~~Daniil's POV~~
"What the fuck?????!!!!" I exclaimed saucer-eyed. Not just me but everyone who witnessed what just happened was compelled to halt and just watch.
Jordan tried his utmost best to regain his balance but his legs denied him any cooperation, tripping him instead and eventually leaving him lying flat at Yoshida's feet. This was so fucking embarrassing that Jordan couldn't even raise his head to look at his supposed girlfriend. While his pathetic self kept his head buried, I simply enjoyed the show, relaxing with folded arms.
I veered my studying eyes to Ashley now. She looked nothing like she used to. This time, she appeared furious. Jordan was being such a pain in the ass, even I could tell. Here's the theory: while he used Sakura to soothe his ego, he sought Ashley to soothe his feelings. That's bizarre, right? Exactly why no one's allowed to blame Ashley for what just happened.
In time, the pressure from the poking eyes and whispers all around her didn't leave Ashley untouched. Her wavering eyes darted to the spectating folks and that made her feel uneasy. She simply bowed her head and walked past the crowd to her seat.
Back to Jordan.
Now he was sitting on his knees and with both hands on them, he bowed before Yoshida. Dude! Yoshida on the other hand simply stormed past him and that's when the girl holding her phone up to the scene taking clips or maybe photos, beside her all along came into the limelight. Things were about to get even more interesting, I thought, flashing an evil grin.
I returned to watching Ashley closely as usual. I itched to walk up to her and demand an explanation for her absence yesterday but I wasn't sure what she'd do to me if I approached her in her current mood; I wouldn't be surprised if she gave me a slap so yeah, I only observed from my seat.
Hours on…
Classes were over for the day and it was finally time to retire home. I advanced to the ground floor only to meet Ashley just before the exit, at the foot of the last step between us. It was raining cats and dogs so I deduced she was waiting for it to abate. Some students having umbrellas left under them, while others like Ashley were waiting patiently at the building's entrance.
I didn't have an umbrella with me but I did in the car so I called Jason to bring it to me. I would've easily asked him to get the car here but I had other plans.
"I should leave? In the rain?!" Jason exclaimed nonplussed when I excused him after retrieving the umbrella.
"You heard me."
"Boss! I asked to get the car here instead. Why did you refuse?" he whined.
"Jason you're excused," I repeated with eyes still on Ashley.
"I just do not get you sometimes." 'You don't have to.'
He left.
I descended the steps before me, making my way to Ashley. Just when I got real close, she walked out in the rain.
Seriously?
I opened the umbrella and went after her. Eventually caught up and compelled her to halt, now holding the umbrella over her head.
She veered to me and locked eyes with mine. This time her expression was blank, like she was lost somewhat. Until abruptly she winced, breaking free from my hold. Then to my surprise, she started striding away from me. What's up with this girl?
"Ashley! Ashley!" I hailed but she won't even pause let alone look at me again. She kept moving swiftly like someone being chased. Frankly speaking, I still struggled to understand her completely.
'Does she recognize me?' Nah she probably doesn't, I waved off.
"A…. I was about to call her a third time when I saw another guy surface before her. 'Is he the same guy?' I squinted to take a closer look but the umbrella's canopy coupled with Ashley's head barriered my view.
After standing in one spot for a couple of seconds, they left together.
'Who the hell is that?'
~~Ashley's POV~~
I ran out of battery. I could not call Maverick to get the car so I had to either wait for the rain to subside or simply walk in it. At one point, I got tired of waiting and chose the latter. The car park wasn't that far off from here after all.
Suddenly, the showers seized. 'Has the rain stop?' No, it didn't. Something was shielding me instead. I looked up and saw an umbrella looming over me. I tilted to my left to see a hand wrapped firmly around its handle then raised my eyes to meet a pair of amber eyes.
It was him. The blue-eyed guy.
He bored into my eyes, fixing me with his. I could neither look away nor ward him off.
Thanks to the heavy downpour, the clouds were already gloomy shedding minimal light over us. And his eyes.
Those eyes.
They glowed in the dark.
Glowed.
In the dark.
Suddenly, a pair of deep ocean-blue eyes glowing from within the darkness flashed through my head, causing me to flinch with my eyes tightly shut.
Bloody handprints.
Bloody pool.
Makayla's lifeless body.
Inhaling sharply I shot my eyes open to stop the train of disturbing images that swayed through my head. This won't do. I picked up my pace, going away from him.
"Ashley! Ashley!" he called, trying to keep up while I moved on without looking back.
"Miss Ashley!" Maverick appeared suddenly before me with an umbrella. 'Thank goodness,' I breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought to come find you."
'It's a good thing you're here,' I wanted to say but settled for just resuming my steps with him following suit.
We got to the car and I just sunk into the backseat, drowning in my thoughts.
What was that?
Images from the nightmare I couldn't recall?
Was the blue-eyed guy's face a trigger?
I shook my head sharply to shake off those disturbing thoughts but that only shifted my attention to my heart pounding violently in my ears.
I then took out my headphones from my bag and put them on. I was going on an undercover mission with Carson. What should I expect? 'If the killer is indeed toying with our intelligence, could there be any chances of showing up before us?' I kept my mind busy with these thoughts instead. Although they weren't less disturbing.