattering everywhere without direction.
My entire body filled with an extreme feeling of euphoria as I leapt towards her and-
***
I woke up and covered my mouth before I could gasp out loud, realizing I couldn't make much sound now. Plus it was the only way I could keep my heart from leaping out of my throat. I was in class... not some random bedroom. The blood smell and screams felt so real though. Even the satisfaction at seeing it displayed everywhere was overwhelming.
Did I enjoy it?
It was almost like I had been thirsting for it and the urge to inflict pain on someone was getting stronger by the day since I met Darius.
Is my brain composition changing? No, Darius said it wouldn't... but he wasn't detailed about it. But why would I believe him anyway.
Because he's never lied. Well he has... but only by omission.
Dammit! I've got to look into this demon stuff myself already. I'm not going to learn anything useful by just asking Darius questions. Why would I trust a demon at his word anyway.
There has to be a catch.
"...Don't forget your homework," the teacher wrapped up the class as the bell rang. I looked next to me seeing the seat was empty. I gotta think about what to say to when she comes back from wherever she is. Then again if she doesn't that definitely saves me a headache.
"Poor Pinky, she's doomed," I hear a girl say. This isn't my business.
"You mean that pink haired girl? What happened?"
"I saw Helen call her out."
I don't care.
"Shouldn't we inform the teacher?"
"Are you insane? I'm not trying to go against that raging bull. Let's just pretend we don't know about this. It's not like she's going to kill Pinky."
It's none of my business even if she used to be my friend or that she's too weak.
Fuck!
I got up out of my chair and rushed out of the classroom.