[ wp ] the world is shrouded in permanent darkness therefore As children , everyone is taught to avoid the dark at all costs , towns are always brightly lit and travelers must always carry a lantern ... ...

**Tick** 
 
 **Tock** 
 
 **Tick** 
 
 **Tock** 
 
 **Tick** 
 
 **Tock** 
 
 My mouth stretched wide as I yawned, arms vibrating as I stretched them out across my desk. I looked down at my notes -okay, **Stick Battle Supreme Edition 5** drawn by yours truly, but still, they counted as notes to me! Scrawled on the very top in tiny little lettering was the beginning, and ending, of my efforts to pay attention. 
 
 **Luminous Lectures** ran bold across the top, reminding me of the hell I was currently stuck in. Possibly the most boring subject in the entire world only beaten by the more *techy* subjects like math and physics. Sadly, the classroom itself provided no entertainment either, with its blank walls and lack of clock. 
 
 Just a teacher's desk in the corner with a computer, a blackboard, several light panels adoring the walls, and row after row of student desks. 
 
 `` Ugh...'' I groaned as filtered out whatever Miss Bellux was preaching today, instead bringing my hand up in front of my face, splaying my fingers apart as I inspected them carefully. My nail polish was cracking from the dry heat of the room, small fractures of color breaking through the black landscape. 
 
 `` -so remember students! Bleak lights make for big frights!'' 
 
 My head shot up as I saw Miss Bellux clap her hands together -her fingernails were bright yellow, blindingly so. Her dress was a cacophony of bright colors and glowing ribbons of light, swinging around her form like snakes, wrapping around her curvy figure. Her hair, a vibrant blonde that shone glossy and soft, flowed down to her waist, her bangs framing her small face cutely. Her light blue eyes danced across the class, resting kindly on each student one-by-one. Her lips curving into a gentle smile which parted to show two rows of beautiful white teeth. 
 
 All of this came to a crashing halt when she finally came to me. 
 
 Like watching a train wreck everyday, Miss Bellux looked at me, face marred with worry as she simply *inspected* me. Her lips struggling not to curl in disgust as she viewed my jet black hair, eyes forced steady from wincing as they laid on my dark clothes, and her slender fingers clenching and twisting the edges of her dress as she looked my back coal black eyes. 
 
 `` Miss... Lys.'' She said through the fakest smile I had ever seen. `` I see your choice of attire has... not improved.'' Gosh, it was the false worry in her voice that disgusted me the most, like she even cared about me. I rolled my eyes in derision, huffing loudly as I turned to ignore her -also the rest of the students who were now staring at me with biting expressions. `` Miss Lys, I'd like you to stay after class please.'' Oh c'mon... `` The rest of you, mandatory *light* scripture!'' 
 
 The way she giggled the word light made me want to puke in my own mouth and then swallow it. 
 
 Students filed out one by one, many throwing me annoyed glances, as though my mere presence had somehow offended them. I scoffed and threw a rude gesture utilizing one hand and one finger. 
 
 I savored their scandalous looks. 
 
 `` Miss Lys, please.'' Miss Bellux gestured to the open chair in front of her desk with a wave of her hands before folding them in her lap and shot-no... she *beamed* me a smile. 
 
 I took the chair, slouching as I avoided eye contact, desperately searching for something else to look at. 
 
 `` Lys...'' She said softly, her words crawling into my ear. `` I know, that it must be... difficult for you right now.'' The same crap every single month. It used to be every day but after they realized they were n't getting through to me they had slowed it down quite a bit, guess I was n't worth the resources. `` But you need to at least *try*!'' She pleaded, brow furrowing as she reached one hand across the table and tried to touch my shoulder. I slipped away though, twisting my small torso as much as I could to avoid her touch. `` Lys... Please, at least say something.'' 
 
 What was there to say now? Did she expect me to all of a sudden *see the light* or some other crap? My arms wrapped defensively around my chest, tightly coiling and locking in place. 
 
 `` You know that a bright attitude is the first step to curing your... um...'' I watched her fumble, her mind struggling to find the proper words to use that would n't offend me. It seemed like the neurons in her brain were stuck in a traffic jam. Late to work, just barely tumbling through the doors. Probably got yelled at by the boss about not being a productive member. Fired? Definitely. Went home to a disappointed wife. More yelling. Divorce papers. Life ruined. Half of everything, gone. `` -Lys!'' 
 
 I zoomed back into reality from my thoughts, the teary face of Miss Bellux now just inches from my own, her hands gripping my shoulders as she held me tightly. 
 
 `` Lys! Please, you have to... just...'' Again with the fumbling. I decided to stop her short this time, a small fire lighting in my chest. 
 
 `` No.'' I breathed out a heavy sigh. 
 
 `` Che-what?'' My statement stopped her dead in her tracks, her visage growing more worried now, brow furrowing even more. `` What do you mean no?'' 
 
 Gosh, the whining in her voice... 
 
 `` I mean no. I'm not going to just *cheer up*.'' My breathing grew heavier now. 
 
 `` Lys, you have to! Everything is going to be peachy sooner than you-'' 
 
 I felt something rise up in my chest and rear its ugly head. 
 
 `` Everything is not going to be'*peachy*' Miss Bellux! Nothing's **EVER** going to be *peachy*!'' It came out like toxic fire, dripping out my mouth with every word. 
 
 `` This is the problem though Lys! That negativity is what's causing your issues!'' She said issues like I had some kind of contagious disease. 
 
 Maybe I did! Maybe it was just some issues! But I did n't care anymore. 
 
 `` No! My nega-fucking-tivity is n't causing shit!'' I screamed, palms slamming onto the table. I was yelling now but I did n't care. 
 
 `` Lang-'' I kept going though, cutting off her stupid voice. 
 
 `` It ca n't ever be alright!'' I felt it fill the tears that leaked out of my eyes. `` Nothing is ever going to be alright now! You just do n't get it, I ca n't just *be happy* like all of you!'' A forbidden feeling filled my heart to the brim, one that people were afraid of today. 
 
 Hate. 
 
 I hated this classroom, with it's blank and bleak walls. 
 
 I hated this city, with all of it's bright lights. 
 
 I hated the people, all of them smiling and acting like everything was just *okay*. 
 
 I even hated Miss Bellux right now, for not understanding, for never understanding. 
 
 But most of all, I hated my parents, for having left me in this hell all alone. 
 
 The tears streamed down my face in rivers now, the black mascara running wild with it, trailing black streams down my cheeks. My lungs hiccuped as I threw shaky breaths into the air. 
 
 Miss Bellux reached up to me now, fingers gently wrapping around my hand with a sorry expression on her face. 
 
 `` Lys, I'm sorr-'' 
 
 I tore my hand out of her grip and spun around, my long hair whipping around me. 
 
 `` Lys! Wait!'' I heard Miss Bellux's voice sound behind me, filled with fear and worry, but I did n't care. 
 
 I just ran. 
 
 I just wanted to run away from this classroom. 
 
 I just wanted to run away from Miss Bellux. 
 
 I just wanted to run away from this city. 
 
 I just wanted to run away from all this light. 

