Nethania

Chapter 26: Escape or Death?

HILARY

FEAR. That's what I feel now. I don't have to worry anything, but our lives here. Hearing about the news of multiple murders could tear my heart apart, causing my soul to be buried in the depts of anxiety.

I wanted to get out of here. I wanted to escape from this place. I wanted to flee away from fear. Every time someone died, my heart shattered, my legs would go weak like jelly, and most of all, I didn't want to see blood. But what could I do if our world turned upside down and all of this happened in the snap of a finger?

Actually, since the first murder, I have already decided to not stay here any longer. But I couldn't just run away and leave Avia and my friends here. I wanted to be safe, but I wanted them to be with me. I didn't find the perfect timing yet to say my escape plan to them.

"Hilary."

I was always pretending that I was strong and brave, but I knew within myself that I was not. I couldn't stand the truth that someone was killing the residents of this academy and I couldn't bear the situation they got from the infamous Nethania.

"Hilary Liana!"

I flinched on my seat when I heard Avia's voice beside me and I roamed my eyes around. I forgot I was with my friends in the Elite Chamber. I was too occupied by my thoughts and brought me flying out of reality. I eyed them with broad eyes. Avia was just staring and flipped her hair. Hannah was frowning, holding her blush brush. Vino was staring somewhere while chewing chips. Jamsen was tilting his head sideways while looking at me. Nico was on his phone beside Hannah and Austin was reading his notes. It was our break time in the afternoon and we chose to spend it in the Elite Chamber.

"What?" I asked and bowed my head, yet my eyes were still glancing at them. I began to comb my hair with my fingers in the bottom part.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing, but you seem out of this world. We're talking about the murder earlier and we noticed you're spaced out. Is there something bothering you?" she asked.

I quickly shook my head while holding my hair. "No, there's none. "I was just thinking about something," I explained, returning my gaze to the ground.

I sighed and placed my arm above the table and rested my chin on it.

Avia grabbed the bag of chips and picked up a few of them. "Why do you think there was porridge all over Miss Jane's body?" she asked and munched the chips she took.

I looked at the bag of chips, but I had having a self-control in eating junk foods. It was bad for my health.

"I guess, to make her suffer?" Austin replied, looking at his notes.

"Torture, you mean?" Vino added, hugging a bag of junk food.

"Kinda like that," Avia said, raising the side of her lips. It looks like she was unsure of her thoughts.

"So how can porridge make a person suffer from it?" Nico asked, turning off his phone and pocketing it.

I didn't have any idea what Miss Jane's situation was when we found her in the abandoned room. When I took a glimpse of a white figure standing at the side of the room, I turned my body around and quickly ran to the comfort of the wall that would help me not to witness her death. I knew there was blood on it and it would never be gone from the scene, so I chose to hide immediately rather than to make myself suffer.

"Are you dumb, Nico?" Hannah exclaimed, facing her boyfriend while holding the lipstick. "Of course the porridge, when it's very hot and being poured onto the skin, will burn and inflame the affected area—maybe up to second degree burn damage—so imagine being poured with a bucket of scorching porridge all over your body," she explained, rolling her eyes and continuing to spread bloody red lipstick all over her pouty lips.

Vino laughed. "Sounds like the killer is explaining to us how her tricks work!" he blatantly expressed while looking at us one by one.

That was a roundabout statement. I didn't know if Vino was kidding or he actually meant what he just said.

"Hey!" Hannah banged her hand on the table and lifted her body to lean closer to Vino in front of her. I even flinched when the table moved and made a startling sound. Other people from nearby tables turned their heads to our location. "I'm just saying what I had observed. What made you come up with the idea that I'm the killer? This face would never be a killer! Your jerk!" she boomed out.

"Geez! Guys, don't make a scene here!" Avia reprimanded. She held Hannah's wrist and pulled her down to her seat. Hannah rolled her eyes at Vino and frowned while Vino was just smirking, looking at a far distance to avoid Hannah's piercing glare. "That's not a good joke, Vino. We all know that the murder cases are so relevant in this place and talking about the killer loudly in public will make the situation worst. What if they believe you?"

Vino scoffed. "Okay, my bad," he said.

I knitted my brows. He didn't sound sincere and honest.

"Watch your tongue next time, Jerk. I'll tear off your tongue next time you dare to say that again in my face," Hannah remarked, pointing her finger to Vino.

"Actually, Hannah explained it clearly," Austin broke the tension that was filling up our circle. All our eyes turned to him. "The porridge was used as a torture device to make someone suffer. Its heat was scorching and could make the skin burn," he added and closed his notebook.

I grimaced when I imagined Miss Jane's situation being poured with hot porridge all over her body. The porridge was sticky, slow in moving and hot. I inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying to release the negative image in my head.

"Yeah right," Vino agreed, grabbing another bag of chips and hugging it. "Her skin was burned and bloody red in color like Hannah's lipstick."

Hannah's eyes gleamed with anger and glared at Vino. "What's wrong with you, Vino!"

"Hey, that's enough," I yelled.

"So what is the connection of the Read101 app to the multiple deaths? And how about Mr. Hilles? Did he use the app and read the story too?" When no one spoke in the middle of our circle. Jamsen asked. He combed his hair backwards while looking at us one by one with a creased forehead.

"That's the question we have to answer, Jamsen," Austin nodded. "According to Alex, they found the same app on their phones."

"On Mr. Hilles' phone too?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I don't know."

"Maybe, the killer is just using the app to confuse people, us. Because she knew that we would find a way to identify her," Avia butted in.

Yeah, she had a point too and that's what I've been afraid of. Nethania was so unpredictable and we couldn't foresee what move she would execute next. Perhaps, she was just using this app to make us believe that this is the reason people die.

"The app alone can't kill a person, if ever we put the app usage in the context of killing people," I said, "There's someone manipulating this act and its purpose is to either confuse us or make it a front," I added.

"Yes, but we can't still see clearly why the app must be involved. We haven't made sure if the app was connected to it or not," Avia said.

Silence devoured us. I didn't know why there was a sudden silence. Suddenly I felt a strange feeling. I felt someone was watching us from afar. I roamed my eyes around to see if someone had their eyes on our spot. No, I saw nothing. The place was in a normal public state, people chattering, busy with their own businesses. I placed my hand on my chest and felt its movement. I breathed deeply and calmed my system.

Maybe this is the time to tell them about my plan.

"Uhm.. Guys, what if we escape from this school? So that we wouldn't be bothered and worry about the mess here. We won't ever think about our safety or about the killer," I stated.

Hannah and Avia widened their eyes. The boys just stared unbelievably at me. I knew I would be receiving this kind of reaction from them.

"Hilary, what are you saying?" Avia asked, touching my shoulder.

I sighed. "I'm telling you how to free ourselves from the danger of this place," I softly spoke and looked below.

"Hilary has a point," Jamsen said. I glanced at him. "She wanted to make herself safe. How about we consider her suggestion?"

"No, Jamsen," Avia opposed.

Jamsen smiled. "I already expected that from you, Avia," he muttered.

"Is that the reason why you wanted to escape from here, Hilary?" Austin said.

I looked down again and didn't answer his question. Safety wasn't the sole reason why I wanted to escape from this place. These past few days, I have felt so incomplete and like I was totally broke, and I couldn't understand why I was feeling this kind of emotion. I suddenly felt the urge to find myself. I knew something was missing. I felt I was missing.

And if I died, how would I find myself then?

"Uhm...Yes," I lied, nodding. "At first, I was hesitant to tell you about this, but now I think we should pack our bags and go out of here," I answered.

Avia was glaring at me. Her gaze was becoming sharp and unbearable. It was like she was piercing my soul.

"I agree," Nico said, raising his hand.

"Same here," Hannah agreed.

"Me too," Jamsen coincided with the decision too.

Vino laughed. "That's the most cowardly thing I ever heard, but my life is at stake here, people. So I would consider Hilary's idea. I still love my life," he announced.

Everybody wants to be safe, and we should. We didn't know what our lives would be like if we stayed any longer in this place.

Avia slammed her hands on the table and stood. "Fine! Geez. If you want to go away, go. After all, it's your life and f*****g decision, and I have nothing to do with it. I'll stay here no matter what. Done. My decision is final," she declared, eyeing us one by one.

"If Avia chooses to stay here, I'll stay. I don't want her to be with Austin alone," Jamsen said, eyeing Austin, who was sitting silently in his seat. Austin didn't give his decision on whether he wanted to escape or not.

He smirked."Good decision, Jamsen," he stated.

"I'll give you one night to decide, leave or stay," Avia spoke once again, but now she was extremely serious. "Once your decision is final, leave immediately," she firmly stated and eyed me with disgust. She grabbed her bag and strode her way out of the chamber.

"Avia..." I mumbled while following her with my gaze. When she was gone from my sight, I looked at them.

They just stared at me. Vino shrugged and stood. They did the same and left the table. Austin sat on my side and looked at me with sympathy. "I know you wanted to be safe, Hilary. But deciding a plan of escape in this kind of situation is pusillanimity, yet sometimes it is done to protect oneself. Your decision matters here, dear friend," he gently spoke and patted my shoulder. I glanced at him. "Let's go, our class might start soon."

We stood and exited the chamber.

Avia didn't talk to me for two hours until our last subject ended. She was so quiet and she kept on rolling her eyes at me and flipping her hair. She often smirked and clicked her tongue whenever I tried to talk to her. I ended up so lonely and sad, with no one to talk to.

The time has come that we have to set off for home. It was seven in the evening. We finished our group project first in the classroom before deciding to go home. Avia and Hannah left me. They went home after our class ended. I was so tired, emotionally tired. I grabbed my bag and left the classroom along with my classmates. They needed to go to the faculty room to get something, so I decided to go home alone, oblivious to the dangers I might encounter along the way.

I strode down the hallway, all by myself. There were no students strolling around the area and only the light posts were giving me light on my way home.

When I walked past a dark place, I felt a strong force grab my waist. My eyes widened and my mouth opened in surprise. My heart raced and pounded so hard. I tried to sream but I wasn't able to let out my scream when a piece of sticky wide strip was plastered on my mouth. I couldn't yell or scream. All I could do was to groan loudly.

The stranger carried me on his shoulders. I tried to remove the tape from my mouth, but I found out that it was wrapped around my head, so I failed to remove it. My head was hanging below, facing his back and my abdomen was resting on his shoulders while I was squirming violently. I banged my hand on his back but it didn't hurt him until I lost my strength and all I could do was to breathe deeply. I was slowly giving up and losing my courage.

He finally stopped and slammed my body on the ground so badly that I could feel my back cracking. I tried to run away, but his fist landed on my stomach.

"Mrrmrrmm!" I shouted, touching my stomach. I slumped my body onto the ground, falling on my knees. I tried to stand again, but his fist punched my abdomen again, and this time, my head became dizzy and I felt a stinging pain in my abdomen. It was unbearable. My eyes became blurry and all I could see was his shadowy figure. She tied my hands behind my back.

"Hilary, Hilary... You know, I don't want someone who runs away from me," a shrill voice hit my ears.

My eyes widened even more. She has a shrill voice. She was a girl!

"Mmrrmmm!" I tried to speak to her but I couldn't because of this tape.

"Are you planning to escape? But why? Don't you love my presents for you? Do you want more?" She was walking back and forth in front of me.

"Do you know me, Hilary?"

I shook my head rapidly and full of force. My tears began to brim around my eyes.

"You don't know me? Well, I'm Nethania and I want you to play with me.Wanna know the game, Hilary?"

I shook my head again and this time my tears began to stream down my cheeks.

"Okay, I'll tell you how."

"The game is simple. You can hide, you can run, but you can't escape because if you try, I will kill you. Understood? Simple, right? You escape, you die. You stay, you'll be safe for awhile," she was speaking like a child who was making game mechanics with her playmates.

"Agree with me?" She took out a long, sharp knife from her bag and ran its blade across my face. I trembled in fear and my tears flowed unstoppable.

"Answer me!"

I nodded violently while closing my eyes.

Help me please!