Chapter 2

2

On the day of departure, I was still "invited" onto the bus.

Sierra sat right next to me, just like in my past life.

She kept saying she cared about my "heart," but she was actually watching my every move.

"Willow, you look a bit pale. Are you sure you're okay?"

I didn't give her an answer.

The scenery outside blurred as we drove further from the city.

My heart began to race for real.

Chase sat in the front row.

He looked back at me occasionally with a smug look in his eyes.

He thought he had me trapped.

"Willow, did you know? Those kids really need our help."

Zackery said loudly on purpose.

"The supplies we're bringing are worth thousands of dollars."

Thousands? I sneered internally.

That money was going straight into their pockets.

The students were excitedly discussing their "volunteer" life.

They had no idea what was waiting for them.

I knew if I didn't act now, it would be too late.

When the bus reached a stretch of highway with no exits, I suddenly clutched my chest.

I began to gasp for air.

I let my body twitch as if I couldn't control it.

"I… I can't… my heart…"

I performed the agony perfectly, squeezing tears from my eyes.

The bus went into a frenzy. Some students actually looked panicked.

"Oh my god, what's happening to Willow?"

"Does she really have a heart condition?"

"Stop the bus! Get her to a hospital!"

But Chase stood up immediately to calm everyone down.

"Don't panic! It's just her old issue. She just needs some rest!"

He gave the driver a cold look, signaling him to keep driving.

The driver hesitated but hit the gas anyway.

Sierra whispered in my ear.

"Willow, stop it. We all know you're just acting."

A wave of desperate rage surged in my chest.

They had no intention of stopping.

I stopped pretending.

I whipped out the razor blade I had hidden in my bag.

"Willow, what are you doing?" Sierra's voice was full of terror.

I didn't answer her.

Amidst the screams of my classmates, I didn't hesitate for a second.

I slashed the blade deep into my own arm.

Blood sprayed out instantly, soaking my sleeve in red.

"Ah!" Screams echoed through the bus.

I held up my bleeding arm and roared at the terrified driver.

"Stop the car! Or I will die right here on this bus!"

The driver was spooked by my madness.

He slammed on the brakes.

Sierra's face twisted with fury. "Willow, you're insane!"

"Insane?" I laughed coldly. "I just don't want to die with you people."

"What are you talking about?" Chase stood up. "We're doing a good thing!"

"A good thing?" I looked at their hypocritical faces.

"You know exactly what you're really doing."

The blood was still flowing.

I felt the sting, but it was nothing compared to the agony of my past life.

"Willow, you're going to have a scar!" Someone tried to talk me down.

"A scar?" I smiled. "This little scar is nothing."

I stumbled off the bus.

I looked back at those faces filled with shock, anger, and disgust.

"Willow, get back here!" Sierra screamed from the window.

"What are we supposed to do now?"

What are you supposed to do?

"You can keep going. I hope you guys have a blast."

I turned my back on them and walked toward the highway railing.

Their angry curses followed me, but I never looked back.