Selene's Whisper

PRESENT TIME My eyes caught the familiar sights of the city streets. Tall buildings stand like sentinels, their windows reflecting the glint of sunlight. People hurriedly walk on the sidewalks, some with determined strides, while others appear lost in their own thoughts seemingly unaffected by the bus' passage. I took a long breath as I gazed back at the front. I roamed my eyes around the bus, and all of them seemed to be so happy to be here— laughing, giggling, and dancing like wild monkeys. I shrugged my shoulders as I shifted my gaze on the girl beside me. Her attention was amazingly focused on the game that she was playing, and I couldn't help but to stare at her face, but I was then taken aback when she suddenly spoke, "Why don't you join them?" She asked. I blinked twice as I wandered my eyes around, wanting to confirm if she was talking to me. "Me?" I asked back, confusion drew all over my face. She paused for a moment and looked at me with her deep black eyes. "Who else could it be?" She sarcastically answered. I mean, of course. Who else could it be? Gosh, that stupid mouth of yours Sorel. I awkwardly cleared my throat, "I'm fine being alone though." I retaliated as embarrassment racked me. She chuckled. I looked down as shame corroded me from within. "Likewise. I prefer myself to be in a comfortable situation, playing games all by myself. and I'm not complaining, at all." a smile broke into her lips as she gazed back at her phone. "I'm Kate by the way. And I know it's ironic," Kate remarked, "That as the Empowerment Technology Club representative and student council president, I have so much influence, yet no real friends." She added "Hopefully, that this was about to change." The corners of her lips curled upward, creating gentle, inviting creases at the edges of her mouth. Her eyes sparkled, radiating happiness and kindness as they squinted slightly with delight. She then held her hand in the air, waiting for me to introduce myself as well. I quickly held her hand with a smile on my face, "Sorel, from Art Club." I retorted. Her face lit up with joy as we shook hands. "Then you'll probably love our next stop!" My forehead furrowed in confusion as I stared at her with a face saying, "What do you mean?" She mischievously smiles as she turns her gaze in front, "OUR NEXT STOP IS MUSEUM! BUCKLE UP." My heart pounded in excitement and the bus became extra noisy after the announcement our professor made. I quickly collected my things into my bag and took out my digital camera. I've been in a museum a hundred times, but it seems like that the surge of excitement I have won't just wither. I, then, shifted my gaze on Kate's seat only to find it empty. "Sorel, hereee!" She exclaimed. I chuckled when I found her standing before the bus door with a swarm of students, looking all thrilled. Oh, look who's more excited. I gently put my bag behind my back as I gradually took off from my seat. As soon as I stepped out of the bus, the cold breeze of wind met my face. I closed my eyes for a bit to savor the fresh air passing through my skin. I, then, opened my eyes with a smile plastered on my lips. I roamed my eyes around the place only to be greeted with, tall trees, fresh flowers, clean benches, and hotdog stands! "Woah, I never expected that there would be a lot of food stands at such a place like this." I quickly snapped back on my senses when our professor spoke loudly "STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY JUNIORS. STICK WITH YOUR CLASSMATES, YOU'RE ALL ALLOWED TO CAPTURE THINGS INSIDE THE MUSEUM BUT YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH THEM, AS PER INSTRUCTED. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!" He shouted, gazing at us with a stern look on his face, waiting for our response. We all answered 'yes' in chorus. Our professor then raised a sign that says "Follow me." and began to walk to lead the way inside the museum. "There you are, I've been looking for you everywhere," someone exclaimed. I shifted my gaze on the person who spoke only to find it was Kate, catching her breath. And the side of my lips rose up when I noticed that she was really panting so hard. "What do you mean? I thought you were with the professor leading the way. And why are you panting so hard?" I quickly handed her my bottle jug, but she refuses to accept it. "I was looking for you, obvi!" She asserted. As I was putting back my bottle jug, I found out that we lost track of the pack. The hell. "Where are they?" My heart began pounding as I looked around. "Hey, relax. I know my way here." I lifted one of my brows while staring at her. "A map." She played fully as she seized something from her backpack and indeed, yes, she was right, she has a map. "Where did you get that?" I asked, confused. "Does it even matter?" The side of her lips rose as she mischievously grinned at me. "Oh, c'mon! You're no fun!" She quickly grabs my hand with a map on her other hand. I sighed in defeat as I avoided my gaze on hers. I slowly shrugged my hands off her as we were passing by through the corridor of paintings. And boy, I was drawn! But why do things here seem to be brand new? Is this even a museum or a mall? My eyebrow creased in confusion as I took a step forward to look closely— "No touching, young lady." I wheezed, taking a step behind. "I wasn't holding them!" I trailed off. pertaining to the paintings that were attached on the walls. I could feel her sharp stares from behind me, so I was forced to face her, the corners of her mouth lifted the moment she saw me. I was about to speak again when Kate instantly interrupted. "What happened?" She whispered in my ears, "I don't know." I whispered back. I met her gaze again, and I saw terror flashed in her eyes. so, I took a step behind as my knees trembled in fear. Kate must've noticed my trembling hands and heavy sweat when she bravely spoke against the lady, "You're scaring her, miss." Her mouth hung open and eventually smiled. "Apologies." She bowed her head a bit. "Although, you seem lost. Follow me, I know where the rest of your packs are," As of this moment she gave us a half-smile. Sweat trickled down my spine and my chest tightened with fear. "N-No---" My words were immediately cut off with Kate's following words. "Sure," as fresh energy filled her. My hands squeezed into fist as anger and fear seared through me, she shouldn't have agreed. We don't know her, she doesn't know us either, but we ended up following her. The moment we entered the small room in the dark corner of the museum, the first thing I noticed was a variety of paintings attached to the walls. "Are we on the right way?" I whispered to Kate's ear. But I received no response from her. I took a glance at the lady that was walking ahead of us, and it seemed that she didn't hear me, so I continued wandering along the walls. My forehead furies when I sense something strange around the place. I gulped once before I spoke. "Uhm—" The words I was about to utter were interrupted when I heard the sound of a creaking door. I immediately turned my gaze on them. "I think this isn't the right way." Kate finally spoke. She gave us a lopsided grin,lm "It is, just keep your mouth shut and follow me." She slid her a guarded look, and again fear consumed me from within. "I think it'll be better if we'll call our professor already," I faked a smile as I grabbed my phone out of my pocket. I was about to dial my professor's number when... "Argh, no." I whispered angrily. "There's no point, there is no network or signal here." She asserted. Panic seared through me after hearing those words from her, all I could think of this moment is to escape from her. But the next thing she said gave me a rollercoaster feeling and goosebumps. "And besides, no one will find us here." _ TO BE CONTINUED...