Cursed Footsteps

Prologue

It was chaotic.

Noisy teenagers surrounded the building where Hamilton Middle was built, for it was the last day of middle school.

The eighth graders waved at their friends while posting pictures on their mobile phones, some pledged to stop by someday, even though they knew they probably wouldn't, some just happy for a new start and sleeping in for the summer.

Jenna hung back, waving at her friends, wishing them a good summer. Her friends gave her curious glances as to why she was hanging around the school area when she had been the most excited of them all to leave. Waving them away, Jenna took her last walk around the school.

She just wanted to talk to Ms. Dover, the main factor she had survived middle school. Ms. Dover gave her the quietness and space her friends had never been able to provide; they dragged her all around the school, playing catch and screaming when they were caught.

Gradually, Jenna drifted away in her own room of 103. Ms. Dover offered her help with her homework, and on top of that, she led an interesting conversation every day.

Jenna learned that Ms. Dover was married, but she kept her surname. She was the third daughter of five daughters of Jolene and Blake Dover, at age twenty-seven. Her favorite books were horror stories and she adored the story 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley. She didn't like movies in general, she thought they didn't portray the characters thoroughly enough.

Jenna hurried along the corridor she had grown to know and love, and stopped at the dark chocolate brown door, tattooed with jet black ivy.

She knocked three times, in the same rhythm she and Ms. Dover had decided on, knock pause knock pause knock. Ms. Dover's clear voice marked the acceptance of Jenna and she entered.

"Jenna! I thought you left already!" Ms. Dover exclaimed.

"Well, I couldn't leave without saying goodbye first!" Jenna replied. "After this, I'm going to Sheraton High, which is about a three-hour drive from here."

She sighed, she was starting to sound like the desperate girl she was when she first met Ms. Dover. She remembered that as clear as day, it was a memory stabbed deeply into her, unable to be removed.

"Ugh, god, Jenna, throw it up first! And then hit it!" Tatiana groaned, putting her face in her hands.

"I'm sorry! I've never learned, this is all new to me!" Jenna replied, trying to keep her cool.

"You know what? Just go! Go, if you can't do it properly." Tatiana replied fiercely.

Jenna looked around, hoping for support from her friends, but they didn't give it. Sighing, she dropped her racket on the ground and walked away. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

When she was sure that no one could see her, she sank down on her knees, head in her hands. Was she really that bad at tennis? She had never learned, never bothered and no one had ever judged her for it. Obviously, she'd spoken too soon. 

She was so lonely, all her friends were playing tennis. Her mom always said, make new friends, but Jenna never bothered, she trusted her old ones.

"What is a girl like you doing off the fields?" A voice behind her spoke. Jenna turned around to see her English teacher.

"I just- I had a stitch." Jenna fibbed.

Ms. Dover gave her a pointed look, Jenna's eyes were red and it was obvious she had been crying.

"Come in my office, let's talk about it." Ms. Dover said, leading the girl to Room 103.

"Sheraton High? Congratulations, Jenna! That is a very hard school to get into." Ms. Dover said, smiling sincerely.

"Thanks," Jenna replied. It wasn't normal that she felt this awkward around Ms. Dover, usually, Room 103 was filled with happiness and conversation between the two.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Jenna turned to leave.

"So, um, I'm going to go now. I'll miss you, Ms. Dover."

"Jenna, wait. I have something for you." Ms. Dover said. She turned around and retrieved an envelope out.

"Here's everything you need to know if you ever want to find me." Ms. Dover said, with a thin smile.

"Thank you," Jenna said, walking across the room to hug Ms. Dover. She would remember that blonde mane of hair that made her smile every time she saw it.

Jenna turned around, pressed the doorknob down, and left.

In tears.