The Late Arrival
"This is the first time you have come late to my class. I did not expect this from you," said Miss Pennyfeather, Sara's math teacher.
Silence followed.
What she was saying was absolutely true. It was 8:05 AM and Sara had reached class 5 minutes late. It was also true that it was unexpected, seeing as she was the top of her class and was very punctual.
"Explain yourself." Miss Pennyfeather said at last, after the long, strained silence.
"Well, nothing unusual really" answered Sara tentatively. "Just the traffic, nothing more"
Miss Pennyfeather gave her a penetrating stare with her black, piercing eyes before saying, "Very well. Resume your seat and kindly listen."
But something unusual had indeed happened which resulted in her delay. On her way to school, Sara had seen something strange; a child wearing black from top to toe (even a black mask), following a man. Or was she (Sara had a feeling it could be a girl)? It seemed more like sneaking to Sara and she thought something was wrong. Suddenly, the man rounded upon the child, knife unsheathed. The child too was ready with her sword, and they started manoeuvring and moving swiftly, dodging and attacking. Sara hopefully looked around to see if this scene might have drawn anyone's attention, but astonishingly, everyone seemed too busy to notice. Sara decided to have a better look at the fighters so she crept up and hid behind one of the big barrels close to them. She looked on and gasped. The man injured the child and she fell. He was about to skewer the child when an amazing idea struck Sara at the base of her skull. She took a rock and threw it aimlessly at his head. It did not hit him, but he looked startled and his attention wavered for 7 seconds. Meanwhile, to Sara's relief, the child got up, regained her balance and sanity, and stabbed the man in the back. His face grew cold, rigid and white, and he fell dead.
Sara cautiously approached the child and she was confirmed that the child was a girl by the voice when she muttered a quick thanks and sprinted off with surprising agility. Sara thought of shouting and bringing everyone's attention to the dead body lying at her feet when something shiny caught her eye. She bent down beside the man's body and saw that he was wearing a necklace with a locket shaped like a drop of red liquid- blood. Sara's body shuddered but before she could examine it better, a woman's voice called out, "MURDER! MURDER! Murder has taken place. Someone call the cops! I am quite sure it's the girl over there!" And Sara was horrified when the woman pointed her finger and her for something she had not done (though partly responsible).
"No, no." said a man beside her, who Sara thought might be her husband, "she was just sitting there." and he pointed at Sara's hiding place. Sara just nodded but did not elaborate. She glanced at her watch and realising she would be late, dashed off to school.
