***JANE POV**
Our biology teacher was gone.
Another record.....
Yes I had wished for the test to be cancelled, not the death of a teacher.
What is happening? This is too much to be called coincidence. Not to lie, I was scared, not just for my sale but for everyone in the school because there was no place to find help.
The principal remained silent, his presence heavy in the room. Half the class was already choking back tears.
When he finally spoke, it was the kind of speech that sounded important but meant nothing,the worst of its kind, which was probably his best.
No one listened.
No one cared to.
This was just the fifth week back, and already it felt as though the entire term was collapsing. They promised action, promised safety, promised answers.
But nothing changed, nothing has.
I couldn't help but think, "Is this how the term was going to be? Bad news after bad news? Everyday living in fear of being the next to be taken."
I turned, then glanced at Nafisat. She was frozen, her hands were cold when I reached for them. The principal and his entourage after offering empty promises wrapped in soft, useless euphemisms, left the same way they came.
I scanned the room, there i saw that I was not alone in the whole anxiety. The classroom was in chaos, some students left while others stayed frozen or crying.
A hot tear slipped onto my hand, dragging me back to reality. I looked at Nafisat again. Her eyes were swollen and red, tears carving deep lines of fear across her face.
I too couldn't hold back anymore
I cried with her for more than 10 minutes.
"We're not safe anymore," she whispered, her voice shaking. "Another one's gone… who's next, Jane?"
After a while, she stood and walked out. I wanted to follow, but shock rooted me to my seat. This wasn't normal, someone or something was behind all of this. At that time, I didn't have much evidence to prove it but it didn't just feel like gut, it is logical.
Two deaths in a single school within a month, other serious casualties. And they called it coincidence? I don't believe in coincidences, not all. The only theory i stand with is the theory of Cause and Effect.
After a while, my body began to ache, I packed my books, wiped the tears away with a tissue.
Just as I reached the classroom door, the emergency alarm blared.
Now what? I thought.
The entire school erupted into confusion.
I sprinted into the corridor and looked down the hallways flooded with students pouring out of classrooms, teachers shouting over the rising noise.
Everyone ran, some to the left, others to the right, colliding into one another. Some fell, stampeded on , the whole junior students block was scattered with panic written clearly in the air leaving their teachers just as confused.
"What is going on?" I thought
I had no idea where to run or why we were running at all.
My thoughts snapped to Nafi. Had she reached the hall already, or was she still somewhere behind? I prayed she was safe.
Hot tears slid down my cheeks as my heart refused to settle, it just keeps racing.
"Why now?" I asked angrily but no answer came. Everything felt shrouded in mystery.
However, amid the chaos something strange caught my attention.
A boy stood completely still.
While everyone else ran, he didn't move. Calm.
Unbothered.
His eyes met mine and lingered for a moment too long… then he turned and walked in the opposite direction toward the east wing.
The same wing where our biology teacher's office used to be.
Who was that?
I summoned the courage to follow, but suddenly
someone collided into me,
I Lost my balance and I was falling to the ground...
A strong arms wrapped around my waist, stopping me from falling. For a split second, it felt absurd like I'd stepped into a teenage romance and I was the lead character.
He stared straight into my eyes. His dark eyes shone with a calm intensity that sent a shiver through me and the warm smile on his face...
"Did he just hold my waist?"
I quickly pulled away and looked up.
It was Andrew.
The last person I ever expected to see in that moment.
Andrew !
We were classmates back in junior school. Now he was in the sciences while I'd taken social sciences. He was someone I used to admire from afar. He never spoke to me, and I never had the courage to meet his eyes, let alone talk to him.
"I'm so sorry," Andrew said in a very low and calm tone, snapping me back to reality
"You good?" he asked gently, far too calm for the chaos around us.
"This school isn't safe enough for me to fall in love, "my brain screamed.
"I'm Andrew," he said, stretching out his hand with a warm smile sharp enough to cut through the tension. "And you?"
"Jane," I muttered, shaking his hand with every ounce of confidence I could gather, while my mind completely spiraled. Although i had a little celebration in my head for the courage to speak with him,
Still holding my hand, he repeated softly, "Jane," as if testing the sound of it. "You don't look fine. Are you okay? I know a lot has been….."
"No… " I cut in, "Nes I mean… yes," I stumbled over my words.
A smile tugged at his lips, curling like smoke from a candle, as if he was holding back laughter. Damn. He looked good.
So, who is Andrew?
He is the best friend of Nathan one of the victims of this plagued school. Ever since Nathan demise, rumour has it that Andrew has not been okay since then
But the Andrew in front of me, he looked okay....
Or wait… is he staring? Is he the killer?
My investigative instincts flared.
I pulled my hand away slowly.
"I should go," I said sharply and turned to leave.
"Why?"
"Nathan didn't commit suicide."