In a dark room with dim light coming from a laptop, Jake stared at the picture of Emma on his laptop and smiled recalling the events with the promise she gave him.
"My name is Emma Cross-wood....if we should meet again it would be for life..."
'She was so sweet and innocent back then.' he took out his phone and proceeded to send her another text. 'And she still is now.'
Suddenly his laptop popped up with a notification and clicked on it. The screen showed Emma walking out of the apartment with her school bag. Jumping out of the bed, he rushed to get dressed.
'Where is she going at 12 AM in the morning?'
Emma's POV
I stare at my phone and groan. 'Doesn't he sleep? This is the thirteenth text he has sent so far.' then I stared at the school's building and see light passing through the window of the second floor. 'Should I tell Caroline what happened to her? Maybe I should just return Molly's file and get this over with.'
So I open the door quietly and silently walk in navigating my way to the Principal's office but hear voices coming from the path I took.
"Do you think this is a good place to do it?"
"How I'm I supposed to know? I'm not the one who had a dream about this place."
"Come on Ayano be serious!"
I turn round the corner and see two people looking into one of the classrooms through the windows and was about to sneak past them when my phone buzzed causing the two to look directly at me.
'Who are they? Are they ghosts or humans?' that was the question that went through my mind as one of them glared at me?
"Well are going to stare at us or introduce yourself?" one asked.
I snap out of it and bow. "I am sorry. Good evening. My name is Emma Cross-wood and I am a student of this school."
The one who spoke cocked an eyebrow and gave a sinister smile. "My name is Ayano Aishi. It is a pleasure to meet you."
I smile and sheepishly scratch the back of my head but hide the fact that she scared me. Through the dim light of their torch, I identified the one who spoke to me as a slightly tall woman with grey eyes and black hair tied up in a ponytail. She was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and grey shots with black leggings matching the other woman's outfit.
"So what are you doing here?" she asked.
I bite my lips. "I am here to return this file."
"Hmm," she put her hand on her chin. "Okay. Then it is best you'd be on your way. It is a pleasure meeting you."
I nod and walk off but when I turn round the corner, I stop and crouch down.
"Say Ayano, doesn't she remind you of someone?" asked the other woman.
"Yes. She reminds me of Kizana Sunobu. You know, the leader of the Drama Club." Ayano replied.
"Are you sure? Because she reminds me of Megami Sakou." Said the other.
She tsked. "Megami? That is impossible. There is one thing I know about Megami' and that is no one in her family is as tall as that girl."
The other hummed in thought. "Do you think she will report us? She might think we are responsible for the mysterious disappearances taking place in the school."
There was a tone of worry in the other's voice as they came closer so I stand up and quickly run towards the Principal's office where the ghost was waiting for me.
"Why Emma, I have been expecting you," he said with a broad smile on his face.
I drop the file on the table.
"Oh, I see you came to return Molly's file." I watch it float towards the cabinets. "Did you find what you are looking for?"
I shrug and my phone vibrated again. It was Jake.
'Beloved I am in the school but I can't find you anywhere. Where are you?'
I groan. 'Seriously?'
'I am worried. Where are you?'
The ghost walked behind me and whispered into my ear. "Aren't you going to answer him?"
Sighing, I type back. 'Look, just hold on until tomorrow afternoon. I promise. I will tell you what I am doing here.'
His reply was a little delayed. 'You promise?'
'I promise.'
'Okay. I will be going home. Be safe okay?'
I turn off my phone and the ghost chuckled.
"It looks like he is a resilient one." He said giggling.
'I know.' I roll my eyes and put it back in my bag. 'What I'm I going to tell him?'
"Why don't you tell him the whole story?" it said.
Startled, I look back at him until I remembered ghosts could read minds. 'Looks like I don't have to open my mouth to communicate with you right?'
He nods, takes out a rag, and starts cleaning the table. "You know for a young lady who has a stalker, you are holding on quite well. Not that he bothers you."
I stare at him. 'He does bother me!'
"Then why haven't you killed him yet?"
His words froze me.
"You have no problem with murder," he added staring deep into my eyes. "You just don't like spilling blood."
I blink back the visions of my evil deed. 'That's none of your business.'
He chuckled. "Looks like I struck a nerve."
I glared at him.
"Oh don't give me that look dear. After all, everyone has his reasons for keeping someone. Do you have feelings for him?"
"What! No!" I yell.
"Then why..."
"I don't..." I close my mouth and quickly looked around to make sure no one heard me. 'I don't want to kill anymore.'
"But you killed people."
I had nothing to say.
"If I were you, I'd run for the hills." He added. "But that is impossible considering he is the only person you can trust now. Gwen nearly took you away with her but it was your decision that showed her true colors."
'Take me away? What are you...'
"All will be revealed in good time Emma Cross-wood." He snapped his finger and a trash can appeared in front of me. "Too bad I can't tell you what happened to this once prestigious school since I was new here when I died but these will."
Suddenly, my bag disappeared from my arm and was in the trash can. When I picked it up and it was heavy.
"What is in your bag are the late Headmaster's tapes." He said. "They might give you some insight on what happened to Akademi High and the horrors that took place."
I swung it over my shoulder. "Thank you."
He smiles and then glares at me. "Don't let that woman see you."
I was confused. "You mean..."
"Do not let her see you," he warned again with a serious tone. "And don't trust her either."
'What are you...' then the door opened and Ayano walked in.
"Hey what are you doing here?" she asks.
I look back at the ghost and see he had disappeared along with the trash can that was in the middle of the room.
"Oh, I just came to return the file," I reply with shaky confidence in my voice.
She cocks her eyebrow at me and I leave the room stopping by the entrance. I watch her go to his desk and search for it.
'She is looking for the tapes! But why?'
I quickly leave and head to the exit but the light shining from the girl's bathroom stopped me in my tracks.
'What is going on in there?' I walk in and see the other woman kneeling next to the pentagram drawn on the floor and chanting something, her yellow hair tied with brunches glowing in the dark. Then the red candles around the pentagram fizzled out replaced with a purple glow and a ghost emerged from it.
'What the...' then it pounced on me. I fall flat on my back and tried to beat it off but a hand reached out, grabbed it, and disappeared.
"Oh my gosh! Are you alright?" I heard someone ask.
I open my eyes to see the woman holding her torch to my face and that made me shut my eyes.
"Are you hurt? Say something!" she asked again.
I blink and sit up. "I am fine."
The shock in big brown her eyes faded and she grabbed a purple book. "It looks like the incantation did not work. Now what I'm I going to do?"
'Incantation?' I take a closer look at the book in her hands. 'Spirits and Witchcrafts? Was she trying to summon a ghost?'
Her eyes slowly moved from the left to the right at a rapid pace and her eyebrows furrowed. Sensing trouble, I stand up and run out of the bathroom not stopping until I get to the school's exit.
'Phew! That was close.'
'Who on earth summons a ghost in the middle of the night?'
I shrug and receive a text from Jake.
'Who was that woman you met?'
'I don't know.'
'Well, do you know the other one?'
'Her name is Ayano Aishi.'
'That's weird.'
I say nothing knowing fully well he was in the school stalking me again while the ghost's words echoed in my head. "He is the only person you can trust...Too bad, Gwen nearly took you away with her."
'Could it be that Gwen was going to betray me?' I ask myself. 'I don't want to drag him into this but...' bite my lip. 'If he dies...'
'So, we will meet tomorrow?'
I type back. 'Yeah,'
'Should I bring a cake? I know you love cakes.'
I sigh.
'I have perfected the recipe of the one you were looking at from your phone last week Thursday' He added. 'Do you want me to bake it for you?'
'Yeah. How about we bake it together?' I type.
'Really? That would be great! I will buy all the ingredients.'
I start walking.
'I can't wait my love!'
'Me neither.' I say increasing my pace. Once I get home, I open the secret compartment in my closet and gently put the Headmaster's tapes. Taking out the first tape I tried playing it on the tape recorder but it did not work.
'I think it's broken.' I thought giving it a shake and hearing something rattle inside. 'I will check it out tomorrow.'
So early in the morning by 6 AM, I go to the hardware store to have it fixed but the woman behind the counter took one look at it and shook her head.
"Sorry doll. This stuff is busted it can't be fixed." She said.
I was shocked. "Is there any way it can be repaired?"
"This stuff is as old as my grandfather Doll. No one uses these things anymore. It is all about computers and wireless Bluetooth nowadays. You have no choice but to restore it."
"And how much is it going to cost?"
Then Taro Yamada walked through the door and he looked happy to see me. "Why Emma, you aren't working today?"
I shake my head. "I am traveling the day after tomorrow so I came here to fix something."
He took a look at what I wanted to fix. "A tape recorder huh? I am surprised. No one uses these things anymore."
"That's what I was trying to tell her!" said the woman.
I turn my attention to her. "How much will it take?"
She looks at the device one more time twisting her mouth in a weird way. "That would be a thousand yen."
My face fell. "Can we bargain on the price?"
"Sorry Doll." She pointed at the sign behind her. "No bargains! No refunds."
"Can she buy another one?" Taro asked.
"Sure. There is a man downtown that sells antiques. Maybe you should pay him a visit." And with that, she walked away.
I leave the shop still holding the device in my hands and feeling disappointed. 'Where on earth I'm I going to get a thousand yen from?'
'Surely not from someone you know.'
"I can take you there if you want to," Taro suggested with a smile.
But just as I was about to object, my stomach growled.
He laughed. "Looks like you are hungry too! Do you want me to buy you breakfast? It's on me."
Face red with embarrassment I give him a weakened smile and bow. "No, thank you, sir."
"Aww, maybe..."
"Dear!" an older woman appeared and wrapped her arms around him. "Look at you! All grown up and strong! My daughter must be taking good care of you!"
As I watch this strange woman put her head on Taro's shoulder, I connect the dots. 'She is his mother-in-law but she looks eerily similar to...'
"Ahem," I nap out of it and see the rueful look on her face. "Surely your parents must have taught you to greet your elder right?"
Blushing even harder with embarrassment, I bow. "I am sorry. My name is Emma Cross-wood. It is a pleasure to meet you."
She said nothing but continued to glare at me until I felt uncomfortable. "Yes, it is a pleasure."
Then she looked at Taro. "Dear, maybe your little friend would love to stay for dinner. My daughter is an excellent cook and she looks like she could use a meal right?"
My instincts perked up as I stared at her. 'She looks like the woman I saw last night but older. Why do I have a bad feeling about her?'
I decide to trust my instincts. After all, it's been a long time since I had obeyed them. "I am sorry. Maybe some other time."
"Are you sure?" she said reaching out to grab my hand. I move it out of the way and take a few steps back.
"Absolutely sure." then I take a quick bow, say my goodbyes and leave.
'If you know what is good for you, do not bump into that man again.'
"You don't have to tell me twice," I whispered quickening my pace. The minute I get home, I make myself breakfast and start packing my things for the trip ahead.
'There were twenty of them.' I said after counting my panties. 'Now they are thirteen.'
'And who is the culprit?'
"Beloved I am home."
'Talk about the devil.' I thought before going to the living room to greet him. After helping me to pack, we baked the cake and ate it while watching my favorite fantasy series. Suddenly, Jake suggested we watch a movie and I not knowing which genre it was, agreed.
It was a romance movie cheesy with all the things you might find in a modern-day soap opera. Halfway through, I fall asleep and find myself in the corridors of the school.
"What the..."
Psychotic giggling was heard and I turn around to spot the person responsible because it sounded like a girl this time.
"Who...who is there!"
"You are trying to take my Senpai."
'Senpai?'
"Who do you think you are dealing with?"
I take a step back and look around.
"If you try to take him just know, I have a knife at home...WITH YOUR NAME ON IT!"
Then a blue silhouette of a girl holding a knife and covered with blood appeared. It giggled manically as I ran from it, its' laughter echoing through the halls. I open the door of one of the classrooms but it appeared trying to stab me so I quickly shut the door, lock it and turn the other way.
Then it appeared and pounced trying to stab me but I stop it in its tracks. We began to wrestle to get the upper hand and it giggled manically, obviously enjoying seeing me struggle. I was knocked to the ground when...
"Beloved?"
I wake up in cold sweat and find myself lying on my in my room. Lying next to me was Jake who was cuddling me.
"It's okay my love. It's okay." He whispered dragging me closer to him. "It's just a dream. It's just a dream."
Then he looked down at me. "You were shaking in your sleep. Is something wrong? What were you dreaming about?"
As I stared into his grey eyes, I couldn't help but aww. The looked beautiful as the moon glowed behind him. Feeling my face heat up with embarrassment, I snuggled closer and put my arms around him.
"I love you too!" he croaked burying his face into my shoulder.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
