Paper Bags

Paper Bags 07

Seeing Adam first thing in the morning wasn't what Haru wanted to be doing. And yet, here he was with Fatima, Rain and Jason, standing in front of the hallway leading to a single door with a silver plaque over it titled: Resident Affairs. And along for the ride was the town's bad boy.

A soft sigh escaped his lips, earning a brief nudged from his best friend.

There were almost no people but them here and the quiet was almost unnerving. Haru shared a glance with Fatima, who only quirked her lips upwards once before they morphed into a straight line. Rain took a few steps in front of us, her hands on her lips before she turned around to look at us.

"Well?" she said, her voice echoing in the hallway. "Are we going in or what?"

Fatima shrugged. She gestured at Haru with a hand. "If he goes, then we all go."

"What?" Haru pointed a finger at himself. "Why me?"

"Because you're now our official leader," Fatima said, smiling again but this time, there was a twinkle in her eyes, no doubt amusement. Not that there was anything funny about this situation at all. She glanced at her right wrist, mimicking looking at a watch. "Starting from now."

Haru spluttered, words jumbling in his mouth before he could even get them out of his lips. Rain giggled, grinning wide. This was not funny whatsoever. He might have been the one to discover that fact but he would not be made to be a sacrifice to Rolanda in there! That receptionist was terrifying and there were already rumours the last person who had seen her never came out of that office.

He opened his mouth to argue but Rain merely pressed a hand on his back and pushed him forward. Stumbling a few feet ahead, he snapped his head back to glare at his friends. When all he received were innocent looks, except Adam was smirking at him with that stupid lips of his, Haru's shoulders relaxed in defeat.

Fine.

Fine. He would do it.

Just as he took a step towards the ominous door, Adam hollered from behind him, "We're giving you ten minutes! If you don't walk out of that door by then, we'll assume you've become Rolanda's next meal and run."

Haru turned around to glare only for Jason to slap the back of the bad boy wannabe's head. His best friend met his gaze before he gave him a smile, one that had him feeling a bit better walking towards his... whatever doom that lied ahead. Still, he didn't resist to flick a middle finger at Haru.

Taking in a deep breath, he walked up to the door and pushed himself inside. There were white tiles and walls covering every inch of the room and in between of the white space were brown tables and chairs. A U-shaped counter was in his sight, on it were computers and typewriters, looking very much out of place.

And behind it was Rolanda.

She had her pepper and salt hair in a high bun, chewing on something as sharp clacking sounds could be heard from her. Haru remained standing at the entrance, heart drumming against his chest loudly. When she lifted her gaze to meet his face, he almost jumped in shock.

"What?" Her voice was squeaky but so clearly laced with impatience.

It made him nervous.

"Uh, hi," Haru said, raising his right hand and then waved a little at her.

She stared at him, her gaze unrelenting. Then, she lifted her bony fingers and pointed to the door behind him, her attention was back on the computer screen. "Get out."

"E-Excuse me?" Haru blinked, taken aback at her sudden order.

And it had been an order, alright. Not when she dismissed him with a wave of her hand. Even that movement came across as if she was mocking him for even coming in here. Haru wanted to leave and send one of his other friends, or maybe Adam, in here.