x
Poking my head out of the door, I look around for a minute and step out of the apartment.
'The coast is clear and no sign of him anywhere.'
Sighing in relief, I continue to walk down the stairs and go down the street taking advantage of the peaceful morning.
"Emma!"
I groaned. "There goes my peace."
"Good morning," Jake said the minute he was by my side. "Come on we are going to be late for school."
"But it is only..." once more, he grabbed my hand and dragged me.
'So much for making sure he was not there.'
The school was reopened after the past few days and Jake had made it his mission to walk me to school. I would be honored if he didn't grab my hand and walk me there like he was taking a toddler to school. What made things worse was the fact talked none stop about things I couldn't understand making it a painful experience.
'I wonder why girls fawn over him.' I thought cringing as he talked. 'He is annoying!'
"Emma are you alright?" he asks and before I could say a word he continued. "It's okay. I made some extra lunch if you are hungry."
Just then my stomach growled showing a clear sign that I didn't eat breakfast. 'Shoot! Now he is going to fuss over this. At the same time, he fussed over my hair not being tied to a ponytail properly.'
"Do you want to have breakfast at the café over there?" he pointed at it. "Do not worry it is on me."
I couldn't have a say in this because he dragged me in there. Soon I was sitting in a swanky café holding the menu card in my hands.
"So, what do you want to order Emma?" he asked. "I have already ordered my favorite; coffee with toast."
I was surprised. "You drink coffee?"
"Yeah, but it is the mild kind." He peered down at the menu. "Oh, I'll order this for you."
"No need. I am not hun..."
"Waiter!"
I groan. 'I wish the floor could open and swallow me whole. Can't he take a hint?' I look around. 'What's worse is he would keep talking like this for hours because the place is practically empty.'
It was as if the universe heard my cries for help because my food was the first to come. It was crepes stuffed with an omelet with a cup of chocolate.
'Wow! This looks...' then I remember something. 'This Café...it looks...familiar. But where have I seen it before?'
"Emma," Jake brought me back to the present. "Your food is getting cold."
I quickly pick up my fork and start eating. It tastes good. Halfway through the meal, I look up to see he wasn't eating.
"Umm, where is your food?" I ask.
"Oh." He shrugged and closed his eyes only to open them with a scary grin. "I am not hungry."
I felt the food in my stomach disappear.
"It's okay. I like to watch you eat."
Too bad because I couldn't eat another morsel. Why? I lost my appetite.
We were lucky to get to school on time and after changing our shoes at our lockers, we parted ways. After that cringeworthy breakfast, I made sure we didn't cross paths at all, and luckily for me, he was surrounded by his admirers so avoiding him was easy.
That is until it was Club Time.
"Hi, Emma." He greeted me wearing a martial arts suit.
I couldn't believe this. "What are you doing here?"
"Huh? I joined the Martial Arts Club before the school closed down."
My face twists into something which read, 'You-have-got-to-be-kidding-me.'
"What's the matter? Aren't you happy to see me?" he asked with a confused look on his face.
'Happy?'
As you might have guessed, I wasn't happy about it but his admirers were because they crowded the door just to see him.
"Gah can't they go already?" Andrew moaned.
"Yeah! We can't practice like this!" another club member complained. The racket they were making was distracting him. Well, us to be précised.
Luckily, Sensei noticed the problem and threatened they would all be punished if they didn't leave. They all ran away but crowded the door again once his back was turned but Jake ignored them completely.
"Umm, Andrew? When did he ask to join the Martial Arts Club?" another club member asked.
"Two days ago. Sensei was the one who allowed him in because of how good he is." Andrew replied with an annoyed tone in his voice.
"'How good he is? The only thing he is good at is racking up chicks!" another member pointed out. "I mean look at them! They are all fawning over him!"
I felt a wave of guilt wash over me because it was my fault all this was happening. It was clear from his actions during the past few weeks he liked me but I wasn't interested in him at all. Why? He was annoying.
'Looks like none of them are willing to leave.' I thought practicing the new move Sensei taught us. Once it was time to go, I head to my locker to change my shoes when someone tapped me on the shoulder, asking if I needed an escort home.
"Thank you for the offer but I can walk home by myself." I coldly reply.
"Really?" the voice's pitch made me look up from wearing my shoes and I see a tall blond-haired girl with blue eyes. "Hi, my name is Gwen and you must be Emma Cross-wood."
I was shocked. "How did you..."
She chuckled. "I will tell you all about it if you let me walk you home."
I was skeptical. Seeing my hesitation, she smiled. "Do not worry. I am not dangerous."
It was a strange way to introduce one's self but the minute and I was still skeptical about her until I hear Jake's voice at a distance.
'Oh no! I am not going through that again.' I grab her by the hand and run out of the building. A few minutes later and we were walking home in silence.
'She said she was going to tell me how she knew my name.' I bite my bottom lip. 'Why isn't she saying anything? The suspense is killing me.'
"So you are the chosen one Caroline was talking about." She said taking me by surprise and she giggled. "It's funny because your appearance surely does not fit the bill."
I was a little offended by her statement but ignored it. "So Caroline told you about me?"
"Mmm hmm."
"You are part of the group?"
She nodded. "I am so glad you came to our school. It's getting boring seeing the same old faces all the time. The new students just come and disappear after a murder."
"I see," my pace slowed down. 'What she is saying is similar to what Brianna told me a few weeks back and it is getting kinda creepy.' I think.
"So how are you coping with your stalker problem hmm?"
As if on cue my phone beeped with a message stopping me in my tracks.
'Where are you?'
I shudder and look up at Gwen who stared back at me. "It looks like he is a persistent one isn't he?"
"How did you know I have a stalker?"
She stopped in her tracks and turned to look at me. "Caroline told me about it. She noticed anytime you are with your friends she hears footsteps and once, she saw a hooded figure watching following you on your way home at night."
'Okay, now I was getting suspicious. At least I got my answers on how Alice knew that.' I proceed to delete the message.
"Have you reported to the police?"
"Yeah, but without concrete evidence, there is little they can do."
"I know. They can be incompetent sometimes." I look up at her and see a broad smile on her face. "That is why we are doing this; to stop the demon and make the school a better place. But with your current situation, I suggest we should stick together don't you agree."
Her statement got the wheels in my head turning. "Why don't we just tell the higher authority about our club? Some extra hands outside the school can help."
"Well, Caroline does not want the higher authority to know about our little operation because of their incompetence." She started walking again. "I tried to convince her once but she refused to listen to me and Alice, Stan and Jane agreed with her so I was outvoted but each of them has their little secrets. I have nothing to hide."
What she said perked my curiosity. "What secrets are they hiding?"
"I'm sorry but I am not allowed to tell you that." she hummed for a moment. "What secrets do you have Emma?"
Her question got me off guard. "Huh?"
She looked back at me. "Surely a girl like you should have one deadly secrete. That is why you came to our school right?"
I say nothing until we got to my apartment block. Gwen suggested we should exchange phone numbers and I agree to give her mine and bid her goodnight. Lying on my bed, I think of what she said and frowned.
'Why did she ask me that? Does she know?' I turn to my side on my futon. 'Naw, I'm just being paranoid? Everyone keeps secrets and so do I.'
Morning rolled in and I was on the lookout for Jake before I walked out of the apartment.
'That's odd, he hasn't showed up at all to bug me.' I heave a sigh of relief until footsteps were heard behind me. 'Just great. There goes my morning.'
I turn around but see Gwen running towards me. "Sorry I am late. I got lost on my way here."
For some reason, a wave of relief washed over me. "No problem. I am happy you came."
I stretched out my hand and once she gave me hers, we walk to school together in utter silence but once we get closer to the gate I see Alice standing by a column swinging her bat from side to side.
"Hey, blondie." She said the minute she saw us. "We need to talk. Alone."
I let go of Gwen's hand and walked into the school. Curiosity got the better of me so I hide behind the wall to watch them.
"What is the big idea of following that girl around?" asked Alice. "She can take care of herself you know."
"Well, Caroline did tell you to keep an eye on her until we find out who her stalker is." Gwen replied, "But you are not doing your job."
"Forget the 'job'. What makes that girl so special? Her front size?"
"I don't know but Caroline said she is special and I believe her."
"You always believe what that girl says." Alice put her hands on her hips. "You always take her side even if she is wrong. I don't care if that girl is the one destined to kill the demon!"
Gwen chuckled. "Just admit that you are jealous of her."
Alice swung her baseball bat to her face. "Do us a favor and tell that girl to stay away from me or I will smash her head into bits got it?"
I shudder at her violent tone.
"You know I won't allow you to do that," Gwen replied moving the bat away from her face.
Alice wasn't fazed and slung her bat on her shoulder. "Fine then. From now on you are my enemy."
"Okay then. Good luck trying to beat me." Gwen snapped back.
'It looks like there is some bad blood between the two.' I sneak back to the building and quickly change my shoes. 'In order not to be part of their squabble, I have to ensure I don't run into Alice again.'
Luckily my friends arrived and classes began followed by the lunch break. I was heading to the vending machines in the cafeteria to buy myself a can of coke and spot Alex there.
"Why good afternoon Ms. Cross-wood." He cheerfully greeted me once he saw me.
I smile back and slip the coin into the machine. "Good afternoon sir. How are you?"
He gave a huge sigh. "Not good, unfortunately."
"What is the matter?" I ask the minute as the machine buzzed.
"I have spent half the morning trying to convince the Principal to reopen the Cooking Club but he has already made up his mind."
I was stunned. "So the Cooking Club is closed for the rest of the semester?"
"More like forever." He bent down to retrieve his drink.
I sigh and proceed to grab my drink. 'This means we won't be seeing each other like we used to.'
"Thank you for asking. You just made my day." he walked away leaving me bright red. My heart ached as up the stairs to meet my friends and all I could do is listen to them talk about the worst video game plot twist of the century.
"Hi again."
I look up to see Jake holding a basket in his hands and narrowed my eyes in annoyance. "Hey."
He looked concerned. "You seem sad. Is anything the matter?"
I shake my head and put a bento in my mouth.
"Umm hello, we are here as well," Brianna called out but he ignored her.
"Can you tell your friends to move over? I want to sit with you." he held up the basket. "The food you are eating tastes a little bland so I made you lunch."
Someone tugged on the hem of my skirt so I shake my head.
"Umm, is that a 'No?'"
Instead of replying, I give him the silent treatment and put another morsel in my mouth.
"Oh. I see. Maybe we can have lunch in my class if they are disturbing you. It is currently empty at the moment."
Andrew was appalled. "Excuse me?"
"Hey, we are human too!" Aubrey yelled.
I give him a deadpan expression and shake my head.
"Oh. I see." he smiled. "Well, see you after school."
We watched him walk away.
"Well, that was rude," Ralph said.
"Yeah like we were invisible or something," Andrew replied.
"Honestly who does he think he is?" Aubrey yelled.
Brianna moaned. "All that food has gone to waste."
"Is that the only thing you think about?" Brutes asked pushing up his glasses.
Brianna ignored him and continued to eat in sorrow. I gulped down the last of my food and walked straight to class. The teacher arrived but I was unable to concentrate thus making the whole lesson a daze. There were no Club Activities for the Martial Arts Club today so I take this as my golden opportunity to look for the abandoned hallway.
'I would love to ask for directions but I don't want to seem suspicious.' It took some time but I find it near the Drama Club. Taking note of that and rushed to meet my friends who were waiting for me outside.
"Hey," I wave approaching them. "You guys waiting for someone?"
"Actually yes," Brutes said with annoyance in his voice.
"We are waiting for Mr. Fancy Pants," Brianna added chewing bubble gum. "And he is late!"
I raise an eyebrow. "Who is that?"
"Eric Greyson." Ralph huffed. "That guy is so full of himself."
"That is odd. The Drama Club does not have any activities today." Andrew mused out loud.
"Could it be..." Caroline's voice trailed off as tension hung in the air. We looked at each other, then at the corridor which was full of students, and waited patiently for something to happen.
My mind became foggy with all kinds of thoughts, 'What happened to him? Was he hurt? Did the curse fall upon him? Where is he?'
'You know, his blood will be on your hands if you don't get that book.' my conscience echoed in my head making my face pale up and I break out a sweat. I was so lost in my world that a voice startled me bringing me back to the present.
"Hi," it was Bert with someone who I suspect was Eric beside him.
"Wow," I say looking at the boy with a crew-cut hairstyle toned face, and auburn eyes. He too was physically built but made it clear from his pose that he was arrogant which I disliked.
'Is it just me or did he rummage the Art Club room for costumes to wear?' I thought he looked awful dressed like someone from the Shakespearian timeline because his hairstyle certainly did not suit him.
"Hello. You must be Eric." I say putting up a fake smile to hide my initial dislike.
As a reply, he took my hand and kissed it then pinched my cheeks. "Miss me?"
"Not really," Brianna replied making it clear she wasn't amused. "Where were you?"
"Sorry," Bert said. "I was helping him improve his acting skills."
"What acting skills?" Brianna gestured by standing on akimbo.
"So that when auditioning for a groundbreaking performance, I would be able to act without any problems," Eric replied striking another vain pose.
My face twisted into a frown. He seemed to notice my change in attitude because he smiled at me. "Don't worry darling, I will make sure that you be cast in a movie role beside me. Maybe in a romance play perhaps? I'll be your heartthrob and you will be my love interest."
"In that case, she is in for a Shakespearian tragedy called 'The Embarrassment'." Andrew quipped.
"And you will be cast for an F in the Physics Department if you don't put your head in the books." Brutes angrily. "Because I am your tutor."
"Yeah, you heard the man. So stop joking about it!" Brianna grabbed his hand and dragged him away.
Brutes sighed and shook his head. "You coming, Emma?"
I look at him. "No thank you. I will be going home now."
"Okay, see you later then," he said and back to the building. Bert followed after him after a few minutes saying that he was going to the library to catch up on Chemistry.
"You can join me if you want," he said giving me his hand but I reject his offer. "Okay, but if you change your mind."
He left leaving me alone and after taking a huge breath, walk in the direction of the Drama Club with determination in my eyes.
'Forget about getting that book tomorrow. It is now or never.'
I spot Mr. Indigo walking out of the Drama Club room and hiding behind a wall. 'He is coming this way!'
I stand up from my hiding place and move towards the direction of the School's Cafeteria pretending to go to the vending machines while watching him through the corner of my eye. He walks passed me once he was out of sight, I quickly run towards the isolated area. There was a small metal gate with a yellow 'DO NOT ENTER' sign on it so no one needed to tell me something sinister was in there. I give the gate a shove and it opened revealing the long hallway full of lockers.
'She said the locker had a star sign on it.' I turn on the flashlight on my phone which buzzed because someone was calling me.
"Hello?"
"Emma where are you?" it was Caroline. Wait how did she get my number?
"I am at the location of where the book is," I say in a whisper.
"Did you get it?"
I start walking. "No. I am looking for the locker with the sign on it."
"I will send you the picture and the combination lock. Is anyone with you?"
"No. Only me."
"Good. Be careful okay?"
"I will." I end the conversation and continued to walk, my footsteps echoing through the empty hall. It was dark but there was a little light from the windows which were covered in duct tape. The howling wind sent chills up my spine along with a certain presence that lurked around creating tension. Then I hear footsteps getting closer and closer but when I turned and see nothing.
'Who is there?' the footsteps were coming closer and closer. Scared, I run to a locker, open it and enter inside peeking through the little holes. The footsteps were louder as they came closer to my hiding place and when I looked, someone passed wearing a demon-shaped mask. Once it was gone, my phone bleeped with two messages; one from Caroline and another from an unknown number.
Caroline: 'Here is the symbol *picture* and the combination lock: 52502.'
Unknown number: 'Beloved where are you? I did not see you come out of the school! Is everything alright?'
I look at both messages and turn off my phone. Slowly, I creep out of my hiding place and slowly walk deeper into the abandoned hall because I did not want the demon to hear me. The more I venture into the hall, the darker it became so I use the flashlight on my phone to light my way. Anytime I hear footsteps, I turn off my phone and hide in a locker. The messages from the unknown number came in fast and when I hid in another locker, I looked through them.
'You are not at home and you are not at the convenience store either! Please tell me you are okay!'
'Where are you?'
'Are you in school? You are in school, aren't you? Probably overslept while studying huh? Don't worry I am coming to get you!'
'Beloved where are you? I am in school you are nowhere to be seen. Tell me where you are because you are driving me insane!'
'Please tell me where you are! I just want to take you home and keep you with me forever.'
'And ever.'
'And ever.
'And ever.'
'And ever.'
'And ever.'
'And ever.'
I turn off my phone after reading my last message. 'This means is in the school ready to kidnap me. Maybe he is the one lurking around the hall?'
I slowly open the door and continue my haunt for the locker with the symbol on it. It took a while but it was finally found at the farthest end of the hall.
'I do not have much time.' I turn the combination on the padlock but the clicking sound was so loud that it scared me. 'This is going to attract whoever is stalking me! I have to hurry.'
Then the sound of metal scraping another metal was heard followed by a door opening and closing.
"C'mon, c'mon," I mutter as my sweaty hands repeatedly turned the nob clockwise and anti-clockwise. The footsteps were coming closer at a fast pace making my impatience and paranoia go through the roof. Finally, I hear a click, remove the padlock, enter the locker just in time and I hold my breath watching as the person looked around and walk away, his footsteps echoing down the hall.
"Phew," I say out loud then my phone pinged with a new message from an unknown number.
'Beloved I know you are here! Don't worry my love. I will take you home. I will make sure you are safe! I promise!"
"I think I will stay here for a while," I say to myself while looking around the locker. It was empty but when I put my hand up, I feel something soft so I switch on my flashlight and I see the book taped to the top of the locker.
'Bingo!' I silently peel off the tape to get the book down and when I opened it, it was filled with writings and uncomfortable drawings.
ns 15.158.61.51da2
