Unknown voices

Miguel POV:

I didn't realize when I zoned out until I felt someone tap my shoulder.

Without turning to look at the person, I knew who it was. Shirley, my father's best friend's daughter, the only girl I exchanged few words with. It was her father who always find a way to treat me secretly after being beaten up. He knew all too well about the way I was treated and secretly helped me without my family's notice.

“Miguel, what are you up to after school?” I heard Shirley asked, and I shook my finger at her, not willing to talk. She seemed to understand what I meant because she immediately cheered and ranted away.

“Yay! That's good. My father gave me few dollars for us to buy snacks after school. Wanna come along?”

Without blinking an eye, I immediately shook my head in refusal. It wasn't that I feared going out, it was all because I would rather not be tortured after having so many fractured bones and bruises yesterday.

“Wow! This is the first time you're agreeing to my request. Miguel, I'm proud of you,” I heard her fake a sob and I knew she was wiping her fake tears behind me.

At the speed of light, I turned to her and her face came into view. She was a girl with a long blonde hair packed into a bun, small eyebrows, doe eyed, a button nose and a thin pink lips. All in all, she looked like a kitten.

“I'm not going anywhere after school,” I whispered timidly, making her snort and shift her eyes away from me.

I sighed deeply, wanting to talk her out of it when I heard Mrs. Finn once again.

“Miguel! What are you doing? What was the last thing I said?” She asked, making me gulp silently. Seeing her ferocious glare, I knew it was no use trying to make up excuses – not that I had the heart to do so.

“I'm sorry,” I timidly said, hoping no one heard. I was proven wrong when I heard my mates gasp and Mrs. Finn's shocked looked.

“Oh my goodness! The mute talks,” a girl shrieked, seeming as if she were happy, which I clearly knew she was not.

“And here I thought the faggot was mute, only to realize he isn't. Wow, what other surprises do you have in store for us?” the all-time bully, Mike, asked sarcastically while loudly tapping away on his table. Students laughed at his remark, but Shirley behind me seemed to be 'blushing' in anger.

I scoffed as quietly as I could. 'Oh, only if you knew,' I said to myself, not daring to say it aloud. No one in school, except Shirley, had seen my bare face. I was always wearing hoodies that covered me properly.

“Shut it! Miguel, I'm asking you a question? What was the last thing I said?” Mrs. Shirley yelled, making me jump in fright – shocked at her outburst. One minute ago, she was shocked and the next minute she was like a fuming rabbit. It made me wonder if she was pregnant as she was on a rollercoaster of emotions.

“I wasn't listening. I'm sorry ma,” I apologized with my head down, making other students stifle their laughs.

“Well, stay that way until the end of my lessons,” she said and continued teaching. This time I was determined not to lose focus, but it was as if my enemies disagreed with me. Shirley took it as her cue to pull my hoodie, wrapped around my left hand.

I sighed deeply and refused to budge.

As slow as a snail, the lectures for today ended, and it was time for students to go home. Thinking about my hellhole, I sighed and picked up my bag and books.

After the class was emptied, or so I thought, I stood up to leave but was suddenly frightened when I felt a weight on my shoulder.

“Hey Miguel, sorry for the other time. Anyway, let's go have fun!” Shirley cheered, throwing her left hand across my neck, on my right shoulder. She was only able to do this all because I was shorter than she was, which was displeasing.

“I'm not going with you,” I said, taking her hands off my bruised shoulder while trying not to show that I was in pain.

“Never!” She yelled grumpily, and the rest was history because I found myself tagging along with her to buy God knows what.

The sky became dark in the blink of an eye.

Soon, we walked around the market until I was pulled by Shirley to an old shop.

“I'm not going in. I'll be waiting for you here,” I whispered while leaning on the wall of the shop.

“Alright. Don't you dare run away,” Shirley said pointing a finger at me and I rolled my eyes at her childishness. I watched her walk into the shop and then stare at the dark sky emotionlessly.

A few minutes passed and just like a whisper, I heard my name being called.

“Miguel.” I heard and was frightened. How did the person know it was me! I was wearing a hoodie, for goodness’ sake!

I pretended not to hear, hoping, whoever it was, would stop calling me, but I was wrong. Not only that, but I heard my name whispered again, making me almost pee in my pants.

I was saved from this fright when Shirley appeared before me.

“Did you call me?” I asked.

“No I didn't. You know, for someone who just started talking, you sure talk a lot,” she said.

I paid no heed to her because I was being called again. I badly wanted to ignore it, but it was fruitless because this voice was literally pulling me.

Unable to withstand it again, I followed the voice to where my leg led me to, with Shirley shivering and following behind.

By the time I came back to my senses, we were behind a hut in a dark alley that looked void of life and Human.

I was about turning back when I heard voices. This time, it wasn't only me because I heard Shirley gasp and as fast as I could, I covered her mouth.

Slowly and stealthily, I walked towards the sharp. edge of the hut, wanting to see what made that noise.

The first thing I saw was a gun pointed at a dead and bloodied body. I traced the hand holding the gun, and my sight met that of the pair of eyes that'll forever hunt me.

They were bloodred eyes!