1 Chapter 1: First Blood, First Code, First Day

LORRAINE JANTOC

I am having my peaceful slumber until unfortunately someone disturbed it for me. Until I felt that someone is pulling my blanket and I try to pull it back, there is only one person who likes disturbing my deep slumber and that is my brother, Chad Jantoc. He is like the only one in this house who likes to disturb me, he says its "fun" i wonder what is "fun" in disturbing somebody's slumber?? He is weird.

I looked at him with a bored look on my face, which is the first thing he always see or get from me, no morning greetings or morning gestures just my bored look face.

"Hahahaha Oh come on Rain, its a nice morning" he went to the window and pulled back the curtain which causes the bright sun to light up my dim room.

"The sun is shining bright today it would be a bummer if the rain would come and ruin the whole day" he continued and turned to face me. I still gave him a bored look(which i always do) and sighed before speaking to him.

"Enough with your nonsense brother, how may times do i have to tell you that my name doesn't have anything to do with the weather, it is a natural phenomena which occurs natural in this world and—" i was cut off(again)

"Hahahaha this is not a joke, don't preach to me anymore, and don't even speak English to me, my nose is bleeding. I'm just saying, new day, new life are you? Your still in that—"

"Ok, ok now your the one who is lecturing me, i get it, You don't have to repeat it again, I'll go down, you might blame me again for why we were late" i didnt let him finish what he was gonna say, because that sentence is what he's telling every morning, i am sick of it.

I went downstairs and started eating, I also left my older brother upstairs....i know i was being rude but i cant help it, i just dont feel like myself since that day, since they..... I sighed, i try forgetting about that day, but as days past instead of fading, they get clearer and clearer. Until now i can see their wide open eyes, slightly open mouth and their pool of blood. Its like a never ending nightmare that keeps playing over and over again.

I shook my head and tries to remove my thoughts and continue eating, I heard my older brother come down, but i didnt bother to look at him. I know he is my only family left and i am trying my best to entertain him as much as i can, but it seems to be not working.

"Hmmm let me guess—i mean deduct, you are trying to think of a way to make it up to me from your rudeness, because i am your only family left, and we need to support each other no matter what" he smirked at me. Why does he even have to smirk at me? I get it he is the best to deduct what people think based on the look and they do, no need to brag, cuz we are just the same, i got my traits from you.

I just rolled my eyes and i heard him chuckle. He sat across from me and I heard him sitting on something sticky. I smirked because my prank worked, i can feel his black peircing eyes glaring at me. I slightly laughed at his reaction. I averted my eyes to him and we stared at each other, i can feel the tension rising up so i laughed as hard as i can.

I can see his shocked face as i continued laughing, later on his shocked face turned into a smirk.

"I see, you confused my deduction with you so that I would not notice that you were planning something, nice move but i guess you didnt expect this either" my laughter immediately stopped as i gave him a confused look. Until i felt something cold dripping on my head, i looked up and saw a bucket of water with ice, i then averted my gaze to my wicked brother and saw that he is now holding a rope, i guess thats the rope holding the bucket. He immediately let go of the rope and the ice cold water pour onto me.

I kept my bored look face and continued eating, my wicked brother then burst into laughter(wicked) he is a wicked devil. At the sight of my brother, I also couldn't help but laugh, its been a while since we pranked each other like this and whenever that happens he always wins. My brother stopped laughing and looked at me with widened eyes. I gave him a questioning look.

"Hahaha its been a while since you laughed and pranked me like this"

"As you said for like a million times, i need to let go, I also miss our childhood days" i forced a smile on him, actually i am not completely letting go, i still need to find justice and give them to my parents.

"I am glad to hear that sis, now go wash yourself, you'll get a cold"

"Yeah thanks to you" i rushed to the bathroom and prepared my self for school, i got out and saw my wicked brother already ready, ok so he has super speed and mind reading, amazing!(sarcastically).

We drove to school, yes my brother has a car, he is already 18 so he has his licence while i am only 15. He parked his car in school parking lot and we headed our separate ways.

As i entered the school, i was'nt surprised to see the school this big, all famous schools are big. I walked towards the room CLASS A-1. As I was walking I met a student wearing eye glasses and she was carrying a lot of books, she seemed to be having a hard time so I helped her, i may be rude but that doesn't mean that i dont have a heart.

"Sorry but do you need help with those?" I asked her.

"Ah yes, yes thank you" she gave me half of the books she was carrying. And we continue to walk.

"Your the new girl right? The one from Manila?" huh? Does everyone here know about me? So every new girl here is famous?.

"Sorry to ask a sudden question, but your in CLASS A-1 right? We are in same class, thats why i know" she smiled at me and i forced a smile to her, so she is like my wicked brother huh? They can read minds.

"Sorry for not introducing myself, I am Victoria Gillera you can call me Vicky, i am our class president so i knew that you were coming today" we walked into the classroom and unloaded the books we had brought to the teacher's desk. I was about to walk around to find a seat when i saw her looking at me. What was her name again?

"I assume you already know my name" i said to her.

"Unfortunately no, i only know that there is a transfer student coming"

"So how did you know it was me?"

"Based on how you move around, you were trying to look around the campus which i assume you were looking for your room, then i saw you were looking at this class so i assume you go to this class, then i remembered the new student coming to our class" she is really like my wicked brother, a deductionist.

"Im Lorraine Jantoc" i simply said to her.

"What can i call you?" My eyebrows met at her question.

"Anything"

"Oh ok, so i can call you anything. Hi Anything!" I nearly rolled my eyes at her, she's a philosopher and a deductionist like my wicked brother. I sighed before answering.

"I am being serious Valorie"

"Hahaha its Vicky, but there are alot of nicknames fit for you"

"Oh really what's its size?" I cannot help myself.

"Hahahaha your also a philosopher. Anyway, you choose: Lori, Rain or LJ? CHOOSE." I suddenly felt something after she said the word CHOOSE it was like a demand, no doubt that she is chosen for class president.

"Where you are more comfortable"

"Ohk, you know you are really rude and cold but at the same time beautiful. Anyway, i'll call you Lori, it suits you more"

"K, so where can I sit?"

"You can sit...." She roamed her eyes around the room to look for a vacant seat.

"You can sit beside Lawrence"

"Who?"

"That guy in the third row seat in the left" she pointed someone who is wearing a black hoodie and there's a vacant seat beside him.

"K, thanks" I was about to go to the chair Venus had appointed, when she grabbed my arm and whispered to me.

"Beware of Lawrence, he is the number one and the most famous bully in this school, so no one talks too much and puts him aside sorry if I put you there, there is no other vacant seat eh" famous bully huh?

"K"

"Anyway, WELCOME TO QUEZON HIGH!!!!!" I almost covered my ears with the sheer force of her saying, she was like an inch away from me !.

I forced a smile and walked towards my seat beside Lucas or whatever his name is. I sat beside him leaving space between us, as much as I dont want my personal bubble to be popped, im sure he doesn't want to either. I gently put my bag between me and him and grabbed my Sherlock Holmes book.

Minutes later the door opened and a teacher has arrived. All students raise up their seats, so I also did so.

"Good morning Sir Holems!" All students said, strangely his name is similar to Holmes.

"Good morning class, take a seat" all students take a seat and waited for Sir Holmes to speak.

"I heard there is a new student here, mind sharing a few things about yourself?" I did not stand from my seat, I have no intention of introducing myself, you take care of it, dream all you want, but i will never introduce myself.

I just sat there until someone pulled me forward. When I looked, Miss President pulled me. I could do nothing but pull, until we got ahead and they were looking at me. I kept my no expression face, until Miss President grabbed me and stared at me, I sighed before speaking.

"Lorraine Jantoc" i simply said, I looked at Miss President again and she looked at me with the tell-more-about-yourself look, I sighed again.

"15 from manila" i looked at Miss President and gave her the what-now? Look. She only gave me a smile afterwords.

"Thank you, Miss Lorraine for your short introduction you may take your seat" i walked towards my seat and kept my no expression face, i glanced at my right to see Louis looking at my direction. I raised an eyebrow at him and he returned it, until Sir Holmes spoke. I woukd rather call him Holmes than Holems.

"So today i wont be having lectures since its the first day of school, so i am giving this time to know more about your classmates or seatmates" after that he left the room.

The room was now filled with noises well me, i dont care. I'll just read rather than talk, i ramaged through my bag to search for my sherlock holmes book but it is nowhere to be found, i search under, over beside the table but its still nowhere to be found. Where did i left that book? I kept on looking until the bell ranged, i still did not stop searching.

I felt a presence next to me and I saw Lucian or whatever his name is standing in front of me, i gave him a questioning look, but he kept his no expression face. I dont have time to have a staring contest with him so i keep on searching. But before i can search again i felt something hard hit my nose which cause me to stumble backward and causes it to bleed. I held my nose and look at the boy in front of me. He was smirking at me and 3 boys was standing behind him. It was Luke or Something. Before i can even say a word he left.

I mentally cursed because of my bleeding nose, but i didnt care,I just kept searching even though my nose was covered in blood, that book is more important than my nose.

Later I felt that someone was holding my shoulder, because of what happened earlier, I could not stop using my self defense, i locked his or her arm at her back so she cannot move. I was about to speak when she spoke first.

"Woah chill! Its me Vicky, I just wanted to invite you to lunch!" She squirmed in pain, I immediately let go of her and went back to what I was doing, while wiping the blood off my nose, I tried to hide it from Vicky but she seemed to notice.

"Hala! What happened to you?! Why is your nose bleeding?!" She said while examining my face.

"I guess that was done by Lawrence, let's go to the clinic, maybe later that bleeding won't stop and your nose will be completely damaged, let's go!" She brought my belongings and pulled me out, before I could even speak, we were already far from the classroom, I guess I will look for it later.

Vicky and I (thank goodness I got it right) went to the clinic and Vicky talked to the nurse.

"Hi so you are the new student who was victimized by Lawrence, I am Nurse Joy, wait a minute, I will just get medical treatment" she left and took bandages and whatnot, she returned to me and started treating my nose.

"I can't count how many transferees were victimized by Lawrence, he always victimizes new transfers here so the students are forced to transfer again" COWARDS. that's all I can tell them.

The nurse continued to treat my nose, while what was being said if I was to transfer? What am I going to do with Lawrence ?? One. I will not transfer. I am not a coward like others. Two. No, because when I retaliate against him our situation will get worse until it is not well, and I am not like him, they will take care of it.

My treatment was over and the nurse told me not to move my nose too much to make it heal faster, we were expelled from the clinic and we went straight to the canteen.

When I entered, there were very few people and I noticed that someone was waving at us or just Vicky because I did not know the people here, Vicky immediately pulled me towards the woman waving.

"Your time has come! I was about to leave, I've been waiting for you for a while" the girl said to Vicky and looked at me.

"And who might you be?" She examined me from head to toe and shot a curious look at Vicky.

"Hahahaha this is the new transfer student in our class, she is—"

"Lorraine Jantoc you can call me Lori" i cut of Vicky who was surprise from my sudden confidence, well i am sorry but she is cute and bubbly I like her.

"Camille Fabillo you can call me Cam, and its a pleasure to meet you" she genuinely smiled at me and i smiled back i didnt bother to shake her hands even though i wanted to, we just met, we dont know if she has poison in her hands or a chemical you know?

"Ok now you have formally met, can we now eat? Im starving" said Vicky

Cam and I just nodded and we just sat down, the table was round so I sat on Vicky's left while Cam is at my left. Vicky lined up to get our food.

"So I assume that Lawrence did that" Cam said to me while pointing at my bandaged nose.

I just smiled at her for my reply.

"Hahahahaah dont worry not only you are the victim then, I am also, but mine is not like you, it is broken, it is still bleeding. And not mine either, it was just my hand. My phone fell off when That time then Lawrence suddenly passed by and stepped on or stepped on my hand, eh the weight of the foot was still heavy then. Vicky was also a victim, if I stepped on her she was slapped so her ankle was a bit sprained. Eh you? " Just after Cam told the story, Vicky came with our food. She gave us one each and returned to her seat.

"So, what did Lawrence do to you, and your nose reached like that?" Vicky says as she enjoys the food. I ate one first, before speaking.

"Because I was looking for my missing sherlock holmes book, then he suddenly kicked me in the face to get me out of the way" I just continued to eat.

"He's serious, if only he could be expelled, then he's already long gone" Cam said while eating, my forehead suddenly frowned at what he said.

"Why hasn't he been expelled yet? Is he the son of someone here?" I asked Cam and Vicky.

"He is the son of the owner of the school and he is the brother of the student president council of the school" said Vicky. Wow son and brother of those raised here at school.

"Also, he can't be expelled just because of his actions, because his victims did not reach the bleeding or hospital, actually you are the first that he made bleed" continued Vicky, am I the first one he bleeds? Ok naGM ako don, but so it means, his past victims were just minor injuries, no doubt that he is not yet expelled, they are just minor. But that is not enough.

"I can see in your face that that is not enough to not expel him, I am not done yet, he also has the highest scholastic records among all Grade 9 students, is he good? He is a bully but smart" Vicky continued eating while I ate the food and listened as the food on my table was about to run out, while Cam was stunned by Vicky while eating. Vicky noticed that and gave her a curious look.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Sabi ni Vicky kay Cam.

"It's really amazing that you deduct just by your simple thinking, I still do not believe that you do not have mind reading power or sixth sense, it is impossible" said Cam.

"How may times do i have to tell you Cam that there are no such things as powers or sixth sense and also i am not mind reading, i am just....never mind" Vicky sighed at continued eating while Cam cannot hold back her laughter but she chose to keep it in and continue eating. I slightly smile at the 2 of them their like sisters who doesn't believe in the same theories which causes them to argue a lot, it reminds me of my brother and I. I smiled at the thought,

I finished eating before they finished, I took a tissue to clean what I ate but something caught my eye, on the tissue there was a writing:

If you wish to find of which you seek, solve this code and you will see.

JANTOC

TCATEHHTHMSIYMRROO

Good luck!

Ok is some one putting a prank on me? But its impossible that this is a prank how can he or she know my last name? Only a few knew about that. And maybe i can really find my Book.

I stared at the tissue paper once more before making my desision, i excused myself from Cam and Vicky and went to a more quiet place so i can solve this code, I wish this isn't a prank...

*TBC-MXA