Running the Line of Death

Chapter 3

It was quiet when Ashton stepped foot on the bus. The 20, possibly 25 students that were on there stared silently as he walked down the aisle to take a seat. No one let Ashton sit with them and the bus driver yelled for him to take a seat, but he didn't want to sit in the aisle. Luckily there was a single, empty seat in the very back of the bus. Ashton walked over and sat down as the bus started moving again. On the ride to school Ashton sat staring out the window; listening to music. The houses were average sized but look very small in comparison to the endless land and trees surrounding them. Cars seemed to be rare, not a single one passed during the ride and Ashton noticed many people walking on the sidewalks. Some were jogging or running, others were taking an early morning stroll with their children. As he was looking out the window, he saw a reflection of a girl staring out as well. He turned to look who it was. She looked quite beautiful in the reflection; bright green eyes, soft complexion, pale, porcelain skin. She was stunning, but when Ashton turned the girl seemed to not have existed. There was no one there. Ashton perplexed for a moment then turned to gaze back out the window, but before he could something caught his eye. On the back of the seat that was in front of him was writing. The handwriting seemed to be a faint mix between calligraphy and print. It was hard to make out the words, they seemed faded like they've been there for awhile, but Ashton managed to decrypt it the best he could: "Willow's seat"

Ashton unwillingly longed at the writing, as if something took over him while he awed at the words. He traced his finger over the ink, letter by letter. What was so desirable about this? Why couldn't he stop admiring it? A warm liquid began to run down Ashton's fingertips. It was thick, and felt strange, but familiar. Ashton finally managed to peel his eyes from the odd obsession of the writing to observe the liquid on his fingers; it was blood. Instead of removing it, Ashton stared intently at his red stained fingers. Where was it coming from? Ashton finally blinked after staring at his fingers for awhile. When his eyes reopened, the blood was gone; his fingers were no longer red. It seemed as if Ashton had just been hallucinating. In disbelief, he turned his hands, over and over, looking for any traces of red, but there was nothing.

"Hey, we're here."

An unfamiliar voice sounded like it was directed at Ashton. Ashton looked up to see a boy, about 16 or 17, looking at him with a straight face as the boy spoke again.

"We're at school now. It's time to get off. You alright?"

Ashton shook his head slightly to refocus before replying, "Uhh yeah, I'm fine, thanks."

Ashton stood up and started to head off the bus towards the new school. He reached the first step before the same boy ran off the bus towards him.

"Hey wait!", he called out to Ashton.

Ashton stopped and waited for the boy to catch up. Once he did, the boy outreached his arm for a handshake.

"I'm Lucifer."

Ashton hid his confusion and took the boy's hand shaking it.

"I'm Ashton."

Lucifer let go and smiled.

"I'm guessing you're new here, huh?", he said.

"Yeah."

"I figured", Lucifer laughed, "I've never seen you before."

Ashton smirked, "Yeah, haha."

"Hey, this might sound personal but uh... do you know her?"

"Know who?"

Ashton became a little puzzled as to who Lucifer was referring to.

"Willow Morte. You were running your finger over her name and writing. Do you know her?"