Buried trust

Chapter 40

It is the next day and we are already at school. I had to go because I have two tests today. Natalie and I studied all evening and we hope that we will pass the test. It's raining all morning, I would do everything to get out of class right now. The bell answers my thoughts and we all walk to the next class. The test papers are laying on the table. I grab a pen and wait until we can turn our papers to begin. I look at my paper and see that is exactly what Natalie and I read yesterday. I see the person next to me struggling. I quickly glance around the room and see that Natalie is almost finished. How does she work that fast? I turn back at my paper en begin to circle the good answers. A, A, B, A, C, B, B, A. There are a few questions where we have to give the exact name but I know them so it was easy. Natalie and I finish at the same time en we walk to the teacher to turn our papers in. The Thea her smiles and gives us permission to leave and we both walk out. Some other kid also leaves. We are already outside and the rain is pouring onto us. We quickly run to my car. When I close the door Natalie begins to talk. 'Maddie, I noticed that a lot of people at school are gone, and all of the hotels here are full." "And what does that mean?" I ask. "I think Christopher is creating a massive army, we can't compete to that with just the five of us." She says and she sighs deeply. "We can't do anything about that now. We still have one test to do and tonight is the fight already. We can't back out now, he will know we are weak and he will strike." I say. "You're right, I just don't have the best feeling." "Hè, don't forget who the predictor is." I laugh and look at my phone. 12:57 almost time for the next test. I look outside and see that it is still pouring. Great. I open my door and I hear Natalie close hers. I close my door and we both run back into the building.

I have been doodling for the past 40 minutes. I can't focus on the last two lessons now that I know we're going to have a showdown with Christopher in less than an hour. Finally, I hear the bell and I walk to the door of the school. Alex is there waiting for me and Natalie. Both Luke and Niall were not at school because of the preparations. I open the door of my car and wait for everyone to be inside. I put my hair up and drive away from the school building. I follow the road that I have traveled many times recently and we arrive at the cabin. I still don't like having my father locked up in his own house. He works from home a lot, but recently he has started to go to work more and more. I park my car next to Niall's and we quickly walk in. It is still raining very hard but the trees are holding back a bit of the rain. I knew it was going to rain harder and harder and I don't like it that much. I hope it stays dry when we have the fight. Natalie picks up her spellbook and immediately starts to flip through it vigorously. Alex walks upstairs, probably to put on a sports outfit to train again. Yesterday she challenged Niall to a match but he lost. It was funny to see how Alex took Niall down just like that and had him in a hold. Alex used to do all kinds of sports because she didn't know what she wanted to do. I hear Luke's car coming and I look outside. Another boy also gets out of the car. They both walk in. I walk to Luke. "Who is that?" I ask. My name is George. Pleasant to meet you." The boy turned around and took my hand. I pull my hand away and look at him. Is this the girl for whom I might sacrifice myself? " Asks George while he looks at Luke. Luke nods and smiles a bit. I turn my head to Luke and give him a questioning look. Niall walks up and gives George a hug. "Long time no see, mate," Niall says. "Certainly not." I shake my head a little. I hear that George has a British accent. Did he fly all the way from England to help me? "Luke, can I talk to you for a minute?" I ask.

Luke and I went upstairs to have a little more privacy. "What is it?" Asks Luke me. I can hardly hear the question anymore. Since I have known everything about this world, he has asked me it so many times. "Um, well. What is he doing here? " I ask. "He comes to help us. I thought we needed a lot of people so I arranged it. " Luke says. "But I don't know him, who knows  and he works with Christopher." "No, silly. He hates him. A while ago in England. " "A while or a few years?" I interrupt him. "Um, in 1745. Then Christopher killed many women with his obsession, including George's girlfriend, and now he wants revenge. He hates him so much. I didn't know that but since I met him in London five years ago we have become good friends and have regular contact. I told him this and he offered to help. " "Oh, I didn't know. Maybe I jump to conclusions too quickly. " "A little." Luke says and he laughs. He leans forward to give me a kiss. Before I can do anything I can feel his lips on mine again. Wow, how I missed this. It feels so good. My thoughts quickly revert to that he lied and what Alex said. I let go and get up. "Sorry I have to go somewhere for a while," I say and I walk away. What am I doing? I walk down and shake my head gently. I want to go out but George is at the door. "And where is this beauty going?" He asks. His accent is really beautiful, I can listen to it for hours. "Get out of the house for a while, to think," I say and I try to grab the door handle. George takes my hand. "Can I come along?" He asks. "Why not," I say and we walk to my car. We get in and I drive off.

We've been in the car for a while and we arrive at a place called Greenwood. This is the first village next to Maryville. I recognize a small restaurant from the past when I came here with my father and park my car there. George gets out and looks at the sky it is still raining but not as hard as before. We enter the restaurant and we see a few people sitting at tables. We choose a table next to the window. Soon a waiter arrives and takes our drinks. George orders a whiskey, but I stick to an iced tea. I lean my head on my hand. I really don't feel like having a conversation with someone random. I told Olivia what my choice was about Luke, but I'm still not 100 percent sure. It can still change. "What are you thinking about? Something important? " George asks me. I look up and I stare straight into his eyes. His eyes are beautiful. The blue-greenish color matches perfectly with the very dark brown hair. It is almost black but when the sun shines on it you can see the brown appear. "Hey? Are you still alive?" I hear him say. "Um yes sorry, I was thinking about my relationship," I say. "The one with Luke?" "Yes, I am no longer sure whether I trust him one hundred percent anymore." "And why not?" "Well I don't have to share that with you, I hope," I say. I've already stepped out of my comfort zone by saying anything about Luke to a stranger at all. "No it is not necessary, only sometimes it is better to talk to someone about it." "Yes correct. It's only since my niece passed away it's just different for me. I no longer want to let too many people in who I can also lose. " I say. Wow, it really helps, talking to a stranger. "I totally understand. When my love died I cut myself off completely from everyone. After years of not talking to anyone, some nice guys came by and told me what the world was like. They showed me the light of day. London had changed a lot and was beautiful at the time. I have rebuilt my life and made friends for life. " "But Luke said he met you a few years ago, but your girlfriend died in 1745." "Yes, that's right." "You were alone for 275 years?" "Yes, unfortunately, I have to confirm that, who knows what I could have learned or done in all that time. I was just really mourning and I couldn't get it out. " "Wow, not seeing daylight for 275 years. Seems tough. " "I saw daylight, I had to have food and blood." "Oh yes of course. How old are you then?" "Christina was the love of my life after we got married in 1730 she turned me into a vampire so we could be together forever." "Isn't it difficult? To be alone now and live forever? " "No, being a vampire is what Christina gave me, her gift. I owe everything I can and possess to her. Wouldn't you do it then become a vampire to be with your lover forever? " I think about George's question. I look at the table and then back to him. "I don't think so, I wouldn't want to give up my special powers. And I wouldn't want to be dead either, no offense. " "None taken." "It's just not me, and I'm actually afraid Luke thinks that's what we're going to do." "I would just talk to him about it." "Yes, you promise not to say anything. Everything discussed here remains in this space. " "I promise." George gets up and pays the bill. What a gentleman. I get up and grab my coat. George offers to drive, but I decide it is better if I drive. He doesn't know the way and the roads here are quite complicated.

We arrive at the cabin and I see everyone else is ready for battle. It's dinner time and I'm hungry. Luke has cooked and there is a delicious dish on the table. The conversation at the table is cheerful, I often laugh and George who is sitting next to me too. I'm not sure, but I think I would have seen George differently if he hadn't come to the restaurant with me. I haven't talked to anyone like that in ages. Not since Olivia died. I get myself out of my mind and see everyone getting up. I clear the table and put everything on the kitchen counter. Alex are wearing something else and so is Natalie. The rest are still wearing their normal outfit. It doesn't matter that much to me because I have been in my dream world for quite a long time. I hope everything will go well. Luke and Niall both pack a bag with stuff and we leave for the forest to set up the first booby traps. I stretch some wires that are linked to the deadly ashes that Natalie has created. I hope this will work. When everything is ready, we gather and wait for Christopher. We hear a few twigs crack and I see someone hitting one of the booby traps. The powder shoots on the face and the vampire's face burns off. Oops. That looks painful. "So, so. I see well prepared. " I hear an all too familiar voice say. I take a deep breath and say, "Christopher."