The Stars Among Us

Chapter 7

ELAINE

     The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my cell phone ringing. I got confused because I rarely get a call, but I remembered that today is friday and the date is December eleventh. My father usually calls me once a month to check up on me and he said a month ago, the last time we talked on the phone that he’s going to call me the day before my performance. Performance? I don't even remember there’s a performance.
     “Elaine?” called out Echo.
     “Yes?”
     “Can you take the phone outside? I would really appreciate it if you do.”
     “Of course, sorry. Hey, do you remember if there’s a performance or an event or something like that?”
     “Performance?” she asked, looking at me. I gave her a nod. “Oh, it's probably the shakespeare.”
     “Yes, that's right! The Twelfth Night performs tomorrow!” I screamed.
     “We’re doomed. Whatever. I'm going back to sleep.” Echo pulled her blanket tighter.
     “We can't! we have to practise!”
     “After my sleep! And after you make your call.”

     I went outside to take the call and closed the door. I picked up the phone and put my cell to my ear.
     “Hello? Father!” I said happily.
     “I have some bad news, Elaine,” said a voice and I knew that wasn’t my father speaking.
     “Who are you?” I frowned.
     “Wow, you’re pretty fast with it. I bet you’re getting used to it, all this detective stuff.”
     “Eric, where is my father?”
     “First of all, don't call me Eric. Call me by my real name, I don't really like the name Eric.”
     “I don't know your name,” I said, refusing to call him by his real name. I didn’t want it to be true.
     “I think you do, you just figured it out yesterday.”
     “How did you know?” I gasped.
     “I was there, you just didn’t see me,” he said lightly. My heart was beating fast, realising that we’re being watched the whole time.
     “Heze.” I grinned my teeth. “Where is my father?” I asked.
     “Seven feet under the ground.” My face went pale. What did he mean by that? I know what it means by the phrase, but there is no way my father is dead.
     “What do you mean?” I started to get anxious.
     “I mean that he’s dead, Elaine. I killed her.” My heart was beating even faster, suddenly my hands and legs were trembling, I leaned on the wall behind me and slid down the wall. I feel my eyes watery.
     “Why, why did you kill him?! What's your reason?” I screamed with a stuffy nose.
      “You’ll know eventually,” he said and after that, he ended the call.
I couldn’t breathe, my throat felt like it was burning up. I put my hands over my mouth to stop me from crying out loud. I was lying on the floor. I can't believe my father is dead and Heze Elnath killed him. Heze Elnath, a brother of Vesper Elnath, a very close friend of mine. Suddenly, I heard the door opening and closing.
     “Elaine? I thought I heard noises,” Echo said. She didn’t seem to see me on the floor, but when she did, she sat next to me and hugged me. That was the last thing I remember before I drifted to sleep.

     I woke up a few hours later in my bed with layers of blankets over me. I felt my tears have dried up. The rain was heavy outside, it was really loud.
     “Hey, Elaine.” Grayson who just got inside the room crouched next to my bed. “I heard the news from Echo. She’s bringing breakfast for you, she’ll be back in just a second,” he said, brushing my hair out of my face.
     “Whatever,” I responded.
     “What do you mean?”
     “Wallowing’s not going to change anything,” I said to him. I got up and packed my bags with stuff, such as flashlights, ropes, medkits, and a small blade.
     “Whoa, Elaine. What are you doing with the knife?” he said, walking towards me and he snatched the blade away from my hand.
     “I'm going to find Heze and Vesper and I'm going to make them talk!” I replied. “Give me back my blade, Woods.”
     “You’re not going to kill them, Elaine!”
     “I'm not! I'm just going to make them pay for it! I want to know their reasons for why they killed my father and what they want from us!” I didn’t realise that I screamed loudly and the fact that another tear rolled down my cheek.
     “Violence is not the answer, Elaine.” Grayson took a step towards me, catching the fallen tear with his fingers. I freezed for what felt like a minute.
     “If you were in my situation, will you fold or will you remain?” I paused. “I certainly will not fold. If this is how he plays the game, I'm going to remain.” I picked up my things and threw my bag over my shoulder and walked out of the door.
     “Elaine!” screamed Grayson. “Wait!”
I walked quickly, my legs were still trembling and I wasn't able to run. Five minutes later, Grayson fell in step beside me and he grabbed my arm.
     “Let me go, Grayson. I have to go.” He stopped me in the middle of the hallway.
     “Where?” he asked softly.
     “I'm going to find him!”
     “But, where?” he asked the same question again. I honestly don't know where to search for him, so I just stared at the floor, remain silent.
     “I promise, we will find him. Together,” he started saying. “But not now, not today. Your aunt Sylvie called my cell because your cellphone is dead. She said that your father’s funeral is today. Let's go back, alright. If you want to cry, just cry. You have the right to do it.” He led me back to my dorm and I cried in his arms until Echo came with breakfast.