The Cardboard Box's Unsolved Mystery

8. Instincts

Recap-

"Wonder what she said to tick Fiona off." Kyle mumbled softly to himself, his eyes fixed to the ambulance in a trance like stare. Ammon could see the blue and red lights bouncing off the reflection in Kyle's glassy eyes.
"Your eyebrows look so fake? All the makeup in the world can't possibly hide your ugly personality? I couldn't care less about what Luana said. I want to know what Luana was hiding in her book, whether Fiona getting struck by lightning was a crazy coincidence," Ammon breathed slowly before saying softly, "and of course, if Fiona will live."

End of recap -

"All students are required to go to the hall. Do not cause a fuss, everything is under control." Mr Wood, the school principle, walked around with a loudspeaker attached to his lips. He walked confidently through the bustling crowds. Kids quickly disperse, chattering and squealing as they run through the rain. Kyle tilts his head in confusion as he stares at Ammon. Ammon's face was grim, so he didn't ask what he meant. "Let's go now." However, neither of the boys attempted to move. The dreary, dull atmosphere lingered everywhere, draining them both of energy. It was the first time Ammon saw Kyle without a big grin on his cheeky face. "Ok" Ammon replied after a few silent, long minutes.

Stepping on his tippy toes, Ammon strained his neck to see over the hundreds of kids crowded in the hall. His eyes searched for a dark-haired braided head amongst the bobbing heads. "Who are you looking for?" Kyle asked. Ammon, too focused on looking for Luana, pushed through some tall, older kids and disappeared in the mass without answering Kyle. Slightly bewildered, Kyle followed, desperately trying to keep his eye on Ammon as he moved swiftly and smoothly away. "Students, please sit down in alphabetical order of the class you were just in. Find your teachers who are at the sides of the hall." Yes, this will make finding Luana easier, Ammon thought to himself. Wincing as a flying elbow digs into his back, Ammon turns around to look for the attacker. "Oh, I'm so terribly sorry!" A kind face with worried eyes stands behind him. It is Olivia, the girl Kyle was hopelessly in love with. Her damp brown hair is darkened and messy, dripping water on her shoulders. "Don't worry about it" Ammon says with a grin. Smiling gratefully, the girl quickly leaves in search for her class. A wave of relief washes over Ammon as he spots Mr Coleman's head way above everyone else's, like a street lamp amongst bushes. Having a tall, skinny giant - or human pencil - for a teacher has its benefits.

Ammon sat behind a buzz of frizzy orange hair. Sardines. That was the boy's name, or nickname. Nobody knew his real name, including teachers. Nobody dared to ask. He isn't a scary kid at all, it just seems weird to ask. He tapped his feet and drummed his fingers against the carpet as he waited impatiently. Kids, including Ammon, tried not to tick Sardines off. He is known for his unpredictable behaviour. Everybody in the grade remembers the day when he bit Mrs Green, the librarian, on the arm for no apparent reason.
Ammon spotted Luana who sat four people in front of him. He wanted to talk to her desperately, but she was too far away and the noise of teachers yelling and students chattering was overwhelming. The girls behind her shuffled around looking for friends in the crowd. However, she was perfectly still with her head held low. Ammon kept his eyes locked on her, itching to get closer, somehow hoping to get her attention. Questions kept gnawing at his mind. He felt messed up and confused, making him dizzy. Does magic really exist? Fiona got struck by lightning after a fight with Luana, seconds after Ruby and I listed Luana to be a suspect. Dumb question - of course it does not. It was just a crazy coincidence I will prove after doing a bit of investigation. What the hell is even going on around this school? I'll continue to work that out. Remember, try not to scare Luana away, or else she won't talk. Also, don't let this get to your head. Everything that happens has an explanation. Facts, logic and evidence make up the world - nothing else. . Mr Coleman is looking at me. Right, he's marking the role.

"Brody?" Mr Coleman's deep smooth voice calmed Ammon, almost like a lullaby.
"Here, Sir," came the wobbly, nervous reply. Ammon was annoyed at Brody's constant anxious mumble behind him. It put Ammon off focus and just made him edgy. The kid was scared out of his wits, but Ammon didn't comfort him. It was something that happened often. Brody couldn't even go to the toilets by himself without freaking out about kidnappers or spiders.
"Delionia?"
"Here, Sir." Her voice was confident and clear over the sounds in the hall. Some of Fiona's friends turned around to glare and snigger at her. Fiona and Delionia didn't get along, mainly because of Fiona's jealously of her beauty. Delionia ignored the girls, brushing away their stares with ease.
"Ruby?" Ammon didn't notice the silence until Mr Coleman spoke again.
"Ruby?" Something inside his mind suddenly clicked, and Ammon spun his head around, looking for her. Panic gripped him as he realised Ruby wasn't sitting anywhere in the line. Where is she? Ammon tried to calm himself, but something seemed wrong. His chest tightened and breathing started to quicken. I last saw her when I reached the crowd. Urgh, I got distracted when I saw Kyle! Ammon shifted his legs underneath him so that he was no longer sitting cross legged, but in a crouched position, ready to pounce when ready. Glancing at the teacher, he waited for the right opportunity to take off. His legs twitched in anticipation. Ammon had to hold himself down as his body tried to run every time the teacher blinked. Wait for him to turn around or something. Footy instincts are driving me insane right now. Mr Coleman didn't appear to be turning around soon, so Ammon braced himself for the next moment. He suddenly stood up and took off, weaving through the crowd effortlessly. Whether or not Mr Coleman saw him or was calling his name, Ammon didn't know. He could only focus on one thing.
Ruby.

The cold wind whipped Ammon in the face, trying to ban him from going outside. He placed his hands in front of his face in defence, running forward in search for Ruby. For some reason, chills travelled down his spine as he looked around the pouring rain. Something was off, but he didn't know what. Where could she be? Ammon felt responsible for her, especially how she was new and it seemed he was one of her closest friends. If you could call them friends anyway. Ammon wasn't sure if they were actual mates, or just two neutral partners solving a creepy mystery. He pushed away the thoughts. Now wasn't the time to ramble in his mind.

He felt the urge to head towards his left. Not taking a second thought, Ammon ran straight towards the direction his body tried to pull him to. For the millionth time that day, Ammon was drenched in rain before he had time to fully dry off from last time. "Ruby! Where are you?" Ammon shouted as loud as he could through cupped hands, but to no avail. The rain sliced through his words, leaving him with no response. He ignored the knot his stomach was forming. "Ruby!" There wasn't a single response, yet he began to run again, his legs a blur beneath him. He felt electrified and full of energy. Something was pulling him like a magnet through the grey rain. A sharp right. Small jump over a hedge. Everything Ammon did was barely processing in his head, yet he didn't hesitate or slow down. He knew exactly where he was going.

Ammon suddenly stopped sprinting. The electric sensation that was powering him disappeared, as if someone turned off a switch. He slowly turned around, taking in deep breaths. I'm near the library. He had no idea why his instincts lead him here, but started to search for the blonde in the rain, trusting this was the right place. Within a few seconds, he saw her huddled near a bin. "Ruby!" Feeling victorious and thrilled, Ammon ran towards Ruby with a relieved grin, but every step injected worry. Soon his smile faded. Uh oh. Something's not right. Her whole body shivered in the rain. Ruby's lips were purple and her face was pale. It was like the cold was draining life out of her. Her eyelids were tightly shut, water rolling off the delicate skin. Without thinking, Ammon wrapped one arm under her legs and the other under her neck, so she was draped dramatically in his arms. She seemed to be partly conscious as her lips mumbled when Ammon picked her up, but that was it. As Ammon paced to shelter, he was grateful for the strength footy gave him.

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Sorry for taking so long to update!!
For everyday day I take to update I owe you $1
Hopefully that will make me write more often ;D
This chapter took a while because I was working out the plot and holy moly it is really unpredictable (and *fingers crossed* good)

If you vote Olivia may actually notice Kyle
*whisper* do it for Kyle cause he is a little cutie who is too shy to talk to her himself