The Darkness comes hunted

Chapter Three: The Evil Within’

Afternoon light shining through the classroom window, Cole enters a science class, where Mike sits at the front row table, and behind him are Cheryl and Valentina.

"I was wondering, Tina, back in August, you told the po-po that your brother never went on the bus with the Bulldog team, yet we come to find out that Nathan did go on that bus with the rest of the team, but he is the only one so far that got shot in the forehead, not like the rest of team, slightly suspicious, no?"

"Are you suggesting that I had something to do with my brother's and the rest of the Bulldog team's death?"

"I'm just curious, V, What do the police think happens?"

"I'll tell you like what I told them, which is that Nathan lies to me about going with the team, I don't why he does that in the first place, maybe he thinks my mom won't allow him to go with the team, so he lies, who knows?"

After a minute of chit-chat, Mr.Queen, the science teacher enter the class,

"Seat, everyone, Pair off, gloves on, scalpels up."

"Can I be with Valentina? Mr.Queen?"

"And I wanna be with Betty?"

"Oh, Sorry, Mason, I was thinking, I'd partner with Jimmy."

"Actually, Uh, Jimmy's with me, we like, talked," said Nial while pulling Jimmy aways from the lab table.

Cole walk up to Betty's table and ask to join her, which Betty happily accepted.

"Once again, fate throws us together, B."

"Couldn't agree more about that, my lovely Cole."

Back to Mike, he slides over to Valentina's table and joins her.

"Valentina, we haven't talked since last summer, and I just wanted to say I'm sorry about your brother."

"Nathan was the best brother I ever had."

"If I can do anything to help, V."

"That sweet, Mike...but unless you saw something more at Lakewood river before you come across my brother's dead body... if not, there is nothing you can help."

"Do, uh...Do you know if the police have any leads?"

"What? No, you slack head... but it's only a matter of time, and my brother-sister instinct is telling me, it's someone we all know."

"Right. Well, I'm not great at science, but I can take point on this... if it's too weird for you."

"Wierd why?" Valentina asks, looking down on the table she saw a dead frog "Oh, you mean because my brother is being dissected with a blade just like this one, possibly at this very moment, don't worry I'm fine." looking straight back at Cherly that now is sitting with Mason, she stab the dead frog on the table with a blade, and imagine the frog is Cheryl."

Back to the science lesson, Mr.Queen is explaining the inner body part of the Frog to the students.

"Every corpse has a tale to tell... look closer to the body, there are several morbid details you should find really fascinating and relevant to your upcoming test this month, so stay focus?"

After 45 minutes of dissected the frogs, the bell rings, Betty and Mason rush to Jimmy's lab table after his quote on quote " Jimmy new boyfriend" Nial leave the room.

"So, What did Nial want with you, Jimmy?" Said curious Betty Wheeler.

"Oh, my God. I don't even think he knows, I mean, I am devastatingly handsome in that classic--- pre-accident Montgomery Clift kind of way,--- and sexuality is fluid...but do you really believe that someone name "Nial" actually be that fluid?"

"Okay, well, I ship it, Jimmy."

The three leave the science class and headed to the Cafeteria together.

"Well, of course, you would, Max, You're a big city boy with loose morals and a very rich parent."

"Really, I am."

"No, I just meant that Nial has an official girlfriend, her name is Veronica."

"Ohh, sorry to hear that, Jay Jay."

"That okay, Betty, but anyway, it's terrible to say... but part of me wishes he would just stay in the damn closet." while saying that, Betty, Jimmy, and Mason arrived at Cole's launch table, the guy that now lives in a room that has the same space as a school closet... "Obviously, I didn't mean literal closet."

"Cole, my man, how ya doing, bud?"

"Nothing much man, just trying and testing my new polaroid camera, that I just bought for 15$ at the thrift store."

"Would ya like to test that new camera of yours on us, we would love to be your first "new camera" model?"

"I....I don't know man."

"Please?"

"Would you? I would love to be on one of your photos, C."

"Ohh, alright, B, but I'm still working on the setting, so...you guy go and stand in front of that fountain,... don't forget to smile okay."

"Alright... we ready man, let hit that button."

"1...2...3...SMILE."

*CLICKED*

Raising his eyes from his camera, Cole looks at Betty, she feels sad, her button lips trembles.

"Betty, are you okay?" Cole asks, the other looks at her worriedry.

Betty looking back at Cole, wiping her tear." I'm supposed to say yes, that what the nice girl always says, but, No I'm not. I -- I want to be, I thought I could be, but it's too much, too fast, Cole-- sorry that I ask you back to be my boyfriend, I don't know what possessed me that morning, but I can't do it, I can't be with you anymore, I'm sorry." Said Betty while crying her eyes out and walk away.

"BETTY---BETTY, WAIT." Cole put down his camera, grab his jacket, put it on, and come after her.

"BETTY, Wait, com'on listen to me." Cole grabs her hand, but she pulls it off and turns back looking at worried Cole, who is now heartbroken inside.

"No. When-- When I think, Cole.... of where I feel safest and most myself, I think of us on benches near the lighthouse, But..."

"Me too, Betty, me too, I feel that ways too."

"No, Cole, that not true anymore... I thought I could pretend the last 3 months never happen, but...I can't give you the answer you want. That what you said to me... the last time I called you, to ask if you okay, and I know you remember the answer you gave back to me Cole... and that's how I feel right now. I'm sorry."

"Betty, Please let me explain, Bet----"

"Mr, Walker--" Cole turn back and saw Principle Parker standing behind him, while Betty walk away... "If we could have a word in private?" with a glance back at Betty, Cole walk back to Principle Parker for a chat.

"You're in a very good place right now, Mr.Walker, Bulldog Football, Art class with Mr.Jefferson," said Principle Parker, with a small smile, looking straight into Cole's eyes.

"What do you have on your mind, sir?"

"This Morning in the hallway, I saw you talking about something serious with Mr.Sinclair, and try dodging me all morning, Why?"

"I was distracted, and me and Mike just talking about the new camera that I just bought yesterday..."

"Mr.Cole...If there's something you want to get off your chest...perhaps about our missing football team, and especially Nathan's death, now would be the time." Said Principle Parker, looking straight deadeyes at Cole, Cole swallow hard, try not to snitch at his friend.

After the chit-chat with Principle Parker is over, Cole charges straight into the music room where Mike sits with his guitar.

"Parker just asked me if I knew anything about Nathan and the team."

"And? What did you say?"

"Nothing, That I didn't, but he said if I did. I shouldn't be scared and he'd make sure I was okay,"

"Of course he would. You're his student, Idiot."

Mike's heartbeat rising, faster like he's now running a marathon, setting down his guitar.

"If this-- come on man just tell him the truth."

Mike lowers his gaze and slides his square glasses up his nose.

"You can't go to Parker if he knew that I bring a gun on our scout mission, he will expel me in a heartbeat, and you know if I lose this school scholarship, that means I also lose my Blackburn scholarship to go to Archia bay with you too,"

"Okay, I won't tell Parker about your gun." after settling an argument with his best friend Mike, Cole storm out of the music room and went straight for his bike in the parking lot.