The moment his lips touched mine, everything else disappeared even the fact that we were hiding from the principal, however, the problem is that nothing about Andrew was supposed to make me feel anything other than suspicion but it did.
Although, when he came out after having a brief talk with the Principal, I had to play it cool like nothing happened, though in my head it is otherwise.
On the way back, it was better, I was a bit calm, but the moment I got to my room. I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, my chest rising and falling too fast. My mind wouldn't stop replaying it
Andrew's lips on mine.
I groaned and threw myself onto my bed, kicking my legs against the mattress in frustration before burying my face into my pillow.
"What was that…?"
It wasn't planned. It wasn't even necessary but somehow, it felt louder than everything else happening in this school. Louder than the murders. Louder than the fear.
My fingers tightened around the bed spread.
"Why did he do that?
Was it just to fool the principal?
Or…" My thoughts kept racing.
"No. Stop it, Jane." I said out loud.
I pressed my face deeper into the pillow, trying to suffocate the thought before it grew into something stupid.
"This is so dumb." I added
The real problem wasn't Andrew. The real problem was the killings and whoever was behind it was still here… walking freely around this school or worse,
Watching us.
I tried to concentrate on this but I couldn't. I tried reading, yoga but nothing worked. It was like my brain was tied to it, I laid on my bed reading a novel to shut the scene in my head.
Then,
Beep.
I shifted.
Beep.
I turned to the other side.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Jane, if you don't turn off that alarm, I swear I will kill you!" Emma's voice snapped through the room.
My eyes shot open, although, still consumed with sleep.
Oh.
Right, my alarm.
I didn't realize when sleep took over. At first, it came in fragments.
Heavy. Uncomfortable.
I reached out blindly, slammed it off, and dropped back onto the bed with a groan.
"Today is Saturday… let me sleep," I muttered.
I was just about drifting off again when I felt a hand tap my shoulder.
I swatted it away weakly.
"Please… I'm begging"
"I am going to die." A familiar voice called out.
That woke me up instantly. I sat up hurriedly.
Nafisat stood beside my bed. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen. Tears clung to her lashes like they had been there all night.
My stomach dropped while my whole system was like it was running on auto pilot.
"What happened?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she handed me a folded piece of paper.
The paper had traces of tears drops on it. It looks like it was stained with a deep, unnatural red. Strange symbols, so unfamiliar but looked important and expensive...like something luxury can not afford. They were printed across it like something out of a nightmare.
My fingers trembled as I opened it.
"What is this…?"
"Read it," Nafisat whispered, her voice breaking as she sat on my bed.
I read it loud enough for the both of us to hear.
*From your dearest nemesis.*
*Dear reader,*
Who am I, you may ask?
I am the dearest nemesis of this school… and your worst nightmare.
Your school is destined for destruction. Your soul will serve as both vessel and message. Do not seek help. You will find none.
Betrayal built this school.
Betrayal will destroy it.
—says the prophet.
You have *100 hours* left.
Say your goodbyes.
**Till death,
Your nemesis.**
The room spun.
No.
No, no, no….
I looked up at Nafisat.
"She… she is the next target?" The words tasted like poison as I said it under my breathe.
For a second, just a second…..another thought flashed through my mind:
This could help us. Now we know something new, different. We can use it as a trap to get to the person doing all of this.
This is Nafisat, my best friend.
I stood up immediately went straight to the bathroom, splashed water on my face, took a brief shower then changed.
By the time I stepped out, Nafisat was staring at me like I had lost my mind.
"Where are you going?"
"To find help." I grabbed my bag.
"Can I come?" Her voice was small. Fragile.
"No."
The word came out sharper than I intended.
"Just stay safe, okay?" I hesitated, then nodded weakly.
"By the way, where did you find it?" I asked.
"In my locker," she said, her voice trembling. "I don't know who put it there… I just felt like I should check. And when I did… it was just there. I don't know, but why me?"
She broke down again. I walked over to her to comfort her.
After she was better, I stormed through the hallway. Students moved out of my way as I walked like a girl on a mission. I spotted Andrew in the cafeteria.
Of course as usual, calm, reserved and relaxed like the world wasn't falling apart.
"Jane…..." he waved.
I walked straight up to him and threw the note against his chest. He looked at me smiling.
"A love letter?" He asked smiling.
"It is okay to feel that way Jane." He added.
He opened the letter smiling but the moment he read it his expression changed.
"So," he muttered, "the killer finally showed his hand."
"Nafisat is the next target!" I snapped. "What do we do?"
He looked up at me. Too calm.
"Nothing."
For a second, I thought I misheard him.
"Are you serious right now?"
"If we act recklessly, we make things worse." He replied not as calm as before but matching my energy at this point.
"I DON'T CARE!" My voice echoed across the cafeteria.
"I'm not gambling with her life!" I added.
"Jane." He called calmly with his tone steady "We'll protect her."
"How?"
Silence.
And that silence said everything. We had nothing. No plan, no idea, just nothing.
I went to the library, did series of research on how to outsmart, kill and find a serial killer. There was nothing much in those book, except one;
"How to be a Serial Killer." The book emphasized on looking out for patterns and links. Similarities and major differences.
I immediately borrowed the book, though the Librarian kept staring at me likw I was about to hurt her.
Later that day, I found Nafisat sitting alone. She looked… terrible. Hair messy. Eyes distant.
Like she hadn't slept. Like she hadn't breathed.
"I went to the school counsellor," she said quietly.
"And?"
"She said it's just a prank. That I'm not the only one."
Relief flickered in me, though I know deep down I don't believe it.
"See? Maybe it's nothing…."
"No."She said cutting in as she shook her head.
"This isn't a prank, Jane." Her voice dropped.
"I feel like I'm being watched. Everywhere I go… it's like someone is there. Just… watching."
She slid down the wall and sat on the floor. I sat beside her and held her hand.
"You know," she said softly, "I'm scared. But there's this small hope I feel…" She said then looked at me.
"And it's because of you. I know you'll protect me," she said with a weak smile holding back the tears. "My personal police."
I stood up suddenly.
"I will," I said firmly. "I don't care what it takes. I've got you."
Even if I had no idea what I was doing part of me knew I was walking into something dangerous.
A trap, maybe but I went anyway.
The founder's building stood silent.
Too silent. I didn't have a key only the principal and student leaders did. So I went around the back and found it.
A French window.
Slightly open.
Like it was waiting, well I didn't think I just moved. I pushed it open and climbed in and immediately regretted it. My upper body slipped inside but my waist caught.
Hard.
I froze. I tried to push forward but nothing happened, I tried to pull back.I Panicked. I was stuck half inside, half outside. My legs kicked helplessly like a cock caught in the air as my ribs pressed painfully against the frame.
"Come on… move!"
Nothing. My breathing became uneven, they were fast, sharp.
Then
A sound that of footsteps outside the room. Slow but deliberate I couldn't tell who it was, I could only pray that it was not the principal, I could hear the steps getting closer. My fingers slipped slightly against the wood.
And the I thought about these things; the window was never locked. It had been left open.
For me?
As the steps drew closer, my heart beat quickened like it was about to burst out. The closer it gets the more I could feel my spirit leave my body. I struggled to escape but there was no …...