(Ashley's pov.)
Soon there is a crowd surrounding me, a few teachers run over and look around for the problem. I shakily bend down to retrieve the paper and hide it before anyone sees it.
"Sorry everybody, saw a spider." I laugh nervously, smiling convincingly. I hope. Everybody laughs and the crowd dissipates back to friend groups.
Brayden walks over five minutes later holding a starbucks coffee cup. "A spider? Really?" She asks amused. "You screamed when a fly landed on you just last week. So I don't want to hear it." I laugh at her. She rolls her eyes taking a sip of her coffee. "Whatever, let's get to class before we're late." She responds after the warning bell rings. I laugh walking with her to class.
Passing a set of lockers, someone bumps into me, knocking me back a little. "S-sorry." The skinny redheaded teen says blushing slightly. "No worries, it was an accident." I reply smiling and moving past him to class.
I sit in my seat in algebra taking notes when my phone buzzes in my pocket. Picking the device out of my pocket I read the notification. It's a message from the same unknown caller last night. 'Did you like my picture?'
I panic and stand. "I need to use the restroom." I state rushing out of the classroom in a rush.
Walking closer to the restroom, I see a lump across the hall. I start walking over to look and scream.
It's the guy who bumped into me, he's been cut and stabbed and bleeding on the floor. "Somone call an ambulance!!" I scream.
A teacher walks out of her class searching for the commotion. "Call an ambulance!" I shout to her taking my sweater off and pressing it against the guys stomach where the stab wound is.
"Do you know who did this to you?" I ask urgently as the teacher returns to her class.
He tries to respond but sputters. "Don't speak. Just nod 'yes' or 'no'." I instruct. He shakes his head 'no' as the teacher comes back. "An ambulance is on it's way. What happened?" She asks. "I don't know. I was headed to the restroom when I found him lieing here. He doesn't know who did this to him." I answer making sure he is still awake.
I watch as his eyes start drooping. "Hey, don't sleep, not right now. Help is on its way." I encourage shaking him a little. He doesn't hear me and I panic. "Hold this here." I motion for the teacher to take over pressing my sweater to the wound.
I feel for his pulse but it is getting weaker my the minute. I start chest compressions and after a few minutes his eyes open again. "There you go buddy." I smile relieved and grateful he's awake.
Another ten minutes passes before the police and paramedics show up. "Its about time." I mutter to myself as the paramedics take over for me and officer Jefferson, from last night, pulls me aside to ask questions.
"Do you know what happened?" He asks. "No, he bumped into me before class and when I left to go to the restroom I saw him lieing here on the floor." I explained.
"I looked into the note and letter this morning, do you have any enemies who would write them?" He questions. "No, I don't. No one has ever bothered me until after my birthday." I explained further.
I look over to the paramedics. "Will he be ok?" I ask worriedly. "You might've just saved his life." The female responds smiling at me. I smile back feeling reassured. "Can I ride with him?" I ask hopefully. "Sorry miss. Only family can ride." The male paramedic answers. I sigh and nod. "I'll give you a ride to the hospital." Officer Jefferson offers. "That would be great thanks." I reply nodding.
Following the officer I hop into the police cruiser and head towards the hospital.
Arriving I rush beside the gurneys until I am being pushed back and told I am not allowed in the room. A nurse leads me to the waiting room where I sit quietly.
Thirty minutes later I pull my head up from looking at the floor thinking by a man and woman running into the hospital. "Our son, James Archie was brought in by ambulance from school?" The woman rushes to ask worriedly. "He is in surgery right now. Ma'am, but he should be ok." A doctor explains to the redheaded woman. She nods walking into the waiting room and taking a seat looking stressed and worried.
"You were the one who helped him? Our son James?" The blonde man asks me. "Redhead skinny?" I ask and nod when they nod their heads yes. "I was headed to the restroom and found him. I had to help." I tell them.
The woman, I assume, is his mother, jumps up and pulls me into a hug. "Thank you so much." She cries on my shoulder. "I had to help." I reply pulling away from her embrace.
I sit with them and text my friends to come to the hospital after school.
"Would you like anything from the cafeteria?" I ask politely. "No, thank you tho." Mrs. Archie responds shaking her head.
In the cafeteria I grab a small sandwich and a water, pay for them, and head back up to the waiting room.
In the elevator going up there is only one other person. He's staring at me and creeping me out.
All of the sudden the elevator stops and everything goes black. I scream before a hand falls on my mouth quietening me. I'm struggling to get away. "Stop struggling. I'm here to help." He insists whispering in my ear.
"What are you talking about? Help me do what?" I ask incredulously. "I was his last victim. He is trying to scare you into finding him. His name is unknown but I've seen him. He did the same to me. I can help you." The man explains more.
"How am I suppose to trust you?" I ask as the elevator starts moving and the lights come back on. He pulls the sleeve of his shirt up to reveal a healing cut. "He did this a few weeks ago. Marking the end of my terror. But he wants you dead." He urges. "Stay alert and don't go anywhere new." He advises leaving the open elevator.
I take deep breaths as the elevator closes again. Walking back into the waiting room of the surgical unit I sit beside Mrs. Archie.
A few hours later all of my friends rush in to find me. "Guys, over here." I call to them. "Ash, what's going on? Why are you here?" Brayden asks me. "The guy that bumped into me this morning was attacked and I found him when I went to the restroom." I explain to them.
"Oh my God, is he ok?" Kaitlin asks. "Yes, thanks to Ashley, he will be just fine." Mr. Archie says smiling gratefully at me.
"I just helped." I said shrugging as a doctor walks in. "Family of James Archie?" He asks.
Mr. And Mrs. Archie stand up. "How is he?" Mrs. Archie asks. "He is in recovery and will wake up soon. I want to keep him for a few days to observe make sure no infection happens, but he should be ok and able to go home at the end of the week." He explains smiling at all of us. "Can we see him?" I question. "When he wakes up, two people at a time may go in and see him." He answers.
"Thank you doctor." Mr. Archie says shaking the doctors hand.
My phone buzzes in my hand, the same unknown number pops up. 'The next one won't be as lucky.' It reads.
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Comment your favorite part. Thank you for reading.
