{Marigold's perspective}
"Ow. Ow. Ow. My back. My leg. My head. My elbow. Ouch." I slumped lightly on Bella who was patting me on my back asking where else does it hurt.
It was one hell of a fall. How could I slip. Ugh. So embarrassing. By the way, I was really dramatic just now.
Ashley was rubbing my arms in a haste, panicking like I was run over by a car.
Rick knelt and knocked at my forehead.
"Why were you leaning over the staircase like that?" He scolded, pushing his hair back with a zig-zag hair band. Gosh. He looked awesome. Such anime-guy vibes.
Al looked in the direction from where I fell. He turned to me.
"Did you slip? How did you fall?"
Ash glared at him and I gulped. She stared at me, waiting for me to reply. Al was waiting too. Well, I don't remember.
I can't say that. They'll all kill me. I should change the subject or divert their attention. I should just get up. That way, they won't fuss about how I fell.
I got up, holding the wall behind me. Ah. It hurts in my ankle. Ahh.
No. No. Shh. Shh. It doesn't hurt. Nope. It doesn't. Quiet.
"Ah." Rick helped me up. Why the frick did you have to? I was tryna seem cool here. All that endurance for naught.
"Can you walk?" Bella held my face. Yes I might be able to. But don't treat me like this, I'll want more. She's so sweet. She should've been my sister. Or a cousin rather than Eva.
I limped and walked a few steps and caught hold of a classroom wall. I flashed a thumbs-up, barely managing a crooked smile. "Cool. Let's go explore."
Al threw his head over in Bella's direction. She bit her lip. "You're really okay?" I nodded with a big smile. "Really?" I shook my thumbs at her. "...okay. Jump once to show it."
My eyebrows fell. No way. Okay. Let's try this. I might be just fine.
I moved a leg. Nope. I'm done. Not gonna. I put my foot on the floor and I think I heard a crack. Not to be dramatic or anything but yes.
"Owmigoshjkkadkssss!"
Ash stomped her way to me and held my arm. "You people go. I'll wait with her."
"No! I wanna go too!" I begged for help towards Bella.
"We're not going to an amusement park. You are gonna come with me to my home." Ash pulled my arm and I moaned. It didn't hurt but I had to show it.
"But she can't walk." Bella insisted asking Al to have a word. I can walk but I'm not gonna say that. I can climb. I should say that.
"Marigold, it's just a look we wanna have. You must have sprained an ankle. You should go home." Rick approached me and offered a hand. "I'll pick you up if you want."
"No. I'm heavy." I protested and limped over to Bella, leaning against her who slid her hand across my waist.
"Whoa. A girl said that. I thought no girl would ever say she's overweight or heavy." Rick laughed, slapping his hand on Al's shoulder.
There was a moment of silence. I don't want Ash to be angry again. But why doesn't she let me do what I want? She's not my mother. Or Aunt Susan.
"Mac-Marigold, sit down." Al turned to me and I blinked. What in the world does he want to do with me? Stomp on me 'cause he's angry he can't go upstairs? "Sit on the stairs."
He read my face. And I sat. Bella wrinkled a brow.
"You a doc or nurse?"
He bent to me and knelt. Yes. Bow to me. He looked at my face then at my ankle.
"Where does it hurt?" I pointed at the 'focal' point of pain. He scanned my foot and twisted my ankle.
I jumped with a start but he held my hand. Shit. Damn motherhugger. Leave my hand. Miss. Lawliet taught us today of infatuation in teenage. I might get that pandemic.
"Don't move. Fold your hands." He ordered and pulled out his ascot tie from his neck and fastened it tightly around my ankle binding it crosswise to my heel.
I gritted my teeth firmly and pursed my eyes. Ouch.
"Do you have experience doing this...? What if you fracture her leg?" Ash appeared next to Al. Where did she pop up from?
"Try walking." He moved away and stood up.
I walked, fearing for my life. I limped lightly but it didn't hurt much. I spun to Al, blinking my eyes in disbelief. Rick threatened he'd step on my leg. Bella curved the end of her lips and smiled.
"Jane taught me that. It's a temporary relief and it might not be anything big but you should get it checked."
Al pulled out a torch from his small bag and climbed the stairs.
"This dude's impressive. He keeps surprising me." Rick stared at him in awe. Great. Good. He's your future bestie. Your homie.
"Yeah." Bella held me and I pulled Ash to come.
She resisted. I let out an 'ah'. She grunted and we went along with Rick.
"The room's locked. We can't go." Al's voice called out and I paused, nearly forgetting to put on my glasses.
Rick jumped from stair number four. He challenged me to copy him. Ash gave him a glare of a tigress before sneaking on her prey. Rick fell back as Al returned, murmuring in a low tone to Bella.
Was there a spirit there? Maybe that's why he's not telling us. Mm. I'm not scared. I mean, everyone's saying I must have missed my footing and fell off the stairs. But now that I think about it, I was most certainly pushed. Something touched my back. I had thought it was leaning over the railings which caused me to tumble over. No. That was not it.
Ash passed me a lollipop to suck on. I looked up in the dark alleyway of the third floor. It is haunted. The seniors are gonna move in to their classes once the renovation is over. Eva would be in danger.
Well. Why shall I think of her? She is a prankster.
On second thought, I'm not some sadist. I have an ability. Poor Eva doesn't. I can get rid of the evil spirits here. I mean, I'm the only one who can. Bella can lend me her assistance.
The thing is....how.
"...yeah? Oh. Mom! I'm coming!" Ash squeaked happily in her phone.
Yes! Mrs. Ricardo is back!
"Did she go somewhere?" Bella bent to me. Al and Rick waited for me to answer as Ash was busy conversing.
"Yeah. For Kevin, her oldest son. Some talent show." I clicked my ballpoint pen open and close.
"Mom, she could have smashed her head against the wall if Bella hadn't saved her on time!" Ash screamed on her phone and everything went silent. Al eyed me. "What? But I can't leave her alone. She sprained her ankle or worse! B-but! I...of course I wanna! Fine. I'll do that." Ash sighed and turned to me.
The air was grave. I gulped, pushing back the glasses on my nose. Al was leaning against a wall, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Bella, can you do me a favour?" Ash approached Bella who blinked and nodded without a thought. "Can you look after Marigold just for today in the BPRO's residential dormitories? Mom called me. Something came up. Please."
I frowned angrily at Ash. Take care of me? Why should she? Why should anyone? I'm not in second grade! Who do they take me for...! I stomped my foot. The one which hurt.
Ash hurriedly jumped to me."The hell, Marigold!" She hit her forehead lightly. "I'll come soon-"
"You know- I don't like it." I said, shifting my weight from one foot to another.
"Bear with me just for a day. Please." She said and stroked my cheeks. I don't need that. Go away. I hate you.
My head fell low and my lips turned into a duck's beak. I nodded. She patted, smiled and hurried down the stairs blowing me a flying kiss and shouting her usual advices at me of not trusting strangers etc.
Rick's mouth was puffed and a smile was breaking from the corner of his lips. Al adjusted his bag and began walking downstairs. Bella and I followed. She put an arm around my shoulder and whispered,
"Don't worry. We'll have triple fun before Ash returns. The kind of fun people have during bachelorhood." She winked and I smiled.
Dunno what that is but sounds fun.
Rick was laughing all along the staircase and stealing glances at me.
Don't be angry. Be calm. He's the crushed soda can I threw in the trash this morning. He's air. Ignore him.
"Seriously man!" He bumped his fists against the car of someone's, parked on the street we just entered in. "You two are such a mother-daughter duo! She's...she's...! Someone might mistake her for your mom!"
"Ya, ya. They do." I bit on the edge of my glasses. Bella put her muffler over me and I narrowed my eyes at her. I forced it back on her, nearly strangulating her as she laughed begging for mercy.
"What does your mom think about this though? She too must pamper you like that. I mean, you're not spoiled but really toddlerish." Rick looked at me and pinched his cheeks.
Ah. How do I reply without sounding sad? Also, not those looks of sympathy again. Mm. How about avoiding it completely?
Bella studied me as Al walked to a bus stand and eyed me from far.
"I live with my aunt. She's aunt Susan. She's really sweet. And, uncle Hollis gives me extra pocket money! Eva isn't the best cousin but she's affordably good." I got onto the afternoon bus after Al and Rick.
"Ah. But why do you live-" Rick began and Bella kicked on his knee to move quickly in the aisle.
He choked and Bella fake-laughed. Al threw at him a pepper soda can. Rick blew him a kiss and gobbled the soda down, then choked again.
"What the hell, man!"
Bella and I laughed. Al returned Rick a courteous smile.
"An overdose of pepper for you, for my share of curses, for today."
"Where did you even get this?" Rick jabbed the can on Al's chest.
Al threatened him he'd toss him outta the window with his abilities. Rick challenged him to a thumb-fight. The former challenger cracked his knuckles and bent to the latter challenger who sat to his opposite.
"I can't believe this is happening." Bella yawned and rested her back against the seat, shutting her eyes.
I too can't believe this is happening. Goodness wow. Heaven save me from this pure PG-13 bromance.
Al bent forward.
"Dude, with your leather gloves on?" Rick pointed at Al's hands. Al denied and removed his gloves, and took a lotion out of his bag and applied on both his hands. "Really? Man, you're so procedural."
"It's for your safety." Al rubbed the tips of his fingers together.
"My safety? Do you think you're gonna accidentally use magic because you're secretly a sorcerer?" Rick drummed his fingers on his lap.
Al returned him a sophisticated nod. Rick snorted.
He flexed his thumbs and leaned forward. They clutched hands and began the duel. The battle was heated. There were total no number of rounds. It all depended on them. Each one wanted to win. If the battle should end, it would be a draw.
We got off near a forested area. So the driver isn't gonna drop us off at the exact location? He must not know a huge agency stands behind the small-scale forest.
Al won about six times and Rick lost six times. The seventh one was almost gonna make it Rick's victory but it turned out to be interrupted by the bus stopping at BPRO. Rick wiggled his arms at Al, dancing like a snake bewitched by music.
"Why did you come here? Shouldn't you be at home?" Bella asked Rick, helping me walk. I didn't fall from the third floor. Cmon. I'm not that injured. I'm no damsel in distress.
"Well..." he wiped his clammy hands on Al's blazer who slapped his hand away like a carrom board coin.
"If you're here to dig information about our abilities and working license and the nonsense, I would give you a free advise. Get registered as a trainee and get the form filled by your parent or guard-" Al chimed in as Rick flashed a neatly-folded paper at Al's face.
Al took it and unfolded it. He sighed.
"Now, tell me all your secrets as promised. Don't tell me you are a liar, Mr. Robinson." Rick guffawed and reminded me of Tom from Tom and Jerry.
"Hmm. Did you or your parent read the terms and conditions?" Al said as we waited for the elevator on the ground floor.
"My mom signed it. And, nope. Of course not. Do you ever read the Google's terms and conditions before agreeing?" Rick pressed the button on the panel to first floor.
Bella yawned and held me by my waist. This girl's hella sleepy. I should probably tuck her into bed before anything.
"Good. I see...that's why she agreed." Al pinched the bridge of his nose as we walked to the department of Cryptic crimes.
"What do you mean...why wouldn't she?" Rick stopped at the doorway blocking our entry to the department. Al threw the folded paper at Rick and he caught it.
Bella kicked Rick on the knees again and he moved forward, reading the form bewilderingly.
I peeked in. There were some usual questions of name, address, age, occupation, educational qualification etc. Along with some other questions which I thought was normal for a form to psychics.
Oh but, in the last spaces, there was a note which was in a small font...maybe typewriter font.
'Kindly read the terms and conditions on the next page before signing the form.'
I let out a chuckle but covered my mouth upon seeing Jane enter. Wow. No one would spot that. Whoever designed the form needs a pat on the back.
Rick turned the form and there were a few bullet-points in small typewriter font and I had to remove my distance-glasses to read them. Might as well bring a magnifier.
***
The terms and conditions were:
• Legal Entity of the bearer of this form shall mean the union of the psychic entity and all other entities that control, are controlled by, or are under departmental control with the Bureau Of Psychic Research Org.
• The power to fabricate events and stage direct or indirect obstructions to cause the direction or management for cases and delegations or stints, by the contractual application form is a precise operation.
• All information from inside the Bureau and even miniscular departmental information must be kept confidential.
• My/My child's identity will be confidential and wouldn't be disclosed to anyone outside the agency apart from the departmental chief. (As a psychic/ detective/ trainee.)
• The training sessions/stint operations shall be taken regularly and if missed, detention would be issued.
• The badge issued by the agency shall be worn everyday and without it, entry won't be granted unless the head of the department cancels the detention for violation of rules.
• Police, private detectives, legal authorities of the crime branch shall not be accessible to the agency unless he/she is a registered member bearing the badge and the QR code.
• Conferences will be attended even if there's another non-BPRO task on board. • • Teammateship maintainence will be a must.
• My/My child's psychic ability would be latent to any non-member of the BPRO.
• Resignation is not allowed and I/My child would only leave the agency either when retirement is fixed else when I've caught a fatal disease (with a bonafide medical form.).
• Promotions and demotions are evaluated on the task assigned and it's execution and I agree to it.
• Any spiritual encounter which would kill, the responsibility rests entirely upon me and no police-complaints will be filed.
***
"The hell is this?! This is insane! Even if I somehow agree to this, mom never would! Who even made this crazyass form?!" Rick strode in the department as if he's on fire.
Jane looked up from her desk and walked up to him. She smiled and held her fingers in an office-like style. "Yes sir, do you have a doubt? I made the form with my colleague."
Rick forced a smile and nodded in negative, handing over the form quickly over to her. "Not really. But...kill..."
"Ah. You may approach Madam Aurora for the doubts. She's the colleague I wrote this with." Jane touched her face and had a glance at Rick's form.
"Man, forget it. I'll somehow deal with it." He fished for me and presented me to Jane, keeping his hands on my shoulder like I'm his project. "...but first, this...Marigold. She must have fractured a limb or sprained her ankle...by falling from the stairs."
"Shit. Here we go."
Hey Jane. It's nothing big. It's nothing to worry about.
Jane began laughing and Rick stood stunned.
Wait. What did I say?
"You mixed up your inner monologue and your dialogue." Jack walked in from a closet door behind Al's desk. How. "By the way, what happened to Marigold?"
I slapped my forehead. I'm an idiot.
"Hey, did you hand Spencer over to the cops?" Bella slumped on a couch, pulling her shrug closer to her.
"Ah. Well, yeah..." Jack passed a hand over his face and went to Al. "Did you guys...do something you shouldn't have? I've a gut feeling."
My neck swung to Al. He looked away. What....? Don't tell me he didn't inform Jack about how they were gonna check the classroom out.
Hats off to Al. Bella vibrated her lips in an escaping laugh.
"Well. We went to the girls' school and-" Rick furrowed his brows and Al gave him a glare. Rick swallowed and sat next to me like he had something important to discuss.
Jack threw his hands in the air and stood up, pacing back and forth in the room, grumbling like an old grandpa. "...why would you...go there..." he gritted his teeth.
"To uncover the mystery of how Alicia really died and how on earth did Spencer get arrested without using his psychic abilities." Bella unwrapped a bubblegum and chewed on it.
Jack rubbed the bridge of his nose. He spun to me. "Whose idea was this?" He was seeing red. I was the red silk cloth and Jack was the bull. Save me. It was not my idea but yes, it was my idea.
"Um, It was because of my dream that..." I stood up, twiddling my thumbs.
"Oh, dream...!" His palm went to the forehead and he smacked his tongue. "You shouldn't always rely on your dream. It could also be a distraction." Jack buttoned his unbuttoned coat up.
I traced my teeth over my lower lip and blinked my eyes in affirmation. Bella peeked at me out of the corner of her eyes. Ah sheesh. He might be right. Not everything can be connected to the dreams I have.
A phone rang. It was a telephone. Wow. Such a rare piece. Jack put it on speaker.
"Yes? Department of cryptic crimes here. May I help you?" He began typing on his PC.
"Uh...Cryptic. Is that one...the one she's in? Hello. Ah. Can I speak to Marigold McKenzie please? I'm her aunt Susan." A disembodied voice said in Soto voco tone.
Jack looked at me, then returned to his desk.
My eyes went round and I pounced on the phone. I didn't even switch the loudspeaker off. I knelt to the ground and put my face close to the red telephone.
"Hey, aunt! H-how are you?! When are you guys returning?" I breathed as Jane smiled at me from her desk.
"Marigold. My sweetheart. I've missed you. We'll be returning soon. Make sure you go to school on time. And what about lunch? The cash I left is enough, isn't it?" Aunt Susan said and Bella inched forward to listen on to our 'familial' conversation.
We had a short conversation and all the while Jack didn't spare me a glance. I must really have angered him. Aunt asked me about how I spent my Halloween and whom all had I tricked and treated. Well I told her about the farmhouse incident in short and she was laughing thinking it was all a prank. So it was not a really short conversation but a long one. At last I told her about how Al said I helped them a lot on the case and that it proved useful to them.
I'm sure she'd find it great that I did a good deed. Yes, she should praise me. After all, I felt useful for once.
"Really? Did you hear that Eva...I...wow. Did you really? I mean, who took you along with them on the cases? You're a minor. Aren't you." Aunt Susan spoke, almost shocked and laughing.
C'mon it's not that unbelievable. I can do stuff if I'm granted the opportunity.
Al went to the bathroom as Rick dragged a chair to me. He lifted me by my arms because I wouldn't listen to him when he asked me to sit on it. I was forced to sit on a chair.
"You've a sprained ankle. What if..." he began, bending low and whispering to me. I showed him a hand.
A finger-heart for your good deed, Mr. Patrick Adams.
He gave me a pat on the head and rushed to the Al who had returned from the bathroom, drying his face.
"Aunt...there were other minors too. Al, Ash, Bella..." I waited expectantly, biting on the edge of my pen as Rick jumped in the background behind Al, mouthing, 'me too!'.
"But sweetheart, you're still immature and naive. This gentleman who praised you must have done it to boost your confidence or self-esteem. Because why else would he do that when he hardly ever praises someone...? He's Robinson, isn't he...I heard from Eva." Aunt said and I stole a glance at Al. He was brushing his hair with his hand and when he heard his name, he shot his gaze at me.
Really? Did he really do that for boosting my self-confidence?
I twisted my mouth and didn't look at him.
Well. He certainly must have lied. People lie for two reasons, as said by Ash.
To hurt others and to not hurt others. For me, none apply. It's like my teacher gave me an assignment and I told her I didn't do it. She'd provide me with detention. In this process, the one who's hurt isn't her but me.
Here, I'm lying but she isn't hurt.
Or could be. Never mind.
"Oh but my golden-lamp diary did make their case easier. You know...the one which I received from some xyz on my fourteenth birthday..., that one. It even helped them nab a criminal." I clasped my hands, biting on the inside of my cheek.
I turned to look at Bella who was a whole sleeping beauty now. This young lass...
"Seriously? That weird diary?! Hey, Hollis...did you near that?! Goldie says her diary helped those detectives nab a criminal!" Aunt Susan shouted out loud and I could hear uncle Hollis shouting in the background.
"Holy- Susan! Did she really? C'mon that little girl must be pranking you..."
I curled my lips and dropped my head. Great. This is the exact reaction I wasn't expecting. I embarrassed myself in front of this department. This is hilarious. I thought I was gonna brag about how much my uncle and aunt pamper me and it just is like I wore my favourite dress inside-out on a party.
"Alright aunt. I gotta have lunch. See ya." I beamed at the disembodied voice coming throughout the loudspeakers and showcased my love for her.
My eyes went to Jack. He was deep in his work and didn't bother looking up. Well, I seriously did nothing great. No big deal. I don't need the appreciation.
"Okay, Goldie. We might come in around a few days...maybe a few days before your birthday..." she giggled and a voice broke hers.
"No mom! Why did you spoil it...? I wanted to prank her!"
Eva. Of course.
Ah. Birthdays...huh.
"Really?! Oh my God! I can't wait!" I stood up, nearly jumping in 'excitement'.
We bid goodbyes and disconnected.
"Jane, do you have...no, wait. I have them. The keys to my room." I hit my forehead, cussing in alien tongue at how forgetful I am. Jane laughed, probably confused by my language which wasn't English. "And, if Bella or Ash ask for me...just please send them to my room." I smiled and hopped off. My ankle did hurt but who cares. I'll probably complain about myself later.
I walked to my room, bolted it from inside and fell face-first on the bed. Ah, my heart. It feels so heavy. Okay, conclusion. I'm useless despite everything. It was me misunderstanding and deluding I was of help to them. But now that I think of it, I wasn't. C'mon. I fell..., sprained my ankle etcetera. Did that serve as a clue to anything they were solving?
Jack too thought I was stepping out of my boundaries and relating everything to my dreams.
The first time Eva solved a case, Aunt Susan was very happy and gave her daughter genuine appreciation. Was I an exception? Oh right. I wasn't her 'daughter', but a mere niece whom she raised because she knew my mom once and all that. Whenever I asked her how my parents died, she says she doesn't know because she'd never been in touch with them as they lived far away. She says she found me sleeping before her house. Why did I end up there...
Whew. Frustration makes you angry at almost anyone. Aunt Susan isn't bad. I'm just frustrated.
Do moms support their kids no matter what happens? Even if they are on the wrong?
Who knows. I don't. So don't ask me. Lemme just cry myself to sleep because I'm a worthless human being.
*________________________________________*__________________________________________*
I was sitting on the grass in the backyard of my house. There were a bunch of cats purring around me and playing with each other, falling and caressing my small bare legs. My bowl-cut hair were bobbing up and down as I ran after a black cat who had taken my PSP away. I was laughing and asking him to stop. He halted near an old water tank. Our yard wasn't big but it had a old-fashioned water tank...? The cat returned me my PSP but I dropped it on the grass to take a look at this huge tank. Gah, nothing interesting. I turned to go away.
A tear-choked voice called to me from down the tank, begging for help. Someone had said my mom was returning late in the evening. So I should give it a check...right?
Wait, mom? My mom? Was I...seeing someone's memories..., again?
So, I bolted for the shed to get a pry bar. I guess it would have gone differently had I stopped to wonder why the tank cover had been nailed shut.
Someone pushed me and I tumbled over. The cats stared at me as I fell inside the water tank, making helpless 'meow' sounds hearing me scream. I fell into pitch dark water and there was a loud splash.
I tried to swim but something tugged at my legs. Long snake-like tentacles wrapped around my neck and were pulling me further in. My mouth and windpipe became clogged with water. I struggled to breathe. I was losing consciousness as the dim light from the water tank filtered through a gap.
When I woke up, I saw myself being beaten by a gang of boys. I was writhing on the ground and everything was a blur. The boys and the surroundings. It was like those effects you put in a video to seem cool...
Where are my glasses? There weren't anywhere. I felt around for them. My vision was never this bad.
I was stamped on by another boy on my wrists as I tried to get up. Ah. Nike shoes. It hurts. It felt like a big rock had been placed on my hand. Just then, I saw a woman behind the boys. She was dressed in white. The same woman whom I had been seeing in all my dreams. The Ghost Lady. She was standing, facing her back to me. And it was she alone, who I was able to make out clearly.
She turned to me, her hair falling over the one eye I could see, and she smiled. She pointed towards an empty paint can lying on the street near a car. I could at least make out the vague outlines of objects. Blur isn't blind.
Why is she...pointing at it?
I turned to look at her whilst the beatings. She wasn't there. Why...
I crawled towards the can, it was hard enough as it is. A snail covering a distance from Pizza Hut to MC Donalds with rain beating against it. I grabbed hold of the holder of the can and hurled it at the boys. There was a flash, like in a game when you have won. A bright white flash. They were gone and I was standing on a reflecting glass. I looked at myself. A sigh escaped my lungs. It wasn't me, again.
This time, I was a small boy with hair cut in a bowl-shape.
The Ghost Lady was standing far away from me. I couldn't trace her features. She swished her hand at me and I felt long hair on my shoulders.
What?
I looked at my reflection in the glass below me. Wow. It was me. Was she a magician? No way, a fairy?
I had to ask her. Who was she? Was she helping me or is she related to this kid I am dreaming about....? I wanted to ask. But I couldn't. My voice was not coming out, although I was speaking. I smiled at her and that's when I noticed. The shirt she was wearing. It had cats on it.
I looked at her in a cold sweat before I was pulled from beneath in cold icy waters.
Cold. It's so cold. Let me out.
Why are those tentacles pulling at me again...Get me out.
***
I clutched the sheets tight and drew them close to my chest, gasping. It took me a while to recover from the nightmarish dream and get up on my feet. Literally, 'get up'. My head was slightly heavy. I looked at the time. It was evening. Ah, must be because I didn't have lunch or because of that one hell of a crappy dream.
Bella was in the bathroom. Great. Get out quickly else I'll summon the scary spirit of Casper and let him befriend you to haunt you. Ugh.
"Bella...! Will you be quick..., I'm hungry." I cried as I threw my shirt on the bed and searched through my closet for a fresh loose-fitting tee. I don't care if you see me shirtless, girl. We're nearly best friends anyway. But just, lemme have a hot water bath. It's so cold.
It was November and winter's barely begun, but I already feel cold. I knocked on the bathroom door, hanging a blue tee on my shoulders.
No answer.
Is Bella the one trying to scare me now? No chance. How can a mere prankster scare the circus' ringmaster. That's me, by the way.
I put my ear close to the door. Sound of water flowing from the tap. Ooh, so Bella was washing her hands.
Ha. Great. I pressed the door knob down. Awesome, it was unlocked.
I opened the door. "Meow." I mimicked a cat. That'd alert Bella. I'd love to see her be at least mildly scared. I was greeted by a splash of water on my face, a handful. "Bella!" I laughed, frantically wiping off my face.
Where's she? Behind the bath-curtains? Swish, she's not here either. Who sprinkled the water at me then? No. No. Nope. Not some ghost teasing. Miss. Isabella Adler is the invisible man's long-lost relative. Solved.
I still searched, behind the door and even under the basin or inside it..., who knows.
Alright. I'm scared. I need to run away. Don't trip. Don't fall. Don't show. I turned on my heels, whistling casually even though I barely knew to whistle. I slung my bag across my shoulders and cat-walked outside and locked the door, only to realize I was shirtless and only had my inner on. Holy Chocolate Fudge!
I dropped my bag and quickly put on my shirt which was gratefully on my shoulders. Phew. Hope no one saw that.
The door vibrated once. I picked my bag and became Bugsbunny, rushing to the first person whom I could see. Al.
"Al! Demon Prince! Th-th-th-" I shook his arms and he let them loose.
"Did you see some ghost again, Macaw?" He took his arm back and began dusting it.
Oh. I forgot. Why am I even talking to this guy. He lied to me about the case, about me helping him. Aunt said so. I stuck my tongue out at him. He drew his head back.
"Bella....! You know...someone splashed water on my face in the bathroom and I thought it was you but...there was no one!" I cried, falling on Bella who walked to me with her hands full of books. Studying?
"Whoa. That must have been a dream." She made me hold on to some of her books and follow her to...I dunno where. Al seemed puzzled and was thinking. Doesn't this guy's head ever have a malfunction due to excessive thinking?
"No. No. The dream was different. This one was different!" I stamped my foot and nearly lost my balance due to the heavy books. Better not sprain my ankle again.
"Dream?" Al began, following us, pulling out a rubix cube from his coat pocket and playing with it. He must think he is Sherlock Holmes. I don't care. I neatly ignored him.
Karma, sweetie.
"Yeah, dream?" Bella had to pipe up. Man. Why.
"Uh...it was about..." I began as Jack walked past us, talking to someone hurriedly on the phone. "...um...nothing big. Just a crazy dream where I met my favourite anime guy."
"Ah, yeah...you like them, I heard from Rick. Well, anyway...I need to study for the pre-finals. The date's not yet out but..." Bella babbled. Studies? Not interested. "So I'm gonna study in the BPRO. Peacefully."
She must be sarcastic. Peaceful is a little too metaphorical. This agency is nothing like that.
I know these people hide a lot more than it actually looks like. The case which dealt with Spencer was never explained how he was caught and what happened to him. AlthoughI did get to overhear the staff talking about The farmhouse we had visited to. The basement stank. There were remains of a dead body found and it was kept tied to the walls by heavy metallic chains.
So what we saw on the last floor room, those chains and the saw were definitely left behind by the culprit. A seriously deranged one. What would you do with a dead body? Isn't it useless even for hostage-keeping?
I dont know why Jack or the rest of the psychics were hiding this from us, or from me, but I think this would cause a lot more liability to them if they did tell us about the aftermath of this case...,is what I feel.
Or I just might be over thinking because I have watched too many movies, anime and read lotsa crime stories and comics.
Well, duh.
Dont tell me. You guys are making me more important a figure when you're hiding things from me. Thanks for your patronage.
Alright, let's go study even though I wouldn't do it even at the cost of possessed by ghosts but I have to. Sadly.