“Strike two!”
The heavy softball slapped in the leather mitt of the catcher before Chloe couldn’t even react. She shook he head, God, she hated gym class. Kyle Renner threw the ball back to Steven Hastings. She also hated Steven, she had hated him since the 3rd grade. He treated her like shit back then, and now, as Juniors nothing had changed.
“Relax Chloe, just two more,” Kyle snickered behind a mane of blonde hair and a flat brim hat, “Ms. Jameson, Chloe is crowding the plate.”
Chloe could feel her cheeks grow hot. She had always been a little heavy, but hig hschool had really gotten to her. She had put on 80 lbs since freshman year, a fact she was reminded of daily.
“That’s enough Kyle, just throw the ball,” Ms. Jameson shouted from behind Steven. “Just ignore him, Chloe.”
Chloe heard Ms. Jameson’s words but they meant nothing to her. She was angry beyond the ability to think. Kyle wound back, but instead of the typical underhand style softball pitch, he threw it overhand, and threw it hard. The ball sizzled at her head, colliding with her temple. Chloe didn’t register the pain immediately, the impact just threw her back as she fell to the ground.
Someone screamed, there was yelling, she heard Kyle say something about an accident, then came the pain - it was a torrent of throbbing, nauseated agony. Chloe couldn’t think, she almost couldn’t figure out what had just happened. Someone grabbed her gently as she lay on the ground. Her head was cradled in firm hands.
Kill him
Initially she thought someone whispered it in her ear. Then she heard it again.
Kill him
It was her voice. She heard it in her head like her own thoughts.
KILL HIM
Chloe suddenly sat up. Ms. Jameson jumped back, “dear, you need to lay down, you’re bleeding! You may be concussed.” Chloe blinked blankly at the gym teacher, she felt sticky blood dripping down her face, she didn’t care.
KILL HIM!!!
Chloe turned mechanically and grabbed the bat she had dropped. She quickly rose and found Kyle standing amongst his friends, the smirk on his face disappeared at the sight of Chloe rising. She felt the cold steel of the bat in her hands, she gripped the cold instrument tightly. Then she charged. Kyle’s friends moved but he didn’t have time, he was frozen.
Chloe moved faster than she ever knew possible. As she ran she pulled the bat into a powerful back swing. When she was within two feet of the boy she swung like a tightly coiled spring, putting all of her weight behind the bat. She smiled coldly knowing her weight, that had been the source of so much abuse, was now about to punish her worst tormentor. The bat whistled as it rocketed at Kyle’s head. The impact was sickening. He whimpered as the bat crushed his cheek, nose and broke five teeth from his mouth in a fountain of blood and spittle.
Kyle’s body fell to the ground much as Chloe’s did just moments before – except he was not getting up…ever. Then she was on him. Chloe brought the bat down on the boy’s head again and again. By the time Ms. Jameson reached the girl, Kyle’s face was pulp. Girls on the field screamed, one of the boy’s friends wretched violently. Chloe paid them no mind.
KILLLLLLLL HIM!!!!
Chloe shoved Ms. Jameson away and continued her brutal assault on Kyle’s already broken head. After seven more blows she stopped abruptly. Chloe stared at the boy’s lifeless body, unsure of what had transpired. She looked at the beaten heap on the ground with a grim curiosity, a smile barely creased the corners of her mouth. A moment passed, she continued to blink emptily. Chloe was suddenly aware of the blood pouring down her own face, the world spun, she then collapsed to the ground.
