Memories in Addition

13: Oh Raven, Sing Me A Happy Song

In the afternoon, after having lunch together, they still went full force in the games in the arcade. Not like the class could really be stopped, though.

"Hey, did anyone win something?", Errol called out in curiosity.

Nathan looked at him from his place in the piano game, before shrugging at a few yellow strips in his hand. "I won these tickets, if that's what you're asking for."

"What? That doesn't count."

"Technically, it does."

The arcade door opened, and Michael and Ysa walked in.

The reincarnation of Primo Michele Levi was bouncing in place while Michael listened to her rambles with a stoic expression on his face as she went on and on. "And then there was this coffee pot, but it tasted bland, so I got out some sugar, but it tasted weird, so I threw in some red bull in there--"

"Ysa!", Sandy ran up to her friend and gave her a bear hug, to which her friend reciprocated. When they both pulled away, the reincarnation of Amelia Earhart tilted her head worriedly. "Are you okay now?"

"Yep! Totally fine!", Ysa chuckled, before looking around. "So, what games did you guys play?"

As Sandy dragged her away, Michael approached Errol and Nathan, before nodding to them. "Valenciano. Ortega. Hello."

"There's really no need to call us by our last names, Michael", Errol chided, bringing out another coin to access another game. "We've been classmates for a while now."

Nathan nodded along.

While it's true that Michael, as well as other people, barely hangs out with them because of their past lives being too intimidating for them all, the two still consider their classmates to be close to them.

Especially the ones that do spend their time with them, like Joshua Valiente, Ysa Lorcáin, Joshua Ríos, Kristoff Hermosillo and Rasheed Menendez.

Errol perked up. That reminds me...

"Hey, Michael?"

Michael didn't look up from looking at Nathan while he played this water-shooting minigame, but he did respond. "Yeah?"

"Do you know where Rasheed is?", Errol scratched his head awkwardly. "We haven't seen him since this morning."

Michael remained silent for a short while, before he let out a small sigh.

Then, he turned to the reincarnation of Joseph Stalin and opened his mouth to say something--

All of a sudden, the arcade door slammed open. All the occupants of the arcade turned to see Gail and Sonaya at the door, panting. Their hair was disheveled, and they looked like they had seen a ghost.

Looking at them, Errol was suddenly reminded of their class' current situation and eventual fate of being killed off. A chill ran down his spine as he met Gail's eyes by pure chance.

"You all have to see this", Sonaya pleaded.

Errol wasn't sure he wants to know what the matter is, but he followed everyone out the arcade, anyway.

😰

The scene was beyond horrendous.

It was at the back of the alley near the cafe that was near the arcade. Obviously, there had been some sort of struggle in there, judging from the garbage spread out everywhere, as if they were thrown.

And the huge garbage can was toppled over near what appeared to be something lying in a pool of Kool-Aid.

Except...

There was no scent of Kool-Aid in the air that was mixed with the smell of rotten food and decaying trash.

Instead, the smell of blood was prominent in the area. Which meant...that the Kool-Aid on the floor is actually blood.

In addition to that, there was also a scent of pine and rosemary. It was a scent he was quite familiar with, since it belonged to a person he and Nathan were close with.

Which means...

Heart pounding, Errol ran past Joyce and Nadhine to get close to the scene and be sure, be absolutely sure, that his hunch was right.

After all, every reincarnation seems to have a special ability based on who they used to be in the past.

For example; Ysa used to be one of the survivors of the Holocaust, which must be the reason why she could see and talk to the spirits of the dead.

Former prophets who talked with God to warn the people have the talent to resolve any mystery they were given.

Former princes, and even princesses, who fought for their kingdom and died for that cause were given incredible willpower and strength that was almost impossible to acquire for any ordinary human.

As for Errol...he used to someone who started a huge world-wide war. That's why he's able to distinguish scents easily, including the scents of people.

If there was one thing that he learned from his past life, and even his current one, it was this; that happy moments always end in tragedy, and in the scent of blood.

Like now.

He just hoped that this wasn't the case right now.

Clearing the cans obstructing his view, he was aided by his classmates to see the scene more clearly.

When they got a clear view, though, his heart stopped beating immediately.

Raven Black hair was matted with blood, and Charcoal Black eyes that used to twinkle with excitement for every single thing the person found interesting was now staring up at the sky above them with a blank gaze.

The clothes were stained red as well, and there were multiple stab wounds in the chest area where the person's heart should be.

There was no doubt about it.

Even if they were all not in school grounds, this mastermind still lurks right around the corner, waiting to strike.

After all, Rasheed Menendez's corpse spelled it out for them.

Ice settled in his veins. He found it unable to breath again.

It was like he was in the battlefield all over again, but he was losing everything he has. His comrades, his troops...

His friends...

Someone got ahold of his shoulder. Errol looked up to see Nadhine staring at him with a sympathetic stare. "It's going to be alright, Errol. We'd find justice for him soon."

Alright? Alright?

No, it's never going to be alright!

One of his friends are dead. The mastermind's still out there, and it wasn't even clear if the culprit to Rasheed's death is that person or not!

He didn't even realize that he had fallen to his knees until both Joshua Valiente and Joshua Ríos were gently pulling him back up.

"Come on, man", Joshua Vailente encouraged. "We'll get through this. This will be the last murder. We'll make sure of that, okay?"

Yeah...

It's not enough to find the culprit. They need to find the mastermind, too!

So that this would be all over.

And Clark can safely bring them all back, too...

"Yeah...", Errol responded, slowly gaining strength to stand up on his own. "Yeah, we'll get through this."

He didn't notice Michael staring at him, his face a mix of guilt and rage.

But Joyce did. It was suspicious to her. What's up with you...?

Seems like the situation had gotten more complicated.