What are you, some sort of telepath? Sebastian asks again
More like a mental face reader, I replied proudly. I read faces by observing facial expressions and body language through psychological anatomy and if I observe well enough, I can decipher the centre of a person's thoughts, though I can't tell what exactly the person is thinking.
So just by 'observing' us a while ago, you were able to..kind of.. read our minds? Piper asks bewildered
Yeah, I replied, now you have to keep your end of the deal
Fine, Sebastian begins, the school principal lost someone dear to him recently, he....
hmph.. I cut him off, I can tell you're lying, the tone of your voice changed for a split second, your pupils are dilating a little faster than usual and you're obviously avoiding eye contact
Sebastian stared at me with a defeated look
Okay, piper said, we'll tell you the real deal but you have to promise.. no..swear, that you'll never tell anyone what we're about to tell you
I swear, I replied convincingly
So you were right about 'death' she began in a low tone, but it's more like murder, there are some existing murder cases in this school, she pauses a little making sure her words sink in, this cases began about a year ago. It all started on a Saturday, it was the day after senior prom, a senior came to school that fateful morning to search for a smart watch he forgot at the party the night before, he decided to check the 'Lost but found' box in the Janitor's closet, that was where he found a body, which was later identified as a classmate who was also at the prom, according to the police, there were no signs of blood or struggle, an autopsy was conducted and it was discovered that the student was poisoned with acetone, detectives believe it was mixed with whatever he drank at the party.
and he couldn't have suspected a thing, I add, acetone is highly soluble and easily undetectable
Exactly! Piper agreed, but it's chemical nature did enough damage in his system
One that isn't physically observable, I chip in, smart choice if I'm being honest. So did the detectives find a lead?
Sebastian replied this time, interrogations were done, every corner and inch of the school was searched but the police found nothing, no clue, no lead and then sadly, more cases began to occur.
Although the police did find something piper spoke up,one similarity in all of the cases, on the right arm of every victim is a bold letter 'V' written in red ink
a 'V'? I repeated
Yeah, Sebastian said, I personally think it stands for his intials ...or 'hers' of course
I doubt that, I reply
Me too, piper says, that would make things easier for the cops
I do have a question though, I add, if there's a killer on the loose, why wasn't the school shut down?
Piper replied, when the second case occured, members of the school board voted for the school to be closed till the killer was apprehended, while majority came up with a way to manage the situation to preserve the school's reputation by keeping it hidden
So no one knows about these murders, I ask
Only the very first one was publicized Sebastian replies
But somehow, you guys know? I wondered aloud
Sebastian's dad is on the school board, piper replies
Well that explains how he got in here..
Piper, Sebastian called, if I asked who you think the k.... is, he dramatizes using his hand to slit his throat to indicate the killer,... would you say it's one of the staff or a student?
I have no idea, she says
I'd say it's a student, Sebastian replies
What's your reason, I ask
Cuz take a look around, he says, this is a school for prodigies, which includes students with high IQ's and impressive abilities, I'd say any student here could pull it off easily.
True, piper commented, but don't forget we're taught by professors who have attained measurable heights and are gurus in their fields, I think they could pull it off even better.
She makes a good point... is it just me or is all this similar to the dream I had this morning..
Alright class, as you all know our yearly projects will be coming up,so I'll be fixing you in groups of 3 each, now I've been told we have a transfer student, please signify
That'll be me, I say facing the nerdy- looking teacher
Alright mister Johnson, I'm obliged to give you the honor of choosing one of your teammates and mind you, this is a one time thing
this is my chance..
with a smile on my face, I reply, I pick mister Anaki.
Very well then, the teacher said, Anaki didn't even make a single reaction to the mention of his name.
All groups began to break out to discuss the projects but Anaki remained on his seat, head buried in a book, our other team member, a girl named Cleo and I stood awkwardly after a short introduction wondering what to do next, our teammate seems oblivious to our presence, Maybe I should introduce myself..
Hey man, I'm Amari
no response...
So Anaki, you may be wondering why I chose you as my teammate
He finally tore his eyes off his book, first of all, the name's Kai.... and second, I don't care about your reasons
O..kay, I replied geez.. but shouldn't we be discussing our project right now like every other group is?
he doesn't reply, instead he picks up a sheet of paper from his desk and hands it to me, You can follow the design I've written, I'll take part A, you'll take B and she'll take C, he says pointing towards Cleo's direction
I stare at the paper before me, his idea looks pretty good and well detailed, when did he even have time to come up with this?
Sensing my satisfaction, he shoves his head back in his book.
I guess I was right about him.