The second week of September had the student council in more meetings then I cared to count as Homecoming approached. This Monday in particular was already starting out weird.

I looked up from my spot next to the student council president, Amanda Rockwall. Who was finally back from a family trip.

“Alright, everyone the votes are in and this years homecoming will have a theme.” The student council began murmuring excitedly. “Homecoming will be held the week of Halloween and will allow the students and staff to dress up in costumes as long as they follow the already present Homecoming dress code.”

Well that was a surprise, a Halloween homecoming.

Amanda then went to discuss the planning and the money needed to pull this off and then the setup and food.

With that she told us that we would be holding a fundraiser the second Friday of October, there would be a bake sale and a blood drive along with many other things. And lastly as members we were required to attend.

“And I expect you all to be there helping. Meeting dismissed.”

I gathered my stuff and couldn't help but look over to where my friends were supposed to be.

Amanda stopped me at the door. “How's Ellie?”

“She's mad to have food poisoning but it's what you get from eating raw cookie dough.”

She grimaced scrunching up her nose. “My best wishes to her speedy recovery. You'll pass on what we discussed? Or should I call her? With both Jamie and Kamila having clubs it would be a great help.”

“I'll do it. I'm sure this will boost their spirits.”

She waved to me as she caught up to her friends and left me to walk alone.

I unconsciously checked the halls as I passed making sure I didn't run into any unwanted trouble. Mindy and her group haven't messed with me though I knew they were aware of my open sexuality as was at least half the school thanks to Kamila's big mouth.

Yet Mindy still hadn't made her move but now that my sister and friends were gone I was free to bully. My thoughts went back to Xander. He and Kono left at lunch for some family emergency. But I couldn't help but wonder what their family emergency was? Xander looked… scared, uncomfortable, anxious as he and Kono left in a hurry. I knew he didn't want to go.

Should I have let him go, even if it was for his family?

An abrupt shove sent me crashing into the lockers I was forced back to the present.

“Well well, look what I found. A maggot pretending it belongs.” Mindy sneered.

“Disgusting.” Amy said blocking my left.

Debbie smirked darkly as she blocked my right.

I looked up at them, holding my head. “Why are you doing this? I've done nothing wrong to you or anyone.”

“Nothing wrong?” Mindy cackled.

“Then are you bullying me because I'm gay?”

Her hand shot out grabbing a fist full of my hair before lifting me close to her face.

“Because people like you taint others with impure thoughts, you ruin it for others.”

“W-what others?”

She slammed my head back into the locker, her lackey's laughing at my pained whimper, I closed my eyes as the hallway spun.

“My brother. Because of you my brother is- wrong now!”

My eyes shot open at that. “What? What does that have to do with me?”

“Last year of middle school. Outside the gym. Thorus. Thorus Mazen. My brother.” Tears filled her eyes.

My face morphed from confusion to horror. He was her brother!

“Oh you remember him do you. Pity he won't get the same honor.” she scoffed glaring down at me.

“Mindy what does he have to do with this?” I asked my vision blurry from my head slamming into the now dented metal.

“What does he have… to do with this?”

Suddenly her grip on my hair fell away, I crumbled to the floor.

The look on both Debbie and Amy's face only made me press myself against the locker trying to become smaller.

Mindy's face slacked but her breathing deepened, her body shook as she clenched her fist.

Debbie quickly stepped in front of me. “Mindy get ahold of yourself. We're in public!” She hissed roughly.

Mindy shook her head then shoved Debbie back, Amy looked on in confusion but Debbie knew something we clearly didn't.

Mindy turned to me. We locked eyes and my brain screamed danger. Her eyes they were wrong.

“Lumir, run!” Debbie gasped out lunging to tackle Mindy.

Not needing to be told twice. I scrambled to my feet and ran as a strangled roar filled the air behind me.

I rounded the first corner almost falling on my face but caught myself against the wall, pushing myself further not daring to look back.

As I ran down the hall after school activity students began poking their heads out of classrooms, while teachers rushed the halls in panic.

Suddenly Mrs. Hart grabbed my arm as I ran past her class room and pulled me after her, breaking into a jog then into a run.

“Mr. Mark do you know what's going on?”

I tripped over my feet thankfully Mrs. Hart righted me before I fell.

“I don't know Debbie told just told me to run.”

She grimaced. “From Mrs. Mazen?”

“Yes.”

“Oh dear.” She ran, her grip tight on my wrist. “Run to the library and leave. Go straight home understand. Straight home.” She pushed me a few feet then turned back the way we came.

Obeying her words I ran straight to the library and into Lars and Steven.

Without question they ushered me to the door as another roar filled the air, then screams.

“Quickly Lumir!” Steven shouted as the main doors burst open behind us.

My feet pounded over the asphalt tripping over myself as my phone rang.

Fishing it out I answered.

“Hello?” I wheezed.

“Lumir?” Xander's voice crackled over the line.

“Xander? How do you have my number?” I stupidly asked, running and trying to not get hit by leaving students cars.

“Not important. Tell me where you are and what's happening.”

“I'm running from Mindy- I think. I just left the school parking lot.”

I answered as I ran past the back gate of the campus and down the back street.

“Okay, I'll be right there-”

“Xander, what's going on?”

He hesitated then answered. “I'll explain later but you need to stay safe. If at all possible get home. Don't hide. And please, try to stay away from populated areas.”

I agreed but before I could talk someone began talking in the background.

“Lumir, you still there?” He asked when they left.

“Y-yes.” I panted out rounding the corner of central park but recalled his warning changing direction.

“I'll be there as fast as I can.” Before the line went dead the sound of a door shutting and I could have sworn he was running.

I pocketed my phone as another roar sounded far too close.

Chancing a look behind me I screamed at the thing running at me.

The only name that came to mind was a Minotaur. A creature of fudging legend! Was chasing me through the little wooded area that surrounded the park. 

What was that doing here? I must have hit my head harder then I thought.

As we ran past, parents grabbed their children and ran away with screams of terror.

Xander said to stay away from populated places but it wasn't my fault that there were so many parks. Where was a place that I could lead this thing? Mrs. Hart said go home and Xander said the same thing, but there was no way I would lead this thing there. Where Mom and Ellie would be defenceless and in danger.

I wanted to cry in frustration. Why was this happening? When did my life jump the tracks and- I almost tripped at the sudden thought.

The abandoned train tracks!

Taking a sharp left turn I headed there. The Minotaur quickly closing the distance.

When the slope that lead to the tracks came into view I huffed out a grateful breath. The old train cars still littered the tracks, all I had to do was lose it here and escape while it was distracted.

Adrenaline pumped through my tired limbs as my plan formed.

I ran- zigzagging before the last second diving behind an overturned car. I scrambled out of sight curling in on myself and cupped my hand over my mouth holding my breath, I listened as it tore past mere inches from my hiding place.

When they were a good distance from me I turned and ran down three more cars then froze dead in my tracks as a loud snap echoed. Looking down I spotted the culprit- a broken piece of glass under my foot.

Turning I saw the Minotaur turn my way, black eyes locked with my frozen form before the Minotaur charged.

With a gasp I ran forward, running between train cars and broken down metal trying to put as much between us as I could.

A cluster of cars loomed blocking my path.

I looked around frantically searching for anything that could help me- when I spotted a cracked window in one of the side cars. Without thinking I climbed in around the chipped glass, trying not to disturb the balance of the fragile interior.

I carefully maneuvered around the rotting inside before something slammed hard into the train car sending me reeling into a glass door that shattered on impact.

Glass stabbed into my palms, arms and knees. I whimpered but I couldn’t afford to stop moving, so I bit my lip to muffle my cries and crawled onward. The Minotaur fighting to follow me along the outside.

I cried out as it rammed the car again lurching me against a deteriorating wall, a cloud of rust rained down. Dizzily I shook my head glancing up I cringed away. It's black eyes staring down through a gap, freezing me in place.

“Lumir!” It yelled in a gruff taunting voice sending chills down my spine.

How did it know my name? I thought forcing my limbs to crawl faster.

What was happening?

Suddenly the window above my head shattered as it's thick arm shot through grabbing wildly at the air above my head, before the other arm joined in.

I flattened against the molding carpet, tears running down my cheeks.

I'm going to die. This thing was going to kill me.

When the noises stopped I peeked up peering around only to let out a scream as a fist smashed into the metal and began to pull apart the side off the car.

Quickly I scrambled back between one of the overturned seats as glass rained down on top of me. I pressed myself back covering my head.

The groan of metal finally gave way as it was pulled free.

I looked up and through the cloud of dust, the Minotaur stepping forward. It's cloven feet crushing old broken glass. I stared in disbelief through tears as the remains of tattered clothes caught my eye, they hung from it's bulking form, that looked an awful lot like… Mindy's.

I looked over the Minotaur's face to see fine traces of Mindy all the way down to her hooped nose ring.

“M-Mindy? Is that you?” I asked my voice trembling.