The Last Bargain

Chapter 1

A college classroom, filled with chatter and the soft hum of fluorescent lights. The walls are lined with posters of famous scientists and maps of the world's oceans. It's officially the time before summer vacation. Summer vacations are usually short, and they pass in the blink of an eye, but they are the best days I always wait for.

"OK, guys, you have been chattering for way too long, and I want all your attention now; I'm going to make an important announcement which you will all be glad to know." Sir Samuel said with enthusiasm and a soft smile on his face.

I was curious to know the announcement as I know it will be about the upcoming trip but I was waiting with all the patience in the world..

"I want to inform you guys that the location for the trip has been decided, and we will leave for the trip in the next week." Sir Samuel continued maintaining his professional and cheerful face.

All the student started to chatter with their friends discussing their plans for the trip with all the excitement and passion, creating a mess of voices in the room.

"Shush guys, I know you guys are extremely excited as you guys have been waiting for this information for ages, but hear me out.."

The classroom once again got completely silent and gave Sir Samuel some space to carry on
"the trip will be going to "Kyota" where we will visit several different locations including  "Kinkaku-ji" also known as "Golden Pavilion", it's a stunning Zen Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf, "Arashiyama Bamboo Grove" " a picturesque bamboo forest in western Kyoto and lastly we will visit "Gion District" The famous geisha district, known for its traditional wooden machiya houses.

I could not contain my eagerness anymore; I was already packing my bags in my mind and making all the plans ahead of time while I shared all my ideas with Freesia.

"you know what? I'm going to pack two suitcases. What if I stain my clothes twice a day?". Maeve said with  thoughtfulness and curiosity

"Hahahaha, You're overthinking, but it's fine because I can't stop thinking about it too after it's gonna be our last trip together, too, as a group," Feesia said, but the air shifted gloomy mid-sentence.

It was going to be the fifth year soon with the most amazing group of friends the universe could ever ask for and it was the last year of us together before separating our paths to achieving a professional life, the group knew it but they never voiced this out cause they know it's gonna bring the sadness so they saved up all the gloomy parts for the farewell.

The group included *Maeve", the core of the group and also the mother of the group who holds the group together.
"Freesia," the innocent youngest of the group, whom everyone treats as a child and protects her with all the heart.
"Anya" is the all-rounder who is best in whatever she does and the adorable being in the world.
"Urmilla" is the girl who accepts everyone as they are and supports them in all their ups and downs.
"Riley" is the adorable being who cares for all but doesn't know how to show it and has Lil of anger issues.
"Fiona", just like her name is a flower that blooms and gives courage to others to bloom, too.
"Adeline" is the kindest person to ever exist who listens to everyone
And lastly "Zee" who brightens the day with her smiles

The group embraced eight friends. That's why it was called "Octagon" because, just like it, the eight forces complete it.
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After 2 days

"The syllabus ended quite earlier than I expected, honestly," Maeve said with incredulity while looking at Anya.

"Yeah, isn't that good! I'm so happy tho, now we still have 3 days of leisure before the trip" Anya spoke while smiling from ear to ear.

There were still 30 minutes left before the lecture ended so our literature Sir, Professor Samuel took the book into his hands, the title of the book was written in gold but it wasn't visible, the cover of the book was plain having only one color, the cover was emerald, but I knew he's gonna start reciting the plot of the book, it's not like I don't the books he read but they are rather boring.

Several students in the class gasped deeply while throwing their backs because they didn't know if it was going to be a masterpiece or, again, a boring historical story written by a 4-year-old.

" As there's still time left, let me bless u with a work of art; this book is based on real-life events; the plot starts here..." Sir Samuel started.

Everyone sat straight, preparing themselves for the upcoming challenge to keep their eyes open.

"there was this girl found near the shore of the sea; autopsy revealed that she was declared dead not too long ago, more like she was dead in the previous 24 hours; the waves probably displaced her from the point she was discarded. Her face was unrecognizable, her eyeballs were pulled out, and her eyelashes were plucked one by one with a sharp object, her eye socket was visible under the thin layer of eyelids and the blood was dried in it like a clot, it seemed like each hair on her head was also plucked by the same object the murdered used for plucking the eyelashes due to this there were several severe wounds on her head to the point that she was practically bald, her nose had dried blood too,
Autopsy also revealed that she was raped multiple times by multiple abusers, the number ranges from 7 to 9 people in total; her pelvic bone was broken during all the abuse, and her nipples here cut out...
I will save the details to myself..,
When the police were involved they found heinous news about the victim, Someone engraved onto the skin of the victim with a sharp knife which cut into the skin so sharp that the letter was obvious but the problem was that the language was unknown to mankind, it was a language that died a century ago, maybe it was a clue from the murder or someone else, for now, we can't put a name on it, her both arms and legs were full of those engraving, her back had seven letters of this undivulged language, this case was ongoing for years but it was closed later on because the police couldn't solve it due to lack of evidence and statute of limitations...
And just like that, this case is a mystery to the world which brings out many questions about the victim's identity, the identity of murderers, and the forbidden language of the human civilization"

After  Sir Samuel finished, there was a long silence in the classroom; everyone was full of shock. Riley was getting red with all rage and feeling for the victim, and Freesia was still trying to absorb all the details. Maeve had so many questions, and Zee was just stunned.

This was that time once in a blue moon that Sir Samuel's plot was full of mystery, and for once, it was based on a real-life story. Everyone started to ask questions at the same time, but the bell rang.

"I know you all have a lot of questions students but I apologize, let's leave the details and questioning for some other time" Sir Samuel declared while  putting his book on the bag and leaving the class"

Everyone was so shocked at how sick and gruesome humans can be.
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