Ring. Ring.
A clock sat on top of an oak wood side table beside a lamp in the middle. The alarm rang at 5 a.m. every weekday. Its owner? A girl named Styx Miko Mori. She was... different.
Miko turned over and covered her ears, pretending not to hear it.
Knock knock.
Miss Mori knocked on the door.
"Mimi, get up! It's your first day back at school. You're not going to miss it!"
Miko let out a frustrated groan as she dragged herself out of bed.
"MIKO!"
"COMING," she yelled, rushing to the door. She aggressively grabbed the handle and opened it.
"Hello, Mom," Miko said with a forced smile to the woman standing outside her room.
"Hello, Mimiiii—"
"Um, Mom...?"
"Oh! Right. Breakfast is ready. I also made your lunch, but you have to learn to do it yourself. Being independent is important—"
"I know, Mom. I'll be down in like 30 minutes," Miko replied, already heading to the bathroom.
50 minutes later...
The two sat in the dining room, quickly eating breakfast. Miss Mori glared at Miko.
"You said you'd be down in 30 MINUTES!"
"Ids dwen'y minites," Miko mumbled, her mouth full of waffle soaked in butter and chocolate syrup, rushing toward the car.
They got into the car and sped off to school, driving twice the speed limit. It was a miracle Miss Mori hadn't gotten a speeding ticket.
Screeeeech.
Miss Mori slammed on the brakes, stopping just in front of the school gate with enough force to almost flip the car. Neither of them seemed fazed.
Miss Mori looked at Miko, who was hugging her bag tightly, slumped in her seat.
"Mori, isn't this EXCITING? It's your first day back!!"
"Yeah..." Miko muttered, her voice trembling. She unbuckled her seatbelt with her left hand, put her bag on with her right, and stepped out of the vehicle.
She paused, standing as still as possible.
Miss Mori rolled down the window.
"MIMI! Don't underdo it, okay? I love you!"
Miko turned swiftly. "Mom—Mom, don't say that out loud!"
Miss Mori smiled softly before driving off.
Miko sighed, reminded she still had to walk into the school. She didn't hate school—just the people in it.
She entered, making sure to avoid as many people as possible. It was easy; classes didn't start until 8 a.m., and it was only 5:46. Her mom was always in a rush because she would be late for work. Still, Miko preferred being early. No judgmental eyes. No stares.
She walked to her locker and placed her things inside. It was decorated with her drawings—blue hydrangeas, gerbera daisies, and red poppies. When she finished, she checked the time.
7:35 a.m.
"Oh no." She hadn't realized so much time had passed.
As she turned, she noticed nearly everyone in the hallway was staring at her. She closed her locker and pulled her black hoodie over her head, speed-walking away, trying to hide her hair.
She wasn't watching where she was going—walked right into a wall.
"Aww, isn't that... Snow White?"
A voice. One she knew too well—Payton Hurd.
Her eyes widened.
Payton was the school's biggest bully. His dad was the principal, which meant he could get away with anything as long as he apologized to him. He was a year above Miko and picked on anyone different or weaker than himself.
He had even hospitalized classmates before she arrived. But once Miko came? She became his only target.
Her pure white hair, pale skin, and red eyes made her stand out. Payton hated that.
"SNOW WHITE! WHY DO YOU LOOK SO GLOOMY?" he shouted.
Miko turned and saw him. He looked like a regular student—clean clothes, neat hair. You'd never guess he was a monster.
Shivering, she replied, "H-hello, Payton," avoiding eye contact.
"LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!"
He shoved her into the wall. Miko looked down.
"…"
"That's how you wanna be?" he sneered.
He grabbed her by the throat and pushed her harder into the wall.
"LOOK!"
THUD!
He slammed her against it again.
"If you don't look at me, I'll make you."
His hand started moving downward, a smirk on his face.
Miko's eyes sharpened. Rage surged through her.
Right hook. Left hook. Right kick to the hip. Left kick.
Over and over. But...
Nothing.
Payton caught her—there. Still smirking.
Tears streamed down her face.
No one helped. Everyone just watched, paralyzed by fear.
It was hopeless.
Then—
She vanished.
Payton froze, staring at his hands. "Wh—where is she?"
He spun around.
"WHERE IS SHE?!"
He turned to the crowd.
"LOOK FOR HER! IF YOU DON'T FIND HER, YOU'RE GONNA DIE! AND I MEAN THAT!"
Everyone scattered, panicked.
The day dragged on. No one could find her. No sign. No trace.
Night fell. The hallways glowed in moonlight.
Miko stepped out from the shadows. She collapsed. She couldn't stand.
Dragging herself toward the exit, she glanced back at the spot—that spot.
She wrapped her arms around herself.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
She curled into a ball.
Tears formed puddles beneath her.
She hit the floor with her fists.
Again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN—
The doors flung open.
Miss Mori stood there, eyes wide in horror. She sprinted to Miko, grabbing her wrists.
"MIMI! STOP—YOU'RE BLEEDING!"
Miko stopped. Her mother's voice broke through the pain.
She looked at her hands.
Blood.
She hadn't realized...
She looked at the ground.
Cracks.
The floor had broken beneath her fists.
"Mom...?"
"MIMI! Are you okay? Are you hurt? What happened—?"
"Can you carry me...? I can't walk."
"Oh. Okay."
"Thanks, Mom..."
She passed out.