" A little like you, a few weeks after I arrived, someone 'accidentally' slipped off the roof." I heard how he emphasised the word accidentally and it only made me want to know more. Obviously I was startled to hear that Archie death wasn't the first one but I also wanted to learn more on what happened. " She was a prefect. Beautiful and smart, she had everything she ever wanted. She also was the first one to talk to me. I will always remember how she made me feel at home and welcomed. Amanda was a little like the big sister I never had. She would care for me, be always anxious if I settled well and if anyone was bullying me. How could anyone want her death ? And if it wasn't a murder, then why would she kill herself ? She was so happy and bright... And just like you Ethan, it was me who discovered her dead body, lying lifeless on the autumn leaves, like a present coming from the sky..." He stopped, his voice becoming barely audible and tears started to fall down his cheeks.
I also felt the need to cry at how horrible this story was but I didn't because I felt it was only Sebastien who was allowed to do it. I never met this Amanda and as sad as this story was, I didn't felt in right to cry after her death.
"This school isn't like every other ones. It has a sinister past that only the teachers and some students know. A past so dark that it is used as a warning for disobedient student." He continued, his voice slightly off. A
"What sort of past ?" I questioned, shaking a little at how much I would learn. Or maybe I was shaking for other reasons... Maybe I was freezing or even, terrified by the truth this school seem to hide.
" Rumours says that the main building was built only ten years ago only, this place exist since 1541. So what happened between those 1531 years, I wondered when I would hear older students talk about it. Well, apparently, it has been burned during a storm. Three death and traumatised student who wouldn't sleep during thunder nights. This is what they said that happened. So, idiot as I was, I went to look for the place where the old building was built. The thought of it being crushed under the new one didn't occur in my mind and I can remember my old self wandering inside the woods, in the middle of the night, with only a torch in hand. And do you know what I found ?" He asked, his open eyes gloomy as they were staring at mines.
I shook my head, terrified by the way he was telling this story but didn't had the guts to say to him to stop because I wanted to know more. More about this school, more about it past, more about what he discovered.
"I found the old building, almost as new as the one we have now. I looked at the outside walls and found no evidence of it being burned. But then, why was it abandon if there were no fire ? I never had my answer and that is why I'm waiting great things from you. Can you do that ? For me ? For Amanda ? For all of us ?" He asked, his eyes looking like a crying puppy.
How could I say no ? How could I refuse after such a story ? And also, wouldn't it help me in my investigation on Archie death ? So, I nodded, slowly but with some determination in my glare.
"I will help you but only at one condition." I said, scared at how he would answer.
"What ?"
" Promise you will never leave me." I told him, after one minute of silent.
Why did I ask such a thing ? Why did I sounded so desperate ? Maybe because I was desperate I mean. I was afraid Sebastien would leave me like every of the others, afraid of what was going to happen if I was once again left alone. I wanted so much for him to stay with me, I wanted to feel the feeling of being loved by someone else than his parents. I needed someone I could talk too when I wasn't at home.
"I promise Ethan." Sebastien answered slowly, as if searching for his words. " I will never leave your side and I shall protect you from every danger." He finally said in a firm voice.
"Do you pinky promise ?" I asked, afraid that he would be disgusted by how desperate I sounded. I hold out my little finger, waiting, wondering if it wasn't stupid to ask him to do that. After all, I wasn't five. I wasn't five and yet, I was terrified he wouldn't hold his promise. Terrified by what would happen in the future.
And as I was deep in my thoughts, another finger hooked with mine and Sebastien said in a soft voice : "Pinky promise."
And with that, I felt safe. Safe by his side. As safe as if I was back home. In the early morning, I wished I could go back to my house to be protected from every danger the school could represent and now, I felt safe with him.
I suddenly understood what he was to me. Sebastien was my home, somewhere where I could be myself and where I felt good. I slowly wondered if that was why Archie chose him as a friend. Was Archie feeling the same around me like I did ? Did he felt safe when Sebastien would talk to him ?
I couldn't guess as I never met Archie Devenson. And I would never ever be able to know him.
"Sebastien, show me the old building." I ordered, pulling back my hand and lifting up on my feet.
I wanted to see for myself this place who seemed to hold so much secrets and so much informations about the past of this school. I had to go there to find the answer on why so much students slipped off the roof. And then, I would finally be able to have a normal year. A year with a mind boiling with some math formulas and some English words. Not a mind boiling with so much questions left unanswered.
And maybe my anger would have no reason to be. My anger towards the reason of Archie and Amanda death. I didn't have time to feel sad for them, I just wanted to solve all of this mystery to help them rest in peace. I wanted them to reach the sky. Reach the sky because they are wandering one earth, waiting for someone like me to help them. It's my mother who told me that. Spirits who didn't know why they died couldn't go in paradise. They were forced to stay down and wait and cry for there death. When I was little, I found that funny to think about ghost mourning their own death but today, I felt sad for them.
"Follow me then."