HOUSE OF TUNNELS

Chapter 18

                                 The police swarm the school the next morning. Everyone gathers to witness what happened.
Everyone runs to Savanna to comfort her, but she walks straight past, with blood covering her body.
She stays silent as she walks, she can't cry. Her body is just filled with shock.
All she can hear are the voices.
All she can think is the answer.
Vera killed Mrs. Andrews.
And she has to pay.
                                           ~
Annika enters the dining room and sits next to Jamal, Danya, Elayna and Tyler for breakfast.
"Guys," she says,"I'm in trouble. I'll explain later, but Senkahra cursed us all and I just woke up here this morning with her voice echoing in my head saying, 'your punishment will be to punish.' What does that mean?"
"I don't know," Tyler says. "But I don't care!"
He throws food at everyone.
"Ugh, Tyler!" Everyone shouts.
Tyler laughs.
"Idiot." Danya mutters.
"Tyler, really?!" Annika yells at him. "Take something seriously for once! You're such a kid!"
Tyler's eyes glow red at Annika's words and he goes blank.
"Tyler?! What's wrong?!"
His eyes go back to normal. "Um, who are you?! Stranger danger! Mommy, help me!"
Tyler runs away, sucking his thumb.
"Classic TYLER!" Danya laughs.
                                          ~
At school, Mr. Sweet makes an announcement.
"As you all know, we have lost the life of yet another teacher at Harwood.." He tears up. "We have already lost Mr. Jason and Mrs. Robinson last year due to a murder. And now we have lost Mrs. Andrews due to the same thing. It is clear that a murderer is out there, and we won't stop until we find out who. Until then, all of you are on lockdown. Since there's nothing to do, we find it fitting that we have the ping-pong tournament today, in memory of Mrs. Andrews, being as ping-pong was her favorite sport and she was so very excited.. Let's begin."
                                           ~
Before the tournament, Jamal and Sami set up for it.
"Thanks for helping me!" Sami sighs. "All of the other student council members cancelled on me."
Annika come in and hears them.
"I'm glad you called." Jamal smiles. "Now we can spend more time together."
Sami giggles and blushes. "I'll be back!"
Sami runs out.
Annika goes to Jamal. "Oh, wow. So you guys are finally dating?"
"We're not." Jamal states. "And I thought you didn't care anyways!!"
"I don't, just forget it, okay?!" Annika looks away. "Forget everything."
Jamal's eyes glow red at Annika's words.
"Jamal..?"
His eyes go back. "I'm sorry, what were we talking about again?"
"I'm leaving." Annika leaves.
                                           ~
Later, the tournament starts.
Hunter and Danya warm up.
"Are you ready, Danya?" He asks.
"Yes!" Danya says. "It's gonna be like, Huntanya; Power Couple of the World!"
"Sure.." Hunter laughs.
Grace runs up to Hunter. "Where's Savanna?!"
"She's not here.." Hunter looks away. "She's traumatized."
"I'm so nervous! I hope you win!" Grace smiles and runs away.
Annika and Elayna go up to Danya.
"We came to wish you good luck!" Elayna says.
"Where are the boys?" Danya asks.
"They're both acting very weird after their eyes glowed red.." Annika says.
"Maybe the boys are starting to take their true forms!" Elayna says. "The devil!"
They laugh.
"I kind of don't want to do this anymore, I'm scared." Danya says. "And my body hurts, I want to go to sleep and watch Teen Wolf.."
"You're such an old lady!" Annika laughs.
Danya's eyes turn red at Annika's words.
"Oh no! Danya!" Annika shouts.
"Why is this happening?!" Elayna freaks out.
Danya's eyes go back. "Guys, leave! It's about to start!"
She pushes them away. "Ow! My back!"
Annika and Elayna sit.
"This is happening to all of us one by one," Elayna says. "So which one of us is next?"
Annika takes a deep breath.
The tournament begins and the other team hits the ball at Hunter and Danya, they miss and the other team gets a point.
Next, the other team hits a ball towards Danya and Danya tries to hit it but yelps. "Ow! My arm!"
"Danya, what's going on with you?!" Hunter whispers.
"I don't know! Everything's aching!" Danya says.
"Since when did you get that grey streak in your hair?"
Danya notices she has a grey streak in her hair. "What is this?"
The other team keeps getting points and Hunter and Danya keep losing.
"Come on Hunter!" Grace yells. "We need the Shield!"
Hunter and Danya lose again.
"Ughhh!" Elayna lets out. "You guys are really sucking right now!!"
"Elayna!" Annika scolds. "Stop!"
"I can't! It's the truth!"
"Just don't say anything at all."
Elayna's eyes glow red at Annika's words.
"Elayna! Not you, too!"
Elayna's eyes go back, but she can't speak.
"Elayna! Why can't you talk?!"
Annika sees Senkhara.
"Don't you get it?" Senkhara laughs. "Your punishment is to punish."
Annika realizes it.
"Tyler, you're such a kid!"
Tyler started actually acting like a kid.
"Jamal, just forget everything."
Jamal couldn't remember anything.
"Danya, you're such an old lady!"
Danya started acting like an old lady.
"Elayna, don't say anything at all!"
Elayna wasn't able to speak.
Annika accidentally cursed everyone.
"I didn't mean to do this!" Annika says.
"At least you won't have to witness this.."
Senkhara releases her powers towards Annika.
Then, Annika can't hear anything.
Everyone is cursed.
Annika can't hear anything.
Jamal can't remember anything.
Danya's turning into an old lady.
Tyler's turning into a kid.
And Elayna can't say anything.