The Riddler (Completed)

RIDDLE VII: GROUP OF EIGHT

The next day, I woke up with a headache. It's still early, it's-- it's still five in the morning. I looked around and I saw Ricciane sleeping on her bed that's next to me. Was it just a dream? Who's that entity? Is he the riddler? He should be, he told me that he created the game that I'm in. I wanted to ask him why, why me? I sighed as I stretched up. I'm still checking up on my left leg if I can manage and I think I can go to school now.

I stood up and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for us. After an hour, our breakfast is ready. Well, it's just a simple meal though. I prepared scrambled eggs, fried rice, bread and hot milk. When I finished setting up the table, I walked towards Ricciane's bed and poked her to wake her up.

"Hmm?" This girl.

"Wake up sleeping beauty, breakfast is ready." She then slowly get up as she rubbed her eyes. "Get moving Ricciane, you don't wanna be late for school." I said as I walked back to the table.

"Yeah, yeah. The same goes for you bro." She said then smiled. After a minute or two, she walked towards the table and started eating. "Not bad bro." She said with her mouth full.

"Don't talk when your mouth is full, how many times do I have to tell you that?"

"Sorry." She giggled as she formed a peace sign on her left hand.

"Yeah right." After we ate, I then started my daily routine.

* * *

Ticking clock, scratching sounds, indistinct noises all around. Well basically, that is what I'm currently hearing inside the classroom. I'm quiet early as usual and I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.

"Good morning Kessler."

"Hey, good morning Jamila." She's one of my classmates.

"By the way, we're groupmates. Actually there are eight of us. Toby, Joaquin, Zelo, Hernhea, Court Louise, Lyka, you and I." She said as she counted it on her fingers.

"I see, okay. So, what are we suppose to do? I mean, what task?" I asked.

"A documentary and any topic will do."

"Hmm, okay. So, have you decided what topic are we going to concentrate on?"

"Yeah, we decided to do a documentary regarding the abandoned cabin located inside the Cherlain Forest." It's Joaquin who answered my question. Jamila looked at him and smiled, Joaquin smiled back and looked at me again. "Welcome back bro, how are you feeling now?" He asked as he sat on the chair next to me.

"Good but I still need to take it easy, my left leg still hurts a little." I answered as I tapped my leg.

"I see. Okay then, let's just start the documentary this weekend so that you can still rest that leg of yours. How 'bout that?" He asked while smiling.

"Well, if it's okay with you guys then it'll be the same with me."

"Of course it's okay Kessler dude, what are friends are for?" Woah, five people suddenly appeared in front of us. That was Court Louise who talked.

"Guess all of the members are here." Jamila said.

"It's decided then, we'll start this weekend and all of us will meet at Gregory's Mart where Kessler is working by 7 in the morning. Deal?" Hernhea added.

"Deal!" All of us shouted. Well, this group is not that bad. I know all of them but not that much, maybe this is the chance where we can get to know each other more.

* * *

It's been days and I haven't received any card from the riddler. I just hope that I won't receive one ever again. I'm currently here at Mr. Gregory's mart, one hour to go before my shift ends and we'll proceed to Cherlain Forest afterwards. Days passed so fast and to be honest, I don't like the idea of us going to that forest. It's not that I'm scared or what, it's just that we can choose another topic aside from that abandoned cabin. I just agreed because they all like it, sigh. I just hope that nothing bad will happen this weekend.

KLING!

"Hernhea?"

"Good morning Kessler." She greeted while smiling. Well, I'm not surprise that she's here this early. "Are you ready?" She asked and rested her arms on the counter.

"Well yeah, I've brought everything that I might need right there." I said and I pointed behind me where I placed my bag. "Why are you here so early Hernhea? Do you need to buy something?"

"No, I just want to be here early and also so that we could talk 'cause I know that you've been itching to open your mouth." She answered as she laughed. Even I can't help but to smile. Well, she's right in a way. After that, neither one of us talked for a while. I really wanna asked her about Sean because what Sean begged me to do is bugging me since that day. I'm just hesitant to ask her.

"Hey Kessler? Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?" She asked as she touched her face. This is it, I'll ask her now.

"Hernhea, what's your connection with Sean?" I saw her eyes widen a bit but it went back to normal afterwards.

"Why Kessler?"

"Answer me Hernhea, it's been bugging me ever since that day he died. He wants me to take care of you, he begged me to take care of you. I know the answer is obvious but I wanna hear it from you Hernhea." I saw her sighed and breathe deeply. She looked at me afterwards with a serious face.

"Sean's my ex-boyfriend." I'm not surprised, it's quite obvious actually. "Our relationship didn't go well, we only lasted for two years. He broke up with me without me knowing the reason why."

"I'm sorry to hear that Hernhea."

"It's okay Kessler, what's done is done. Past is past, I have moved on already." She gave me a weak smile afterwards. "Uhm, Kessler I'll just grab something to eat, okay?" I just nodded as an answer. I'm left here alone, thinking. Are the riddles connected to a certain person? Is it giving me the identity of the person who'll die if ever I fail to solve the riddle?

"The riddle that I got before, Sean died, Hernhea and Sean, hmm." I whispered to myself. I'm not yet a hundred percent sure but somehow I already have an idea on how to solve the riddles, that is if I'll be receiving one again.

* * *

"You ready guys?" Joaquin asked, we're now here outside Gregory's mart. All eight of us arrived on time and we're now on our way to Cherlain Forest.

"Of course, let's go!" Court Louise shouted then he hopped inside Joaquin's van. Yeah, we have our own service thanks to him. We hopped in one by one and now we're off to Cherlain Forest.

* * *