CHAPTER 5.1
1169 Words
“Hey! What do you think you are doing?” The guard called from the below, whistling frantically. “You will fall and break your head!”
I stepped down from the window and cupped my mouth before shouting, “I am stuck alone in the library. Please help me!”
He motioned me to stop and ran towards the school building. With a sigh of relief, I jumped down the windowsill. With no other choice left, I had planned to try clambering down the pipe like I had seen in movies.
However, it was a good thing that the guard noticed me. I wouldn’t have to risk my life unnecessarily. A few minutes later, the guard came with the plumber and carpenter. Together, they managed to erect the shelf again.
I grabbed my bag and was about to bolt for the door when the guard stopped me, “Where do you think you are going? You need to report to the office.”
“Umm… actually, I am getting late for work. Can’t I report tomorrow morning?”
He shook his head incredulously; grabbed my hand and dragged me to the office despite my protests. Knocking at the door, he called out, “I have brought the trouble maker with me, sir.”
My eyes widened and mouth hung open. Wasn’t I the victim here?
“How can….” He pushed me inside and shut the door of the cabin before I could say anything. My heart skipped a beat when my gaze landed on the man seated. Wasn’t he on the Royal’s side?
Drawing in a deep breath, I greeted, “Good evening, Mr. Benjamin.” Without waiting for him to say anything, I launched into a full-fledged explanation, “I don’t know why the guard called me a trouble maker. Believe me, I didn’t do anything wrong, sir. The shelf in the library fell obstructing the entrance and I was trapped. All I did was…..”
He raised his hand, indicating me to stop, “What were you doing alone in the library?”
“I… I… When I went to the library, there were many students; even the librarian was present.”
“Fine, let me rephrase the question. Why didn’t you leave the library like the others when you were instructed?”
“I… I never heard any announcement…. Sir, I…”
“That will be enough, Ayame. I have listened to enough of your excuses. Do you think the other students are crazy to have left the library?”
“No sir, but….”
“I said enough….” His cold gaze bore into me, sending a shudder down my spine. “As a punishment for creating trouble, you will pay for the damages.”
His words hit me like a bolt of lightning and I gasped, “You can’t possibly mean that, Sir…. I don’t think I can afford….”
“Would you rather I revoked your scholarship instead?” He snapped with a pointed look; crossing his arms over his chest.
I realised that any further explanation would only make things worse. Biting my lower lip, I lowered my head and stammered, “How much do you think I will have to pay, sir?”
“Nothing much…. A few thousand dollars…. I will let you know once the damages are assessed.”
My gaze landed on the clock. It was already three thirty. I didn’t even have time to lament my poor luck. With a long, suffering sigh, I asked, “Can I leave now, sir?”
He nodded and waved towards the door. When I stepped out of the office, I found Eric and Edmund leaning against the wall; their arms crossed over their chest. A wide grin was plastered on their faces.
Eric winked at me and taunted, “How was your day, Kitten?”
“It was good….” I managed to mutter as I turned and walked away.
“Seems like we have to try harder,” Edmund’s voice dripped like acid in my ears as I walked away. My chest tightened and the air left my lungs. Couldn’t they just let me go? Why were they hell bent on making my difficult life more miserable.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! My phone chimed with several messages as I moved towards the locker room.
I fished out my phone half-heartedly and scrolled through the messages. There were dozens of messages; all from Sierra.
‘I am so sorry, Ayame. I apologise for being such a coward.’
‘I should have helped you when you got stuck in the library. I was just so scared…’
‘I did try to call you beforehand but the damn signal jammers.’
‘I know I am a terrible excuse for a friend but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me…’
‘If you still wish to be my friend, go to the locker room and open my locker. There is a brown envelope. Please take it.’
My heart skipped a beat and Eric’s evil grin flashed in my mind. Was this a part of their plan too? Hundreds of ominous scenarios reeled through my mind.
My fingers clenched around the phone and I drew in a deep breath. Sierra would never betray me, right? She was my friend; my only friend in this campus.
My eyes lit up with determination as I made my way to the locker room. I had to believe in Sierra until she gave me a reason not to.
Entering the locker room, I found that Sierra had left her cabinet unlocked. My heartbeat accelerated as the apprehension mounted.
“Sierra, please don’t disappoint me,” I muttered, pulling the door open with a swift tug. The metallic clank rang through the silent room as the flap hit the other locker.
I wiped my clammy palms against my skirt and let out a nervous sigh. Biting my lower lip, I brushed the tip of fingers over the brown paper. My had froze as a sense of intense dread gripped me. I really didn’t want to lose the only friend I had.
Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! The clock chimed four times and Dr. Smith’s furious face flashed before my eyes. I didn’t have time to be nervous. With a swift move, I grabbed the envelope and opened it.
A small black device peeked at me through the opening. My lips quirked in amusement as I pulled it out. Why did Sierra want me to have a pager.
My question was answered the moment, I turned on the power button. The screen flashed with a message ‘I am too much of a coward to support you openly. But, I do want to help you. I will send you warnings through this pager. So, keep checking.’
Tears stung my eyes as I read and re-read the message. That message acted as an anchor; keeping me afloat as I waded through the sea of misery.
- Writer
