[11th April 2024]
James and Evan were heading towards Peter's cabin to see if what their classmates had said was true. They had heard that Peter had summoned him to his cabin for punishment.
Meanwhile, Rey was being lectured for arriving late to school yet again.
He stared at the floor as if it were made of diamonds, while Peter lectured nonstop on the importance of attendance and study—topics no one ever wants to be lectured about.
"Rey, are you even listening to what I'm saying?" Peter asked, noticing Rey's distraction.
"No, sir—yes, I am listening very carefully," Rey responded, his face a picture of sincerity, though Peter still regarded him with skepticism.
"Listen, kid, I understand your family's situation since your father's incident, and that you're trying to help your mother, which makes you late. But please, Rey, try to be more attentive. It could help you score well on exams, get into a good university, and eventually secure a good job," Peter said, concern etched on his face.
"Yes, sir, I understand your concern and I'm trying hard to study," Rey replied earnestly.
"Okay, then have you studied the help book I made for you?" Peter inquired, recalling the mathematics book he had given him the day before, knowing Rey struggled with the subject.
"Yes, sir, I am... studying it carefully," Rey said, pausing as if recalling something only he knew about these notes. {And you can too if you read my second book, so go check it out if you haven't.}
"Okay, good, but I still can't let you get away with this. Let me think of a way to punish you," Peter said as he began searching the room for something.
Rey, who had been relieved in his mind, was now shocked at the prospect of punishment after the long lecture. By mistake, his gaze fell on the window beside a drawer, where he saw two silhouettes he instantly recognized.
It was James and Evan, who were watching him get lectured.
Peter also stopped searching as he found something in the same direction Rey was looking.
He stood up and walked toward it, startling the two outside the window, who instantly crouched down to avoid being seen.
Peter laid his hand on two large bundles of paper sheets and turned to face Rey, who was also frightened that Peter might have seen his friends.
"Rey, take these paper sheets to the ground floor storeroom and finish before lunch. Then you can go back to eat your lunch, understood?" Peter instructed, to which Rey, scared but relieved that his friends weren't caught, nodded.
"Did you hear what I just said?" Peter asked, noticing Rey standing there like a statue.
"Oh... yes, sir, I understand, and I will complete it before lunch," Rey responded as Peter nodded and walked toward the door behind Rey.
As he passed by Rey, he stopped and whispered in his ear.
"Rey, tell your friends not to come looking for you again, as I won't let them off without a punishment next time," Peter said with a smile and left the cabin, leaving Rey dazed behind.
He snapped to attention, walked to the window, and looked outside to see his friend walking away with light steps.
"Where are you both going?" he asked, startling them both as they turned to find Rey speaking.
"Oh, so you're the one who asked, huh? Nothing, we were just passing by and saw you getting lectured, so we came to see," James said hurriedly.
"Okay, come inside and help me," Rey said, not wanting to argue at that moment.
"But what if Peter sir sees us helping you here?" Evan asked, also fearing him.
"Nothing will happen; he already knows that you both are here," Rey assured them, understanding that Peter had seen them peeking through the window.
They both entered the cabin and saw Rey standing near two large bundles of paper sheets.
"What are we going to do with these bundles?" James asked, eyeing the towering stacks.
"Just help me transfer them to the storeroom below," Rey instructed as he picked up half of the bundle.
"Alright, let me help then," Evan said, lifting the other half of the bundle.
James, trying to show off, picked up an entire stack by himself.
They noticed he was struggling to hold it, but, like many boys, he was too proud to take orders, so they let him be.
James started walking quickly, eager to put down the stack, and headed downstairs with Evan and Rey following behind.
As they were about to descend the stairs, with a few steps remaining, two junior class students came running towards them. One bumped into Evan, who lost his balance and, with a loud thud, fell face-first onto the floor, scattering papers everywhere.
Several students noticed and rushed over to see if he was alright. Evan was not bleeding, but he had become unconscious from the sudden fall from the fifth stair.
Rey, upon witnessing the incident, quickly placed his papers on the ground and, with the help of another student, carried Evan to the infirmary.
As they moved away, other students gathered the papers. James, who had just returned and learned of the situation, hurried to check on his friend's condition.
He arrived at the room where the nurse was examining Evan.
"Rey, what happened?" he asked directly. Rey, noticing the nurse's distraction, led him outside.
"It's nothing serious, bro. He just fell down the stairs, but the nurse said he'll be fine. He just needs some rest," Rey explained once they were outside.
"Alright, I'll wait here. You go grab something to eat; lunch is almost over," James suggested, glancing at the wall clock.
"Sure, but let me know when he wakes up," Rey replied before dashing off to his classroom for lunch.
Meanwhile, James sat on a bench outside the room. Inside, we see Evan standing in darkness, eyes shut.
Upon opening his eyes, he saw nothing but the chilling darkness, causing him to shiver.
He was trapped in a dream, unaware at the moment, a recurring nightmare from which he had briefly escaped, only to be ensnared again.
"Hello, is anybody here?" Evan called out, but there was no response. Then he remembered falling down the stairs.
"Am I dead or something?" he wondered, recalling novels where the main character, upon death, finds himself in such a void, usually before a deity intervenes to grant reincarnation. Yet, he doubted his fate was either so unfortunate or fortunate to die or be transported to another world.
Before he could ponder further, a sudden change startled him, and he stumbled.
"Ahhhh..." he screamed, recoiling in fear.
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What did Evan see that frightened him so?