Episode 4: Chase
My body ached in pain as Carmelia slammed me to the ground.
I tried to stand up, but Carmelia stepped on my shoulder, pushing me back to the floor.
Carmelia
Still playing dumb?
Carmelia
I KNOW YOU'RE DISGUISING YOURSELF AS MAYA'S GHOST TO GET REVENGE ON US!
Carmelia stomped my chest. It was hard to breathe.
I pulled Carmelia's legs. She slipped and fell down.
I sat on top of her and grabbed her collar.
Asandra
WHY DON'T YOU JUST ASK IVAN?!
Someone suddenly pulled me from behind.
Tedd held me down so I couldn't move at all.
Tedd
Hey, don't struggle...😏
Asandra
THEY MUST HAVE REALIZED SOMETHING STRANGE IS HAUNTING US!
Carmelia
QUIT MAKING EXCUSES!
I want to slap her too but Tedd suddenly held me.
Carmelia got ready to kick me.
Asandra
(I need to act fast!)
I break out from Tedd's held.
I struggled weaking Tedd's hold on me. I managed to free myself.
Carmelia's kick landed on Tedd instead.
In that chaotic situation, I ran out of the storage room.
I kept on running through the hallway. I know for a fact that Carmelia and Tedd won't let me go just like that.
I almost bumped into other students along the hallway numerous times.
Asandra
(Ignore them Asandra!)
Asandra
(The most important thing is to save yourse- )
I was thrown back after crashing into someone. I held my head that was slammed into the wall.
Mr. Linton
Hey...I already told you not to run in the hallway, you troublemak-
Mr. Linton
Oh, is that you, Asandra?
Mr. Linton tried to stand up.
Seems like he also fell down when I crashed into him earlier. His flower pots and its contents were scattered on the floor.
I turned back, Carmelia and Tedd were walking towards us.
Asandra
(They still haven't given up, huh?)
I glanced at Carmelia, she stopped. Yes, she didn't have the courage to approach me when I'm with a teacher!
I immediately stood up and helped Mr. Linton tidy up his pots.
Mr. Linton
Well, at least you're taking responsibility .😄
Mr. Linton
Can you help me take them to the teacher's lounge too?😄
I sat at the teacher's lounge after moving those pots. Mr. Linton asked me to wait for him.
Asandra
(Is he going to lecture me again?)
After washing his hands, Mr. Linton sat across me.
Mr. Linton
Well here we are again.😄
Mr. Linton
How many times have you been here this week?😄
Asandra
Hahah, so what did i do wrong this time? -_-'
Mr. Linton
There's no need for something to be wrong for a teacher to talk with his students, right?
Mr. Linton
In the past, when I arrived at this school, especiall after I got appointed as a homeroom teacher....
Mr. Linton
I always try to understand every one of my students as different individuals.
Asandra
(Ah, this will be long and long... -_-')
Mr. Linton
I know your eyes changed ever since Maya went missing.
Mr. Linton
That's why, please talk. Help me understand what you're going through.😕
Mr. Linton
Help me so I can help you.😕
I fell silent. Somehow, I still hesitate to open up even after all that has happened.
In the silence, Mr. Linton pulled my hand and held it.
Mr. Linton
If you're hesitating because I'm your teacher....
Mr. Linton
Just think of me as your Friend.
I let out a sigh to get myself together.
Asandra
You know about Maya being bullied by Carmelia and the others, right?
Asandra
Why didn't you do something?
Mr. Linton
So you knew, huh?
Mr. Linton
Well, Maya did tell me about it.
Mr. Linton
But, I can't just accept that report just like that, right? I have to investigate it first.😕
Mr. Linton
Then, I got occupied with something else and forgot about it, hahahah.😄
Mr. Linton
Well Maya's problem needs to be SOLVED as soon as possible....
Mr. Linton
I promise I'll look for more evidence. You can go home now.
I didn't move. I still stared at that teacher in silence.
Mr. Linton
.....Why are you still here?
Asandra
....Whenever I would immediately leave, you would give me additional advice.
Mr. Linton
Really? Ahahah, well then, remember this.😄
Mr. Linton
A teacher's happiness is seeing their students greeting them with a smile every morning.
Mr. Linton
I want to return that smile to your face.
I smiled at him and excused myself.
Asandra
(If I go out without preparing anything.... Carmelia could be waiting for me outside.😧)
Asandra
(Should I look for another way?)
A hand landed on my shoulder, disrupting my thoughts.
Eilis
You're not thinking about running away from cleaning duty, right?🤨
Asandra
Wasn't it my turn not long ago?!
Eilis
Stop looking for excuses, let's go!
Eilis pulled my hand as she walked. I couldn't believe what's happening.
Asandra
(I still need to do cleaning duty after all that's happened?)
At the classroom, Eilis immediately handed over the blackboard eraser to me.
She gestured at me and walked to the door, leaning on it while watching me.
Asandra
Are you waiting for me? -_-'
Asandra
....Don't you have anything else to do?
-_-'
Eilis
It's your fault for running away from your last cleaning duty.
I sighed. Last time I was on cleaning duty, I didn't really run away.
That was the first time Maya's ghost appeared outside my dream.
Asandra
( If I think about it again, Maya didn't really do anything to me, unlike Ivan and Karina...)
Eilis
Why are you just standing there?🤨
Asandra
Hey... Do you believe in ghost?
Eilis
Why are you suddenly talking about ghosts?
Asandra
You'll think I'm crazy.
I stared cleaning the blackboard. Instead of leaving, Eilis walked toward's Maya's seat and sat there.
Eilis
You know, I've never met a ghost before....
Eilis
But, for me... If I die and still have some unfinished business....
Eilis
I would voluntarily haunt people until my message are delieverd.
Asandra
( You're talking as if you've died once -_-')
Eilis
If someone died so suddenly, I think they would want to meet people they hold dearly.
Asandra
You're so weird, Eilis😊
She didn't reply, not that I cared.
I continued cleaning the blackboard. As I finished, I turned around to do something else.
But, Eilis wasn't there anymore.
Was I talking to ghost? A human? I can't even tell anymore.
Tedd
So this is where you hiding.
Carmelia kept hitting the wall with a baseball bat, trying to intimidate me.
I saw Ivan standing behind him. He still looked pale and his eyes were empty.
Carmelia
Why? Are you feeling guilty?
Carmelia
If so... hurry up and kneel, I'll bust your head up!
Asandra
Tell us the truth!
Asandra
You must've realized that it was impossible for me to attack you, right?
Carmelia turned towards Ivan. She stroked his hair.
Carmelia
No need to defend her. She doesn't deserve it.
Asandra
( Talking won't do me any good...)
Asandra
(I need to run away if I still want my body to be intact.)
I broke through Carmelia and Tedd.
As I did so, my arm got hit by Carmelia. She's not fooling around!
I ran down the hallway with Carmelia chasing after me.
Asandra
Tch! I need to look for somewhere safe...
Asandra
The teacher's Lounge? Mr. Linton!
Asandra
He must still be in the teacher's Lounge!
I stared at the window to the teacher's lounge that was still a distance away from me.
Tedd
Asandra's going to the teacher's lounge!
Asandra
Tch, he realized it!
He ran faster and stood in front of the teacher's lounge.
Asandra
(Ugh, this fat man)
Asandra
(If it's like this...)
Asandra
Run to the teacher's lounge Asandra!
I pushed Tedd who blocked me.
I busted through the door.
I then blocked the door, in case Carmelia tried to break through.
When i turned towards the room, I realized something was wrong.
The teacher's lounge was full of mud. Dirty soil was spread all over the place, some of them looking like handprints.
Mr. Linton was panting as he looked out the window.
Asandra
Mr. Linton? What happe-
Mr. Linton
Oh, thank God, it's you, Asandra.
Mr. Linton
What're you doing here?
Asandra
I'm the one should ask... What happened here, Sir?
I heard Carmelia screaming from outside, cursing me and saying that I was a coward.
Mr. Linton's face turned gloomy. He rubbed his face.
Mr. Linton
Oh my....So you weren't lying when you told me about the bullying?
Asandra
What about you, Mr. Linton?
Asandra
What happened here?
Mr. Linton
Well... I, uh, I was just tidying up the plants, hahahah.😅
Asandra
You're not good at lying, you know?
Asandra
Are you being haunted by Maya too, Sir?
Mr. Linton's eyes turned cold. He looked at me sharply.
Mr. Linton
Did this happened to you too?!
Mr. Linton
So, Ivan being tied at the warehouse and the reason Karina asked to quit school was because-
Mr. Linton pulled his hair, he looked depressed as he stared at the floor.
Mr. Linton
Oh my, Oh my......
Mr. Linton
This is all because I failed to become a good teacher....
Mr. Linton
I failed to take care of my students...
I walked toward Mr.Linton and patted his shoulder. He flinched a bit then smiled at me.
Mr. Linton
I promise. I'll finish all of this...
Mr. Linton
Now, let me take you home.
Morning came. This warm sunlight came through my window since I kept it open since last night.
I stood up and closed the curtain. I didn't want the day to continue.
Asandra
Why should I go to school?😔
Asandra
Mom and Dad don't care about me.
Asandra
Ivan thinks I'm useless.
Asandra
Carmelia wants to kill me.
Asandra
I don't have any friends. Why do I even exist.....?
My doorbell rang. I took a peek from between the curtains. It was an unfamilliar car.
Of course it was someone I didn't know. No one cared about me enough to come looking for me.
My doorbell rang again? Who?
I sighed, then with heavy footsteps, I walked down and opened the door.
Mr. Linton
Hey, look at the time. You haven't gotten ready to school yet? ^_^
Mr. Linton
Do you want to get punished? 😄
Asandra
Mr. Linton? What's wrong?
Mr. Linton
What's wrong? It's obvious, right? 😄
Mr. Linton
I'm picking up a friend to go to school.😊
Mr. Linton
I won't let all those bullying stop you from going to school.😊
Asandra
Just do whatever you want.... -_-'
Thanks for being here during these times.
When we arrived at school the hallway was crowded. Everyone was gathering in front of the storage room.
Mr. Linton
Huh? What's wrong? It's already time for lessons to start, right?
Together with Mr. Linton, I walked closer to the group of people. We found Mr. Madahh trying to dismiss the crowd.
Mr. Madahh
HEY! NOTHING TO SEE HERE! GO BACK TO YOUR CLASSES!
I tried to break through the crowd.
Someone lying down, full of bruises...
There were traces of mud resembling footprints all over her body.
Asandra
Maya attacked Carmelia?
Comments
chelzxii🌸
To be continued....
2023-04-29
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