Decay In Her Bones

CHAPTER 23

The retreaters' second day in Caleruega found them noisily occupying the hundred seats of the dining hall that Saturday morning for breakfast. None of them went to the hall without their sweaters, for the temperature seemed to be decreasing by the minute. The long white table set up for the buffet was refreshed with the most appealing arrangement of menus that could make everyone salivate without exception. Behind the row of foods stood the servers in their black and white uniforms who were wearing streaks of plain smiles that greeted the students with a genuine bliss. After a prayer led by one of the Theology professors (a small woman whom Bobby had not have the pleasure of having as a teacher), they fervently started with the feast. They formed a line in an organized manner, as the staffs continued to remind them non-stop about the instructions on how to get food.

Bobby stood behind Mylene, who was wearing a dark green jacket the color of moss. Her hair was still soaked with water and they looked thinner than usual.

He had already told her about what happened that morning when they convened at the Veritas Hall earlier. She said that, probably, the markings might have been there before and that some crazy retreaters from other schools might have done it. When asked for a clarification, Mylene thought about it for a while before answering that perhaps, whoever did it might have used oil or something that repels water. Maybe that person thought it would be a good laugh, considering that someone like Bobby got victimized.

Bobby gave the topic up.

After they had filled up their plates, Bobby and Mylene left the buffet table and squeezed through the throng of people before finally reaching their seats. They were gasping for breath as they were sitting; they hardly noticed that Daniel, Franz, Lance, Randell and two other guys were deep in conversation.

Mylene sat between Bobby and two vacant seats, which were vacated for Jam and Yumi.

"Hey Bobby!" Franz called.

Bobby turned just in time to see faces staring at him.

"Yeah?"

"Daniel was just telling us about what happened to you in a while ago. Do you mind going into details?"

Before saying anything, Bobby did an assessment whether they were serious or not. He sensed that they really wanted to hear the whole thing, although he could not think of anything else to add if Daniel had told them already.

Bobby resigned and said, "Alright... I was in the shower a while ago and then after that, I noticed the mirror there in the bathroom. There was moist on it, probably because of the heater. And then, I saw something written on it. There's a message."

Franz nodded. Of course he knew about it already. He said, "Yeah, it said 'help', right? What do you think does it mean?"

"I really wouldn't know, man."

Mylene was looking at him while he spoke.

"Okay, that's really spooky," one of them said.

Randell interjected, "Yeah this place is weird."

"What are you talking about, guys," Daniel said, giving shuffled looks at Bobby and Randell, "How can something bad possibly happen here―"

"He's right," Mylene did not wait for him to finish. "It's probably just some sick joke. Someone could've done it using baby oil or something."

An imminent silent followed, but before it could take long, Lance joined in, "I have an idea."

"Fire away," Daniel said.