Dabria's legs trembled beneath the weight of her fear. The limbs meant to hold her lost their motivation to move on, but she couldn't say the same for the relentless torment brought by her schoolmates. The other childrens fists pounded the closet door in tandem with her heartbeat.
"Get out of there!" A little girl yelled. She raised her voice, giving a light cackle. The vibrations emanating from her throat rattled the inside of Dabria's ears.
"Stop!" Dabria screamed back. In return, the children slapped the door repeatedly.
"Witch! Witch!" they chanted in unison. Finally, the pressure forced Dabria to her knees. Snot dripped from her nostrils as she tried to repress her tears.
"You're a freak! Just like your mother!"
"Shut up!" Dabria screamed at them. Her voice shot through the hardened wood like a bullet, but rather than putting an end to their taunts, her helpless voice called for more laughter.
"Watch out! She has those weird birds she keeps talking to!" A girl said sarcastically.
Dabria pressed her back against the wall while pulling her knees tightly to her chest. "It's okay. Dante will be here. We'll sit by the radio, drawing with my crayons," she whispered to herself. For now, imagining him beside her did a decent job of steadying her nerves. She rested her head between her knees, trying to snuff out the fear by losing herself in her mind.
"Pull! Pull!" a little boy said. Dabria heard dozens of hands gripping the doorknob, followed by a collective grunt as the crowd tried to tear the door open.
"Stop!" she yelled louder than before, tearing apart her throat. Suddenly, a loud bang in the hallway echoed.
"Look!" one of them said.
Dabria slowed her breathing, letting the space fall still enough to hear the outside world clearly. After a bird cawed, the tiny footsteps of her peers scrambled down the hallway.
"It's those damn birds!" Their once gruesome tone wavered.
"Hey! Don't cuss," a girl warned him. "You know Mrs. Jasmine will be mad at you for saying that!"
"I'm more scared of those animals than any teacher. Plus, my dad has said far worse."
Dabria sat silently, waiting for the last set of footsteps to fade away into the distance. And as the birds continued to caw, her legs finally rested.
"Shit, those things are creepy!" the boy said again.
"Hey! Stop cussing!"
"Let's just go," he said dismissively. With that, the last pair of children disappeared, and Dabria's heart slowed. The stench of old water and soap lingered under her nose for so long that her sinuses were clear of snot. She cradled the knob before pushing her head out of the closet. Looking down in both directions showed her that the staff were absent as well, leaving only the shadows of ravens dancing across the floor.
The sun shined through the glass, giving her a moment of warmth amongst the cold nature of the people she dealt with daily. She pressed her finger against the window and watched a bird tap its beak. She smiled at the little creature, finding a warm feeling in her chest stirring within. As always, they came to her in times of distress and pure loneliness.
So, other than her brother, the flying beasts became her only companions.
"Hey!" a male voice yelled at her. Dabria turned to her left, realizing the old janitor was making his rounds through the campus. "Your filthy shoes keep bringing in mud. What seven-year-old doesn't know how to wipe their feet before coming inside?" The man slammed the bottom of his mop into the tiled floor.
"I-I'm sorry." Dabria bowed her head in defeat.
The man eyed her up and down. "Your appearance looks like a mess, too. Despicable." He returned to his duties, taking his anger out on the grimy floor. "Come to think of it, why do those kids keep calling you a witch?" he asked without looking up. "The way you dress ugly, but you certainly aren't one of those old crones riding brooms." The man's presence smothered her to the point she couldn't speak.
"I-I have to go," Dabria stammered. She sprinted past him and noticed him grit his teeth as she passed.
"You know better than to run in the halls!" He exerted more force into his mopping while cursing to himself.
Only when his voice left did Dabria slow down. In the end, she decided not to go back to class. Instead, she walked past numerous lockers toward the girl's restroom. After entering, she climbed on top of the sink beneath the window. Afterward, she got on her tiptoes, using her core to maintain balance while she opened the glass. A gust of fresh air smashed against her face. She pulled herself just high enough to expose her face, and as she struggled to breathe, her lips formed the shape of an 'O.' She lifted her tongue to the roof of her mouth, creating a harsh whistle. Only then did she let her feet touch the floor. Within seconds, her red face returned to her white skin tone, and a smile dawned on her lips as a Raven flew in. She held her finger in front of her, allowing the animal a comfortable place to perch itself.
The bird took her offer. It cocked its head to the side, slowly bringing its eyes to meet hers. Despite the animals looking the same, their movements made them unique. This one flew with grace and precision, unlike the rest.
"Hello," she said cheerfully. She extended her entire arm out, and the Raven walked across her sleeve. His long talons swallowed her wrist, yet it didn't hurt. She rubbed his neck and giggled. "Thank you." Dabria closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The reason for her affinity with these creatures never revealed itself. She knew these creatures were infatuated with her mother, but they suddenly shifted their focus to her at birth.
"Should I wait here for the rest of the day?" The bird stared at her with a blank expression. The other kids called her weird for spending so much time with the Ravens, but to her, they were just as friendly as the dogs and cats they owned.
Let's just stay here and cuddle. Dabria imagined the animal talking back to her. She spoke to them like humans, something Dante assured her was normal to a certain extent. Of course, everyone talked to their pets like they were people, but Dante simply warned her it would only be a problem if she heard the animals talk back. So, Dabria learned to appreciate their silent company. She leaned her head against the wall until the calmness sent her into a nap.