The veil of heritage

Chapter 8 - Confusion

It had been an exhausting day and, on the way home, strange things had happened. I felt like someone was following me. Eventually, I realized it was Alice and her insufferable friend.

When I finally arrived home, Allison appeared out of nowhere and planted herself in front of me, blocking my way.

- What are we going to do now? I sigh.

- You should apologize," she replies in an annoyed tone.

- Apologize for what? It was your buddy who attacked me. I was only defending myself.

I then remembered the argument from earlier, a reminder of that tense confrontation that was still unresolved.

Flashback

- Hello dear friends, I'd like you to meet Maël, our new classmate," says Luna.

Allison gives me a look full of hatred, and I notice that a boy next to her is watching me with barely veiled suspicion. The atmosphere quickly becomes heavy, a sign that I'm not welcome.

- Allison, you already know him? she adds.

Allison looks at me with furrowed brows, reaches out and grabs my arm, leaving me perplexed.

- We need to talk," she announces, giving me a gentle push. I followed her, watching the incomprehensible look on her girlfriend's face and her friend's gloom. We were heading for a secluded spot.

We were heading for an isolated corner of a classroom. Allison stopped and gave me a look of contempt and disappointment. A moment later, the door opened and her friends joined us. Her friend spoke up, demanding an explanation, equally perplexed.

- Can you explain what you're doing?

Alex, Allison's friend, places a computer in front of us.

- Maël, what were you doing in the cemetery yesterday at this time?

I frown, wondering what he's talking about. He presses Play, and I see a hooded figure on the screen. Then, to my surprise, I realize it's me. How could this be? I had no memory of going to the cemetery.

- So, how did it happen? Can you explain?" insisted Alex.

I looked at the three of them, waiting for an answer I didn't have myself. I realized that even though the video clearly showed it was me, I had no idea why I was there.

- I don't have to explain anything, the real question is what you were doing there.

- You're right, I wasn't. What were you doing there at such a late hour?" intervenes Luna in my defense.

Allison and Alex look at each other blankly, obviously hiding something. But at this point, I don't care. My main problem was to understand what I was doing in the cemetery at that hour and why I had no memory of it.

- We're asking you, and it's none of your business," Allison replied icily.

I looked at her, but she looked away in disappointment. I had no idea what she wanted from me, but I didn't like it. Annoyed and tired, I stood up.

- Like you said, it's none of your business. So what I was doing there is none of your business either.

I turned to leave them there, but Alex grabbed my arm to stop me. I turned and looked at him, impatient. He finally let go and tried to keep talking.

- Look, we just want to know what you were doing there, that's all.

- I'm not going to repeat myself. Just mind your own business. Why do you want to know so badly?