Stuck: No Way Out

one.

Dreiu.

"New day, new shit." I groaned as I reached for my phone, ringing on my bedside table. "5:30" I mumbled the time, it's quite early not gonna lie. I decided to check my unread messages before I sat up to stretch and then got off bed. The sun's light blinded me for a bit as I looked by the window. I tidied up my bed, welcome to my morning routine, I guess. After tidying up my bed, I went to the bathroom to freshen up and take a bath. Last on my morning routine is to eat breakfast, you can never go wrong with that. Just like that, I'll be on my way to school... not another school day please. Classes these days are boring, everything changed ever since the investigation of the Russellwood University Murder. It was a big headline; everyone was talking about it in the neighborhood and our small subdivision. I mean, it's not ours, by the way. Everyone I meet would ask me about it since I study there but then, I don't even have any idea about how or what REALLY happened. The only thing I know is that I'm not leaving Russellwood this school year, close to death... great. My parents don't know anything about the issue right now since they're in another country, leaving the big house to me. Our house is way too big for just the three of us, so I bring along my friends after school. Never bragged about it though, it kept new company amazed. I like seeing how amazed they are by our big house. The big house that never felt like home.

"Hey! Russellwood boy!" A familiar voice called me, I ignored it, but it called again. I have no choice now but to turn around. "What do you want?" I said in a harsh way, not too harsh, just slightly. "Oh, what the heck?" The girl who called me said in a disappointed way. Who wouldn't be disappointed to see someone they chose to leave for a stupid reason? "Ah, i'm sorry Dreiu. I didn't notice it was you." I just rolled my eyes. How could she not notice the build of my back? We've been tog— Never mind. I couldn't help it; every memory would play in my head once again. The pain would rush through me again, haha, stop please. She looked away as I started walking towards the gate again. The memory of us walking together to the gate played. We laughed happily, talking about how she hated the principal who died in the murder. When the news came out, she went silent and distant. I started overthinking about it. The questions were left unanswered 'til this very day. I feel so stupid for waiting for the answers, since I knew for myself that I wouldn't get even a little bit.

I got close to the gate. I squinted since I noticed that the gate was... closed? Why is it closed at this hour? Isn't the guard here again? Then I saw a familiar figure of a young man. It's the newly moved neighbor, Wyatt, the ace student of Russellwood. He's the student council president for two years straight, a very smart student to be honest. He scratched his head because he, too, was confused. The gate is always open at this hour because, of course, they have students living inside. "Pio!" Niamh's voice called me. She's back to annoy me again, oh dear, give me patience. "What is it, Je?" I asked to annoy her, she doesn't like being called "Je" just like how I don't like being called Pio. Pio's a nickname only my aunts and uncles, as well as grandparents call me. It doesn't sound me, so I don't like it when others call me that. Je only knew that nickname because my aunt was around one time, I brought her to the house. She's a frequent guest in our house, my parents never minded, but my aunt did. As if she lives in the house, she was just visiting at that time. I felt myself roll my eyes because of these thoughts. "You're so deep in thought, Mr. Pio." Je commented. Well, yes, I am deep in thought. I just sighed. Niamh was usually mistaken as my girlfriend. She is and was never my girlfriend.

Other Russellwood students came to the gate too. All their faces were familiar, here's Quest and Cale, the inseparable duo. Even their houses are beside each other, they're cousins by the way. I felt a whack on my right arm. I rubbed it because of the pain, then looked at my right. I was glaring at Niamh for it. She just smiled at me and started squealing. "You never told me there was a handsome student in the STEM department of our school!!" Please, what's taking the guard so long to open the gate? I'm starting to get embarrassed because of Niamh. "You never asked me? Plus, I'm way more handsome than him." I told her, I mean, it's partially true. He's just way up because of his intelligence and nonchalance. Girls love his nonchalance, but there were others who are the complete opposite. They would like my personality if so. I smiled at myself proudly. "You're daydreaming again, aren't you?" Niamh asked. "You better stop thinking about her." She rolled her eyes at me then checked her phone. It's already 6:30 a.m. What's the point of waking up so early if we'll all be late? Wyatt's getting annoyed because of it. Climbing the gate is no use because the gate stands all the way to the ceiling. There's no gap between it. This is stressing me out, i'm stuck with Niamh and my ex-girlfriend. This is uncomfortable.

"I don't think we'll ever get out of here." Wyatt sighed. That's when I heard a girl's scream from a distance. It was like she saw a ghost or something, like a scream from a horror movie. "What's that? Did you guys hear that too?" I asked everyone. "I did, it was a girl's scream, right?" I just nodded at Cale's answer. "Let's check it out for a moment, I don't think the gate will open for another hour." Cale suggested. I think it's a good suggestion, he had a point too. The damn gate won't open itself anyways. The screams get louder and louder as we walk to the northside. "You're Rvjune, right? Did you know that they have rumors about you?" Quest asked her, it made me look back. I got curious, what rumors? "Huh? Rumors?" She was confused like me. I never heard any of them except for the spreading rumors about our breakup. The reason: She murdered someone. That's a big lie, she would never. I got tired of waiting for her, that's the real reason. We got to the house where the screams came from. "Anyone of you brave enough to open the door?" I asked them, we all looked at each other. Of course, what do you expect? Fear would conquer the nine of us. I guess I have to step up then... haha... I can do this right? Right...? I was about to open the door; they were all anticipating behind me. I hesitated then screamed. "I can't do this!" Their shoulders drooped down because of the disappointment. I was already holding the doorknob, yet I still hesitated. "You can do it!" A girl named... Amity? said. Thanks for the encouragement, I guess. I shut my eyes closed and then opened the door wide. The audience behind me started screaming. What did they see?