Soulmate Stories

It was rainy the day that tha mark first appeared, big sheets of water thundering the city pounding down stone and concrete already so broken it hardly made a difference. It was a cold frost that hung on the air and the wet smell of mildew invaded peoples lungs. It was not a nice day when I got the mark.

Not for me and not for the city. Sophia’s track practice had to be canceled, focusing her attention and putting her in a foul mode. This in turn put both Madison and Emma on edge. It was not a good day at all.

In the first period Emma, one who usually avoided the more physical aspects of bullying tripped me. I was ready for something though so I had nothing in my hands and over the years I had learned to fall. It wasn’t the foot in my way or the fall that hurt, it was the second kick to my ribs. Sophia was the one who dolled that out sharp and fast and hard. It knocked the breath from my lungs and made me let out a small painful gasp. They look down at me there on the floor, not even deining to laugh.

In the second period Madison “accidentally” spilt her coffee all over my desk. The burning drops splashing up into me hurt, hurt more than the kick early that day. Still I greeted my teeth, molar grinding into molar. I was proud of myself for that at least.

I skipped periods three and four to get bandaged up and consequently hide out in the nurse's office.

Then fifth period rolled around and I decided to cautiously make my way to class. It was my cape one and though I disliked it was also my worst grade. I was able to remain unaccosted in the hallways. Then through class not even one of the trio glanced at me. It put me on edge more than if they had just tortured me right there and then.

It was after class when the teacher mumbled a speed exit that they struck. I tried to follow the balding middle aged man I really did but then I was by the time I had stuffed all my books in my bag I was blocked in on all three sides. Emma on my right, Madison on my left and Sophia unusually right in the middle. The positioning alone made my stomach drop.

Then Emma pulled it out and my breath caught my mothers flute, the most important thing I had left of her. Everything else fell away in that moment even my tormentors all I could do was stare at Emma's hands.

In one breath that seemed like a scream to me but was probably just a whisper I demanded “give it back”

Emma’s smile turned that tad bit crueler at that, tad pit sharper. With a simple “no” Emma tossed the instrument to Sophia.

I let out a gasp, the breathy moan of an animal dying at their rough treatment as my mind raced. How did they get it? Break into my gym locker maybe? Still how the fuck did they get it?

My eyes never left the thing so focused on the instrument that nothing else mattered. Sophia with a look of bored disinterest grabbed it from the air. Her hand shooting up like a whip it moved so fast, or a vapor.

Sophia in a calm calm voice simply asked “look at me.” I didn’t at first still focused on the flute then she asked again “Hebert, look at me.” In that calm calm tone.

Slowly ever so slowly I did, she waited for me. Then when I met her cold cold eyes she simply stared into mine for a moment. Searching for something as I shook in fear and impotent rage. Before I could even react she grasped both ends of the flute and almost casually snapped the last piece I had of my mother in half.

Tears sprung up into my eyes and with a scream of “no!” I threw myself at her with my hands out as if they were claws. All I could think was that I wanted to hurt her, that I really wanted to hurt her. That I wanted to tear at her face and ripe her cool disinterest away from it. So I could see her bleed. I didn’t even make it half way.

Emma and Madison flinched back from me but Sophia moved, balling her hand into a fist and hit me hard in the stomach.

I went down spittle flying from my mouth as I curled around to protect my center. Tears were streaming down my face at that point, big wet soggy ones that made my nose run. I curled up around myself trying to make myself as small as possible between the desks of my classroom on the unclean floor.

I could feel her eyes on me. There was no pleasure in them, only contentment as if she had done a job well done. Then in her fridge voice she proclaimed me worthless “You're weak, this is because you're weak.”

She dropped my mothers flute on me then the two wooden halves landed almost gently on my skin and bounced off. I didn’t go for them, but just stayed curled in my ball. I heard more than saw Sophia turn and walk away Emma and Madison soon following after as I gently sobbed. They didn’t comment. A sick part of my mind guessed that what Sophia had done was a bit much even for them.

Then when I heard them completely leave I scrambled off the floor tears running down my face with grasping hands and cloudy vision I searched for the pieces. When I found them on the dirty floor I held them almost reverently, grasping them to my chest. I cried there for a while more kneeling in the now empty classroom. My hands going almost white at the force I was holding the pieces to me.

When I had finally calmed down I wiped my face on my now dirty sweater, picked up my backpack and walked out of the deserted school slowly with shuffling steps. The pieces never leave my hands.

It was not until later that night when I had showered and was getting into my PJs that I noticed the mark. I didn’t even feel it as it burned into my stomach. It was only when I looked down for a second and saw the color across my skin that I realized. I scrambled then throwing the PJ top over my head as I half sprinted to my bathroom.

When I got there suddenly gasping for breath I lifted my top and when I saw what covered my stomach I let out a little gasp. It was a dragon stamped promptly against my skin. It looked japanese in design and was winding aggressively around a pearl it held in its hand. I stared at it mutely for a minute or two. Just taking in the wings and the scales and the teeth.

It had a long body and many feet and a growling face. I hestainly ever so hesitant brought my right hand up and traced the shapes outline that laid flat across my entire stomach. It was surprisingly large; most soulmarks were supposed to be small things easily concealed. Not entire monstrous dragons that covered a person's midsection.

I started to laugh, laughing almost hysterically as the sound came out of me in little gurgles and then suddenly exploded into an entire waterfall.

I slowly slid down the limuman wall of my bathroom as I held my stomach and just laughed harder. I thought later that I was glad my father had taken a late night shift and wasn’t home. At that moment though all I could think was how this was the cherry on top of a very, very bad day.

I stumbled to bed then exhaustion weighed heavily in my mind and I half fell into the sheets not even taking the time to lay them over me before I was out.

When I woke I stumbled out of bed throwing on jeans and a t-shirt and wandering to brush my teeth. That is until my shirt rode up a bit and I saw the mark. I froze, then remembered the day before and screamed.

My father was away again that morning. I honestly don’t know if he came home at all that day. It was a few months after mom died and he had trouble staying home. I did too but I had no were else to go. After that I simply wandered back to my bed and began to cry.

I took a week off. I wish I could say that I spent that time planning and figuring out how I could hide the mark. I was fourteen and still grieving and so instead I went and picked up a book and when I finished it I picked up another. The voice recorder would ring with the disinterested voice of the schools secretary and I would wander downstairs to delete the message and then wander back up. I ate very little that week. Just tried to hide myself from the world.

When the next monday rolled around and I thought about how disappointed mom would be if I let this continue I decided to go back to school.

The trio that morning did their usual retinue but it was sunny and bright so they mostly left me alone. Then the day after that and then after that. I just tried to put the mark on my stomach out of my mind. It worked for three weeks.

It was on thursday a bright cool thursday. Sophia was away for a track meet and the other two banshees seemed to have lost their wind without her. It was a considerably nice day and I thought to actually try and join PT. I was so stupid.

I didn’t share the class with either of the two bitches but I did with their cronies and they liked to ruin my gym clothes. I had brought a fresh pair however and I was actually in a rather good mood. I wasn’t foolish enough to change in the girls locker room still mindful of the mark across my stomach. I thought the shower stalls were perfect and snuck in to get dressed.

It was fine. I was efficient with my movements and soon my pants were one. Someone walked in and turned one of the shower stalls on, making me freeze. When I didn’t hear them moving to my position I relaxed and continued.

I don’t know if I forgot to lock the stall door or the lock was just that shooty but the sound of the water covered the sound of the door creaking open. It wasn't until I was putting my gym shirt over my head and my vision was no longer covered that I saw her. A small asian girl staring right at me seemed frozen in place.

It froze me in places and my arms stalled lowering the shirt over my midsection. My face turned red as a tomato in seconds. Then I realized where she was staring at the section with the large dragon iconography scrolled across my pudgy stomach. I let the shirt drop from my hands breaking us both from our trance and then with a lunge I tried to grab her but she was faster. Flinching away from me and sprinting outside the shower area before I even realized my hands still in front of me grasping for empty air.

Then with a sudden snap I chased after her not caring for my forgotten clothes. She was fast though and before I realized it I had lost her as I smashed into the girls locker room and through the shower stalls doors. The water accompanying my frantic scramble. But by then she was gone and I knew something terrible had just happened how terrible though I had no way of realizing.

I didn’t go to the gym that day. My good mode thoroughly ruined. I simply hurried to my locker and without a second glance after I had gotten my bag scrambled out the doors. Running to the bus stop and gasping for breath I went home. That night I curled in a ball and tried not to think about it.

I thought she would spread the word that I had a tattoo or joined the ABB or even that I had a mark. That's what I panicked about. It was very much the wrong thing to panic about.

I went to school the next day, shoulders hunched and tension in my back feeling like everyone was staring at me. It should have been a good day Emma and Sophia were both out and Madison pettiness just didn’t have the same sharp bite the other two had.

By the last period I felt like I was going to throw up. I went home sweating heavily and looking at every shadow like it would jump me.

Nothing happened over the weekend. It was that Monday that made the bugs crawling on my skin really pick up their pace. All three of the trio were gone that day but I couldn't relax. I felt eyes on me the entire time and I thought especially ABB eyes which just confused me. I hid in the second floor bathroom during lunch and didn’t realize how stupid and idiotic it was until I was through the second bite of my PB and J when I heard the bathroom door open. I stilled for a second listening to see if it was anyone that would hurt me and when I didn’t hear any voices I recognized I eased up in my cubicle. The footsteps were heavier then they should be but I put it out of my mind thinking it was a particularly rotund girl.

It wasn’t until the footsteps came right up to my door and I saw mens sneakers that I knew something was very wrong. A hard knock at the door made me almost drop my sandwich. I placed it gently beside me and tried to breath as softly as I could. Something desperate and scared told me not to speak and I listened to it the same instinct saving me from many of the trio's more vicious attacks. Another heavy knock and I tried to shrink into myself without avail. Then the boy and it had to be a boy I realized started trying to open the door. I knew I had to speak up now and tried to rationalize it to myself.

That I was in school and there were witnesses and they won’t do anything truly bad. A quick voice in the back of my head told me that had never stopped the trio but I ignored it.

I let out a weak “occupied.” The feet stopping their shuffling at that. Then a loud deep voice barely cracked, informing me it was a senior talking, called out “hebert?”

The fact they were looking for me and were seniors made me completely freeze. I almost lied but I stopped myself last minute thinking myself silly and wondering how the trio would spin the story when they got back and heard of it. Something like oh taylor was so lustful after some boys that she even lied about who she was to get into their pants or something. So, I responded back again timidly “Yes.”

“We need to talk to you, hebert”

That made me start to shiver and quiver a bit. I asked “about what?”

The boy’s shift about themselves and mumbling to each to quilty to hear when they had reached a conclusion their supposed leader spoke up again. “Open the door, Hebert.”

Their none answer alone told me more than enough. I threw the rest of my lunch in my backpack and looked around me widely looking for a way out. The one problem with bathroom stalls as a hiding place is that they leave you few options to leave except the front door. When I heard more the sounds around me I realized they had me surrounded and I started to panic. My breath coming short and fast.

The leader impatience in his voice asked once again “Hebert, open the door before we force it open.” Using his fist to pound against it sharply to exemplify his point.

My voice quivering “Can’t we talk about this, whatever Sophia or Emma asked you to do pleas-”

He cut off my rambling with a sharp command “door, hebert” then in a softer gentler voice he added “we won’t hurt you.”

Which I believed as much as pigs flying. I thought there couldn’t be many of them, one maybe two Emma didn’t have enough pull for more. I thought if I could open the door suddenly enough I might surprise them and be able to run past. So I readied myself my backpack on one shoulder to be used as a throwing weapon as needed and feet planted on the ground. Then with one more deep breath I acted.

Throwing the door open in one sweeping motion I sprinted. My elbow landed into the side of the one at the front as he led out a soft groan and then passed two more standing guards as their eyes widened. I thought myself home free when I made it past the last one and a smile started to creep on my face as I made for the door with all the speed in my legs.

Then before I could even blink I was on the floor, an arm was circling around my middle as the air was forced out of my lungs. For a second or two I just laid there dazed staring up at the ceiling lights flashing in my vision. Then before I realized it someone had my arms and someone was holding down my legs. When I realize this I start to struggle to kick out and try to get free but I can barely move. I start to panic especially when I realize who is incapticing me and notice the green and red of the ABB and the boys' asian features.

I start to struggle again at realizing this kicking and trying to get the two holding me down to let go but it is no use. My eyes dart around frantically and I try to breathe. I am able to squeeze out a “what do you want?” almost whimpering the last word but I am ignored.

I hear shuffling the opening of a phone and then the leader boy speaks in a language that sounds vaguely like mandarin. Then the third boy, the one I didn’t see and who brought me down grabs the edges of my t-shirt and pulls up.

I start to really freak out when I realize that he has done so that the shirt ends at my rib cage and protects my modest cleavage. There is a camera flash and in my panicked state I don’t even think about what this is about. I start pleading with them not to hurt me as tears roll down my face but they ignore this too.

There is the sound of texting and then a moment of silence only broken by my soft begging.

A few moments later there is a surprised small intake of breath from the leader boy and he swears softly. I can at least pick that up even if I don’t recognize the words.

The boys around me have another quick conversation in mandarin I think is mandarin. I don't understand the words but swearing is ubiquitous and I can hear them all softly doing it when they hear what the leader boy has to say. I can feel their eyes on me now with a lot more interest than they had before. Then with a quick command from the leader boy the ones holding me down release me. I go to run but a sharp nod and suddenly one of them has his hands on my shoulders keeping me in place.

Leader boy looks me directly in the eye, staring at me for a minute or two assessing and then something almost like pity creeps into his eyes unto just as quickly cold steel is all I can see.

He speaks then raises his voice a little over my soft whimpers. “Ms. Hebert” my tired brain latching onto that more respectful form of address without me realizing. He continues “Here's what we're going to do. You are going to go to your next class biology with Mr. Winston” I whimper at that “then halfway through class you are going to complain about a stomach ache.” He takes a breath and goes on, “Then you are going to leave class and I will guide you out the doors.” Another whimper, another shot of pity through his eyes.

“Then we will walk two blocks and there will be a car waiting for us. That is what’s going to happen. Am I clear?” The bite of command edged back into his voice. I nod my head frantically at him but he just narrows his eyes and asks once again “Am I clear?”

Finding my voice after a second or two it rasping out of my voices I respond with a mumbled “yes” though it seems to satisfy him.

Stealing himself “I must warn you Ms. Hebert that if you try to get help or disobey my orders I will know and it will be your father that suffers, Danny Hebert.”

At that threat I just started weeping.

“Good, now come on let's get you cleaned up” The other boys release me and he takes my arm in his and gently as if I was a child guides me to the sink.

I wash my face quickly and efficiently in cold water for a while until the leader nods his head at it. The rest of the group stands around awkwardly and tries not to stare.Then I’m off walking as quickly as I can to biology I sit in my seat with a heavy thud. The class starts to file in and I can only stare blankly.

It feels like I am dazed the entire time. Not quite believing what's happening. Exactly half way through class I ask to be excused because of a stomach ache Mr. Watson doesn't even glance in my direction, just nods his head and I am off.

Outside leader boy is waiting for me against the locker, all faded denim and real leather. Then we are quickly making our way through the school hallways, slightly behind the tall lanky teen. I almost laugh at the thought of anyone seeing us.

Taylor Hebert the loser with a senior and what seems like a popular one at that Emma would be green with envy. I can’t even smile at the thought.

Then we are through the doors and out into the sun. No one even stopped to ask where I was going. I try not to start hyperventilating again the unreal quality of the experience helping with that matter.

I don’t even realize that we are walking up to a sedan, a nice one at that too until the door is right in front of face. I stare at it for a second in incomprehension then with a nudge from the leader boy open it. I freeze for a second not really seeing anything until with another sharp nudge I am falling into the vehicle sprawling across nice real leather sheets and into somebody’s lap.

When my skin makes contact with theirs I feel a sharp jolt like a thousand watt electric zap racing through me and something almost transcendental locking in place. As if the gate to my soul was open all this time and with that one touch the door was thrown shut.

The man I landed on is still everyone is still really the whole world seeming to have frozen just for that moment. Then the man relaxes the muscles in his legs losing.

“So it is you.” That man rumbles in a deep voice almost like chocolate to the air.

I am still frozen but I feel a shiver race through me at the words that feel almost like shackles around my wrist. I look up then to the man I have landed on and my eyes widen almost comically large.

I stop breathing as I stare directly into smoldering eyes that seem to be examining me.

Then taking in the rest of the man's features I can only stare harder as I look directly up at the metallic mask of Lung himself.