Snow, there is so much fucking snow all over the place.
An unnatural amount.

It came up to the second floor windows then stretched out for miles, no end in sight. Just a plain white landscape of freezing cold snowflakes looking to be coloured in.

There was no one around either. I couldn’t see Luka, Iris or Father Way, nobody at all.
How could a school full of people disappear so suddenly?

It's not like they can teleport away.

I'm scared, this is genuinely scary. I don't even like people that much but I feel so alone.
Is this what it's like to be dead?

White, an endless amount of white and the feeling of being alone.
It's horrible.

I walked through my now plain, ordinary and undecorated bedroom, over to the window with a view of nothing.

I put my hands on the pane and spider webs ran along the glass, reacting to the heat from my palms. Cracks took up every inch, making it impossible for me to see outside which peaked my sense of wonderment even more.

With a huff of frustration I drew back and put my hands on my hips, trying to think around the problem.

The temperature of the room was so low I could see my breath in front of me yet I didn't feel anything. I could just be walking around like normal, the snow and the breath clouds being the only proof of the weather.

I moved my hands and put them into the small groove of the window and tugged it upwards.
After a fair bit of swearing from me and protests from the window I opened it, being able to have an uninterrupted view of outside once again.

I need to get out of here, find someone.

There was no door or any other windows so I didn't even have an option on how I'd leave. There was only one choice I'd been given and I jumped at it.

I took some deep breaths, collecting my thoughts and getting myself ready for what I'd have to do next whether I liked it or not.

Chewing on the inside of my cheek I put a foot on the window and ducked out, trying to not be a klutz and hit my head.

The snow was surprisingly firm with no give at all, it was like strolling down a sidewalk.
I feel like snow Jesus.

I saw a discolouration in the pure white and started running towards it, something had to have caused the mark.

The faster I ran the slower it felt like I was moving and by the time I reached the odd patch I felt like I'd just run a marathon.

I was trying to catch my breath when I took one more step forth and the ground sunk, taking my foot with it.

In seconds I was completely engulfed, the snow covering my head and making it impossible to breath no matter how much I tried. Everything just reacted like quicksand, the more I tried to move the harder it became to see the surface.

Freezing cold snow, all around me.
There's no air, I need to breath.
It's suffocating.

My bumped into something and the next moment everything became water, salty like the ocean and it changed absolutely nothing when it came to the burning in my lungs.

The water threw me around mercilessly, like I was a toy two children were fighting over.
My body bounced off rocks, leaving bruises, that is if I was to ever get out of here.

I cupped my hands over my face, trying to make a bubble of oxygen if it was even possible.

The surface wasn't in sight and my lungs were burning, focusing became even harder.

Help
Something closed around my hand and in one brief pull I was out of the water and lying on a hard surface, trying to catch my breath.
It wasn't working, too much water was in my lungs.

I was out of the ocean but I was still drowning.

On top of it my whole body felt ruined, broken to pieces all over, I was a human smashed packet of biscuits.
I can't move and it's horrible.

Everything hurts, my legs, my chest, my head, my arms.
There's nothing that isn't in pain right now.

"I'll fix everything, I promise."
Familiar cold lips touched my neck.

This is wrong, this is a dream.
None of this is real, it can't be.

Wake up!

~~~

"Aaah!" I yelled, sitting up, feeling the rugs fall of me and the cold air hit my skin.

I was sweating despite the chill outside and the sheets were tangled up in my legs.

"Lainey, you alright?" Iris mumbled, rolling over and looking at me through sleepy eyes.

"Yeah, I just had this really bad dream. It's over now." I replied, lying back down and pulling my blankets up, now feeling like I was about to freeze to death.

"You sure?" I didn't want to make her stay awake when she was tired so I gave her a yes, wanting to go back to sleep myself.

"I'm gonna try to rest now." I told her, burying my face deep into the plushy pillow.

"M'kay." Iris was asleep before she'd even finished her sentence but I didn't care, I just wanted to escape the real world for a little bit longer and hopefully have a dreamless sleep.

I lay there for a while, eyes shut, nothing interesting at all in my head. Just nothing.
Like the white canvas of snow outside and in my dreams.

I hate my dreams and the personal drama that follows it.

~~~
Lainey's Birthday
~~~

After waking up for the second time I'd been in a much better mood and felt well rested.

It was a good thing too that I didn't need any more sleep because I had a day and a half in front of me.

She'd refused to speak about it from the time leading up to but Iris had repeatedly dropped hints that she'd be doing something big for my birthday so I've been readying myself for people.

Of course that wasn't the only thing on my mind.

There was also the priest.
Jesus I could forget him even if I wanted to.

He'd kissed me.
I never thought he would. I've always believed the relationship between us would remain as mild flirtation, nothing more.

His green eyes seemed to blaze a shade brighter and his black hair fell across his face.

"Good."

He bent his head down and I flinched before his cool lips brushed against mine, making my brain go numb.

"Now I'm finished."

I immediately lifted my hands and roughly shoved him away, trying to come out of the shock he'd put me in.

"Why would you do that?" I demanded an answer, not planning to give him a choice to avoid the situation.

"Because you wanted it," he took a step forward and put his hands on my hips, the corner of his mouth tugging up in a smile, "and I wanted it too."

Slap!

I hit him and his head snapped to the side, a bright red mark in the shape of a handprint appearing on his cheek.

"Don't assume what I do and don't want and don't ever touch me without my permission." I shoved him away for the second time then turned and left the church.

Bloody fucking priest, thinking he knows me.

"Lainey, are you coming to breakfast?" Iris asked and I pulled on a hoodie, not bothering to get properly changed from what I've been wearing since I woke up.

"Yep." I pulled my slippers on and Iris gave me a look saying 'you're seriously not wearing that.'

"Don't judge me, it's my birthday." I told her and she laughed, thinking I was being funny.

"Oh alright, so now you decide to celebrate your birthday. I see how that works." Now I understood her laughter and it wasn't that entertaining, I liked to use ridiculous excuses for everything.

No I wasn't kissing the priest, he was sucking snake venom out of my lip.

"Come on." I stood up and walked out the door with Iris then went down the stairs and into the dining hall.

Most of the people who were going home for Christmas had already left, only a few remaining mingled with the students staying.

Iris and I grabbed a tray each and walked down the cafeteria bar, picking our food choices for breakfast. Iris going with oatmeal and me selecting the more traditional toast.

We found an empty table and sat down, me suppressing a giggle when Iris nearly fell over.

I bit into my toast, smothered in peanut butter and cinnamon, it was good.

"What was your dream about?" My friend asked out of the blue and I got confused for a moment.

"It was weird, I don't know. I don't remember much. There might have been some snow." I shrugged, in all honesty I can replay the whole dream with every detail in place.

I just thought it was something I needed to keep to myself, like the rest of my crazy dreams.

"On a completely different topic how much do you like surprises?"

"They're nice, sometimes. Like surprise I got an A on my test not surprise, that guy got me pregnant." Iris nodded and thoughtfully ate her cereal, a brief silence between us.

"In that case I couldn't manage to throw you a party, surprise!" She laughed awkwardly and I raised an eyebrow before biting another piece of toast.

"Knew you couldn't, doesn't matter anyway." I didn't care that she wasn't able to arrange anything, it didn't make me feel particularly sad, it was only a party.

"What do ya wanna do for the rest of the day? I know how to hack the school servers to get us YouTube." I suggested, thinking of watching some cat videos when didn't sound that interesting when I really thought about it.

"Yeah, YouTube sounds like a plan."

~~~

"You've got mail." Iris said in a robotic voice, walking into the dorm room and throwing a heavy piece of paper onto the bed.

We'd ended up spending our whole afternoon on a school laptop with headphones in watching PewDiePie, Jenna Marbles and DanIsNotOnFire, trying our hardest not to cry laughing.

All in all it'd been a nice way to spend my birthday.

"What's this?" I asked, picking up the folded card and flipping it open, glancing up at her.

"Father Way asked me to give it to you." Of course he did, I sighed mentally, thinking only of the sleazy collared bastard.

It's really hard to be angry at him while with some of the daydreams I've had.

I brought my eyes down to the almost crazily elegant handwriting and tried to read the words.

The church, 8pm.
Behind the Our Lady of Sorrows tapestry.

Of course it'd be too much for him to treat me like an actual human being and come here himself.
I wouldn't listen but he should have done it anyway.

I looked at the clock on my nightstand, three minutes to eight, why am I even considering this?

"He's summoned me." I said ominously, standing up and dropping the card on my bed.

"Are you going?" I sighed, trying to guess what would happen if I did, there's a possibility he'd try to kiss me again and I might not want to stop him this time but there's an equal chance he'd apologise and I'd feel disappointed.

"No, if it's that important he can wait until tomorrow." I crossed my arms, not planning to move for his stupid demands.

"He said you'd get detention if you don't go." Alright that's officially enough, I've had it with him and how he treats me like I'm some dog.

I hate how he thinks he has a right to just assign detention when I don't want to talk to him.

"Fine but don't be surprised if one of us doesn't come back."

"I wish you luck." Iris smiled, a big grin spreading across her narrow face before sitting on her bed.

I left my room and the dorm, marching down the path leading up to the church.
I pushed the doors open and walked inside, other than it being darker than usual nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Hello?" I called out and seconds later I remembered him telling me to check behind a tapestry or something.

Where would a tapestry be in here?

Maybe hanging up like a giant fucking flag on the wall, doing its best job to be completely unmissable.

I walked up to it, put my hand on the rough fabric and shoved it out of the way, not caring if it was antique or anything like that.

A door was on the other side of it, heavy, wooden and snugly built into the churches brick wall.

I know this sounds really dumb but I feel like I'm on a bit of an adventure which as minimal as it may be it's still more than I've had for a while.

In one twist of the handle the door swung inwards, opening in the opposite direction of what I'd thought. I stepped into the dark staircase and closed the door, ridding the stone hallway of any light.

I stretched my hands out, feeling the stone walls on either side of me, having to run my fingers along them to make sure I was walking the right way.

What the fuck is with the secret corridor?

A faint glowing appeared, sending a shine off the wall and I started walking a little faster.
I have no idea what's going on.

I went down ten more stairs and the whole hallway suddenly filled with light. A tea candle was on every second step and lit the rest of the way for as far down as I could see.

As bizarre and absurd as this already was it went a step further when I saw the rose petals.
Yes that's right.
I said rose petals.

What is Father Way trying to do?
Seduce me?

He mightn't realise it but I'm not a candles and rose petals kind of girl.
I like my guys a bit more dominant.

I reached a small alcove in the stairs and paused, there were a lot more petals here.
I looked at the niche in the stone and felt my mouth drop open in response to the article of clothing hanging up.

"Are you kidding me?" I muttered to myself, holding the hanger out in front of me and looking at the grandiose yet beautiful gown.

Another piece of paper was tucked into the dress and with my free hand I plucked it from the fold of fabric.

'Put it on.' The card read and I frowned.
What is wrong with him?

The dress was pretty at least.
Lavender and black, a puffy tulle skirt, completely sleeveless with no way to hold it up other than my breasts of course.
The top half was corseted with a felt floral pattern running over silk.

I guess it wouldn't kill me to humour him.

Hanging the dress back up I kicked my shoes off, unbuttoned my jeans and dragged them down, my hoodie and shirt following quickly.
I definitely didn't wear the right underwear for this.

I grabbed the dress, unzipped it at the side and stepped in, trying to make sure the hem didn't catch fire on the many candles scattered around.

Chewing on my lip I pulled the dress into position then once realising my bra straps were going to show I quickly abandoned the brassiere and zipped the dress up.

My hair fell over my shoulders and I looked down, admiring the fabric.

Okay, okay, I'll admit it.
I kinda like the dress.
And I kinda want to swirl around in it.

I can't believe how willingly I'd put it on, did I even try to weigh the pros and cons?
It must have something to do with girls trusting priests.

Priests who kiss them and leave treasure trails of rose petals and tea lights.

I leant down and picked up my pile of clothes, putting them in the small nook for safekeeping.

Turning around and soaking in the craziness of the situation, I took a deep breath and walked down the stairs, having to hold up the hem of the dress so I didn't fall.

Am I weird if I say I feel a little like a princess?

The further I walked down the fewer candles there were, now barely managing to light the way ahead.

I came to a stop in front of another door, as heavy and wooden looking as the one at the top of the stairs.

Bracing my heart and mind for whatever might happen I pushed the door open, the hinges creaking loudly.

At first there was no light, just a dark cavernous room in front of me, like having my eyes closed. A candle came flickering to life then glowed, lighting up a small amount of space around it.

The candle was being held by a pale hand attached to an arm covered by a jacket.

His green eyes smiled before his lips did and my heart fluttered like a butterfly trying to escape from my chest.

This is a dream isn't it?

Next thing he'll start crying and expect me to share all my feelings with him.

"Are we supposed to make sensual love on a bed of roses now?" I said, putting a hand on my hip as my voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Surprise!" The lights around him went on and I clapped a hand over my mouth, wish I could take back what I'd just said.

Please don't let anyone have heard that.

It was surprise party, that what Iris had done and Father Way had been in on it the whole time.
He wasn't trying to seduce me.

I was engulfed in a huge from Luka who'd been the person standing closest to me and I hugged him back.

"Did you hear that?" I asked him quietly, hoping no one else would be able to hear.

"Yep but pretend it didn't happen. It sounded too strange to be real." He replied, God I hope so.

"Oh, Lainey, don't you look wonderful?" Miss Coping gushed, quickly walking over and giving me a small hug.

"Uh yeah, do you know what up with the dress?" As can tell I'm a decent by of Shakespeare, hence the eloquently put sentences.

"Father Way suggested we invite the whole cast of Peter Pan to your birthday and dress in the fashion of the era, it was a fantastic idea." I looked down at the clothes I was wearing, I wouldn't say this dress I'd from the same era as Peter Pan but it's close enough.

"You flatter me, Bethany, but thank you very much." For the first time tonight I saw Gerard clearly and he looked amazing.

A red tie, a very expensive looking suit, a black shirt and a grin on his face which anyone else would have thought was sweet but I knew was cocky.

"May I borrow her for a moment?" He slid his arm into the crook of my arm and gave the headmistress a smile that could melt almost anyone's heart.

"Go ahead." Miss Coping returned the smile before Gerard led me away to the corner of the room and far from everyone.

"Thank you for the dress." I told him, deciding to go for the polite route even though I'd been planning on hitting him not that long ago.

"I thought you'd look nice in it. Not so much Wendy though, more like a very beautiful woman." My face went red, I didn't expect to get a compliment, maybe an apology or a bad pick up line, not something genuine.

"About the rose petals," he put the sole of his shoe against the wall, leaning back relaxedly, "I don't use those often, especially the candles." Obviously, last time I checked he was chaste, not that he acted like it.

He held up a hand, becoming me closer with a finger and I leant forward, feeling awkward already.

"And I don't do sensual, I don't do rose petals on beds and I don't do pretty gowns. If I were to bring you down here for sex that dress would be entirely pointless. It'd end up on the floor in shreds because I only like it rough and dirty." He whispered into my ear and I almost collapsed on the spot, having to immediately back away.

He raised an eyebrow and gave me a cheeky grin that I didn't know how to react to.

"Lainey!" Someone called out and I turned around to see Miss Coping standing by a table and holding a cake, "would you like to blow out the candles?"

Iris was standing next to her waving slightly and I hurried over, wanting to get away from Father Way and his dirty talk.

"Told you I could put a party together." Iris said gleefully when I stood in front of the headmistress and the lit cake.

"Now come on, blow out the candles." She clapped excitedly and brushed some hair out of her face, my eyes caught a glance of something, red.

Bright red and running down the side of her face, she wiped it away the second she realised I noticed but I'd seem enough.

The faint bruises on her jaw said everything.
I warned Tiffany, I fucking warned her.

"Happy birthday to you..." I tuned out from the rage I was experiencing, I want to kill that bitch.

She fucking hurt my friend.
No more.

"Happy birthday to you." They finished and I blew out all the candles, only murmuring my wish quietly to myself.

"I hope Tiffany gets what she deserves."