Secrets

5. The cold knight

Rose had not been in high school for two weeks.

That was his first thought when he opened his eyes.

Wind slammed against the window of his bedroom, shaking the cherry trees that decorated his street. The smell of freshly made toast with jam and machine expresso came from the kitchen to the room. He got up and got dressed in a white shirt and black jeans, he put on his tie with the speed that gave him years of wearing uniform in the academy and left his long vest hanging from the door handle for when he had to leave. He made sure everything was in place, made the bed, checked the backpack in case he had left something out the night before and went down to have breakfast. After breakfast, he returned to his room, put on the jacket, the clock, the glasses and hung his backpack on one shoulder. Already at the entrance he made sure to take the keys in case his parents were not there when he returned.

Adams got on his black bicycle and went to the institute like every morning.

Buzz. The vibration of his phone in the pocket of his pants made him stop and get off the bike. People only contacted him when it was because of something important. It had been years since he left the group he had with his friends by the outburst of messages that arrived to him at indecent hours of the night.

Rose: [Image]

The boy could not guess what the picture was clearly. It looked blurry, unfocused and dark. He could only see something similar to a metal bar with a small wheel at one end. A table perhaps? And in a corner of the image part of what looked like a rusted metal door, by the reddish touch.
The boy, confused both by the image and the disappearance of his companion, soon answered the message.

Adams: Where are you?

He saved his cell phone and restarted his way to the highschool as he did not want to be late. At the door he checked that the girl had not yet answered him so he turned off the cell phone and saved it in his backpack as established in the school-rules.

Despite being part of the trio ... ex-trio, Adams had always been an extremely responsible boy and, usually, the one who was in charge of getting the other two out of problems. He always dealt with them using his sharp intelligence, cunning and his ability to analyse the situation in matter of seconds.

But that didn't matter anymore.

If the girl had something truly important to tell him she would have already answered, right? Despite his thoughts, the boy could not help feeling a chill down his spine. The feeling that there was something out of place.

He decided to talk to Rachel at the end of the class. Without doubt, if anyone knew anything about the whereabouts of the little redhead that should be her.

At the end of the class, he approached the girl with a determined voice.

- Excuse me, Rachel. Do you have a moment? -The boy stood in front of her without paying the slightless attention to Devian, who did not seem to have noticed his presence either.

- Sure, what can I do for you? -The girl smiled widely at him. That was something habitual in her since she had been the one that had put more effort in integrating him to the group, even when it was harder for him. She always had a smile ready for the cold-looking boy.
However, something in that day's smile disturbed the boy's general state of calmness. A millimeter higher in the usual curvature, a pair of seconds longer and eyes that did not accompany at all the brightness of the smile that decorated his lips. Adams weighed the situation for a moment. Rose had contacted him, not the group. Why? And Rachel had not mentioned anything about Rose despite if her prolonged absence... he knew that he had to answer quickly, but, if by any chance the girl was in danger, he could not afford the slightlest slip.

- I have to go to an ophthalmological review, I need to change my glasses again and, honestly, it's getting quite annoying. I was wondering if you would mind sending me your notes by mail this afternoon, you know I do not like to skip lessons.

- Of course! Don't worry, I'll take care of it. I will try not to sleep in philosophy, just for you. -The girl winked at him and laughed slightly, he responded with a soft smile, just a slight curvature of his lips, and Rachel was happy with that, after all, that was the closest thing to an emotion that one could expect from the boy.

Adams left the classroom and walked with a rushed pace, not running of course, to the library. He picked up one of the empty computers and used it to print a blank absence justifier.

He pulled a black pen from his backpack and filled in the blanks.

"I, Faith Castlehold, as parent / legal guardian of Adams Castlehold, justify his absence on October 15th from 9:00 a.m. to all day. Reason: Medical review. Date: October 14 Signed:"

The young man made a perfect copy of his mother's signature and folded the page cautiously. He walked calmly and confidently to the teacher at the door and handed him the folded paper with his better pose of a serious and responsible student who was not escaping the institute without consented permission of his parents. Being friends with a liar like Jason combined with his usual cunning had taught him to be a great actor.

Once outside he got back on his black bike and headed home.

Only when he reached the safety of his room did he turn on his cell phone again.

Buzz.

Rose: I do not know. But you must help me, please.

Adams answered instantly.

Adams: What's wrong?

He stood for a while contemplating the chat screen waiting for an answer that did not arrive.

He switched on his computer and pluged his cell phone on it. He was going to find out where his friend was. No matter the price.

It was not until two nights later that he received a response from the young redhead. He already knew ehat was happening, he knew what he had to do and how to do it. He told her to remain calm and assured her that they would come for her. He had already found her whereabouts and had made a rescue plan. Now all that was left for him to do was start it.

He opened his cell phone and texted the person.

Adams: I know who the killer is and I have a plan to stop him. But I'm going to need your help.

The next day he showed up at six o'clock, half an hour beforehand, in the park next to the station, ready for what he had to do. At the agreed time, the young woman entered the park with a worried gesture and looking everywhere. The boy was sitting on one of the park benches and turned to look at her. She approached him but stood a bit far from him

- Well, who is it?

Adams got up from the seat and stared into her eyes. If few emotions were usually reflected on his face now there were none at all.

- You.

//This chapter was supposed to be longer, but I will divide it in two parts. Next chapter will be just a super cool fighting scene *^* btw, I love Adams *^* he's BAE *^* soooo what did you think about it???