Class Trip Ended in Horror

Chapter 14

Together with Simon, we searched the dining room, the pantry, the kitchen and the broom closet, but there was no sign of Thomas anywhere. After searching everywhere, discouraged, we went back to the dining room.

Lisa and Katy were already sitting there. "Well, did you discover something?" I asked her. "No, he seemed to have been swallowed up by the earthquake," Lisa sighed. Julian and Paul just came to us. "So?" Katy asked and everyone looked at the two boys intently. But they just shook their heads. "I wonder where he is," said Katie. "Hey, where is Markus?" Julian wanted to know.

"He's dead," Simon said, clenching his fists again. "What?" asked Paul in horror. "Yes, and Vladimir claims that he jumped from the balcony. If you ask me, he talks crap," said Simon. "You mean he lies? But he's so nice. I don't think he would lie," said Lisa. How naive can you actually be? I looked at Fabi who rolled his eyes.

So, he thought exactly the same as me. "Pah, if you say so," Simon said in a mocking tone to Lisa. She folded her arms in front of her chest and looked out the window. Mr Schmidt came to us with Vladimir. "So? Did you find something?" he asked the group.

Everyone shook their heads. "I'll prepare lunch," said Vladimir. "Yes, good idea," said Mr Schmidt. "Would you like to go to the library?" suggested Vladimir. "Yes. Let's go upstairs and stay together," said Mr Schmidt.

Being in the library, I had to think of Laura when I found her dead. I swallowed the lump in my throat. I had to pull myself together not to cry. Fabi saw that and took my hand. That was good. What would I do without him? I went to a bookshelf in what felt like the last corner of the library and picked up a book about the castle.

When I took the book off the shelf, I saw that there was a book hidden behind it. Why was it behind? It seemed like someone didn't want you to find and read that. I picked up the book and put the other one back on the shelf. It was bound in black leather, very thin and about the size of an A5 sheet of paper.

There was a thin red cord around the book. Nothing was written on the cover. I sat in a corner and was about to open it when Vladimir called for food. I put the book in a pocket of my hoodie. I don't usually steal, but this book seemed to deliver answers to my questions, I felt that. Also, I was afraid that if I put it back, it would disappear. I wasn't proud, but I needed answers. We went down to the dining room.

There was pasta casserole, how delicious, my favourite dish. We got up and started eating. "How do you like the library?" Vladimir wanted to know. "Good," we said. "You can go there again after the meal," he suggested. After the meal we went back upstairs. We didn't notice Julian slipping away from the group.

Julian's point of view

I quietly walked away from the others. I sneaked up to the third floor. That's where Vladimir's room should be, according to Lisa and Sarah. Why did I go there? I wanted to get the cell phones to finally call for help. Vladimir went out after dinner, so I wouldn't be disturbed.

I opened the door and closed it once I was in the room. The room was normal size. His black wooden bed was under the window, next to it was a small black wooden bedside table with a glass of water on it. At the end of the bed was a black dresser and a door.

The room was really dark. I opened the door, it led into the adjacent bathroom. The strange thing was that there was water in the bathtub. "Pretty naughty of you to just walk into someone else's room without permission?" Vladimir asked sharply. But he walked out anyway.

He wanted to grab me but I dodged, he grabbed my left arm and held it tight. I hit him with my right arm, on his arm and he released me. He grabbed me from behind and I kicked his knee. He groaned in pain and let go of me. I wanted to run out to the others because they could help me. But he pulled me by my brown hair and kicked me in the back.

I fell on the hard bathroom tiles. That hurt like hell. He dragged me to the bathtub and pushed my head under water. I flailed wildly, trying to break free of his grip. I wriggled, unfortunately he stood behind me so that I didn't hit him. He tightened his grip on my head. My lungs screamed for air. My strength was slowly failing me and my attempt to escape from this situation became weaker and weaker. My whole life passed before my mind's eye.