The next few days, my head was clouded with thoughts about not only that incident but the occurrence of camouboy before the incident.
That day when I stood on my toes to look through the spyhole, I cringed once the invisible boy shouted in my head without warning.
"Don't open the door!"
"Ugh, buzz off. None of your business, Camou-boy—"
The voice rose into a dreadful scream once more, making me tremble slightly.
"A-all right, so why shouldn't I?" I asked as politely as I could.
"'Cause I said so." He returned to his original volume, and I let out a sigh.
I wondered what he might do if he really freaked out if this wasn't his worst. What if he was actually a malevolent phantom, and I was one of his victims?!
Oh, god. That notion paralyzed me with fear.
"Listen... please, don't take me like some creepy ghost. I'm sorry that I freaked out." Even though I couldn't see his body, I heard him sigh.
"How did you know what I was thinking??"
"I just can. Don't mind it."
"Who—what are you?"
"Something, Reca. Something."
"Please tell me. Am I the only one that can hear you?" My brows furrowed as I frowned, glancing around the room every time I conversed with him. "My wish."
"Don't open the door," he warned again, lowering his voice, almost making it impossible for me to hear. "Please, Reccy."
I blinked. "What did you just call me?"
But before I got any closer, the boy's words reemerged from my thoughts.
Don't open the door. Please, Reccy.
Reccy? Has anybody ever called me that before?
Flashing memories formed a movie in front of my eyes, though I still couldn't figure out who was calling me by that name.
"Reca or Reccy? Uhh... Reccy, that's cuter!"
The face was too vague, lost in the light of the sun, which was why I couldn't recognize the voice nor the person.
I had begun to understand why Camou-boy had warned me not to answer the door, as the events took place.
I do remember my heart turning upside down in disappointment at being left all alone when Clay at first went downstairs, but I couldn't blame him for wanting to save himself.
"Go! Hurry, Reccy, get out of here! I can't hold it much longer and you won't have time. Go!"
I realized that it was Camou-boy contending with the monster—saving me. And it wouldn't be fair to just leave him behind.
"But what about you? I-I can't leave...leave you here alone all by yourself!"
"It doesn't matter—" A power ray shot into the air and he abruptly stopped talking. I decided to go get help but ran into someone at the top of the staircase before I could do so. And was quite glad at seeing Clay not abandoning me anyway.
"I must say, Clayton, marvelous brainwork this time," I could hear Camou-boy say after Clay indirectly killed that plant monster, but I figured Clay didn't hear him very well so I repeated his words aloud.
And the time when I stopped ourselves from telling the police? It was because of him.
Still tense, we had just begun towards the front door when someone whispered, "Don't, Reccy. You're going to regret that. Don't tell anyone about this, or the consequences will be far worse than you could ever imagine. Please."
I was overcome with serious confusion. If I told the adults, then we can all be cautious and people might be saved. But if I didn't, then something worse could happen. Would it cost us our lives? Or maybe, something worse than death?
"Yes, it may. Please, I'm begging you."
And in that moment, I believed I could trust him. The bizarre attack of the monster had convinced me that there was more to our world. More deadly and surreptitious, and it'd behoved me to stick with the benevolent kind.
Then again, that, my friends, was the start of the following critical murders which were yet to occur.
4 years later:
"I'll freaking kill ya Clay! I want my raffles right here!" I wailed furiously, running after that ape. Even though we were 17, his fatuous personality did not revamp at all, except for teenage maturity; always bouncing, shouting and escapades were number one.
But legs do need to rest.
"Oh Rebecca, Glasgow is not that bad after all."
I laughed at his silliness, "It has been 4 years, and now you are saying this?"
After Charlotte's murderous death, for the next few months numerous number of sudden deaths arose in New Castle. Due to the fear of getting slayed, we were under lockdown for 5 months.
But as discovered, people got killed in their homes, but the homicides left no trace of themselves, so even till now we never knew who killed those innocent citizens.
Thus, for the safety of children and youths, the parents decided to shift to Glasgow or send their kids there.
Both of our parents conferred about the recent chaos going on after long convos and decisions , they also decided to send us to Glasgow too.
As expected, my so called parents were completely glad to send me away all alone. Of course for their good reputation and image, they allowed Clay to live with me in the bungalow they reluctantly bought for us to stay .
For now, I was in the classroom , catching up to my ruffles that Clayton had stolen. The room was empty during the break so both of us usually hung out here while we ate.
He sat on the table and munched on my ruffles.
What a nitwit.
I panted and placed the hands on my knees for rest.
"Phew. That was one heck of a run Clay."
"Yeah. See? I'm such a healthy man ."
"Jughead from Archie you are."
"Nah. Count me as Archie himself. But from the Riverdale series. He's hot."
"Damn Clay, are you turning gay? For god's sake, don't."
" Why, I have a best friend who's hotter."
Unexpectedly, I blush ran to my cheeks and I playfully punched him in the shoulder.
"Now, I hope that makes me sound less of a gay."
"Sure it does. After all that's quite of a real rap for the pretty girl out there."
Both of us snapped our heads towards the speaker who leaned on the doorway, sparkling a side grin.
"Kens?"
"Austin?"
"Well yeah, that's my name." He proceeded towards us but we both stood , mostly stupefied at why he was with us instead of his puppies.
"Clayton, we need to talk."
He crossed his arms and his presence made my anger boil out from my veins simultaneously. I switched my position in front of Clay, so I could face that jackass directly.
"Oh cut the crap. I know you are here to make fun of us."
"Oh please, Ms Bodyguard. Let it go! It has been 4 years! And it's not like anyone wants any girl like you here. So you may like to shove off."
Oh wow. Now his flirt sense went to being straightforward.
But I couldn't deny him as well. He was right.
"Hey hey hey. You can't talk to her like that." Clayton defended, "She's far better than you Kens. So you might be the one to shove off."
"So now you are the boyfriend of the unwanted poor girl whose parents even doesn't give a shit about her existence?"
Rage quickened my blood and I wanted to slid down my hand into his throat and cut off every organ that makes him talk, but for what? For telling the truth?
Before knowing, I perceived Clay push Austin in the chest.
As of boys and their ego, Austin pushed him back and the next thing I knew they were fighting.
"Look Clay. I have no interest in fighting you, so stop!"
"No why? Why can't you stay away from us?"
"Why will I? You have been my best friend, damnit!"
"We ended that thing 4 years ago, so you better not mention it!"
Soon enough most of the students eyes came upon us , while in the other side I couldn't figure out what to do. Clayton gave a final whack on Austin's cheek making him fall on one of the benches.
Thankfully, Austin didn't fight back for which I took the chance to hold back Clay.
This was way away from unexpected.
Talking of Austin, even he was here, just like others. Unfortunately, I had to separate from Addelyn as she was directly send to Africa but we still contact via Internet.
***
Even though the assassinations ceased to occur after 1 year, my mother took the idea that it was safe to stay in Glasgow for which we got to stay here till date, also freeing my parents from a burden A.K.A me.
And about Clayton. His parents didn't come with him , for which we were given the responsibility of taking care of him.
"Who told you to go and get the situation so fucked up?"
I kept on chiding him as well as rub on his wounded wrist while all he did was pout.
"Hey Clay, you seem to ditch classes. Wanna switch the place?" A jock came in as we sat on the stairs. Clayton looked at me and I nodded in agreement but I tried to ignore the fact at how the jock grimaced at me.
Everyone knew how pissed off Clayton would get of anyone insulted me, so no one usually had the time and guts to go for it , especially in front of Clay himself.
He went on with his friend in the time I thought of wandering around to my locker.
On my way, my occupancy grabbed the attention of a few chicks who proceeded towards me but I did not stop my tramp ahead in the corridor.
Somehow they caught up to me and I could see a prepossing brunette faking smiles stand in front of me.
"Oh what's up homeslice?" Her sweet piercing voice ran through my ears but I still could not figure out why a popular slut like her greeted me, an outcast.
However, I had the decency to greet back , even so I was unable to find hunky dory words to spat out.
"Oh hi-hi, what's su-up?" A rush of energy made my muscles tightened and I stuttured whatever I could; my hands fidgeted.
I mean I had to make a good impression, right? For which I would try to act as cool as I can.
"Wow damn, you can't even say a 'sup' properly . That's quite absurd. " she chuckled and I couldn't help but give a reluctant twitchy laugh.
"Oh god, Beca. You are one heck of a crackpot, and that's gonna get me all of a doodah if I don't depart right now. I tried man, my level best to get to know you the way Clayton darling does but to my disappointment you are just not tolerable."
The words from her sugary, flattering voice straight stung my heart and I couldn't think of any comebacks, like the badass punks or even the nerds did. I just stood upright, letting every word of her sink into my understanding.
"I mean just because of a dropout like you, two best friends like Austin and Clayton seperated." Her manicured fingers raised up to point out at my chest before continuing, "Just because of you, inconsiderate bitch! Huh the egotistic slut who comes between two bosom buddies. Third woman! And guess what? Even your parents don't want you. "
I breathed in real slow as my emotions turn jagged and my insides were turning tight as well. Each word was just like a needle seeping through my heart and tumbling against my brain.
***
She was true.
Either way no body really wanted me. So what am I? What was I to people?
In fact, I don't even know what I wanted in this world, what was the purpose of my life? Or was there even a reason to live?
I dipped my hand onto the bucket of turquoise blue paint and aimed for the wall above my bed. I slammed my colour washed palm on the ivory hued wall and it became tinted with a fine handprint. At the outset, a tear slipped down my cheek.
I felt so useless.
And still not melodramatic.
Making handprints was an obsession since the day I first put a handprint with that unknown boy, Casper during my toddler years. Thinking about him now made me feel foolish. He didn't even probably exist, right?
Besides, it made me feel crackerjack enough, so that was the only thing I had to do other than remorse.