Inside, I was suffocating. I mean who could've killed the principal? The old bearded man didn't seem to have any haters though. After that incident, police came to investigate but that was less sinister than what we had found. We were told to leave the school and not come back until further notice. So we were then sitting on the empty footpath, discussing the situation. I had already said about what I found it in the principal's cabin and everything about Lucas was bit uncanny, so we decided to spy him in his house.
"Who was there after you left? Did you see-"
"I SAID NO! Stop investigating , Clay. I'm freaking out like-real freak out. I know I knocked him out but I-" She pressed her fists to her cheeks and I held her shoulder for support, "Calm down Jo. I know you didn't do it but I also know that it wasn't any normal person."
"Psycopath?"
"Worse than that. Oh wait, before we were there, Travis was there."
"You don't mean he is behind this?"
"Dunno. I mean he is usually the chemist and computer geek, so reading about mythology is not what he would want. Especially after ditching class."
"Unless...unless, he has a spirit haunting him and he believes it to be paranormal?" Clay suggested.
"Wow yeah. Cheese knuckles, that could be true." Joey lightened up bringing in suspects, "So what? Ask him now?"
"Ask him what? That 'hey Trav, is there a weird ghost chasing you' and expect him to answer positive?" I said in sarcasm expecting them to deny.
"Uh...yeah?"
"Fine. Then let's risk it." Clay joined in but I wasn't convinced by their plan. As we were ready to get up, we caught Austin looking at us in an eerie manner just in front. We all froze in the place we stood and feared if he heard us.
"You guys were there when he was killed?! What type of conspiracy are you guys working on?!" His face had already been paled and backed a few steps, as if ready to tell everyone. Why didn't we see him?
"No no Kens wait!" Clay yelled with terror.
"I'm gonna tell everyone!"
"I swear it wasn't us. And yes it's true we brought the principal to the library but we had our own reasons and it was with hell bent good intentions and his murdered body had caused the same confusions in us as in everyone."
"What reasons ? Wha-what intentions? I-If you don't tell me now then I-I will tell ev-everyone!" he widened his eyes and threatened shamelessly. Why does it gets so complicated?
"FINE. THEN LISTEN, WE ARE HAUNTED BY DEAD PEOPLE'S SPIRITS AND WE JUST NEEDED THE STUDENTS FILE!" Clay was icy with panic and I could say his words slipped from his mouth but that was not at all good. He was so furious that he was about to run away from the place but Austin stopped him by the elbow. I could see that he had a surprised believing look which made me have a hunch.
"Whatever you just said, it wasn't metaphorical. Right?" he lowly uttered.
"Wh-why? "
"Is there really a ghost siding with you everytime? Is it tr-true? " He professed almost as if we four had the same situation.
"No-No! Why are yo-you being so supernatural? Suddenly? It's no-not true!" Clay exaggerated unncessarily but I could understand what he felt.
Austin nodded dully and turned to move away without any question and that caused suspicion in the air. At the moment, I grasped onto a possibility and called out to him, "Is any spirit haunting you? And no, it's not metaphorical. Just answer."
"As if I will say yes and you will believe. " He scoffed bitterly.
"I will." I stepped towards him, "I will because I may be in the same ball game." His mouth fell open but breathed out with a stare as if he couldn't believe what I had just said," You're kidding right? I mean you mean that there is really a dead person's soul is with you? It-It's not possible!"
So after all, my assumption had been right. But someone like Austin? Really?
"Seems like we four are in the same kettle of fish."
"What do you mean Beca?" Clay asked.
"Austin's being chased by some spirit just like us."
"Wait, so I'm not the only one? " He chuckled in contentment and much relieved, "Good Gracious."
"OMG, whose spirit?" Joey joined in.
"M-My grandma."
"Since when?" I inquired gently.
"At my age of 13. Like she's lit but super annoying and too noisy."
We proffered him to join us and in reluctancy, he stated his bizarre explicits with his obnoxious grandmother and vice versa from our side. We even told him abaout Lucas and it looked like we weren't the only one suspecting him.
"About Lucas - indeed guys he is super creepy but now that we know about the multiuniverse, I really don't take him as human."
"So what say? Give his home a visit?" Joey exclaimed.
"Looks OK, but we also need to find out about Travis. Like dude, he was reading the Mapuche mythology and it's all about spirits and ghosts."
"That nerd? He too?"
"Not sure about that but we are gonna need as many mates for this mystery to be clarified."
We all agreed to visit Travis and hoping to get the truth out of him. Joey somehow knew his address which created a fit of mockery from Austin and Clay but anyhow that was not the most important thing right then. As the door opened, thankfully it wasn't his mother but he himself.
"Wha-what are you guys doing here? How do you know my-"
"Listen up munchbag. We are here for serious investigation in which you will answer honestly or else your face will be reshaped." Joey menaced him directly and barged into his house without permission and I turned to Trav apologetically, "Please mind her, she's just_"
"Just sensitively strong and menacing. I know. A-and I don't think you need anymore permission to get inside. Come in." He said sarcastically and motioned us to get inside. What I found more interesting was about Joey and Travis; their set of words towards each other made it look like they knew other for a long time. But then again, there were more important matters to be concerned about.
The dark walled house was serene but isolated with two rooms. We sat on the scandinavian and I nervously rubbed my palms on my thighs before asking, "Take us as weird but be honest, were you reading Mapuche Mythology because there's an odd spirit trailing you?"
"Woah, ho-how did yo-you know? Is it-"
"SO YOU REALLY DAMN HAVE A SPIRIT AFTER YOU?" Joey jumped out of her seat and widened eyes with real tensity. Travis gulped and lowered his head muttering, "Yes. My parents."
***
"So you guys think that Lucas is behind the principal's death?"
"That's what we need to figure out from his house. I mean at least we can get somehting informative from his house." Clay shrugged.
"Let's get going. I don't have the whole world's time in my hand." Austin complained which made me irked, "Neither us. So stop behaving like you are the duke of this town."
"Whatever."
"But wait. Do we really need to bring him with us?" Joey frowned pointing his thumb towards Travis. I sighed and repeated my words, "Just as I said, we are gonna need as many mates for this mystery to be clarified."
Soon enough, we headed to Lucas's home according to the photo of the student file where the address was written. It was a long journey and the sun was already set with the night sky aglow with bright city lights, which soon withered away as we went more away from city. According to the map, we were in a silenced road surrounded by dark trees on either sides. The barking of faraway dogs broke the silence of the ghostly night but there wasn't any dog spotted yet which made it seem more creepy.
We all got out of Travis's convertible and stood side to side , widely staring at the uncanny domicile standing in front of us. We got into the front lawn but the house literally seemed deceased and vacant; accompanied by some sort of silence that symbolized a hopeless black void.
Seemed like we had a lot incoming.