Shadowveil - The Forgotten

Chapter 7: Seeking Answers

Patrick found himself on Connor Road on the western side of Moonvale County. He knew that he was getting closer to the school, and his uneasiness grew in conjunction with his anticipation. The fog prevented him from seeing into the distance but he carried on down the promenade.

When he finally came to the approach leading towards the school, he discerned the silhouette of a huge building through the haze. He reached the school's main entrance within a minute after heading up the foggy walkway. With careful steps he ascended the stone stairway and found himself standing in front of two large wooden doors.

Upon clutching the handle on the rightmost door, the chest pain suddenly flared up again; even more intensely than before. Patrick forcefully pushed open the door and ran inside, swiftly closing it behind him. No more had he entered than he keeled over and succumbed to the pain. His heart throbbed and his mind raced. Before he knew it he passed out on the floor of the entrance hall with delirious thoughts swirling around in his head...

*

When he came to, the world around him was still foggy, and the mist had permeated the inside of the school as well. It wasn't as thick indoors as outside though, giving him a good view of the interior. Even though both that maniac Greg and then also Samantha had told him that they'd gone to school together he still couldn't remember them at all. He only had blurry bits and pieces in his memories of those years and hoped to find the answers within the school walls. With a partial degree of determination Patrick pulled himself together and slowly stood up from the lobby floor, his head still spinning from low blood pressure.

He silently made his way to the door leading into the first corridor and then continued straight ahead, ending up in the Ashley Connor Elementary School's courtyard. He scoured the foggy surroundings and made out some bushes, a couple of lifeless trees and some kind of metal-cast grandfather clock in one of the corners. The clock piqued his interest, seeing as it stood out quite a lot compared to the other objects in the vicinity. He thought that maybe it was a vintage main school clock, roll-calling for class or something.

*

When he turned around, a man dressed in a beige ceremonial robe with strange markings and a hat suddenly stood in his way. His heart skipped a beat and he flinched by the sight of the strange individual, who seemed to be in his mid-fifties. His piercing gaze seemed to stare right through Patrick.

"We are saved from our sins by God's grace alone through faith alone. What about you, child? Have you come to finally confess all of your sins before this servant of God?" the man inquired with an overly confident tone of voice.

"What the?! Who are you, and why'd you sneak up on me like that?!" Patrick scoffed at his ramblings and instead countered with his own questions.

"My name is Charles Friedman. I am a former teacher at this establishment and I currently hold the position of high cleric of my order. I invite those who are ready to face their sins and ascend into paradise, free from the shackles of human impiety. The path of the wicked children must be set straight, and I am the herald who has been chosen to lead you forward," the cleric spoke in a conceited voice. "I ask you once more. Are you prepared to confess your sins?"

"What the hell are you talking about? What sins?" Patrick retorted. His words probably fell on deaf ears as the conniving cleric seemed to be in some kind of trance-like state.

"Have you encountered the wayward one during your time here? She is a woman about this tall." He gestured with his hand the size of an adult. Patrick was annoyed by the sudden interrogation. "This lost child has erred and will be punished in accordance with the rules. Can you tell me where she is?" The meaning behind his pompous words was lost on Patrick but maybe he was talking about Samantha?

"I haven't seen anyone except you in this damn place. Happy now?"

"Lying will get you nowhere, son. Now come clean; where is she?" he asked with a more menacing voice.

"Hey, I don't have time for your bullshit, okay?" Patrick noted firmly.

"Very well then. So you are one of the errant ones as well? Then may your sins consume you. If you tread down this wicked path, know that you will henceforth be beyond God's grace. We will find her by ourselves and guide her to salvation."

"Whatever! Just leave me alone and get the fuck out of my way!" Patrick shoved Charles aside and went over to the large doors leading from the courtyard back into the corridor of the school's first floor.

"You're nothing but an infidel!" the delusional Charles yelled from behind. "You will burn in the fires of hell for your transgressions!" Even though Patrick wanted to confront the deranged cleric, he realized there were more pressing matters to attend to. He pushed onward, climbing the western staircase to the second floor. "Some open house this empty place is. Had Samantha tricked me into coming here?" he reflected as thoughts of doubt swirled around in his head.

He picked up the pace and ran down the hallways in hopes of finding someone sane in the desolate place. As he passed by Classroom K later on on the third floor, Samantha's words of them going there together during their time at the school suddenly came to mind. He checked up and down the hallway to make sure the fanatical cleric wasn't following him. The eerie corridors were silent apart from his heavy breathing. He leaned against the wall to catch his breath for a minute or so.

*

On the wall outside the room hung pictures of all the annual classes for that specific classroom sorted by ages, ranging from many years back and until what seemed like more recent photographs. The writings below the images were all illegible. Patrick examined them and found his younger self after a while. There were a few other familiar faces there. In the picture was a young Greg Marnus, the lunatic he'd met at the Fish-n-Chips diner. He also saw Samantha Harrison standing at the far end of the photo.

In the picture was also a rather bland-looking man in his late twenties, who stood behind the female homeroom teacher with a somewhat empty gaze in his eyes. Oddly enough, Patrick somehow recalled his homeroom teacher's name as Linda Vasilios. She was both beautiful and had the most calming voice. How was it that he could remember her name and how her voice sounded, and yet he couldn't remember any of the other classmates or their personalities? He racked his brain to remember any details at all about when he and his family moved away from Cordale.

*

When Patrick was 15 he left Ashley Connor Elementary and Middle School and moved north with his family during what he remembered as an especially cold December. That much he knew. But what else happened during the time in Cordale he had forgotten all about? Nothing came to mind and instead the sudden sound of a door creaking gave him no more time to contemplate the situation. When he looked around he noticed that the right door to Classroom K had seemingly opened by itself. He cautiously moved closer and found himself standing in the doorway, his heart beating fast. After taking a deep breath and gathering the courage to enter, Patrick stepped into the classroom just as a dizzying nausea overcame him. He fell to the floor as his mind started drifting away...