By Ruthlessness I Rule

Has it ever occurred to you that a few words could seal your fate?

I know it seems ridiculous, but for me… they did.

Seven fucking words sealed my fate in my new high school. I didn’t know how to break the curse that came upon me, or if it was possible to be free of it at all. I wished I’d just listened to Talia that day and looked away. But I didn’t.

My decision turned three years of my life upside down, and as much as I wished I could reverse it, I couldn’t. I regretted my action.

But the thing about regret is… it’s a fucking waste of time.

*********************

“It’s going to be fine, Ida,” Dad said softly.

As CEO of Arne Enterprises, Isaac Arne had a reputation to uphold. But this tone of voice was one he saved just for me, in the comfort of home. He was a wealthy man who gave me and my twin brother, Jack, anything we ever asked for. So did our mother… when she was still alive.

“I didn’t say anything.” Which was true. I technically didn’t say anything, but I knew my face said a lot I couldn’t control.

I’m Cressida Arne, Ida for short. Today was going to be my first day at my new school. Dad had recently decided to move us back from London to the place where Jack and I were born.

Atherton Town.

A shiver ran down my spine every time the name was mentioned.

As beautiful as it was, I didn’t like this place because… because I don’t know why.

If we’re talking facts, I couldn’t remember anything about my younger self. I had no memory of anything that happened before my ninth birthday. Everyone said I suffered some sort of memory loss when I was younger, but no one knew why.

I shouldn’t feel anything towards this place that I didn’t remember, but my mind kept making me have some sort of fear, or maybe discomfort. I wasn’t sure what the feeling was, but it was definitely there.

A building that was on its own and far away from the neighbourhood caught my attention…

No! Let me go. Dad! Dad, help me!

“Cressida?” My head snapped in Dad’s direction. He was holding my water bottle in his hand, his eyes drifting to my left side. I realised I was clutching it tightly, and he thought my kidney was hurting… again.

“I’m okay,” I declared. I took the bottle from his hand but didn’t drink.

As if the memory loss wasn’t enough, I had kidney cancer when I was seven or eight, which resulted in me having one kidney. It now controlled almost everything in my life.

No drinking. No smoking. No to some kinds of foods because they might cause damage to my kidney. Small amounts of exercise, but not too much.

All of that was told to me, of course, because I remembered none of it.

We reached the school where I was supposed to be studying for the next three years.

MoonFlow School.

It was the one school where you’d find the children of the wealthiest families around here. As well as that, every student had to sit an entrance exam to be accepted. Luckily for me, I had a wealthy family and intelligence on my side. Jack did too, but he had decided to stay in London with Aunt Valerie, while Dad and I moved back to Atherton, near Aunt Natalie.

We reached the entrance of the school and boy, was it one hell of a school. The building was more like a castle–a very huge castle. Four towers were around each end, and if I was going to take a lucky guess, I think they were a signal to where each year level was supposed to go.

Freshman. Sophomore. Junior. Senior.

And I had to go to each one of them for the next four years without Jack. How was I supposed to stay four years without my twin, who has been with me forever?

“Ready?” Dad asked. I only nodded my head and exited the car. As we waited for the gate to open, I observed the pretty and colourful flowers and gardens that surround the place.

“Alright, Ida. I have to go talk to the principal and you have to go in there. I’m sure you’ll find your way because you don't need my help, I suppose.” I only gave him a sarcastic smile while he let out a chuckle.

It was moments like these where I wished that Dad was free every day so we could be happy like that. Especially as he’d just repeated the words I said to him every time I wanted to go explore a new place.

“But remember you have to–” I cut him off immediately to continue his sentence that he said to me every single day.

“Stay hydrated, don’t eat protein, don’t forget your blood pressure pills and don’t forget to eat your snacks. How did I do?” He smiled at me and kissed my forehead. As the gates opened, he walked to the left side as I walked to the right.

“You got this, Cressida!” Dad half yelled at me. I shook my head at him, but not before smiling at him one last time.

Dad is right, I got this. I think.

I walked slowly towards the freshman building, not caring if I missed the first class. I’m not supposed to run outside of exercising because of the solitary kidney of mine.

“Cressida? Ida?” I heard someone call my name, and I turned around. Coming towards me was a red-haired girl. Her skin was so white, as if she had never walked under the sun. Her eyes were a calm shade of hazel, which was very beautiful.

She was wearing what I suppose was a part of the uniform. It was a dark green jacket with a white shirt under it, and a black skirt. I hoped I wouldn’t have to wear a skirt. Not that I don’t like them, but I feel that they are more suited to parties, not school.

I took a few steps in her direction. “Do we know each other?” I asked. It surprised me that she knew who I was and even called me by my nickname.

“Yes we–the memory loss thing, I forgot. I’m Talia Bernard. I was your best friend when you used to live here.” She said the last part in excitement that I wished I could share.