To Those Who Follow

Chapter 1

When the school bell rang, Rylan Robinson already knew how to make good use of her free time. Of course, she would be one of the students filing out of the class room but instead of going to the tea shop nearby, she would go to the library. No one really cares about the library anymore, making it the perfect place for her plans.

The librarian greeted her as she entered the quiet room. Rylan smiled back in return and made herself comfortable at the nearest seat. She pulled out her laptop and placed it in front of her, debating whether to actually do her job here or somewhere else.

3 hours. I have three hours.

She eventually decided to just go for it and connected her laptop to her pocket wifi. Rylan wasn't surprised when the first notification to arrive was from the local blog, To Those Who Follow.

To Those Who Follow is an exclusive blog and usually, only the privileged rich kids can access it. Rylan does not need anyone's permission. She can access it anytime she wants.

Why she still uses it is another question. If she can remember, the blog is related to various cases of kidnapping in the older batches. To Those Who Follow was not even exclusive up until 2011 where the facilitators had enough of the complaints. Rylan just needed the blog and its deleted contents for some vital information.

"Um, excuse me?" Rylan slammed the laptop so hard that she thought she might have broke the screen. She looked behind her where Cordelia, the other class' secretary, was standing. Cordelia had her fingers fidgeting the hem of her blouse. "Can I ask a favor?"

Rylan frowned. She's having ideas that this girl saw what's on the screen earlier. Cordelia, not even cagey, sat in front of Rylan and looked at the floor.

"What favor?" The now-hesitant Rylan pulled out a pen and a notebook. She examined the secretary, trying to guess if she has ill-intentions...

"I know who you are, Black Ledge." Cordelia's voice is soft, like a whisper, but the tone says otherwise. It took all of Rylan's willpower not to strangle the person in front of her. Cordelia finally looked Rylan in the eye, and the latter has no choice but to deny it.

"What are you talking about?" Rylan acted innocent—and now she can feel the advantages of being in the Drama Club—and sounded naive. She must not drop her act, or else everyone would know who Black Ledge really is.

"Oh please, Rylan. Stop it and admit who you are." Cordelia's eyes were cold, cold as ice. Rylan was starting to think this is a trap. Well, she could slowly slip away...

Or maybe not. She decided not to match the accuser's gaze and continued with the I-am-innocent card.

"I told you, I am not who you accuse. You could've easily mistaken me from some—"

"I don't want to cause some trouble here, Rye or should I say, Black Ledge?" Cordelia's voice is so taunting soft at the same time that Rylan wondered if she may have taunted rodents. "You don't want to talk? Fine. I'll just leave you something to think about." Cordelia walked away, leaving behind a piece of paper on the table.

Rylan didn't know if she'll be surprised or creeped out. Cordelia was not the type to just go around and prank people. But she's right, in some ways. Rylan and Black Ledge are one, she could agree with that. But the act...? She was shy at first and then agressive the next. Is something wrong?

Rylan picked up the paper in front of her and read.

"Dear Black Ledge,

We are taunted by your ways. Surrender or you'll suffer."

At the back of the paper, there's a hastily scribbled time and place. Rylan sighed. She knew she would be in trouble soon enough, but not this soon. She packed up her things and left the library, the three hours forgotten.