The Whispers of the Dead

Chapter One- Aria

"Aria Fantasma?" The teacher called out from the front of the class.

At that moment I was staring out through the window, into the forest that surrounds the east side of our school.

"Huh? Oh. Here." I said as I put my hand up.

I was one of the first 10 people to be called out of 27, which usually I'm the 16th person to be called.

I looked around the classroom to find my best friend, V. We've been best friends since childhood, and are best friends to this day. As I was looking around the classroom, I realized there were only about 15 students in the class. I checked the time, and class started 6 minutes ago.

"8:06a.m...." I mumbled.

Usually at about this time there were 24 kids in the classroom, someone was gone every day. I went back to my original plan, which was to find V. I eventually found him, sitting in the 25th desk, which was his. I don't know why it took me so long to find him.

There's been a rumor going around. The rumor stated that some kid was wandering around in the forest next to the school, and was never seen again. It's been going around since Monday of last week. If you can't tell, that's been all over the news.

"I will now be starting the lesson." The teacher said after calling the last person for attendance.

We have nine classes per day, and a collection of clubs. Four classes of which, I have with Vance. We go to a private school, and frankly it's great.

I have a brother, his name is Archer. He's a pansexual ace, or panromantic asexual. He's 5 years older than me, and in university.

"Aria, would you like to answer the question?"

"Uh- can you repeat it? I don't directly understand it.."

She scoffed, "what is 987 multiplied by 726?"

I found that question dumb. This is a middle school question. We're in our first year of high school.

"Oh. It's 716,562." I said.

The teacher and remainder of the class looked surprised. It was an easy question, but I guess the rest of the class didn't know it.

As time passed by, everyone else in the class got called on and failed questions, and some received dirty looks.

"Can yo-" the bell cut the teacher off, the teacher scoffed. "Class dismissed."

The entire class got up incredibly fast. The next class was history. And if you can't tell, math was first. I met up with Vance as we went to our lockers, which are close to each other. I have locker 75A and he has locker 78A.

We were talking to each other in the hallways, and we came across Nicki. She's the school bully. Her main targets are... everyone. Except me, that is. I'm one of the 'popular kids' after all. She likes to be nice to me, but I know everything she's done to everyone. I try to be nice, I really do.

"Hey! Ari!" She said, excitedly.

I rolled my eyes, of course she didn't see, but this is exactly what I tried to avoid.

"Hi, Nicki." I said unamused.

She didn't even acknowledge Vance was there! And that's what always pissed me off. He's my best friend, and only friend at that. Everyone at school knows that, and knows how protective I am over him.

"Sooooo.... What's up!?!" Nicki said.

"The sky..? Are you that dumb? Cheesus Rice." I said.

She seemed shocked. Everyone that was in the hall at that time looked over at us, alarmed.