Darkening Days

Chapter 3: The Joker

Instead of going home, I found myself walking back to school, and soon enough I was standing in front of my locker.

I turned the dial on my lock according to its code, unlocked it, and opened the door. After pulling out my American History textbook, I spun around on my heels and continued through the familiar hallways to history class.

Ten seconds hadn't even passed before I felt the presence of a person right on my heels. Whoever it is who's following me, he's probably just one of the jokers of the school.

"Hey, long time no see, honey" The joker said.

Immediately, I realized that this was no joker. This was the "creep" who I had just encountered ten minutes ago, in the forest preserve- and I didn't even have to look to tell that. There is no way I could forget that voice- nor forget anyone who calls me "honey".

The same annoyance that I had felt back at the park returned to me. Trying not to turn around, I replied, "What are you doing here?"

"I go to this school."

"Really", I said, unamused.

"You better believe it. Anyways, about what happened back at the park- I'm real sorry about that. I was already wound up pretty tight from my encounter with that...guy, so when I found out that there was someone sneaking around and spying on me, my last nerve was shot."

"Apology accepted." Despite the fact that he portrayed me as a cockroach in the last part of his apology, I forced myself to accept it. I'm not the kind of girl to reject an apology. I turned around to face him, and when I did, he beamed at me.

"Great. Now that we're on better terms, I'd like to ask for your assistance. I've been waiting for an excuse to bring someone into my little project. You see, since you've already partly gotten yourself involved by watching my rendezvous, I can now drag you in completely."

How he phrased that disturbed me. Drag me in? That didn't sound so pleasant.

"What?"

"Do I need to repeat myself?" The "creep" said, with a wry smile on his face.

"What is this 'little project' that you need my assistance with?" I couldn't help but be a little curious.

"Are you sure you want to know that right now, before you could even think about it? If I tell you now, then you'll have no choice but to assist me- I can't just trust anyone with the information on what I'm doing. There will be no turning back once I tell you." He said, still smiling, as if this were all a joke.

This guy is obviously being melodramatic. Thinking that he's farcing, I replied, "Tell me. Now."

"Okay. It's your choice."