“-This will be pair work,” Professor Pirelou finished.
Renee anxiously but her fingernail. She’d copied a lot of notes from the lecture, but Tech was the only class she sucked at. She never could remember anything.
Excited chatter was breaking out all over the room. Everyone was leaning towards Luke, since he was the sole person who completely understood Tech and excelled at it. Happily oblivious, he went on staring at the door, as if waiting for someone to come in. Hmm…
“Hey, Luke, you know I’m your best friend, right?” Velias said casually. “Definitely partners, right?”
Julian butted in. “Nope, I’m his friend. Remember that time we did that prank together?”
Luke made a non-committal noise.
Tsuki sauntered over. “Luke, would you be my partner? I’m on kitchen duty, so I could always supply you with seconds.”
Professor Pirelou looked like she was restraining herself from rolling her eyes. “I picked the partners for all of you, so go back to your seats everyone. As Luke clearly understands better than all of you, I’m pairing him with the one who does not.”
I’m going to bet someone is going to play dumb.
Renee looked at all her notes. Her desk was littered with sticky notes. She regretted staying up and skipping her studies the past few days, but she’d been working on spying.
Which had so far yielded little results.
She quit stalking Luke after that day. What Renee did do was to check whose room he had went into. She had no idea how to hack into school systems, unlike Luke, but Jynhue had an older brother who stayed in Room 20. Jekathro said that a Zailes Imbaz and a Phoebe Low stayed there, so Luke must’ve been with one of them.
She was sort of disappointed that Luke’s mystery was so anticlimactic. I mean, it started off so cool! Then it turned out he was just coding with an older student. Boring.
She still did have Farionze and Zeke’s mystery to solve. When she was writing letters to her Dad, she had asked him to check with Zeke’s mother, who was the pharmacist he knew. He had written back to say Nancy didn’t know about anything, and hoped that her investigation was going well.
Far from it. Ever since that conversation she had overheard, Zeke seemed to be more…desperate? He was almost close to tears one day when Renee caught him coming out of Beatrice’s room.
Farionze hadn’t changed much. She continued reading the journals and was more distracted than usual, but she hadn’t changed one bit.
Todqay though, it looked like she would be having a new mystery.
Rongo was keyed up and fidgety. He was hanging out more with a certain group of people. His bag was abnormally full to the bursting. Generally, Rongo was calm and quiet…and today he was the opposite.
She yawned and rubbed her eyes. According to the calendar in her room, it was Saturday. But apparently, weekends didn’t apply when you’re in another Realm.
Why do we have to have classes during the weekends?
“Renee Coulson, wake up,” Professor Pirelou called out dryly. “You’re paired with Tsuki Jiloneg.”
Renee moaned internally. Tsuki and she had gotten into a spat yesterday, over Tsuki finding out the she had been following Zeke. She’d teased Renee nonstop and threatened to tell him.
Needless to say, a fight erupted.
Renee had finally gotten Tsuki to promise not to tell Zeke by offering to help with her homework. Still, why me?
Tsuki clunked her stuff on Renee’s table, shaking her out of her reverie. Renee stowed some of her stuff away, fuming silently. Tsuki glowered darkly.
“So we’re supposed to make a model,” Tsuki noted. “With a working engine we have to make ourselves.”
“I’m terrible at this,” Renee confessed.
Tsuki very rudely put her feet on top of her table. “Join the club.”
Renee shoved her legs off. “We have to think of something.”
“Hiljo Montere, what are you doing?” Professor Pirelou asked.
Renee and Tsuki turned around and peered down to see what was going on. Everyone was looking at Hiljo now. He had been assigned to pair up with Kivia Kamoi, a Maguez girl who was now looking bemused and leaning away from him.
“Hiljo, what are you doing?” Lihayne, his best friends asked.
Renee couldn’t see Hiljo properly, for some reason. His form was blurred. She squinted. Oh.
He’s spasming.
Hiljo tilted back his head. Jerkily moved. Quivered faster. His mouth gasped open. Tried to say something. His eyes flashed.
Professor grabbed his shoulder. Struggled to steady him. “Calm down.”
“Is he ill?” Tsuki said, interested and a little afraid.
“What’s happening?”
“Why’s he shaking?”
“Is he going to start foaming at the mouth?”
Lihayne hesitantly approached. Tapped Hiljo’s shoulder. Hiljo’s eyes darted toward him. Said something incoherent. His head lolled. His hand dropped.
Professor Pirelou’s worry was showing on her face. By now, everyone had gathered around. The more scared stood at the back. The braver ones were closer.
Then, Hiljo went still.
“Do you need to go to the Hospital Wing?” was asked.
No answer...
Nothing but silence…
Silence so thick, you could cut it with a knife…
Chills rolled down Renee’s spine. All her hairs stood up on end. Everyone was holding their breath. Waiting. Watching.
Frightened…
The nearest took a step back.
So quiet….
Quiet enough for Renee to hear her watch ticking.
Tick, tick, tick…
Professor Pirelou stared at Hiljo with a haunted look.
He was shaking again…
His eyelids closed.
And shot open immediately.
Terrified rattling breaths escaped Renee.
Why is his eyes completely black?
His mouth opened.
“So many secrets hidden,” he rasped. “Too late now.”
With that, he lunged at Kivia.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Students dove for cover as crazed Hiljo howled and newly-turned monster Kivia bared her teeth at them.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
The room was in pandemonium.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Renee scrambled to the door. Thousands of voices shrieked in her head. Or maybe in reality.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Like Kivia, the screams turned from horror to savage glee.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Others rushed to the door and pounded it.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
It refused to open. Chaos was everywhere.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
A single tear of fear trickled from Renee’s eye.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Tables crashed. Chairs fell.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Everyone else was running. Prey. Or the predator.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Two more joined them at the door.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Why wouldn’t it bopen?
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Renee counted five howls of glee. Five taken.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
She heard Professor Pirelou shouting.
Then suddenly…
…all went quiet.
Hardly daring to move, she looked up slowly. Other tearstained faces turned to the middle of the room. Chairs, tables and random items hovered in the air. Unmoving. Professor Pirelou stood in the middle. Hands raised. Face grim.
Time had been stopped.
“What happened?” Renee croaked.
Her fists ws bruised from hitting the door. She had lost her bag in the turmoil. Next to her, someone was breathing heavily.
Surrounding Professor Pirelou were the five students.
Frozen in the throes of lunging at her.
Their faces were twisted into such horrible expressions that they were almost beyond recognition. Two were crouched, fingers extended. Like they wanted to tear Professor Pirelou to pieces.
Hiljo had been the first; he was the nearest. He was covered by a blood-red aura. Cruel smile frozen. He had been caught mid-leap. Ready to jump onto the professor. And destroy her.
To Renee’s dismay, Velias was also turned. His tusks were bared aggressively. Crouching, he prepared to jump. Part of his avatar was formed. If his fist had connected, the professor would’ve been thrown against the wall.
Kivia, Hiljo’s first victim had her head thrown back. Renee knew why: she had been cackling. Triumphant. Plants were winding their way toward her. Growing from cracks in the floor. Bloodstains were on her cheek and hand.
Badie had joined them too. She was snarling. Her hair fell in a stringy curtain in front of her face, but it didn’t hide the malice. Silvery tentacles were snaking forward. Wanting to grab Professor Pirelou. Before, all Renee could see of them were just glints of multi-colored light. Now, they were scarlet.
Half of the survivors were gathered at the door. The rest cowered behind makeshift walls of furniture. All trembled, terrified of what happened. Professor Pirelou led all of them to the door.
“What happened?” Luke demanded, voice shaky. “Velias…”
Renee almost forgot that Luke had known Velias longer than anyone else. She couldn’t imagine how it must feel to Luke that his best friend would do this.
“Apocalypse is here,” Tsuki muttered brokenly.
“Why did they attack us?” Alistair whispered.
“They were crazy,” Joshua said, horror in his voice.
She vaguely recalled seeing Joshua and Echalo from the next class scrambling away from Hiljo. They had been the closest to him. They were nearly caught, had not for the professor.
“Let’s leave,” Professor Pirelou said abruptly.
“The door won’t open,” Kesmarane said worryingly.
Professor Pirelou winced. “Special emergency, then. I allow one of you to break it down.”
Renee wiped her eyes. “I’ll do it.”
No one objected. She was the only Sedadimertex in class, the strongest race there is. Renee briefly wondered why she hadn’t simply punched through the door, then reminded herself she couldn’t do without a lot of concentration, and that was impossible now. What with all the screaming…and nearly being caught…
Everyone stepped back cautiously. Renee drew back her hand. The door was an obstacle. Preventing her from escaping. Dooming all of them. It would break down.
She smashed her knuckles into it.
It crumpled under the sheer strength of Renee. It folded on itself, toppling back. Left the doorframe. Traces of power lingered on Renee’s hand.
The tension was thick. Everyone trooped out. Professor Pirelou snapped her fingers once everyone was out. The door rose. Straightened itself. Floated to the doorway. Sealed the room.
In the hallway only did the students finally speak openly. They whispered among themselves frightened. Pale faces stared at the door. Everyone was trembling, though thankfully not like HIljo.
“Why are you sealing it?” Luke demanded.
Renee, even in this time, once again got the déjà vu feeling of wanting to face palm because of Luke.
“We cannot let them out, nor anyone in,” Profesor Pirelou told him, not unkindly.
“Velias is in there,” Luke began half-heartedly.
“So is the others,” Lihayne said mournfully. “They’re gone, Luke.”
“Ma?” Julian called out. “What happened to them?”
“Zombie outbreak?” Nicole muttered.
“It all happened so fast,” Echalo said miserably. “It just seemed to take one touch…then they turned.”
“Is this what the Headmaster was talking about? This aren’t any malady,” Rongo said distrustfully.
“If anything, they went insane,” Jynhue breathed. “Why?”
“Are they still themselves?” Renee wanted to know.
Professor Pirelou tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. She turned to everyone. “I know all of you are scared. With good reason. But I need your cooperation for now.”
Murmurings arose, but everyone nodded.
“Classes are canceled for the rest of the day,” Professor Pirelou continued. “I’d like all of you to go back to your dorms. Do not come out unless you are going to the canteen for meals, or any other important reasons. If someone notices anyone…acting like Hiljo before he, ah, went mad, please inform a professor.”
“One last request. Please do not tell anyone, be it classmate or parents, about today. Just say that classes were cancelled but you do not know why.”
Strange request. Renee filed that away to think later.
“Go now,” Professor Pirelou ordered.
Everyone headed off. They walked together, or at least in a pair. Clearly, they were afraid that the mad ones would escape and come after them. Speculations were exchanged in undertones.
Renee was about to follow.
Then, she heard it.
“Renee.”
A voice was calling.
She turned around. The hallway was empty. No one was here.
“Renee.”
There it was. Louder. More insistent this time.
And it seemed to be coming from the classroom…
Sweat dripped off her forehead. There was no mistaking it. Someone was calling her.
Ghosts?
“Renee,” the voice persisted. “My lanoia, come.”
Lanoia meant ‘precious gem’.
Only one person ever called her that.
Chills rolled down her spine. Breathing became rattling gasps. Her palms were sweaty. Wanted to run. But where to go?
Part of her wanted to run away, run away to her room.
Part of her wanted to go to the voice.
“My lanoia, come,” the voice repeated.
No, I’m not coming, this is definitely a trick.
What if Hiljo and the rest are just trying to lure me into coming in so they can eat me?
Maybe they’re mad, but they seem intelligent-mad.
Anyhow, no go, I am not…
Yes, I think I will go.
All thoughts rushed out of Renee’s head faster than water draining. As if in a trance, she walked like a dreamer. To the classroom…
“Come, lanoia, come,” the voice said hypnotically.
It’s been such a time since I heard that.
Renee sobbed. How many years had it been since she heard that voice? How long had it been since she’d been called lanoia?
“I’m coming, Mother,” she choked out.
“Lanoia, you must come,” the voice answered.
She walked past the classroom door. She treaded lightly in a stupor. The voice was guiding her past several more doors. It was eerily quiet. She didn’t care. Just follow.
Until she came upon two familiar backs of two very familiar people…
“I must leave you now, lanoia,” the voice said sadly. “Farewell.”
Follow the voice, follow the voice, follow the voice-
Wait, what?
She blinked, once, twice. What was she doing down the hallway?
“-have to tell Pirelou.”
“Argh.”
Dazed but still sensible, Renee was careful not to be seen.
By Luke and Farionze.
They faced each other. They hadn’t gone to the dorms. Instead, they were here. Arguing.
“I mean, the ghosts were red. They were red,” Luke was saying. “Maybe it’s a coincidence, but it’s a clue, isn’t it?”
Farionze shrugged.
“Oh come on,” Luke snapped. Up till now, Renee hadn’t noticed the funny way Luke talked. Now she realized he had an accent. A Californian accent.
Farionze poked him in the shoulder, standing on her toes to do so.
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Luke grumbled. “You’re not my mom. You can’t tell me what to do. Plus, I saw those things first, so I say we tell Pirelou. I have a hunch that it’s got to do with…what happened just now.”
Faionze exhaled loudly. Generally, when she did that, it meant ‘Fine, but I don’t like it’. Luke clapped his hands, obviously pleased he won the argument. Both of them strode off. Off to find Professor Pirelou now, are we?
Renee turned back. Voices were clashing in her head. A migraine was forming. She leaned on the wall.
A voice that was definitely hers was urging her to go, to run after Luke and Farionze and spy on them. Curiosity was one of Renee’s faults, and it was ordering her to find out more.
Another voice that sounded familiar but not hers was whispering to turn around. Turn around and go to her dorms. Telling her it won’t do her any good if she went after them. Telling her she could figure things out at her room.
The third voice was barely heard or thought, but it was there nonetheless. It was bizarre. It wasn’t her thoughts or the second voice’s. This one was harsh, insistent, grating, commanding…yet so, so persuasive.
Go to the classroom. Open the door. Enter.
Why should I? Renee’s voice shot back.
Go. You will find your answers there.
No, the second voice cut in. You must stay safe. Leave.
Renee massaged her forehead. So many nagging voices.
What should she do?
Go to the classroom, like the third voice said? The others were still there, frozen in time, but dangerous. Then again, maybe she could find out what was wrong with them.
Listen to her own thoughts and spy on her friends? She could find out why they were acting so weird. Her mystery that had been driving her crazy would finally be solved.
Or she could obey the second voice, gentle, caring but firm and stern. This one kept advising her to rather be safe than sorry, wanting Renee to go back to her dorm.
Eventually, she gave in to one voice.
If anyone was watching, all they would see was the blurry form of Renee Coulson running past.