The alarm rang on my phone in the early morning at 6 am, Monday.
My body ached as most of my muscles were sore after a long day of exercising and equipment clean-up the day before.
In this early morning, a chill can be felt while being warm inside the blanket, being all cozy. The grey roads lit with color as the sun came up as life has resumed outside, people going out and cars moving.
Not realizing it, I have snoozed two of the tree alarms I have set as my body did not want to get up. The third alarm was the one that finally got me moving.
'Was that I dream?' I thought.
That felt pretty real, too real in fact.
From all the dreams I had, I never remember feeling physical pain before, usually one wakes up right before that happens.
'How pretty.' The girl was in the dream.
Reflecting on myself, I have passed out in my tracksuit and didn't change any clothes to sleep in, even still having socks on.
What kind of a demon sleeps with socks I thought as I looked at my legs while sitting in bed.
"...."
"If seen or have any information, please contact the emergency services as soon as possible."
TV repeated the alert messages again in the morning while I was frying some eggs and bacon, looks like there were still no updates on any of the disappearances. In any case, at least no updates for something they would allow the public to hear.
In a small and cozy kitchen, I have prepared the food with some salad and sat quietly, eating and watching videos on my phone while also noticing dark clouds outside the window.
The broadcast stated rainy weather throughout the day all the way till tomorrow, for this area, this was quite odd. Yesterday was the complete opposite and now looking out of the window, seeing a small dribble that slowly started to get worse felt weird as if this was not how it was supposed to be.
As if this is the doing of someone else.
Being brought up alone, my dad taught me to be independent, from making my own meals, shopping, laundry to keeping healthy both mentally and physically. It could be he did those things just for me to clean around the house, however him, mostly traveling, made perfect sense at least in my eyes.
While taking a hot shower, the thoughts of the dream came into my head. Looking back at it, it seems that the keys are still in my case and nothing was touched or seemed out of the ordinary.
I don't remember being overly exhausted either to pass out and not remembering how I got home. The last thing I remember was arriving at school however that was when the dream and reality mix up and nothing made sense.
There is no way I was actually stabbed in my back and left bleeding out on the roof. If that was the case I would be dead by now and there are no signs of anything on my body as I looked on the right side of my abdomen.
Just a random dream.
* * *
"Hey there Oliver, morning!"
"Morning." I replied to Leo. "Tom's not here?"
"He's getting some food and a drink right now at the canteen."
I put my umbrella by the side of the wall and sat behind Leo. Both Leo and Tom sit close by and I sit alone behind them on the desk that fits two, sitting by the left side.
At the time, the usual noises can be heard such as students talking and chairs being moved around. They looked more energetic for some reason. On a moody day like this, I'd rather just sleep in than make pointless talk.
The thunder rumbled.
"—Your dad drove you?" He asked me while unpacking his things at the desk.
"Nah, I walked today."
"You walked? In this weather?"
"Yeah, he's busy with work at the moment so he had to leave yesterday evening and will be gone for a few days."
Not that I knew what he was busy with exactly, he never mentioned his work, and as I grew older, the further we grow apart.
"Hmm"
"So Oliver," He said while sitting down in front of me. "You managed to do what you needed to do yesterday?"
"What do you mean?"
"You had to go back after the convenience store, remember?"
"Ahh, yeah I managed everything and got home safely."
"That's good." He smiled, probably being worried as I had to leave them late yesterday evening.
"Though you look a bit pale."
He had a point, ever since I woke up, I have not been feeling that well. Waking up lightheaded and then developing nausea while getting here was a real pain, especially when it's a school day.
"Y-yeah I'm fine. Probably just something bad. Shouldn't last long." I replied while giving a nervous laugh at the same time, not to worry him more.
Ever since I remember, Leonard was always been the type of person who deeply cares for those who are close and always overthinks things. Sometimes it is better to not mention too much information or you will see his brain processing things that never happened right in front of you.
The complete opposite of Thomas.
The rain worsened and the thunder got louder by that time Tom came back up with his coffee, sitting in front of me. I was looking out of the window at the time, the rain was so strong that it seemed like it was all mist covering the area while Tom and Leo were chatting.
'A car?' — I noticed one that was just pulling up, a black one with some of the staff members that stood outside waiting.
"What's up with that?" Tom said, noticing the event unfolding also, seeing someone exiting the rear seat as the black umbrella opened and the person was greeted there.
While still looking outside and spacing out, the door of the class opened catching my attention. The others quieted down as the day was about to begin.
The first lecture was English and our teacher, Ms. Anna walked in, being followed by a girl with long black hair that is slightly longer than the waistline, holding her bag by the side.
I have never expected a silly rumor to be true, especially one as dumb as this one, it made no sense to change schools in the last year before university.
"Please greet June, she will be joining you guys from today on."
Ms. Anna said smilingly, introducing her to the class.
"She'll be staying with us for the remainder of the year."
At the time I didn't say anything, I could only observe the situation. Not only due to the nature of the situation but of how beautiful she looked. Cold eyes, as cold as the blue chill winter river, looked at me, giving off a vibe that I could not describe fully in detail.
"Now you can sit next to Oliver over there at the back."
No one spoke as everyone looked at her and she, she was looking at me.
Thit — this will be a problem.
She approached me in silence and sat, taking out her literature books and her notes. Looking at what she has, it did seem exactly the same as what we were doing. As if she was here all this time without me noticing.
The usual whispers started to go around again as the others started talking about June and how she was sitting next to me, the mostly loner kid, the one who hated their pointless chit-chats.
Time passed and the rain kept on hitting the ground, I could hear the scribbles of the pencils and the sound of the chalk.
Hmm? I thought, looking down into her book. Written in a heavy font.
— I know what you did on the roof
My breathing stopped and I twitched as my heartbeat sped up and I could feel a cold sweat.
'It can't be, it was not impossible. It is not possible that she is referring to the dream.'
'It was just a dream.'
After looking up at her, I was only caught by another surprise, the surprise of her smiling. Seeing it from the side as she kept on writing notes. However when I looked down to check again ...
It was gone.
There was nothing but the notes for the book. Yet, it was written in ink and not in pencil.
Looking at her again, she was looking into her book with a straight face as if nothing had happened. Nothing was written, no smiles and or grins were given, the situation didn't exist. I was going crazy.
'Am I seeing things?'
I could feel goosebumps on my neck as I took a deep quiet breath to calm down. I stayed calm and collected, trying to ignore what had happened, assuming I was seeing things.
* * *
Midday break came and I finally had the time to get something to eat and calm down. Remembering back, the other students were still staring at her yet no one approached.
There goes my quiet life and plus on top of that for the whole day I had the feeling like someone is watching me, no matter where I go or do. The creepy aura I felt was everywhere and I could feel the weight of the air that I never felt before in my life.
It felt as if I was swimming in something that is slightly lighter than water.
"Where are we going to go?" Leo asked us both.
"I doubt we can go to the takeaway place in this weather."
"The canteen I guess?"
"It's ok with me." Tom replied.
"Good with me also." I said to them both.
"I guess I was right about the whole rumor and stuff."
"Yeah, looks like it." said Leo. "She's kind of quiet, no?"
"I don't know, maybe she's shy? She looks like the type of person who hates talking. Just like you." He said as he looked at me, grinning.
"With her looks, I'm not surprised if every single guy will try to hit on her." Leo replied to Tom. "Thought, you saw how intimidating she looks."
He had a point, she was so good-looking that even the most self-confident people would lose their cool if they are caught off-guard with her.
"Say guys," I added, catching their attention. "Is it just me or does something seem off today?"
"What do you mean?" Tom said, looking confused at me as we walked down the stairs to the canteen.
"... It's nothing."
Both of them got a bit confused by my question. It seems like only I am experiencing this weird effect. Could it be because of stress with all the studying? Or maybe somehow the lack of sleep that has built up to the point where I was hallucinating?
We made our way to the canteen since it was a rainy day, it was packed with people this time, everyone buying food. The sounds reminded me of an airport on how busy it was, people sitting in their own groups chatting, the noises of cutlery and stainless steel kitchen equipment hitting the plates and cookware.
Looking around, there were no spaces for us to sit anywhere. Everyone decided to go to the canteen due to this weather as I looked around again, holding my toast — and thus all three of us decided to go to the storage room in the gym to eat quietly
That was one of the areas where we usually slacked around, skipping classes or maintaining the equipment that we use in the team, a general sports storage area.
"Oh, it's you guys!" Shouted Alex as we arrived there. "Came here to eat?"
Alex was one of the third years also but in another class, he was also one of the members of the track team which is why it explains why he and Joseph were down here eating instant cup noodles.
"Yeah, it's packed like crazy in the canteen. Looks like you skipped the queue and just used the vending machine I assume?"
"Mhm." Alex replied to Tom as he slurped the food. "Not the healthiest option but hey, once in a while it's not bad and on a day like this it's just the best."
They have used the vending machines to get some noodles and drinks by the looks of it, and students are able to get hot water at the cafe machines if they wished to. It was a quick solution and I don't blame them for using it in a time like this.
"Oh yeah, by the way, Tom." Joseph asked. "So how is the girl?"
"You mean the transfer student?"
"Mhm, she sits next to you guys, right?"
"Yeah, she's really good-looking, though not much of a talker judging from the interactions she had with the other girls. I didn't talk to her yet but our corner is now the most popular one."
As they continued to talk I sat next to them and begin to notice that the air in this area was not as bad as before in the main hallway or the stairs. I looked around to see if there was something out of the ordinary however as usual there was nothing. Unfortunately, the strange sounds in my head had still not gone away.
"Oliver... Oliver?"
I snapped after spacing out again, hearing Alex. Looking up at him, everyone else was looking at me.
"You ok there?"
"You've been acting kinda strange lately." Leo also said.
After the whole dream and the new student, beginning to see things and hear things, they probably think I'm a lunatic if I try to explain anything.
"I'm fine, just thinking about some schoolwork."
"You see!" Tom laughed. "Even Oliver is going crazy with all the extra work we've been doing these past few weeks. It's crazy!"
"You guys shouldn't have slacked off so much to even begin with!" John laughed. "Jackasses!"
Tom and John got into their usual argument, while they often fight and swear at each other they still seem to be good friends, being that John is a sly person by nature while Thomas is a genuine extrovert.
And not so long after, the bell rang.
* * *
Opening the door back in the class, it looked like June was still the center of attention as she sat quietly and alone while putting her hair behind her ear, noticing me.
Approaching the desk next to her, the others started to quiet down, yet no one had the courage to approach her except a rare few who got their expectations crushed. It was the time of day for the second half of school to start after lunch.
At this time nothing much had happened, the students continued doing their work and the subjects changed as time passed. At this point, it was kind of getting boring however the weird pressure was still there.
No one dared to speak with June yet as no one knew exactly how to approach her. Already two guys came up to me asking me dumb questions such as if I talked to her or how is she from other classes only to be ignored.
It could be that my life didn't change that much by her sitting next to me, I sighed during the class.
— I was wrong.
4 pm struck and everyone began to collect their books and other items in the hallways by the lockers after the bell rang, preparing to leave the school. Most of the time everyone leaves their books here and only takes what is needed home to avoid carrying all the weight of the book altogether.
I on the other hand barely carried anything, nor that I have the luxury now of leaving the school at 4 pm as one can guess why by now.
"I'll see you downstairs, man." Tom tapped me on the should as he passed by saying those words. Judging by his face he was in the usual mood of 'Oh god please no more extra afterschool work' type of mood which I don't blame him for.
June also passed by me, still without saying a word nor accessing any lockers, she simply walked and turned left, walking down the stairs. Her bad was small, only a book or two could fit there probably, and how weird it was, her not accessing any locker. Perhaps she didn't collect any of the books yet?
During the lessons, she was only taking notes in her notebook and only had the two mandatory books, that being maths and literature for today's day. That aside, she was still the center of attention and no one dared to say anything, at least so far.
As it was Monday, we did not have any extra lessons however we still had the responsibilities of the track team and as seniors, we are responsible for our team, including maintenance and or order of equipment. Including the health and safety of others.
"ACHOO!" Tom sneezed as he started to curse again. "Oh come on man!"
He was moving the old mats out of the way in the storage in order to see what needs to be thrown away at this stage. The storage room is a large area that seems clean, however, that is only in the middle as most of the stuff on the sides has not been touched or cleaned yet. Since it was our last year, we are to see what needs to be thrown away, ordered, and replaced.
"I got six here." Leo shouted across from the other corner. "Two here!" Tom replied.
Alex was not here at this time, he had left earlier due to some personal circumstances. It was a month now since he skipped as he was having issues with family so we heard.
"Speaking of, I will get going, I got something to do before 7." Leo replied while dusting off all the dust from his tracksuit, removing the mask.
When he left, it was only Thomas and I alone, throwing away old mats, trying not to breathe in the dust.
"And that's all of em." He nodded, looking at the pile with me.
We put the half-rotten mats to the corner on a pallet jack, preparing it for tomorrow's pickup to the dump. "Twelve in total. That should be good for today."
"Man, I told you yesterday I was right about a new transfer student—"
He said again, cleaning up.
"She's really cute, should I ask her out? She sits so close and next to you also, so it would be a perfect excuse! Though, getting turned down by someone sitting right behind you and in your class will be hella awkward."
"As long as you don't get me involved."
"Whats' up with that? The whole day you've been kinda not here at all, that's not much like you. Or don't tell me that you got a crush now?" He laughed.
"..."
Cleaning up the pile of dust with a broom, the air once again began to get heavier and heavier as my breathing worsened. The feeling of being watched once again overwhelmed my body as fight or flight instincts kicked in and my arms began to shake as if I have not eaten anything for the whole day.
'It's coming.' a voice echoed in my head.
'What the hell is going on? I need to get out of this place.' I thought as my vision began to get blurry.
'You won't be able to.'
"We really need to hit some of the new places in the city after all this, maybe we'll find something intere—"
Thomas was behind me, sweeping next to the entrance, as the broom that he was holding fell onto the floor, being followed by complete silence.
"Tom?"
Being followed by dead silence.
As something fell while I turned. As he fell down when I turned, looking at a man covered in his blood and him on the floor.
"T-Thomas??"