Robyn walked down the road toward a T-junction. There was a pole with three green plates at the top at the end of the road, each pointing at a different direction. She turned to the road which one of the green plates said Lucifere Street. As she turned, it had started pouring without forewarning.
Robyn instinctively covered her head with her hands and ran as fast as she could. Her house was still a little further down the road. Oh, no. I’ll be soaking wet.
She ran for another minute or so before finally reaching the porch of her house. She began patting and brushing water off herself from head to toe. That was when she realised something. Something fascinatingly strange.
She touched her hair and clothes. Strange. She took off her backpack and examined it. Very strange.
She was not wet at all.
She gaped at the water pouring from the sky. The rain splashed onto the ground so mercilessly. Everything outside was wet. The road she walked on was glistening with water. Now this is something that doesn’t happen every day. She was surprised she could still amuse herself despite the bizarreness of the event.
She blinked. And again. She shook her head and went into the house.
After that, she wet with her usual routine — dipped her feet in the cold water, ate the leftovers and finished her homework. Nelly was peculiarly quiet that day. She just lay there like a dead dog with occasional moans that sounded like she was frightened by something. For some reason, it might have been Robyn that she was afraid of because she would not let Robyn touch her. It annoyed Robyn.
Nelly had never been like that since the last time he came over to her place. It had only occurred to Robyn after awhile that Nelly had always acted like that whenever he was around.
It was still raining outside but it was not as heavy as one hour ago. She was lying face down on the bed, scribbling aimlessly on the notepad next to her calculus textbook. Her mind was tired from looking at all the questions. And then, she heard a car drove up at the driveway outside. She rose up from her bed lazily and looked down the window. Ashley was stepping out of the car. She’s early today, she thought. She was about to turned away when something — someone, caught her eyes.
There he was. A tall figure in a brown leather jacket and dark grey hoodie, with the hood over his head. He was slightly leaning against the boot of the car, hands in the pockets of the jacket with his head tilted up. He was staring at her. She could not see his eyes or his face but she knew he was. For a moment, she thought she knew him or maybe seen him somewhere before. She blinked hard. But when she opened her eyes again, he was gone. There was not any trace of a man had ever been on that spot.
Robyn broke away from her stare at the empty spot beside the car when Nelly let out a very unnerving moan.
****
A man dressed in a pair of torn jeans and a dark grey hoodie was standing on the tip of an antenna on one leg, under the big grey moon. He had no trouble balancing himself on it. The hood was pulled over his head so that his face was well hidden under it. The rain hit on his face but he gave no attention to it. He began to stretch out a leg and stepped onto the air. The rain gathered beneath his foot and solidified into a thick layer of cold crystal. He took another step, another block of the cold crystal formed from the raindrops. With every step he took, the seemingly cold crystal was formed under his feet.
An uneven path of thick ice was formed behind him. It had led him to another antenna tip. He hopped onto the next antenna, balanced himself effortlessly. The ice melted into water in an instant and splashed onto the smooth concrete roof —in this case, the floor, as if it did not remember it being an ice a second ago. There was no need for him to form the icy path but he was having fun with this.
He smiled to himself. Ice began to form from beneath his Nike sneakers, sloping downward, to the edge of the roof. This time the icy path was smooth and shaped like a skateboarder’s launch ramp. Again, it was unnecessary, but he liked it. Let’s treat it as a practice.
He bent his body down toward the icy path until his body was in a position that is impossible for a human to still be able to balance itself on the pointed tip of an antenna. He dropped and glided on the path like a professional skater. He reached the end of the path and then, it felt like he had stopped in mid air.
Then, a gush of angry wind splashed on his face and the rain lashed at him. The feeling was familiar to him to the point that he was so used to it. It was the feeling that he loved and the very reason he was doing these things.
The feeling of falling.
It was terrifying and ghastly but relaxing at the same time. These feelings came in an equal fervour, in a complex mix like a cocktail. It was exactly what he needed at the moment.
He kept falling and saw the lights of the building swiped pass him like lightning. He closed his eyes. But soon enough, it all came to an end. He was only a few feet away from the ground but he did not set his feet on it. In fact, he was nowhere to be found.
A young girl with silky red hair that was pulled back into a high ponytail was holding a black umbrella, standing beside a lamp post just below the building. She was staring at the very spot where the man had vanished. Her face was emotionless.
The man in dark grey hoodie came out from an unlit alley besides the building. The light of the lamp post shone on him, revealing a simper but the hood still shadowed his face.
The red-haired girl rolled her cornflower blue eyes and headed towards him. She moved the umbrella closer to him and over his head. “Satisfied?” Her voice was cold but with a hint of concern.
“Not really,” he answered, still smirking. “Still not high enough.”
“Not enough?” Her voice was pitched with disbelief. “This is Sears Tower, the current tallest skyscraper in all America. What else do you want?”
He put on a thinking face playfully. “Let’s say...the tallest building in the world?”
He noticed the girl had tried to avoid looking at his face a few times when she was talking. She could not take his smile. Nobody could take his smile, even for their kind. And she admitted that to him through her eyes. It was impossible not to return a smile when you have looked at his.
“Oh, stop simpering,” she complained. It was too much for her. She cleared her throat and braved herself to look at him. “Well, sorry to put this to you but there isn’t one.”
The man raised an eyebrow at her, looking as if he was waiting for her to enlighten him.
“Every few years there would be a new tallest building. Every country wants a ‘tallest building in the world’. You could never go to the tallest building in the world because there isn’t one.”
He chuckled and nodded in agreement. “Clever.”
The girl smiled triumphantly like a child.
“Now, Billie, let’s go home.” He turned but a hand held him back.
“Not until you tell me what happened.” She stared at him like her eyes had just become an X-ray machine.
He returned the gaze and was quiet for awhile before he answered her question. “Nothing.”
“When people say there’s nothing, it usually means there is something.” She tilted her head up a little, trying to look wise and intended to pull the secret out of him by force.
He stared at her for another long time and he sighed. He gave up. “I feel...ambivalent.”
****
Robyn woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon and egg. She liked that feeling. She brushed up quickly and changed into her uniform. She went downstairs and skipped the last few steps of the staircase. The sound made Nelly ran towards her. She was shaking her tail vigorously as if she was excited about something. As if she had just seen her owner that had been away for awhile.
Robyn patted her furry head. She was glad Nelly was back to normal.
Ashley had started eating with a morning paper in her hands. Robyn put her backpack on the couch and went to her breakfast. They talked of their parents who called last night when Robyn was sleeping and something about Ashley’s workplace. Robyn glanced at her watch, then forced a whole piece of egg into her mouth and gulped down a glass of milk. She nearly choked on that.
“I’m off.” Robyn said without looking at her sister while she grabbed her backpack and walked to the door.
“Robyn,” Ashley called out to her just before her hand reached the door knob. “Be careful.”
Robyn was confused for a moment. Ashley often said that to her when she went out but this time it sounded different, like she was really worried. “O-kay.” And she ran off to school.
Robyn had a car. A 70’s Plymouth muscle car. It used be her Dad’s. It had been in the garage for quite some time now. She only ever used it when she really needed it. Driving that old steel junk around was not a proud thing to do. That was why she preferred to walk to school. Otherwise, standing beside that junk would draw attention. And that was the last thing she wanted.
It was funny. Even though her house was just next to Damien’s, they had never gone to school together nor had she ever ran into him on the way to school. Until now.
Damien was leaning against the wooden fences surrounding his garden, smiling brightly at her, cleanly dressed in his uniform. He did not pull up his sleeves and he was even wearing the ridiculous tie. “What took you so long?” He moved and took her backpack off of her back. He then dropped it into the storing space of his Suzuki race bike and passed a helmet to her.
She took it mindlessly when she was still looking at him, confused. “Were you waiting for me?”
“Yep. Ain’t I great?” He grinned sheepishly while he got onto the bike.
“This is the first time ever I’m going to school with you.” She put on her helmet and got onto to the bike, too. This was not the first time she rode on his bike, though.
He kept quiet and he kept on pulling his sleeves over his wrists. That was when she noticed. She grabbed his right hand without warning. He was shocked. He tried to pull it back but it was too late.
Robyn looked at his bandaged hand, then at him. “What happened?” Her voice sounded like a mother worried about a child.
He tried to pull away again and it worked. “It’s nothing,” he answered flatly. “I got hurt fixing my bike yesterday.” He made a gesture of grabbing something and letting it go a few times. “See, it’s fine.”
Robyn crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at him. “Why do you get hurt over fixing your bike so often? Two weeks ago it was your left leg and a month ago it was your neck.”
“Really. It’s nothing. Now, c’mon. We’re gonna be late.” He grabbed her hands and put it around his waist. He started the engine and rode towards the school. She knew he would not tell her the truth even if she stuck a knife on his throat. So, she let it go.
They, actually, arrived earlier than expected. Robyn sat at her usual place, waiting for Stella to come. Damien had run off to answer a call just before he stepped into the class. Robyn was half day dreaming when she heard something shocking. Not terrifying, but shocking.
A group had gathered at the centre of the class. People were talking loudly. There were Dina — the richest girl in school, Lex — an airhead footballer, Johnny — the bossy class president, and Penelope — a cheerleader, another airhead. Those four were the only ones she knew aside from Damien, Stella and Jack. They were the famous four — the Gossip Group.
“It’s on the news last night and the paper this morning,” said Dina the Rich Girl.
“It was terrible. Two bodies, but no blood or wound. Not even a bruise,” said Penelope the Cheerleader.
“What’s so terrible about it? It could have been poison,” Lex the Footballer suggested as-a-matter-of-factly.
“Didn’t you pay attention to the news? The bodies were drained of blood! How could somebody lose all the blood without a visible wound?” Johnny the President suggested.
“Must be some sick, sadistic, psycho killer. Murdering the girls by draining their blood and let them die a torturous death. I pray it won’t happen to me.” Dina swallowed hard and held on to the cross pendant of her necklace.
“You worried too much.” Lex gave out a mocking laugh.
“Lex, it all happened in Ellens Creek! Hello? That’s, like, the town right next to Donnsville.”
I really should start reading newspaper or watching the news.
That explained everything. Both Ashley and Damien. Overreacting siblings and worrywarts. But Robyn felt warm inside, albeit a little annoyed. She was smiling to herself when a silhouette appeared and blocked the sunlight from the windows. She looked up and her dark green eyes met with a pair of glimmering amber eyes. They just stared at each other for awhile.
Robyn finally broke the silence. “What do you want?”
Jack laughed bitterly. “Good day to you, too.” He turned away but stopped. He sighed and turned back. He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before he finally spoke. “I need to talk to you.”
Robyn opened her mouth to talk but she could barely start her sentence when he interrupted her.
“I’ll meet you at the gym after school.” His voice was so low. It was almost like a whisper. He saw the expression on her face and added, “Please.” He said it firmly.
He went back to his seat just before Damien walked in with Stella. Somehow, she felt like somebody was glaring at her. She turned to her left. A girl turned to the front just as Robyn looked at her. A girl with curly blond hair.
The entire school was talking about the murders. Apparently, the victims were young girls about Robyn’s age. Every place, every hallway was echoing the incident. The teachers were agitated. The students were restless. No one seemed to talk about other things. And that made it worse for Robyn because Damien would not let her out of his sight. It was beyond the point of overprotective. If it kept up, she would not be able to meet Jack.
Yes, she had decided to meet him. She was not sure why. The little voice in her head was telling her to.
Fortunately, Stella was on her side. Damien was half walking by himself and half pulled by Stella when he went home. Why is he so worried?
“It’s dangerous now! First Riverdale and now Ellens Creek.” Damien explained before he left.
Robyn was confused. “Riverdale? But it was just a fire.” Well, an abnormal fire.
He was silent for a moment like he was thinking about something. He was edgy. “Well...they’re both bad incidents. It doesn’t hurt to be careful.”
Yes, both the incidents weren’t good thing obviously. But how were they related? Seriously, this boy worried too much.
Robyn closed her locker and put an arm through one of the straps of her backpack, leaving it half hanging on her back. She took off her prussian blue ribbon bow and unbuttoned her cuffs. There was not anybody else on the hallway. It was just her. She walked to the staircase which leads to the gymnasium. Her heart was racing faster by the second and her stomach had curled into a knot. She was still nervous to be alone with Jack.
She had reached the staircase. She looked down the shiny stone steps and pondered. She was having a headache. She hated him but his tone when he asked her was so convincing and impossible to resist. Finally, she took a deep breath and ready to walk down the stairs.
That was when she felt a sudden push on her back. One of her feet slipped off the step and she had completely lost control over her body. There was nothing beneath her feet and her body felt so light. Her mind went blank and she knew what would come next. The pain, the screaming, the tears. All in the order.
However, that moment never come. Her body did not feel the smoothness and hardness of a marble floor. Instead, she felt something soft yet firm. It was a little cold.
She opened her eyes slowly and they met those beautiful golden eyes. They were so gentle. They were filled with concern but it quickly changed to fury when they looked up the stairs.
“Liz—” Jack paused for a second. “Robyn, are you alright? Are you hurt?” He was touching her body gently as if she was a thin piece of glass that would break at even a light touch.
She was going to say she was not before she moved and felt a sharp pain on her right ankle. She let out a groan that she did not mean to. Immediately, he held her upper waist with one hand and her legs with another. He lifted her off her feet like she was no heavier than a baby. She was surprised and it felt a little uncomfortable.
“I can walk. Will you please put me down?” She made her voice sounded as cold as possible to hide her nervousness. But he did not listen. He bent down for her to pick up her backpack on the floor and he carried her to the first aid room beside the gymnasium.
He took care of her wound like he was used to doing it. As expected of an athlete, she thought. He was in the tennis and basketball team. And he was the president of the literature club.
“You twisted it a little. But nothing bad. It will be back to normal after a day or two.” He said with a gentle smile on his face. Robyn could not help but return it with a faint smile.
“Thank goodness,” he muttered when he was closing the first aid box. It was low and Robyn guessed it was supposed to let only himself hear it.
And that was the last thing he said after taking care of her twisted ankle. He carried her to his red Mustang and drove off the school grounds.
They were so quiet. Neither of them spoke. She was beginning to be choked by the silence.
“It was Amanda.” Jack spoke all of a sudden. It startled her. His eyes were still on the road.
“Huh?”
He looked at her, surprised, but it disappeared very quickly. He stared at her like he was studying her. Then, he laughed to himself. “I’m sorry. I forgot.”
Forgot what? She was more confused than ever.
He was still giggling. “I forgot that you never remember the face of the people in the school. Let alone their names.” He cleared his throat and he became serious again. “Amanda Snow. A girl in our class. She did it.” His eyes were fixed on the road again. “I’m sorry.” He sounded apologetic.
“Oh.” That was all she could say at that moment. Then, it finally occurred to her the real question. “Why would she want to push me down the stairs?”
He gave her a look and she immediately understood. Pieces of the puzzle were all put together now. The couple at Puffie’s, curly blond hair, the uniform and the girl that glared at her in the class. How can I be so slow?
She looked at the road and realised they were not going to her house. “Where are we going?”
“Well, we didn’t really talk. So...” They stopped at a park. She immediately recognised it. It was the park. The park they used to go. And she had not been here for a year.
It was an amazing park. The trees and bushes were as green as ever. When it was spring, the flowers would bloom everywhere. When it was autumn, everything would be golden and green. She remembered there was a fountain at the centre of the park and the couples would sit around it.
Jack stopped the engine but they did not get out. They just stayed in the car.
“Robyn,” he called gently. He looked so serious and troubled. “I hope you understand that Amanda and I have only been together for a short while. There’s nothing—”
“Nothing between the two of you?” Robyn finished his sentence.
“Yes.” He shook his head. “No.” He let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know what I am saying.”
Robyn heart sank. She was hoping that he would change but he hadn’t. “You really don’t have to explain it to me. If you do that, you will have to explain every single relationship you have been through with, well, almost every girl in the school.” She laughed bitterly.
“The way you put it...It seems like Ally or whatever the name is going to join your ex-girlfriend club real soon.” She was not looking at him anymore. She could feel warmth welling up in her eyes.
“No. Listen, you don’t understand—”
“Yes, and I don’t want to.”
He opened his mouth but nothing came out. He looked defeated.
“They were your victims.” Just like me.
He turned to look at her in great disbelief and grief. “No!” He was almost shouting. “You’re not like them!” Robyn was surprised by his last sentence, and so was he.
He had calmed down now. But Robyn had not. The stinging warmth in her eyes was overwhelming. “Don’t even bother. You and I are over.”
Jack held her hand and looked at her pleadingly. “Robyn, please listen to me.”
“You don’t know about love, do you? Because you’ve never fallen in love before.” Robyn could hear her voice shaking. She was fighting her tears back.
Jack sighed in disbelief. “I do know. I do have somebody I love.” He looked at her like he was trying to tell her something but could not. His grip tightened upon her hand.
She tried hard to hold back her tears but she could feel a tear had rolled down her cheek to her chin. She wiped it off immediately. She shoved his hand away, grabbed her backpack and jumped out of the car. She walked right ahead without knowing where she was heading and ignoring the pain at her ankle. Jack got out of the car and was right behind her. She wanted to walk faster but her ankle was hurting and she limping heavily.
Jack was crying for her to stop before she hurt her ankle again but she ignored him. Then, all of a sudden she was lifted off her feet.
“Put me down!” She hit him on the chest with her backpack.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what else I can say.” He looked down at her apologetically. “I’m sorry.”
She stopped struggling and waited for him to continue.
“I can’t take it any longer. I can’t take being hated by you. Have you any idea how I felt when you’ve ignored me for a year but when we started talking again you were as cold as ice?”
He looked at her with a grieving face. She looked away.
“At least let me stay by your side as a friend.”
