Iron Maiden: 1.01

My right knee was shaking quickly, hitting the underside of my desk. Thumping my fingers on the old and battered work table, my eyes shifted from Mr. Quinlan to the clock above the numerical formulas scrawled across the chalkboard. Just looking at the date, September 2, filled me with hope I would just have to face one more day of school. One more minute and the school day would end. Just one mor-

Plsh!

I stiffened, feeling something rolling down my hair. I closed my eyes, breathed deeply as my finger moved to catch the afronting object against my skull. Something soggy and sticky grazed my fingers. I cringed when I pulled the round shape out of my hair and saw a slimy spitball. My chest felt tight and nose flare as I whirled around, just to see Madison and her cronies giggling at me.

The girl with her cute looks and mocking grin waved at me as she, "Mr. Quinlan! Taylor is on her phone!"

I grimace, "What are yo-!?"

"Taylor, please pay attention to class." I looked back at the teacher as he raised an eyebrow at me. "You grades will keep falling if you keep doing this, you know."

I sat back on my desk, gritting my teeth. I hated this. I hated Quinlan because of his stupidity for not noticing what was happening to me! I hated this school for how shitty it was! And I fucking hated Madison for not shutting the fuck up with her stupid giggling!

The ring bell went off and I tore myself out of my desk. The teacher was saying something but I didn't hear it and I didn't care, I just wanted to get the hell out of the classroom. I ripped open the door and stalked down the hall, I went for my locker. Ripping it open, I stuffed all of today's books that I didn't need for my assignments, my hands shaking at the familiar 'thumps' near me as everyone stepped into the halls. I slammed my locker shut, turned around and-

"You seem to be in a hurry, Hebert."

Sophia fucking Hess was standing right in front of me. I felt a flare of anger rip from inside me, wanting to get out, but it was quickly snuffed out when I saw a familiar smirk from the fit dark skin teenager. Especially when she started to look from over my shoulder.

"Hey~Taylor~!" Emma's singsong voice made me shiver, looking back at the redheaded girl as she walked up to me. She stopped, her nose wrinkling as she took a sniff at me. "Oh my god Taylor! You reek! Haven't you learn how to use a tampon properly yet?"

As if on cue, Emma's cronies started laughing and pointing at me. She smirked; I just looked away and bit my lips. I tried to get away, I didn't want to deal with this, I didn't have the fucking patience or time. But Sophia stepped right in my path, gripping my left shoulder roughly.

"Whoa, whoa! And where are you going?"

I gritted my teeth, my head still bowed as my bully's grip tightened. It made me wince.

"Oh, she looks like she's about to cry!"

"Geez, what're are you made off? Paper?"

"What else would you expect from that crybaby?" That was Emma. I pulled away from Sophia's grasp and managed to free myself. I didn't wait as I retreated away from Sophia's grin, Emma's smirk and the fucking laughter. I power walked out of there, reaching the school entrance and finally freeing myself from the building.

I stopped and let out a breath, gripping my shoulder and wincing at the pain. It felt like I had just slammed the door against it. I sighed and walked, stopping to wait for the bus to arrive and take me out of this place. I needed to the day to end as quickly as possible. Hearing footsteps, I turned to see other students arrive and wait for the bus. I took a couple of steps back towards some dried out bushes, I wasn't stupid enough to leave my back exposed to any of these people.

Feeling the bush press against my thighs I stopped, fingering my backpack a little. I heard the familiar roar of the bus coming and I turned to-!

"Ghi!" I couldn't even let out a proper scream as I was pulled back behind the bushes and slammed against the grass. The air escaped my lungs and my vision went white from the impact. A throbbing pain hammered itself against my head and I cringed, opening my closed eyes to see two burly jocks looking over the bushes.

One of them look at me and scoffed, before he turned back to where he was looking. "Done, now you'll go out with me?"

"Not yet, Jake," Emma's voice made me wince, I tried to get up but the other jock held my shoulder down. I gasped, feeling the hand on my already abused shoulder push it down. Emma peaked in and grinned. "Oh, seems like you'll be missing the bus. And it's the only one working today!"

"Emma, bus is leaving!" Sophia's voice called out and the redhead looked back, she sent a smirk my way and ran off. The two jocks looked down at me and shrugged.

"Nothing personal, dweeb. But I had to score a hot date!" The jock said as he let me go and jumped over the bushes, followed by his companion.

"Dweeb? Seriously?" The other's voice echoed, but I didn't care. I got up, wincing and dropping to one knee as I held onto my shoulder. I felt a tear trail down my cheek as I looked up.

"W-Wait!" I screamed at the vehicle just as the doors closed and it began to move. I got up, my backpack nearly falling off my back and tried to jump over the bushes. My feet got stuck on the branches and I fell face first. I groaned, looking up in time to see from the window as everyone started laughing. Sophia and Emma smiled at me, the redhead waving at me as the bus moved away from me and onto the road.

I stayed down on the ground, feeling a burning sensation well up in me. It was familiar to the one from just moments ago, and I punched the floor. Again, and again, and again. A guttural growl escaped my throat as my vision went blurry. I let out a shaky breath, stood up and looked to where the school bus had disappeared to.

"Fuck...FUCK!" I nearly screeched as I clambered up, wanting to run up to that stupid bus get in and beat the ever living shit out everyone. I wanted, to stop them from laughing at me! To stop them from humiliating me! I wanted to beat the smug grin off of Sophia's dumb face for hurting me! I wanted Emma…! I wanted her to…

I want her to feel all she did to me…

I suddenly felt empty and sagging. I just turned around and walked in the direction of my house. It would take me a while, walking alone under the afternoon sky. My steps were heavy and tired as dread for tomorrow grew, I knew they were going to mock me for what just happened. I gripped my backpack and let out a cold air through my nose.

I hated this, I hated all of it. Why had Emma just turned on me!? What the hell did I do? Was going to the summer camp that much of a bad move? Or was it that bitch Sophia? Fuck...just fuck, how many times have I asked myself the same exact question? Way too many, because I somehow cared for that… that… for Emma. Fuck me.

I blinked as I walked through sidewalk, seeing the busy stores and people. I looked at the faceless people without care, barely registering even a single one of them. All except for one guy, dressed in provocative clothing. I scrunch my eyes as I took a look this man dressed in tight sky blue leather, with magenta wordss on the limbs saying "Eater" again and again. The zipper holding the suit in place was pulled down, revealing the man's toned chest and flat stomach, the zipper just stopping inches away from his pelvis. His face was set into a neutral expression, eyes roaming through the crowd, swatting away his bleached curly white hair. His green eyes focused on me.

I looked away, the intensity of the gaze heavy. I swallowed, when I realized I had been caught. Jesus, who could blame me for staring? The guy looked as if he just stepped out of a strip club in the middle of the day. Had he no decency? I shook my head continued along my way. My thoughts returned back to my bullies, and I frowned.

I would love nothing more to do everything I fantasized about ever since the bullying started. Beating them up, saying something clever and getting them to back offor catch them in the act and have the school finally be on my side. But I wasn't that lucky...I wasn't exactly clever enough to come up with some one-liner or something to shock them, and I didn't have any allies to help me against them.

I could always rely on violence, I could break Emma's face, Madison's too...but I doubt I could do the same with Sophia. She was way beyond me, way too strong! Just her grabbing my shoulder hurt. I pressed a hand on it and winced, feeling the abuse. I shook my head, I wouldn't stoop to their level and get violent. I was better than them, I could take whatever they could dish out because I was strong like that. Yeah, being a bully just showed how immature they were.

I stopped as I looked from left to right, for any incoming cars. I nodded to myself, I could take whatever they-!

As I looked to my left I caught sight of sky blue color leather. I took a step back, looking up at skimpy cloth man. I blinked as a cold sweat rolled down my cheek, his green eyes boring into me with such intensity that it stole my breath away. I took another step back-

And the man took one forward, "I see, yes, indeed. This feeling the moment I locked eyes with you girl. This feeling is called...attraction."

My eyes widened, as my heart hammered against my chest. A sick feeling on my stomach and I looked up at him. I shook my head.

"I-I think you got the wrong girl…"

The man took another step and I felt my throat tightened, "No, I most definitely did not. You are indeed the girl I felt this attraction to."

I looked back trying to find anyone who could help me. I saw two adults talking to each other. I opened my mouth to scream at them-

"Ghu!?" I felt the man poke my chest with his finger, and the air was knocked out of my lungs. I closed my eyes, feeling as if I was trailing through the winds. I opened my eyes and saw the afternoon sky, I rolled around, seeing an alleyway, the streets and cars, where I was standing moments ago, and then the dark walls of two buildings appeared in my vision-! "GHA!"

I grunted as I slammed against the floor, sliding back into the alleyway. I gasped for breath, curling up into a ball as a shocking pain slammed into my chest and had me heaving. I felt hot tears rolling down my blurry vision, my glasses, with shaky hands I patted the floor to look for them. I couldn't see all too well and I was starting to get desperate. I wanted to scream but my chest hurt, and I was shaking to unleash some impotent fury into the world.

My hands touched the the wet and rough floor, failing to find my objective, then they touched something made out of leather. I froze.

"I held back my power. Using one finger I added enough kinetic force to send you flying into the alleyway, so we wouldn't be interrupted."

A weak whine escaped my lips, "D-Don't r-rape me…! P-Please!"

There was some silence, then I felt the man kneel before me. His blurry figure reached for me and I closed my eyes, a moment passed and I felt something familiar on my face. Opening my eyes I saw the leather clothed man hum.

"I shall do no such thing. While I am a terrible man, I am not a disgusting pig."

I felt relief flood through me at his words, but I was still tense as I looked at him. "T-Then...what…?"

The man reached for something on his back as he placed a hand on my hurt shoulder. "What I want is for you to join my gang."

"G-Gang…!?" I felt incredulous at his words as he nodded. He then pulled out something, my eyes widened as I saw a golden ornate arrow in his grasp.

"Yes." He smiled at me, I felt my chest tightened. "This attraction I feel towards you tells me that with this Stand Arrow, I can awaken your powers."

"Powers…" What was he talking about? Was he saying...that he would make me into a cape? But that required an event of enough trauma to get something like that...I bit the inside of my cheeks as I looked at him. "I'm s-sorry...but I don't really want anything like that."

His smile became even more pronounced. "You don't have a choice."

My heart dropped as the man roughly slammed me against the floor and got on top of me. He pulled the arm holding the arrow high and stabbed it down.

"Aaah!" I brought my arms up, crossing them just in time for his forearm to crash against mine. The arrow's tip was inches away from piercing my chest. "Let me go! Let me go!"

"I cannot!" The lunatic proclaimed with a smile as he pushed the arrow further down, I felt the tip breaking through my baggy clothing. "This attraction tells me that you have the potential to become a Stand User. And I always accomplish my mission."

I pushed back against him, trying to stop the maniac from killing me. I breathed hard, feeling my chest grase the arrow with every breath. My vision grew blurry as tears rolled down my eyes with even more force. The man smiled at me, even as I struggled against him. I gasped, that smile...that smile reminded me of everyone at the school. Of Sophia…

Of Emma...I was going to die because of some fucking dumb prank! No! That was fucking ridiculous! I didn't want to die! I didn't want that! Why did this happen to me!? What did I ever do!?

The thoughts made me roar as I push against the man and glared at everything. All my pent up anger freeing itself in one burst of desperation. Fuck that! Fuck this! Fuck her! Fuck everything! I don't to die! I'm not weak like Sophia keeps bragging about! I'm not some crybaby like Emma calls me! I wasn't! I really wasn't! I just wanted to live! I wante-!

WHACK!

I tasted blood, blinking as my tongue passed over my lip-I winced. Feeling the flesh split open, I whimpered as I looked at the man attacking above me. His smile had dipped and he looked at me. He looked down at his hand, bloody from striking me.

"Look at what you made me do...though with this much fighting spirit, you'll surely get a Stand!" He grin as he went to stab me again! "Or maybe not! And then you'll just die!"

I grabbed his arm, trying to push back. But his new attempts to kill me were even more invigorated and I panicked as the arrow's head started to pierce my chest. "No! No! NO! What did I do to you!?"

"Nothing! You're just what I need to rise through the ranks! That's all!"

The man's words made me scream, despite the pain, I pushed with everything I had. I tried to summon back that earlier anger, but found nothing. I gasped, I heaved, I kicked as I desperately tried to push the man away.

Why did everything have to go so badly for me!? Why was I the universe's punching bag!? What did I ever do!? I hated all of this crap! My mom died and left me! My dad was so important that he couldn't even help me with school if I told him anything! Emma left me! The school bullied me!

I was just something for everyone to use and discard, to laugh at, to ignore.

To hurt…

I don't want to hurt anymore...please...I just want it all to stop!

And my world went dark, I saw space. Something immense swam through the stars, approaching Earth. Space folded as the creatures moved, positions of the stars differentiating as they moved. Reality expanded and shifted as they moved towards their destination, a pattern separating more and more. An innumerable number of something drifted off their bodies, spiraling through space.

The creatures danced through the stars, separating and communic-!

Gold splashed into vision, the scene of space breaking down like a mirror would if you threw a rock at it. The gold retreated and I was looking at my assailant's shocked expression.

"Fuck! Why did you do that!?"

I blinked, only feeling one eyelid move and spoke. "Ghugh…!?"

I gurgled? Why? I looked at the man's hand, saw the golden arrow wasn't stabbed into my chest. I felt relieved as I followed the arrow's shaft, seeing it disappear through the left side of my face...my eye widened when I felt something cold and metallic running from under my jaw, left eye and brain.

The arrow...was sticking through my head…?

"Fuck! Fuck! Shit...she's going to die." The man looked down, still kneeling over me. He sighed and got to one knee. "Well...I tried. Time to find another attraction I guess?"

What!? You can't do that...you can't kill me and just leave…! Everything started to feel heavy, my one good eye going dark. I looked up at the afternoon sky, feeling it grow bigger and bigger as te seconds tick by. I was...dying… I but don't want to die like this…

"Then don't."

My eye went wide as something blocked my view of the sky. What was that…?

"Me? I'm your choice. So what will it be? Will you die here and not worry about getting hurt again? Or do you want to fight, suffer getting hurt, but live? What will it be?"

Dying here...meant that I didn't have to worry anymore about school, about Emma, about dad...about mom...if I died, maybe I could see her even...And I wouldn't get hurt, not anymore. I could finally be free…

"So you wish to die and escape this existence?"

I blinked, my eye drifting towards my killer. He stood up, cleaned his hands with my shirt and reached for the arrow. Pulling it out of my skull.

…yeah, no.

Fuck dying to this prick!

"Then push."

I don't know what the voice meant, I didn't even know what the fuck the voice was. But I pushed, it wasn't with my arms or legs or even my body. It was just something deep in me...Oh.

It was rage.

BOOM!

"WHAT-!?"

The scream from my attack sounded distant now, but I ignored it. I felt sensation on my limbs and I gasped, sitting up quickly. I breathed heavily, getting onto my knees and holding my chest as my heart hammered against my ribcage. I was alive...I blinked and felt both eyelids. I touched my face and let out a sigh of relief when I felt no hole under my jaw and felt my left eye. I was hurt.

But I was alive!

"You…!" I looked up and saw my attacker get up from the floor, shaking slightly. He wasn't smiling. "What the hell...what...impossible…!"

I frowned, why was he looking so shocked?

"Go-Go-Go!"

I flinched and whirled to my right, I froze when I saw a form floating right beside me. It was humanoid in its appearance, despite it being colored black and red. It was thin, almost anorexic by the looks of it. The face had sunken cheeks, large round red eyes and full lips. The body had bolts and wrappings holding the joints together. The only bit of its body that looked strong and developed was the left shoulder, armored with a blueish black wing shaped onto it.

What...what the hell is going on? I cringed back as the figure neared my face, muttering 'go-go-go' at me.

"You…" I turned, looking as the man pointed a finger at me. "What you have right there...you have actually gained it! How could you…!? I felt you die...yet you willed yourself to live? Impossible! But the fact that you have it…"

I tensed as the man began glowing, "What is happening…?"

To be continued