[Raquel]

Krois' fight with Erica left me scared. I didn't know her well, but we had spoken on a couple of occasions. I had thought she was a good girl, I never took her for an abuser. However, with what she had been through, I couldn't blame her. Ocko was weary as well.

Erica had also surprised me a lot, first because she was less affected than I would have expected by amputating Solis' leg, maybe that was a good thing; second, because she didn't try to fight Krois back. It's not as if Krois bullied her, she had simply chosen to forgive her. I was relieved by such mature behavior on her part, but I was afraid of what might come next. Krois was clearly not satisfied. I just didn't think her next attack would come so soon.

The next day, during recess, Erica went to the bathroom. I didn't need to, but I decided to accompany her just in case. In the courtyard everything was normal, no trace of Krois or her friends. I admit I didn't even think we would have an altercation.

—How do you feel?— I asked, curious.

—What?

—You know, about what happened.

—What happened?— she asked, though she suddenly noticed —Ah, the leg thing! Yes, it was pretty ugly...—she put a hand to her head, nervously, and looked away— I didn't mean anything to do to her. I don't like hurting innocent people. I'm sorry you had to see it.

She seemed calmer than I had expected, although I'm not sure what I was expecting, perhaps a more radical way of reacting.

We went downstairs and inside. The bathroom had with eight toilet, a row of sinks and enough space at all times. By the time we arrived, there were barely a couple of girls in sight. Erica looked for empty stalls, while I went to the mirror to fix my eyelashes. It didn't take me more than a few seconds, after which I turned and noticed Erica standing in front of the last of the toilets.

—This is the only one empty— she said —Does it bother you that I go first?

—Go ahead, I can wait— I said.

Erica opened the door, but did not enter. Instead she put on a surprised face and took a step back. From the toilet stall jumped a tall figure, with dark complexion and athletic body.

—Krois?!— I shouted.

Just then, all the other doors opened, letting out the third grade girls. Too late I realized it was a trap.

Two of the girls rushed towards me and held me tightly, while the rest headed towards Erica. I noticed that from the entrance of the bathroom appeared more girls. It was an ambush and we were right where they wanted us to be.

—What are you doing?!— I shouted, stunned— I'm going to call the professor!

I didn't know which teacher I was referring to, I could only shout the first thing that came to my mind because I was so shocked. I looked at Erica, frightened. Krois's big and sturdy body was on top of her, hitting her in the head. At least eight other girls were holding her arms and legs, and hitting her sides and pelvis.

—No! Stop! You can't do that!— I cried.

Of course, no one paid any attention to me. I tried to get away from the girls who were holding me, but I couldn't do anything against two of them, and they were squeezing my elbows to keep me in position. I had nothing left to do but watch them beat up Erica.

The beating went on and on. After a few eternal minutes my voice went numb, but the girls wouldn't stop hitting her.

—Erica won't move anymore!— I exclaimed, even though no one could hear me— Please let her go!

—We're not finished!— Krois shouted— Pamela, give me the scissors!

A girl next to her took a pair of thick, pointed scissors out of her pocket and handed them to her.

—No, please!— I yelled.

—Let's see if she likes some scars on her face—— Krois said loud enough for everyone to hear.

My stomach cramped. Krois raised the scissors, I thought she was going to bury it in Erica's eye. Her hand descended quickly. I stifled a scream and looked down. I couldn't look at something so heinous.

But then several of them shrieked. An instant later, their bodies bounced off the walls and fell to the floor, a couple were even thrown into the toilet bowls. I looked up, puzzled. Krois was no longer on top of Erica, but lying on the floor. Erica had stood up and was looking down at her with a very unfriendly face. In her hands she held the scissors. She had bruises all over her body, even some blood marks, but it didn't seem to affect her at all.

—I let you hit me because I understand that you hate me— she explained to Krois with calm authority— but using weapons like this goes beyond that. With these you can kill a person. If you use something like this against me again, I'll take it as an assassination attempt. If you try to kill me, I will kill you first. The one who strikes first has to be prepared to take the same blow, and the one who is going to kill has to be prepared for the other person to defend themselves to the death.

With that said, she threw the scissors over her shoulder.

—We can continue tomorrow— she said, before stepping over her.

Erica approached me, calm despite the bruises and small wounds. The conflict had ended more abruptly than I was expecting, but it was over, so that was good. I was beginning to feel relieved, when a sudden movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention: behind Erica, at the back of the bathroom, one of the third grade girls stood up and grabbed the scissors. I was so shocked that it took me a little too long to react. The girl ran up to Erica, raised one arm to bury the scissors in her back.

—Watch out!— I shouted, pointing at the attacker.

Erica turned around, the girl was already in stabbing distance. I held my breath as I realized what was about to happen.

Erica didn't have enough time to react, or rather, a normal person wouldn't have had enough time to react. Erica slapped the scissors away from her, and with her other hand she grabbed her by the neck.

In an instant she lifted the girl up and slammed her on the ground. Then she stepped on her chest to restrain her, held her head with one hand, and with the other she buried the scissors in her shoulder, next to her collarbone.

The girl screamed. Erica released her head and pulled her foot out of her chest. Then the girl put a hand to her shoulder and looked at it in bewilderment. She writhed in pain and began screaming.

—Pa... Pamela!— exclaimed Krois.

She crawled over to her friend. I stared at them, dumbfounded. I heard Pamela's desperate screams, but I couldn't react, I couldn't process anything.

Suddenly I noticed that Erica stopped next to me. She was offering me her hand. I realized that I was still bent over on the floor, so I took her hand and she helped me up.

—Are you all right?— she asked.

I examined her, she was covered with bruises, blood was running down her face, and she was the one asking me if I was okay. I tried to answer her in any way I could, even if it was a simple "fine", but nothing came out.

—Come, let's go. The fight made me stop wanting to pee— she said.

She headed for the exit. Realizing that she was leaving me alone with the girls who had ambushed us, I hurried to follow her.

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We went to the infirmary. Erica expected the nurse to just take care of her, but naturally, she started asking questions and Erica had to tell her the whole story. Eventually the nurse treated her wounds, but called the teachers nonetheless. By the time she was finishing patching the last cut, our head teacher showed up.

—What's going on here?!— the teacher pleaded.

Erica had to explain the whole story again. Just as she was finishing, the headmaster appeared, demanding to know what had happened and why there was a girl with a scissors buried in her shoulder.

—Again?!—yelled Erica— We were ambushed! That girl tried to stab me! I defended myself! That's it!

It wasn't the answer the director was hoping for, but it was a good summary of the story. Still, for Erica's sake I took the initiative and told him my side of the events. When I finished, the director put a hand to his temple in concern.

—Again! Erica, again! Why can't you resolve conflicts peacefully?!

—Hey, I'm the victim here! Or what?! Would you prefer she stab me?!

Our professor cleared his throat.

—I think what we should do now is call the parents, plus an ambulance.

—Yes, I've already called an ambulance. It should be here any minute— said the nurse.

The director began pacing back and forth nervously.

—Why me? Why me?

—What is your father's number, Miss Sanz— the professor asked Erica.

—No, I'll call him!— exclaimed the director, a little more scared than one might expect, as if his life depended on it. But he seemed to understand that we were all looking at him funny, because he pulled himself together and lowered his voice— I'll call him, it's my responsibility.

Erica pursed her lips, nervous. Other than that, no one complained.

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I was saddened that the girls from the other classes had felt the need to attack Erica. At first it seemed horrible and out of place, but as time went on I realized that different people react differently to catastrophes or high—stress situations. Krois had a sister who had lost her leg, and the cause was loose in the school. The girls who assaulted Erica had seen their ambush as righteous, but it had only served to increase hatred and resentment toward someone with the power to kill us all.

I should have started to worry at that point.

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My name is Erica Sanz.

I am a 17 year old girl. I don't know what else to say, I have nothing to highlight. I would like to have a prettier figure, I guess. Oh, and I'd like to finish the school year, because it's the last one I'll have, and I want my dad to be proud of me, and not give him any more trouble for having to change cities.

One day, some girls cornered me in the bathroom of my school and beat me up as much as they could. Unfortunately, I had to stab one who tried to do the same to me. Only she was trying to kill me, I didn't even aim for the organs, I just buried it in her shoulder. The nerve.

But I got scolded at school anyway. Of course, they also called my dad to inform him. I wish they hadn't, but the principal said it was his duty or some nonsense like that. The thing is, in the afternoon I would have to explain to him what happened. Oh, why do I have to go through these things?

After I got home and put my stuff in my room, I started to get ready. I wondered how he'd take it, if he'd think less of me.

I tried to remember the last time I had seen him angry. He was scolding one of his subordinates, but I couldn't remember when was the las time he'd ever been angry with me. I didn't want to remember either. Alas, what could I do?

Nothing, there was nothing I could do, because he had already been told. I could only wait for him.

I started cleaning anyway, starting with my room, then I swept the living room and washed the dishes. Then he arrived.

—Hello, princess— he greeted me as if nothing had happened.

He put his things on a chair, I quickly dried my hands and went to hug him. I was looking for a stern look, some kind of reprimand, but instead he put a hand on my head.

—Did you have a hard time at school?— he asked.

I stared at him for a while, puzzled. Then I looked down and let my head rest against his chest. He was always like that. Every time I did something wrong, I expected him to get upset, but he never did. This time he wasn't going to either.

—Yes— I answered.

—Do you want to talk about it?— he asked.

I thought about it for a moment. Then I nodded.

—Do you want to get something to eat? How about that pizza place down the street?

I looked up, perked up.

—Pizza? Now?

—Why not?

I hugged him again. I had a cool dad.

We walked along, talking about all sorts of silly things on the way. He seemed happy that I told him about the new friends I had made at school.

Back at the restaurant, I told him what happened. He listened attentively, although it didn't take me long either. When I finished, he folded his arms, thinking.

—Well, it seems that Krois girl has a screw loose— he said.

—Right?— I pleaded.

—Why don't you kill her?

—Oh, no, that would just make everything worse.

He took a sip of his drink.

—Well. I just don't like my little princess getting jumped on, that's all. You think you can put up with it?

—Yes, really, she was weak as fuck. She's like all girls, she can't fight.

—Except you. You sure know how to fight, my little girl.

I smiled and curled a lock of my hair, playing along with his compliment. He had said it in a playful tone, but I knew he was sincere.

—What if I killed her?— he offered— I won't leave a trace.

—Thank you, but no. She was getting revenge for her sister, remember?

—Oh, right.

—Besides...— I looked at my empty plate, sorting out my ideas— I want to try to do this on my own. I want to...—I needed another moment to find the right words— I want to prove to myself that I can finish this year... Do you think I can?

I looked at him anxiously for his answer. At that very moment I thought it was rather silly to ask him, he was obviously going to say yes.

—Of course, princess— he assured me, smiling— You're the best!

I already knew he was going to say that, but hearing him so confident and proud of me gave me renewed hope. My dad was wonderful, I couldn't let him down. I had to finish that year. For him.