The exams were coming soon and I was scared.
Why?
It's my first exam in this new school and I want to leave a good impression on my grades.
"Remember, this is a new school paving way for your new future," I tell myself while looking at the mirror this morning. "So leave the past behind and keep moving."
It was easier said than done because images of my horrible deed still plagued me no matter how hard I try to ignore them. The good news is that I hadn't heard from my stalker after my trip to the police, and the upperclassman named Alice stopped following me to school after I told her off. I did stop going out at night and tried walking to school with my friends but that proved to be impossible because of the distance. Asides from that, they took vehicles to school and I was already low on money because of the price of changing the locks in my apartment so walking was my only alternative.
It was one of these mornings and I was looking at a group of girls chatting and walking to school.
'It's pretty lonely walking to school on your own.' I sadly thought.
"Emma!" the sound of footsteps was coming my way and when I looked back, I see Jake rushing towards me.
He skidded beside me. "How are you today?"
I blinked twice in shock. "I... I am fine?"
"Great!" then he put his face closer to mine. "Do you want me to walk you to school?"
The situation was so awkward that I instantly didn't feel like walking to school with him at all.
I chuckle nervously. "No thanks."
He glared at me so hard that I felt goosebumps all over me then he smiled. "Too bad because I want to walk to school with you."
With that, he grabbed my wrist and started dragging me with him. I struggled to get his hand off but he tightened his grip.
'It hurts!'
"Wow the sun looks good doesn't it Emma? Today is a lovely day. Looks like nothing could go wrong at all and... "
'What on earth is he saying?'
Luckily, this grueling treatment only lasted for a few minutes but to me, it lasted like months. Once we got to the school gates, he let go of me.
'That was an awful experience.' I massage my wrist which had hand marks on them.
"Emma are you okay?" he asked.
I look at his worried face and grimaced. "Yep, I am alright. Thank you for walking me to school."
The grin appeared on his face again. "You're welcome. Do you want me to walk you home after school?"
'No!' was my initial reply but I force a smile, and shake my head causing a look of disappointment to appear on his face. Before he could say another word, I rush into the building, change my shoes by my locker and go into the classroom.
"I am never walking to school with him again," I mutter while giving my wrist a massage.
The class started and as usual, Carl and his goons made all kinds of noises when they entered. I ignore them and wait for Mrs. Brittany our English teacher to walk in.
'That's odd. She is late.' I drum my fingers on my desk 'There is something we all know about her and that is her punctuality. She is never late except the day she had the flu.'
"Okay everyone please put away your books and let's begin shall we?" Mrs. Brittany's sweet voice chimed in.
I look up and see she's standing in front of the class with a huge briefcase in her hands and was about to do as we were told but paused. 'Wait, why did she say we should put away our books?'
"Now please take your seats." she opened her briefcase and brought out a gun, "And don't move or I will shoot."
My eyes widen in shock.
She walked over to the door and locked it. "Now then, if you all will be so kind as to come up one by one and drop all your phones in the trash I will be very pleased."
We were still processing what was going on when the sound of a gunshot rang out. One of the students' slumped to the floor and we watched in horror as blood pooled underneath his body.
"He did not move fast enough," she calmly said pointing the gun at the next person who quickly got up and dropped his phone in the trash bin. "Now stand over here darling so that I can see the next person."
My heart was thumping so hard that could hear it. 'No time to panic I have to think fast.' I looked around and notice Andrew was not in class so I silently take out my phone and I send a text to him.
"Uh, uh uh," something cold was pointed to my head daring me to look up but I didn't. "I know what you are doing and I am not having it."
She motioned for me to stand up and when I did she struck me on the head blurring my vision.
"All I am asking for is a little cooperation," she said dragging me to the front of the class. "My master wants your death to be a special one but for now, let me just finish the task ahead of me. Now, who is next to drop their phone into the trash bin?"
I watched helplessly as the rest of the students dropped their phones and stood in front of the class. When the last student dropped his phone in the bin, she appointed two students to search the class for any electronic device.
"Nothing here ma'am." one of them said.
"Thank you, darling," then she shot him on the chest and turned to the next boy who rose his hands in defense she said, "Join the rest."
I was shocked. How could she shoot someone just like that? Maybe I would just wait until someone calls the police. I am sure a normal human being would hear that and call for help.
"Now everyone take their seats please," I was about to go when she pointed the gun at my head again. "Not you darling, I have something special for you."
I shivered. "What do you want from me?"
"It is not me who wants you, darling. It's my Master," she said leading me to the teacher's chair but once I sit down, my phone started to ring with its cheesy ringing tone.
She cocked the gun at me. "Well, it looks like you are going to die right now for calling for help."
'Oh no!' I think fast. "Wait! You said your Master wants me alive."
She gave an evil cackle. "He would reward me for taking away your life hun."
"Are you sure about that?" I asked cocking an eyebrow while hiding my fear. "He would be angry if you killed me without his permission wouldn't he?"
"Well yes but..." she trailed off as soon as the thought dawned on her. With Panic in her eyes, she rushed to her handbag, took out her phone, and dialed a number.
Someone picked it up. "What is it?" the voice was deep and low like a monster.
"Master," she began sweetly. "I have Emma and held all the class hostage as you requested."
"Did you make the sacrifices?" asked a base voice.
"Yes master, but Emma called for help what should I do?"
"Hmm," it hummed for a while, "Knock her out and drag her to the appointed place."
"Wait a minute, I shouldn't kill her?" she looked at me.
"I said knock her out and drag her to the appointed place." It growled. "You don't want to make me angry do you?"
"No!" she screamed. "No master, I will do as you say."
"If anyone tries to stop you, kill them. More blood means more power. Don't fail me."
"Yes master," she said before hanging up. "Sorry you all, it looks like I will be taking Emma away for now and..."
My phone rang again interrupting her. Angrily she walked over to where it was, grabbed it, and thrust it to me.
"Make any mistake by asking for help and someone is gonna die," she warned.
I look at my terrified classmates but the only person who looked indifferent was Caroline. She looked like she was trying to stop herself from doing something.
The phone rang and this time I answered it.
"Hey, Emma I saw your text is everything alright?" Andrew asked franticly.
I take a deep breath, "Andrew I just called to tell you that they have canceled the exams."
"What you must be joking."
"I know right? But don't worry about anything that will spell out danger but in case you need help in picking up your things from our class in school, please call me for help okay? You'd better hurry because I would be going home soon. Bye!"
I hung up and she snatched the phone from me. "Now, stand up, and please face the class."
I do so and she proceeded to pin me down and tie my hands and feet. "I am sorry about that sudden interruption but as I said, all of you will have to die but being a teacher of principle, I will make you choose who is going to die first..."
"I will," Caroline said standing up.
"What did you say?" she asked tilting her head.
Caroline walked up to her with a smug look on her face. "I am going to die first."
Mrs. Brittany chuckled. "Wow, such a gallant act. It's a pity because I like you." then she cocked the gun at her. "Now where would you like to be shot?"
"On the head," came the response.
'No please,' I beg. 'No Caroline don't do it!'
"Okay hun you made your choice." but before she could pull the trigger, police sirens were heard followed by a familiar voice speaking over a megaphone.
"This is the police! We have the place surrounded! Put down your weapons and come out with your hands behind your head!"
'It is Detective Walsh. My plan worked!' I think heaving a sigh of relief in silence but we were not out of the woods yet.
Mrs. Brittany turned pale and waved the gun at us, "Who snitched!"
We all kept quiet and even though I was tempted to talk.
"I said who snitched!" she asked. "Who f#$%&^!# snitched who did that!"
"I did," I say looking down.
"You what?" she asked again looking at me straight in the eye.
"When you handed me the phone to talk to Andrew, I put the conversation on mute leaving out the words, 'danger, help, class, school, and hurry. I am the one who snitched so kill me and let them go!"
Her eyes turned from fear to anger as she pointed the gun at me. 'Wait did I tell her to kill me? Me and my big mouth.'
She close her eyes and bowed her head while I waited for my end but instead of putting a bullet in me, she burst out laughing like a maniac and it ended in a gasp. Looking up from my pathetic state, I see Caroline had stabbed her in the stomach with a knife making her drop the gun but she did not stop there. She stabbed her repeatedly on her stomach staining her uniform in the process and the whole class watched in horror.
I wiggle furiously in an attempt to slip out of the ropes that bound me but it was so tight that I got rope burns on my wrist. Suddenly, the rope loosened and I was able to move my fingers and legs. Caroline had untied me with the knife she used to stab Mrs. Brittany and the look on her face made my blood run cold. It was a dark and eerie expression and the terrifying grin she gave added to the nightmare fuel making it clear she was not herself.
Then the police barged in with Detective Walsh at the forefront. He looked at us then at the body and sighed. "Not again."
"I can explain! Please don't take her." I was interrupted by a small sound behind me. We all looked in the direction where Mrs. Britany's body was and realized that she was still alive for she was still breathing.
"M...master...I...I am so...sorry. I...I...I tr...tried. I...I...I tr...tried t...to kill...to kill them..." she said as tears came down her eyes. "Pl...please...l...love...love me."
Slowly, the life in her eyes was gone with the look of regret on her face. It was a terrible scene and it made me feel sorry for her regardless of the fact she did try to kidnap me and kill the rest of the class. One of the officers came to her body and after putting a gloved hand on her neck, he sighed and declared her deceased.
"All right, let's lead the kids out of here." The Detective said and one by one we were led out of the classroom where the rest of the students were being mean out.
"Emma," Jake hugged me but it was a brief one because I was plucked away from his arms and shoved into the police car. He tried to stop them but to because one of the policemen wearing a bulletproof vest stopped him.
All I could think of was how Mrs. Britany died. 'She was telling the Master to love her before she dies. Who does that? More importantly, who was she speaking to? Was it the demon Caroline was talking about?'
These were the questions running through my mind as I was led to the interrogation room a few minutes later.
"Okay," he said activating the tape recorder. "Now, can you tell me what happened?"
I tell him everything and he listened patiently to my story. When I was done, he stopped the recorder and sighed heavily.
"Looks like I am not going to get anything from you again." he groaned. "The same way I am not going to anything from Caroline."
My curiosity peeked at that. "What made you say that sir?"
"I am sorry but that is classified information but it is clear she's not the culprit."
I groan and stare at him. 'Why is he staring at me? Does he think I am the killer?'
Memories of how I drowned him in the bathtub flooded my mind ending with the image of his dead body that still haunts me.
"Hello," Detective Walsh waved his hand in front of my face bringing me to the present. I look at him and read the suspicion on his face and look away. He stood up and left the room coming back a few minutes later with a bunch of papers in his hand.
"Well, the calls did come from a payphone so my hunch was right." he dropped the papers on the table with a large thud.
"A pay phone?"
"And do you know what's worse? The person was using a payphone located in a city miles away from here. For now, we have nothing."
"So you are just going to give up just like that?" I asked.
"No, we are not. This case is already complicated with you in it and there is nothing I can do to untangle this web. One minute we are close to the killer, the next minute we have a new killer throwing us off the track. Then when we close the case and call it a murder-suicide, a new killer comes up..."
"But all of the killers are victims of someone they call 'Master' right?" I asked. "Doesn't that mean something to you?"
He curled up his mustache in annoyance. "It does but we have nothing so far. What we do know is this so-called 'Master' want you alive and this..." he pushed the papers towards me. "This is all the information we have on this case."
I pick up one of the papers and read. "Mrs. Brittany was kidnapped last night?"
"We asked the people who knew her and including her neighbors. They told us she did not come home last night and a man called Mr. Bernard her fiancé confirmed it. They were supposed to meet last night to discuss their wedding plans but she didn't come home. Now she appears in school possessing a nine-millimeter caliber weapon, shooting two students and trying to kidnap you. As far as I know, this is not the first time this is happening."
'No wonder they are at a dead end.' I think reading the rest of the papers. "What happened the last time?"
He adjusted himself on his seat and leaned forward. "A few years ago, a teacher shot five students and then shot himself in the head while talking to someone on the phone. We traced the phone call and discovered that the person calling was using the payphone from another city. We called the police department there but they found nothing after an extensive search. No distinguished fingerprints, no video evidence therefore no evidence. The only thing we could do is hope that whoever called the killer would call again but that never happened. Now it is happening again and there are no leads."
Then he stood up. "I will be looking deep into your case Ms. Cross-wood."
This shocked me. "Why? I told you everything."
"It seems that you are hiding something from me." he watched as my eyes widened from fear. "Do you mind discussing it?"
I look down at the table and mutter, "No, I have nothing to tell you."
"Okay, suit yourself," he said sitting down. "It's better to be safe than sorry and don't worry, your friend isn't going to be charged for anything."
I nod and walk out of the room but once I was outside, I break run until I get to an alleyway to catch my breath.
"C'mon get a hold of yourself," I said panting. "He doesn't know you killed him. Nobody knows." I lean against the wall trying to stop evil deeds from playing in my head. My heartbeat slowed down for a while but my phone rang making it skip a beat.
"You have three stars today. Your fate is still uncertain."
I was shocked. "Caroline is that..."
"Shh," she cautioned. "Are you alone?"
I look around and whisper, "Yeah. I am alone."
"Have you made your decision?"
"No, I haven't."
"This is new to me. The demon does not choose a specific target." there was a pause. "But the offer is still open."
"Caroline I..."
"Don't be naïve Emma," her voice became stern. "Two people were killed and a whole class was nearly executed because of you."
I bring the phone away from my ear and stare at it.
"I am not saying it is your fault because it isn't. All I am saying is you can prevent this from happening by coming over. More people will die if you don't do something and you can start by coming to school at night. Think about it."
She hung up and I looked at my phone while her words echoed in my ears. 'People will die if I don't come.'
"Maybe I should meet them," I say to myself. "But entering a school that has bad Feng Shui at night?"
I was still thinking about this until I got home while I was making dinner at home. My Uncle was not here and my Aunt was sleeping off the alcohol in her room so I wrap both their dinners in plastic wrap and call Brianna.
She picked up the phone after a few minutes. "Hello?"
"Brianna it is me."
"Emma?" she gasped. "Thank heavens! I thought that you and Caroline were going to jail."
"No, I am not going to jail," I say in a serious tone.
"Thank goodness," she replied with a sigh. "What about Caroline? Is she going to be charged?"
"No, she's not because she has PTSD. I wonder why she did not tell us that." I muse out loud.
"I don't know," Brianna said. "Maybe she did not want us to have the wrong impression about her."
"What do you mean by 'wrong impression?"
"You see, Caroline is kind of self-conscious about herself and what other people think about her. Maybe she did not want us to get the impression that she is crazy or something."
"Maybe she did not want us to worry too much about her."
"Yeah, maybe."
There was a long pause before I say, "I can't forget the way Mrs. Brittany died! The way her life drained from her eyes and the way she was begging the so-called 'Master' to forgive her!"
"That is so twisted." Brianna said, "But we had been seeing her all the time and nothing was wrong with her."
"Yeah, do think it is because of the curse?"
"What curse?"
"I read up on the school and discovered it has bad Feng Shui. Is it true?"
There was a pause at the other line and I could hear Brianna shiver. "Yo...you are not supposed to read that."
"I did and from what happened, I think it is cursed." I firmly say.
Brianna had nothing to say.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask "Why didn't you tell me the school was cursed?"
There was silence on her end for a long time. "We were afraid you would leave."
'That is a vague excuse and you know it.' I thought.
"When a new student comes, we tell them all about the school then they leave the next day." She explained. "So are you going to leave then?"
I sigh and look away. 'Leaving the school would mean going back to my former school and facing the bullying once more but staying here...'
"Are you going to leave the school?" she asks again.
"No, I am not," I reply. "I do not have a choice."
She heaved a sigh of relief when I said that.
"My Aunt will gladly sell me off if I don't."
"Wait what?"
I give a rueful smile. "I will explain everything later when we meet again."
"Oh okay then. Goodnight!"
"Goodnight." I hang up with a sigh.
'Looks like I have just exposed my family life to the curious mind.' I think before dialing Caroline's phone number.
"Hello?"
"Caroline it is me." I take a deep breath. "I have made my decision."
ns 15.158.61.5da2
