The Mystery of Estelle Boss

School Mystery

It was still dark when I woke up. I lounged out of my bed and trudged to the restroom. I tripped over the gate. I felt awful. Staying up late for classes at UNO is not my favorite thing to do, but it's required so I do it. Slowly, still half asleep, I put on my uniform. One layer after another. It felt like it took a lifetime. When I went downstairs, I snuck into the kitchen and grabbed a K bar so I didn't have to eat breakfast at school. The drive to school was so frustrating I probably yelled my rage at five cars. The thing is, it only takes five minutes to get to the school. Literally on the same block. When I parked, I got out and looked at the sky. It was rosy pink. The sun was just barely peeking from the clouds, but it had risen since I left the house. As I walked into the school gates, a gentle wind blew around my face giving me the sent of grass, pine needles, and Tallow trees. Mist silently swirled around my feet with every step I took. I thought to myself, this place is so much nicer than my home in the morning. Crickets sounded across the yard near the chapel. It was so quiet. The sky was orange and pink and white clouds twisted and streamed across the sky. All the thoughts of this mornings frustrations had left my mind being replaced by the song of the cicadas. My morning was getting so much better... until a fierce wind ripped at my body blowing my skirt around furiously. The clouds, once gentle and white, were now rapidly crossing the sky bringing in black and dark gray clouds. I had to run to the shelter so the rain wouldn't coldly strike me. It was pouring. The song stopped and the lights flickered. What was happening? The sweet cool sprinkle that kissed my cheeks was an outrageous storm like a scene from a dark chapter in a black book. Thunder boomed right above me. No one else was at school yet. The doors to the cafeteria were locked. The gate slammed shut from the wind. I was trapped inside the school.
I tried to open the doors to the foyer. Locked. Lightning flashed above me. I slowly slumped to the ground. What was happening! I wanted to curl in a ball and die. My morning was getting better and then this happens. There is something wrong with that picture. The wind hit me again making the tree in the middle of the courtyard sway back and forth. Thunder followed. Then lightning. It struck the tree with a screeching crack. I got up and ran to the gate. I grabbed the handle and turned it. It was unlocked! I opened the gate and ran towards the parked bus in the parking lot. I ducked under the bus and got my phone out of my bag. I went to the contacts and tapped 'Dad'. As soon as it started ringing, the reception failed. My phone started beeping and it went to voicemail. I listened to the message. 'Hi, You've reached Christopher Camille. I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks.'
No, dad. He should have picked up. I didn't know what to do. I ran to the street. No one was driving. No one was there. Where was everybody?
I looked around. The expressway entries were closed. All the stop lights were blinking. I felt alone. I looked at my phone. 6:32 A.M. I texted my sister. It sent but as I waited for five minutes, I got no response. I tried my brother. He didn't pick up. His phone was probably off. He was already at school. The rain had stopped pounding, but it was still pouring. I saw the cafeteria lights come on. Maybe someone was here? I went back inside the gates and walked to the cafeteria door with the wind pushing against me. It was still locked. How were the lights on? The wind abruptly stopped blowing. The thunder made the air shake one more time and the lightning cracked the sky with light. The storm was over. It sprinkled lightly. And the sky was gloomy. It had gotten colder. I was shivering thanking myself for habitually wearing a sweater every day. I took my phone out again and saw the temperature predicted for today. It said 75 degrees. I knew it was way colder than that right now. I tried texting my friend. It sent. She replied in the first minute. 'Hey' she said. I smiled knowing I wasn't alone after all. I asked her where she was since we had school today. She replied that she wasn't feeling well so she had to stay home. I told her what happened. She sent back three question marks. I sent back that it's true. She replied, 'R u ok? u might b sick 2.'
I rolled my eyes and sent back, 'I'm fine. Get some rest. See u tom'
Well, ok. Maybe I am alone in this after all. When I'm back at home, will anybody believe me? I know. What a crazy thought to have when you're trapped inside somewhere abandoned. I should be worrying about my life right? No. Right now, how things have been going, I could care less about that. What I was thinking about was if anyone would believe what happened because I knew I would survive. That's just my luck. Nothing will take away my misery. So I dropped my bag and sat against the wall. I waited while it got colder. Where else would I go?
I sat there for about an hour. Finally, I came to a conclusion. I was going to walk home. I grabbed my bag and slowly walked to the gate. The crickets were playing their songs again. I got to the gate and limply pushed through it. Suddenly my phone started buzzing. I looked at it to see that my dad was calling me. I answered but his voice was scratchy and I couldn't hear him. I put him on speaker. All I heard was, 'are.......ok.....where.......can.......happened.'
I tried speaking to him, 'Dad. It's ok. I'm fine. Come get me from school. I don't know what happened but you need to believe me.' Before I could say me my phone was beeping again and the call had ended. I let out a frustrated breath. Couldn't just one day be peaceful for me? I shoved my phone back into my pocket and kept walking. It was still drizzling and it was still dark, but I was fairly calm. I'm not one to get scared much and I rarely cry. Right now I felt the same exact way. Angry. My phone buzzed and I was so mad that I yanked it from my pocket and threw it on the ground. It bounced a few times, but it didn't get any cracks at all. 'Stupid protective case' I mumbled to myself. I picked it up and saw that I had a message. Considering the mood I was in I thought who wants to text me. No one likes me. So I unlocked my screen and saw who the message was from.
ALEX.
My day was bad enough. Why did he have to go and ruin it by texting me? The text read 'Hey. Have you heard of Matchbox Twenty.' I smiled and replied, 'Duh. They're the best group ever. Just depressing. Which I love so it's ok.'
When really, they are my all time favorite. I just thought I should tone it down a bit for a text. Normally, hearing their name I would go berserk and start randomly singing one of their songs. After a minute of singing to myself, he texted back saying, 'Good. I like them too. What's your favorite song by them?'
'I would have to go with "If You're Gone' but I like all of them.'
After a second, I realized wait. I'm still stuck in school. I was at the street a second ago. Now I was back in front of the cafeteria. My phone buzzed and I realized I can ask him for help. The text read 'I like Rest Stop. Anyway, Wyd?'
For a second, I wondered why he would like that song. It's one of the saddest ones they have. I texted him back. I told him that I was trapped inside of school and I needed him to help me out. He replied about six minutes later. 'Ok, Where are you?'
My eyes widened. He believes me? Well... after all, he was kind of a rule breaker. He might think I got into trouble and he understands. But then again.... the first night I met him, he offered me a ride home. Maybe he just wanted to give me that ride I never got. I thought about it for a while. I thought about all the talks he and I have had. Would he really do something like this for me? After a few minutes, he texted me my name and then three question marks. I snapped back into reality. Or... almost reality I guess. I texted him the address of the school. He would have to drive for an hour to get to me since he lived further North than I do. I figured I might as well try the cafeteria door again. It was so cold. I didn't want to be outside for so long. As I pushed on the knob, it clicked and I was pushing so hard on it that I barreled into the large café. Well. I guess it's unlocked now. I walked to the table nearest to the door. If I needed to get out quick, I needed to have a way out quick. I took out my phone and texted him again. 'I don't know what happened here, but it's weird. Thanks for helping me. I say it in advance just in case something bad happens.'
I looked through my bag and found my K Bar. I started munching on it when he texted me back. 'No problem. Don't let anything happen. I'll be there soon.'
I smiled to myself. At least I still have one good friend. He texted me again, 'You're not in trouble with the cops are you?'
Without thinking, I let out a laugh. I shook my head and replied, 'It's complicated. Why?'
Before he replied, I was hitting the table laughing my ass off thinking about what his response might be. He sent back 'No reason.'
Geez. Well that's Alex for you. Giving out his problems without realizing how obviously he's doing it. He texted me again. 'You said you're at school?'
I replied yes and he said, 'There is no one here. At all. Where are you? I pulled in the parking lot just now.'
How long had it been since he was on his way? 13 minutes. He must have done some serious speeding.
I ran outside toward the gate. Imagine that. It was locked again. I slung my bag onto my shoulder and texted him, 'Come to the gate. It's locked. Can't get out.'
'I'll bring a crow bar.' he said.
Who knew? Of course he has a crow bar in his truck. He's him. I saw him get out of his truck and get a crow bar from the bed of it. He started walking towards me. He had a jacket on and his normal black jean pants with Vans. He reached the gate and looked inside. Right past me. His dirty blond hair nearly covered his eyes, but I could tell he was looking right at me.
"Alex." I said.
He pulled out his phone and started texting.
"Alex!" I banged on the gate. He didn't move an inch.
After a second, I got a text. It read 'I am here. Next to the gate. Where are you? Come out. It's freezing.'
I shook my head and dropped my phone. I rapidly started shaking the gate. He looked at his phone and then looked around.
I was getting teary eyed. "Alex!" I shouted. "I'm right here! I'm right next to you!... Look at me!"
He looked at the ground. He inhaled deeply and said, "Why am I here? She probably pranked me. Where is she? I am a fricking idiot."
A tear fell from my eye for the first time in years.
I looked at his face as he looked through the gate past me again. My lips quivered, "Alex."
He started texting again. My phone lit up and I read what he sent me, 'Don't prank me. It's not funny. Where are you?'
I picked up my phone and texted him, 'Alex, I am on the other side of the gate. I can see you but you can't see me.'
I saw him read it and look through the gate. He touched the gate and said, "You're really there?"
I smiled and more tears rolled down my cheeks. I texted him, 'Yes.'
I saw a smile tugging at his lips. He looked into the gate again saying, "Step back. I'm going to break the lock."
I texted him that I stepped back. He nodded and aimed the crow bar at the lock. He did one practice swing then he swung it at the gate. With a loud crunch, the lock broke off and crashed to the ground. He dropped the crow bar and kicked the gate open. When he stumbled in, he looked around. He looked back at the gate and then took out his phone. I smiled and walked to him. I tried to give him a hug. Instead, I walked right through him. My eyes wide open in shock, I turned around and tried to touch his back. My hand slipped through him. I drew back my hand quickly. What just happened. Alex looked at his phone and then around the courtyard. He texted me again. 'I can't see you. Where are you?'
Right about then, I was breaking. I texted him back. 'I am in front of you. Looking at you.'
He looked up straight at me. "I can't see you...How?"
Forgetting that he couldn't hear me, I said, "I don't know. And, Alex, I'm scared. I need you. You're right in front of me and you can't even see me. I feel alone. I'm talking but you can't hear me.... Wait. Oops."
He stretched out his hand towards my face. He looked me in the eye and said, "I can hear you."
Wait. How did he look me in the eye? His warm hand touched my face. Could he feel me too?
I guess he could. He smiled and said, "You're cold."
I smiled too. I looked into his eyes and said, "Can you see me?"
He stroked his thumb on my cheek wiping away my tears. He whispered, "Does this answer your question?"
He pushed the hair from my face. His warm hand went down to my neck. He looked to my eyes. He stepped closer to me and put his other hand on my cheek. He leaned in close to my face. We were so close. Our faces were almost touching. Could this really be happening? Nope. It wasn't happening. Because just then my vision blurred. Before I feinted I felt his lips on mine. But then everything went black.
He caught me. Strange catch. It felt like pillows and blankets. I opened my eyes to look around. I was in someone's bed. I tried to sit up but I quickly lied back down because I had a massive head rush. I looked down to see that I was wearing long, black pants and a t-shirt. And I had an LSU blanket next to me. Alex walked into the room. Was I dreaming? Or was I in Heaven? Wow. He had a sleep shirt on with Star Wars pajama bottoms. I marveled at the sight of him looking so vulnerable. He carried a coffee cup in his hand and set it on the table next to me.
He waved his hand, "Hot chocolate. I know you don't like coffee."
He sat down on the bed next to me and put the LSU blanket on me. He sighed. "You were knocked out pretty hard. You were out for about four hours. Before you passed out, you said something. Something really important to me. You said 'Whatsername.' Also, you were talking in your sleep. You kept smiling. What were you dreaming about?"
I tried to sit up again. I had more luck this time. I sat crosslegged on the bed next to him with the blanket tangled between my legs. I grimaced and put my hand on my head. After a minute, I picked up the coffee cup and started sipping. I put the cup down and started to speak. "Alex. What happened back there. What you did. What was that?"
He frowned, "I asked you first."
I rolled my eyes and said, "Ok, whatever, but I expect an answer later. Your first question. I said 'Whatsername' because that was the first song you told me you liked. I was thinking about it earlier. I guess I said it because it was just randomly in my head. Second question. I forgot what I was dreaming about. Now it's your turn."
He nodded, "You sure you forgot or are you hiding something?"
He knows me to well. "Ok. I remember what I was dreaming about, but it's none of your business... so leave it alone. Ok?"
He shrugged it off, "Ok, sure. I guess now it's my turn. Back there. What happened. It was not thought through."
I raised my eyebrows. "So you're telling me that you touching my cheek, and leaning in and nearly kissing me was nothing?"
"...Yes?"
"Alex, I'm not that stupid."
"I didn't say you were."
I looked at him. In his Star Wars bottoms, I couldn't help but smile. He looked at his pants and said, "What?"
I chuckled and said, "Nothing. It's just hard to take you seriously with those pants on."
He touched his pants. "There not that bad."
"I know and in fact, I think they look good on you."
A few minutes of silence crept into the room. It was getting awkward. Alex took a deep breath to say something, but I started before he could. I rushed into my words. I slurred, "Whatever happened back there, I am going to finish it. Here. Now. No thought included."
In saying that, I leaned in and grabbed his face with my hands. Crazy right? I never would have thought that I would do it either. I kissed him. He was surprised at first, but them he gave in and kissed me back!
My first kiss. Cool. But then it got dirty. He ran his fingers through my hair. He pushed me back against the the bed. Man, was I getting into it. He grabbed my wrists and spread my arms apart on the bed. He kissed me passionately. Rough. Perfect.
Alex let go of my wrists and cupped my head. He kissed me hard. After that, he climbed on top of me. I was flat on my back and he was kneeling over me slowly bringing his hands across my arms.
He started kissing my neck. He brought his hands to the top of the bed. While he kissed my neck, I ran my fingers through his soft hair.
He straightened himself and pulled off his shirt. O, my God! There was no doubt that I was in heaven now. I pushed myself further up the bed. I leaned against the head of the bed, and he kissed my cheeks and drew away and looked at me.
He smiled and asked, "You ready?"
I smiled and but my lip, "I hope you don't be too gentle."
He grinned back and pulled my t- shirt off for me. Best moment ever! He kissed me neck while helping me pull off my pants. I leaned towards him and whispered, "Your turn."
Saying that I moved as to where I was on top of him and he was the one leaning against the head of the bed. I was in control now. Slowly, I crawled closer to him. I kissed his lips once and then brought my hands slowly down his torso. Then I kissed his shoulders and untied his pajama pants. He put his hand on my head and kissed me.
I looked at him and grinned I kissed his lips and he moved so he was kissing my cheeks.
He leaned up and slid off his pants. Well, geez, Alex. I should have known he didn't wear underwear with his pajamas. As I looked down at his torso, he unbuckled my bra. He threw it off the bed and kissed me. He then pulled my underwear off.
He put his hands on my waist. He pulled me closer to him. I lied next to him on the bed. He sat up and swung his body over mine.
He put his finger on my chin. The most precious thing I had and I was about to lose it. He flipped his hair out of his face and leaned down on me. He stroked my cheek with his thumb. He kissed my forehead and my vision got blurry again. Before I fell unconscious I felt both his hands on my face and I heard him say, "Don't worry. I won't let him hurt you to bad."
I woke up later to find myself in a dark, warm room. All I had on me was a blanket and ropes binding my hands and feet. I bit down. There was a gag in my mouth. I tried to move. My whole body was sore. I looked down at my legs. I was soaking... In blood.
I grimaced and struggled in my bonds. I stopped moving when I realized there was a sharp pain in my back. Was it me that was bleeding?
A large man opened a door into the door. I looked up at him. He grabbed my hair and pulled my head up.
"Well," his voice was deep and scratchy, "Look at this... Little miss pretty is finally awake."
I yanked my head away from his grasp. He chuckled, a very unpleasant sound, and said, "oh! She's a fighter. How sexy."
I bit down on the gag. He pulled it out and I gritted my teeth. I tried to bite him when he put his hand on my cheek. I spit at him, "You ugly bastard!"
He put his hands on his hips and bellowed a terrible laugh. He shook his finger at me.
"Naughty girl." he said.
He licked his lips, "I can see why my boss likes to fuck with you."
I hugged my knees to my chest. I looked back at him desperately. I whimpered, "If I let you touch me, will you tell me who your boss is?"
He smirked, "Baby, I don't have to tell you anything to touch you."
Saying that, he ripped off the blanket off my back. I screamed. Blood spilled around my from my back.
He lifted my chin with his thumb. With a wicked smile, he kicked me in the face. I fell over to the ground and curled into a ball.
The man grabbed my hair and lifted me back up. I whined. He laughed at me. "Sad, puny thing aren't you?"
As he said that, another man, not as big as the one holding me, barged into the room. He walked up to the big burly man and said, "Boss needs you in his office."
The large man looked confused and dropped me. He scratched his head and said, "Boss doesn't have an office though."
The smaller man nodded and looked at me.
The larger man followed his gaze. Then the small one threw a punch at him. I heard a crutch and the large man screamed in pain. He put his hands or his face. As he was bending over letting the blood drip from his nose, the smaller man kicked him in the gut. The small one kicked again and shouted, "And that's for hurting my girl!"
The man turned toward me, "We've gotta go! The guards will wake up any second."
I tried to nod, but I limply sunk to the floor.
The man sighed. He leaned over and helped me sit up. He put the blanket on my back. I moaned and grimaced.
He untied my rope bonds and said, "I'm sorry. This is going to hurt."
He picked me up. As I leaned in his arms, my back flared with pain. I gritted my teeth to keep from screaming. He carried me out of the room and closed the door leaving the large man behind.
My head turned to the left. Three men were sprawled across the floor with cups laying beside them. I looked up at the man carrying me.
"Alex?" I whispered.
The man chuckled, "No, fraid not, sweetheart. I'm Alex's brother. In fact, he's on my list of people to save next."
What? Was Alex in trouble? I needed to save him. I know. This girl has got some weird thoughts. Alex was probably the one who hurt me. I should be mad at him. No. He was my friend. No matter how badly I'm hurt, I need to know he's okay.
I looked at the man again, "What's your name? And what happened to Alex?"
The man kept walking down the dim hallway away from the past out men. He sighed, "Well, sweetheart, he got punishment from the boss for for trying to keep him away from you."