Ghost in The Night

Chapter V Playing Hooky

Chapter V Playing Hooky

Jared walked behind us, making sure no one high-tails out of there, but I'm guessing no one would even try.

Majority of the girls looks excited, having something else to look forward to this year. They were all talking and giggling on the way.

The walk from our cabin to the school was long. First we had to pass other girls' cabins too. Some of them were just starting to line up, and some were ahead of us.

After the cabins, we walked through the town. It didn't pass my notice when a lot of people were greeting Jared, and he actually smiled in return, asking 'how are you' and saying 'good morning' too. But he didn't stop walking.

He was laughing when he caught my eye, I instantly looked away. I guess he's the popular, all-around nice guy here.

We walked up on two hills. Yes, two hills.

I was already sweating by the time we got down from the second. A shadow covered me from the sun's glaze. "You alright there, newcomer?" Jared says to me in a low voice, smirking down at me.

Ignoring him, I sneak a look at the others and noticed that I was the only one huffing.

I guess they're already used to walking this length.

"So, how was your stay?" He paused to look at me, mirth written all over his smug face. "Is it worth it?"

"Very." I said in a sarcastic tone.

"I'm very happy to hear that."

He walks ahead of me and I squinted my eyes at him. What a jerk.

Then from ahead, is an old, three-storey red-brick building. It was unimpressive, dead and just a typical building.

Though, my curiosity piqued at what lays behind the building. I took a quick sideways glance at Jared, wondering when he'll be leaving with the other guards.

Other lines of girls followed, some conversed with our line. Their eyes lingered on me for a moment. They probably know I was the new girl.

The guards are all men, I think some of them were just near Jared's age, but the others were older. A woman of her sixties exited the front of the building, wearing a gray suit.

It looks like she's the principal.

"Good morning, ladies." she appraised us, eyes skimming our faces one by one. Her thin lips smiled. "This is another fine year of learning for all of us, where we will all bond and stay together..."

"Even with all the tragedies that has been happening to our town..." this time, her voice took a mournful turn. "We shouldn't let it hold us off from learning, from knowledge. From the hopes that someday we will be able to escape this town, and for you to use that knowledge to conquer the world."

"I welcome you back, girls, to Night Falls School."

The girls cheered and clapped for the woman in front with admiration.

"And for those who are new," her eyes found mine for a mere second, seeing an unfamilliar face. When she mentioned that, a few faces turned towards me automatically. "Let me introduce myself, I'm Mrs.Vallamore, principal of this school."

"And now, you may enter your classes. Your guards shall escort you. May you all be safe and careful throughout this year, my precious students."

Soon, the guards were now beckoning us line by line to enter the building. We were one of the last lines to enter the building.

While the previous line from us is being ushered inside, I whispered to Lilly and Sophia. "Where are the boys?"

Lilly grinned cunningly. "Interested, aren't ya?"

I laughed. "No, just asking. And by the way, where will our classroom be?"

She shrugs. "I don't know, but most likely, we will be on the third floor. The youngest occupies the first floor." then she groans. "We'll be walking a lot from now on just to reach our room."

Sophia adds. "And the boys will be arriving once shortly after we enter. The principal will be addressing them differently from us."

"What do you mean by different?"

"Well, for one thing, the speech will be longer. She'll be telling them to protect us at all cost, and that they're the ones they'll be relying on since they will be with us throughout the year." Sophia explained.

Lilly piped in too. "Like reporting whether there's something suspicious, escorting us to and fro when going somewhere in between classes," then she scoffs. "Also including tattling on us when we skip classes or something."

A girl in front of Sophia interjected. "They have these red whistle necklaces worn around them...."

Tina added to the conversation. "And when the adults hear it, they just come rushing wherever the sound came on."

"Have they ever used it?" I asked.

"Yeah, loads of times, but most of them were just false alarms or them just being jumpy at any sound nearby." Tina rolls her eyes.

"The prinicpal also tells them not to fool around with us." Sophia tells me.

"Fool around?" my brow quirked.

At that, Tina laughed loudly. "Ofcourse, we can't avoid that. What do you expect from combining hormonal boys and girls in one room?" Then she grins deviously. "One way or another, everyone can sneak off and fool around. The boys just had to coordinate with us."

I gave her a deadpanned look. "Looks like you're already an expert in that area."

"Oh honey, don't worry. You'll also get the hand of it." Tina winks at me, like she knows something that I don't. "I'm sure one of them will be interested you. Most likely, the losers who think they might have a chance to finally do it with a newcomer?"

I was about to say something about her hole being too big (her mouth) when Jared suddenly shouted at us. "Didn't you hear me? I said get inside now! Or do you want to stand here under the sun till' afternoon?"

I grumbled to myself while everyone around me scrambled towards the entrance.

Once inside I looked around. It just looks a like a typical inside of a catolic school. Modest walls and wooden stairs.

Sophia was right, we all walked up to the third floor following Jared.

While on the first I got a peak on one of the open classrooms and saw the youngest girl I first saw in this town.

She only looked just about seven. How the hell did she get here? Or was she born here?

My heart tightened for the little girl. Her life was already in danger just by being here.

We got to the second floor, it was less noisy there. Not like in the first floor where the noises echoed and hit back and forth in the corridors.

Third floor, my legs were shaky, and it was very quiet. You would've thought no one was there if it weren't for the rows of girls sitting in other classrooms, just patiently waiting.

"This is your room, girls." Jared indicated to a still empty room between occupied ones. "You'll be staying here for the whole year. Hope you all behave in the best way."

I stayed a little behind and let the others get in, dawdling by the entrance.

Jared sees me hanging by and gets this annoyed look. "What are you waiting for? Get inside already. I still have a lot of things to do other than babysit a bunch of brats."

"So, I guess you'll be getting on then?" I tried to confirm, making it look less suspicious and more on casual talk. "Since you still have a lot of 'duties', sheriff."

"Yes." He narrowed his eyes at me.

"Well, off you go then." For effect, just to annoy him, I clapped his back like he did to me. Thrice. His eyes widened, as if processing someone just did that to him. "Don't want to hold you off from your 'important duties'."

I was just about to go in, but to my immense surprise, he grabs my arm.

He didn't look mad, but his eyes reads 'you're starting to piss me off'. "What does that mean?"

"Nothing." I say instantly, freeing my arm from his grip. Then I smiled as sweetly as I can. "Have a good day."

Then I walked in the classroom, and perched on the vacant seat beside Daisy. She looked at me curiously as I watched Jared leave.

"What was that all about?"

I gave her the same smile. "Nothing." I say, as I eyed the windows leading outside.

The girls chatted, swapping seats, formed a circle while the teacher hasn't arrived. I just keep eyeing at the window, the blue innocent sky above, and what lies underneath that sky.

By closer observation, that window leads at the back of the school. The thing is....when Daisy toured me around the town, and showed me the school, she let me in on a fact about the school.

This is where most disappearances happen, in the night. The missing students were last seen on the back of the school, that's why it has been prohibited since then.

But...I was stubborn. Obviously, that wasn't going to stop me.

My thoughts were interrupted when a girl screamed. "The boys are here!"

Instantly, it was a fresh look. For the past weeks, I haven't seen a single boy besides Jared and now the room was suddenly filled with boys around our age.

Tall, short, thin, round, white, black, all the sorts. And they were all friendly with the girls.

Suddenly, the room's noise doubled. Tina hugged the tall blond one. One was tugged by a group of girls, sharing something about how nasty Dorotha was this summer, the boys hogged the space behind, being rowdy. They were all conversing with one another.

It was actually the first time I saw how happy the girls are.

"Daisy! How ya' doing, gal?"

A guy with black skin and dreadlocks approached Daisy and they both did this complicated slap hand thing. "What up, doug?" Daisy said in the most slurred way.

My eyes widened at how Daisy's demeanor suddenly changed.

"This summer was as boring as the last one. Burnish made us mop the whole cabin just because one guy slipped up, and puked all over the carpet." The guy continued, sitting next to Daisy, completely ignoring me.

"That sucks." Daisy rolls her eyes. "I would've said summer had been a total bore too but...." her sly eyes found mine. "We got ourselves a newcomer."

The guy's eyes widened then turned to me. "You mean, she's in your cabin?"

"Yep."

"Hi, I'm Jordan!" Jordan vigorously shook my hand. His excitement rattled from my arm to my shoulder. "We already heard about you, actually. News travel fast around here whenever someone is new to the town---"

"Boys are so much more into gossip than girls---"

Jordan dismisses what Daisy was saying, his eyes were focused on me. And he's still shaking my hand. "We actually thought you were dead cuz' we haven't heard from some of the girls' cabins---"

"What?"

"Death is a normal thing around here." Daisy explained casually.

"---but you were actually in the last occupied cabin." Jordan continued.

"Uhh, yeah. Cabin number 13." I said trying to laugh. "Can you please let go of my hand, now?"

"Oh! Sorry." He lets go. It felt like he cutted of the bloodflow in my hand. "So, you're the bear girl, right?"

My head swiveled fast to him. "The what?"

"The bear girl. You know, the girl who cried bear?" He laughs but when he saw the look on my face, he stops. "Oh, you don't like being called that. Sorry." He apologizes, looking sheepish.

"No. But you can call me Cara." I chuckled, feeling uncomfortable and pissed off at the same time.

It's weird but I felt eyes drilling at the back off my head, and when I turned I saw some of them looking at me while turning. Some had the decency to try to pretend they weren't talking about me. Others were just plain rude and even stared back, smirking.

There was also a group of guys at the back, sitting on the tables, and I catch the eyes of the blonde dude at the center. They were all quiet.

"Don't mind them." Jordan says. "We all had been curious at the new girl."

"It's always like this whenever someone's new in town." Daisy added.

I look again and I catch Tina's eyes this time. She smiles. Apparently, she likes seeing me in discomfort.

I turn back to Daisy and Jordan. "I don't care, I have other important things in my mind."

Daisy raises her eyebrows. "Like what?"

I was trying to come up with something when a new woman entered the room. This time, younger. Her brown hair was in a tight bun, she's tall, and plain-looking. Though her eyes kind of stand out, they were wide and blue.

"Alright....class..." it's like she was weirded out by saying that. Maybe it is weird because you're in a sort of town like this. "So, I'm new. Some of you may know me, but to those who don't, I am Ms. Layla Farrow. I will be your teacher for this year."

"So, umm." she was fiddling with her fingers as if not knowing what to do. "You all know what to do, right?"

Some of the girls in the front nodded.

"Okay, I need two volunteers to come with me to the storage room, and help me with bringing our books..." Ms.Layla stuttered nervously. "I-if that's okay."

The two girls stood up fast and went with Ms. Layla outside.

"Someone's nervous on her first day of school." Daisy chuckled as we watched the door close.

The boys began getting rowdy before I can even comment on that. One guy stood up and pretended to shake for show. "I-I'm Ms. L-layla. I'm s-so scared of t-teaching."

The guys chortled, half of the girls laughed along, others just shook their head.

"Children." Daisy rolled her eyes, and Jordan nodded in agreement.

While the class was busy laughing and thinking the storage is just a few rooms away, I acted hastily.

I stand up and look down the windows. It's an empty field and a cluster of trees right at the end. I look down and saw it was a long way down.

"Yeah, this is the back of the school." Daisy leaned by the window next to me. "It's terrifying, but relaxing to look at."

"Uh-huh..." I look down more and saw a tree just near enough. Guessing from the bushy leaves, it has a lot of branches to support my fall.

Then I put my foot on the window sill. Daisy's eyes immediately widened. "Woah, woah, what are you doing?"

I put the other one and I'm now holding on the sides, with both my foot on the window. The wind howls at my face.

"Dude! Bear girl's going to jump!" I hear a guy shout in the back.

"Oh my god!" girls yelled and then a lot of shuffling behind me.

"Woah, this escalated quickly." One commented looking at me.

I looked around. Everyone was now getting out of their seats. I need to act fast before anyone can alert the adults outside.

"Cara! Don't do this!" Jordan shouts at me, nearing me with his hands ready to pull me back.

"Stay back!" I warned. "Or I'll really jump! Stay back all of you!"

Then I hear the books falling down on the floor. We all look simultaneously at the noise and saw Ms. Layla and the two girls had gone back.

The two girls were still holding their share of books, mouth agape at me. But Ms. Layla had dropped hers. Eyes wide, mouth open....then she faints.

"Oh my god, Ms. Layla!" some of the girls instantly rushed to her.

"Wow, she actually fainted." a guy comments.

I turn back my attention to the window. She'll be okay. I hope...

"Cara!" Jordan tries one more time."I know this town sucks, but it's no reason to kill yourself!"

Then I bursted out laughing and they all looked at me like I'm insane. I even look insane because the wind was whipping my hair.

"I'm not going to kill myself, silly. I just want to skip class." I simply said.

Before any of them can say anything else, I jumped.

I braced for the fall, arms outstretched towards the tree. Fingers anticipating the feel of leaves, and branches.

The impact of my body hitting the top of the tree didn't hurt that much. The leaves scratched my face, and a branch hit my stomach as I fell, but I was okay.

I landed facedown with a thump on the solid ground.

Down here, I can still hear the noises from the window and looking up, some were leaning out just to see me.

Jordan waves his arms out. "That. Was. Awesome!"

I laughed, feeling hysterical. I can't believe I jumped from a three-storey window and survived. I must be crazy.

But it's not the time to think that. I had to move before one of them can blow a whistle. I already noticed them hanging from their necks.

I stood up, didn't even care if I looked crazy with leaves in my hair, and ran towards the trees. My ears strained for the sound of whistles blowing up the air but none of them did. I looked up and they were all just watching me. I laughed again.

This is too easy.

I was running fast, and I felt so free. Like no one can stop me.

But then I tripped.

No, not tripped.

Someting shoved me from behind and I got my face planted on the dirt again. That's when I felt the heavy-weight pressing unto my back, and arms that entrapped me on the ground.

A husky voice chuckled in my ear.

"Where do you think you're going, bear girl?"