MAEVE

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

Sleep deprived me of it's presence that night, And my confident self was transformed into a nervous wreck. There was something very wrong with this place, and it was frustrating as hell to not  be able to pinpoint just what.

Even the classes ended around one in the afternoon, not that I am complaining of course, but it ended just when the sun was at its fiercest and shining all it's rays of glorious heat upon the face of the earth.

Everyone disappeared after that, like literally vanished. For the rest of the day there was little to no activity at all. A deep sense of foreboding had settled in, right after I finally accepted the horrible and terrible truth.

I was still settled underneath the covers cowering. It was past midnight now and I was still awake and considering my options. To run or to stay? I was undecided, my Mom had said no one could get in. That sentence had been one of comfort before, but now as I retraced my thoughts, all I could hear was, no one could get out.

My musings were rudely interrupted by a shriek of laughter just outside my window, followed by even more raucous laughter. However one thing was for certain, they numbered many.

I crept to my window, hands trembling nervously, leg twitching involuntarily with the need to run, and heart thumping with an outrageous flow of blood that left me dazed and slightly confused.

With my trembling hands I cracked the curtains upon and peered down outside, and what I saw chilled me to my bones.

Everyone was outside, at first, I thought it was a late night party of sorts and I was not invited before my vision sharpened, and I could make them out. They were all in black outfits, even the girls were here. They all had black clothes and hoodies on so I reasoned it must be some kind of sports ritual.

The window opposite mine cracked upon, and a boy balanced on the edge soaking in the laughter and cheers that resulted from whatever he thought he was doing balanced two floors above the ground. A person with a familiar Mohawk stepped forward.

"Get your ass down here Levant!" Bob shouted, and someone hit him on the head, making a shushing gesture. With a loud laugh, the boy opposite me flew down and landed gracefully, and I pressed my fist to my mouth to stifle a cry.

At the other end, three figures bathed in shadows were approaching, with one slightly in the lead. Immediately they were sighted, everyone  hurried to position and they all took a fierce stance, looking fearless under the moon.

Noah and Ashton got into position at the front as well, and Elijah went to stand at the lead. With his hands behind his back, his feet slightly apart, signature black coat billowing in the wind, with midnight hair rippling like gentle waves on a black sea. And my heart startled me with a strange ache.

"For some reason our strength has been at it's peak lately,"  He began, everyone nodded in affirmation and he continued.

"Its time to show those mutts where they belong," He shouted, everyone began yelling in support. He allowed this to go on for awhile before lifting a hand, his voice lowering to a smooth purr.

"Run!" With shouts that spelt bloodlust and triumph they took off, this time with Ashton in the lead. His blue hair glowing, and his lips stretched in a nefarious grin. Noah was just slightly behind with what looked like a baseball bat balanced on his shoulder, he no longer looked like a boy that promises sunshine and dreams, now he bled nightmares and screams.

With movement that was too fast for my eyes they vanished into thin air. Elijah lingered a little, and just before he disappeared, he turned and sent me a piercing look. That look promised nothing good, and now that I knew for certain what they were, I had to leave before I am trapped forever, or worse, before they come for my head, with that thought I jolted into action.

Hastily, I packed my necessities into my backpack, wore my own black outfit which consisted of a black hoodie, black shirt underneath, black skinny jeans, and black boots. There was no time to wear a wig, so I simply wrapped my head in a black scarf and gently opened the door.

With my heart on my sleeve, I tiptoed gently down the hallway praying the dorm in_fact the school was really as deserted as it seemed. Just a few more steps to the door and then the huge gates and then freedom, but first I had to make it outside the door. I moved quietly, vision sharp and steps light. I listened for any creak, click, or sound of human life. So far there was none and I could only be grateful, just a few more steps.

A loud creak from behind startled me, and I quickly swung back with my torch wondering whose brilliant idea it was to switch off the light of an entire building, and make me feel like prey in an haunted castle.

I moved forward resolutely, this school was possessed, I was sure of it. The buildings, the people, even the purple flowers on the wall seemed otherworldly, almost like something that should not exist but for some reason managed to fool the universe and it's timeline.

I know when I am being haunted. I have been haunted all my life, relentless pursued to the deepest part of the earth, so I know when there was something marching my footsteps, one for another. I moved a sufficient distance away and glanced back again.

Seeing nothing, I turned forward and crashed into a wall that sent me backwards and landing on my butt. Picking up my flickering  torchlight and cursing at the wall, I stood up and pointed it at the offending object, and my first thought was "oh shit!"