Chapter 11

"Regan! Regan! Wake up!" A familiar voice was heard.Regan felt a light grip on her shoulders and her eyes opened heavily. She saw Monica hovering over her with concern."Dear, are you alright? You were talking on sleep and yelling, did you have a nightmare?" Monica asked concerned. She had come to Regan's room to wake her up, and then she saw how her niece was struggling.Regan got out of the daze and realized that she really saw the same dream. She was terrified, but held herself from showing it."Yes, I'm alright, nothing to worry." Regan said, as she sat higher."You're full on sweat. Go and take a shower.""What time it is?" She asked rubbing her eyes, and then looked around."6:30am.""Okay..." said she and slowly got up from the bed.The girl went in the bathroom. She never liked morning showers but took it so she wouldn't have to explain later to her aunt.She couldn't understand. Why did she saw it again? That was exactly the reason that she didn't want to sleep.The more Regan thought about it, the more it terrified her to the core.She finished the short shower and wore baggy jeans with a long white shirt. She blow dried her hair, and while in the process, the girl saw that the orange-red strand hadn't disappeared.It was weird how it had fallen on her hair. Regan assumed it to be a prank. Maybe it was her weird friend's doing, when she was at her house.She grabbed her schoolbag and walked away from the room which already held an odd vibe. The room started to get odd vibes since the dream first occurred to her.The girl found her aunt drinking macchiato as usual, sitting on the loveseat.She suddenly reminded herself, that she was going to ask Monica for the red roses and tell her that she didn't have to get them."Well, aunt, can I tell you something?" She asked a bit nervously."Of course." Monica said as she looked at her niece."Uhh...you know, these red roses that you have put in my room, I don't really like them.""Red roses? I haven't put any rose in your room." Monica raised an eyebrow. Regan couldn't help but feel a shiver run down her spine at her words."I let them inside the bathroom," Regan replied, remembering how she left them there that creepy night. In fact, she had only used the upstairs bathroom."I don't know?" Monica said, her expression turning confused. Regan sighed as she walked over to that bathroom. However, as she entered in, she didn't find any glass vase or any red rose. Where were they? She remembered she put them here."Are you sure? I checked inside the bathroom but they're not here. Maybe you took them?" Regan asked again, her voice shaky."No. If I did it, I'd remember, of course I would. Maybe you were misunderstood?"Regan's mind swirled with the worst and most negative scenarios to think. The first, was that maybe someone got in her room when she slept and put the roses, then got them again. She went as far to think that this person, could be the one who wanted to choke her in the dream. Her anxiety rose, her breath rapid.Monica noticed that situation. At first, she didn't see it a big deal, probably Regan saw these roses elsewhere and was confusing it, but at seeing her niece's reaction, made her worried."Regan, dear, are you alright?""Aunt, if none of us got these roses inside, then who did?" Regan asked and she run a hand through her hair."Oh, my dear, you're getting scared for nothing. You either saw them elsewhere or your friend got them, and took them back, since you didn't find them. Why do you have to exaggerate?" Monica said as she put her hand on Regan's shoulder, trying to ease her."I guess you're right. I'm exaggerating." Regan said uncertainly. It was an option that this was also Vesper's doing."Right. You don't want to be late for school, you should go."Regan listened at her aunt and quickly ate breakfast that consisted of pancakes, made by Monica. Then, she hugged her and said goodbye.The whole road, she was dying to know if it was Vesper who put these roses inside her room.Her mind was trouble and dizzy. She couldn't help but think that he was connected to the roses. Of course that, if it wasn't Vesper's doing.She walked on her way to the first class which was chemistry. The girl gripped the school bag hard, a symptom of anxiety.When she opened the door, no one was there; she was early. Regan waited for Vesper, but as the class filled, Vesper didn't appear. When the bell rang, Regan was angry that her best friend wasn't in class. She must have skipped.As soon as the teacher, Mrs. Claire entered the class with a stern face, she announced an exam start, which wasn't well awaited by Regan.She hadn't studied and had no idea that there was an exam. Regan cursed under breath when the teacher started to give out the papers.Before she could get nearer her desk, the girl quickly got her notebook. She always noted the exam days and saw a note of the exam to that day. She called herself stupid and an idiot for not checking the notebook when she was home.That was a point of no return. Regan couldn't stand out and say she wasn't prepared. So she thought of another way."Notes on bag Miss Miller." Mrs. Claire ordered when she noticed what the girl was doing.She handed the paper and just by a glance, Regan could tell it wasn't an easy exam."Excuse me...Mrs. Claire. I'm not feeling well," said Regan when the teacher was at the other side of the class.

She hoped that Mrs. Claire would understand and let her to skip the exam.

Mrs. Claire acted like she didn't hear and Regan sighed, angrily at herself and both the teacher. Then Mrs. Claire walked again near Regan's desk and looked at her with the average freaky teacher's stare."What's the matter with you, miss Miller?""I feel really dizzy, my head hurts." Regan half lied. Her head really hurt from all that overthinking."Why did you come to school today? You look like you haven't studied and are making excuses," said Mrs. Claire with an accusing voice.Regan cursed inside her mind. That teacher was evilly smart."I really do not feel good, can the exam be postponed?""Yes, but it'll affect your grade.""I'm not in my best to do it now.""Well, leave then. However, keep in mind that it'll affect your grade." Mrs. Claire said once more.Regan didn't care about that grade affect, at least she would have studied by then. It was times better than to do an exam, when you haven't studied or are unprepared.She got up from her chair and grabbed her things, then walked out of the class. She wondered what to do. She felt guilty that she lied like that. It was a big irresponsibility. First the essay, now the exam. She had to keep track and get ahead of her classes.Not wanting to skip other classes, she kept walking awkwardly around by herself. School was a creepy place when no students were around. It seemed as if the walls were watching her and were going to eat her whole. Finally, she got inside the girls bathroom and locked herself in.She made a deal with herself. To stay there until the end of chemistry class.The first five minutes passed really slowly, even though she was on her phone.Then she heard some voices that made her rethink if it was the right to come here.It were a girl and guy's voices, they were talking garbage and laughing, then, they went silent. Regan cursed herself for staying in the bathroom. No where was a safe place. She hoped that these voices came from outside the bathroom, because it would have been terrible and disgusting if a guy entered the girl's bathroom.She didn't dare to walk out or to show she was inside. She just held her breath and feared if anyone would knock and ask if someone was there.As no more voices were heard, she finally won over her fear and decided to step out of the bathroom. Just as she was going to unlock, a familiar voice was heard. It was a girl who seemed to be talking on her phone, because a faint voice was heard. The girl's voice was raised and angry."That wasn't part of the plan, I guess?""You really should, I couldn't believe it when she told me, you made no sense, my guy. But still, I know you did that out of shock.""What? A poison? But she's very well. Are you kidding me or what?""I'm getting really bored you know?"Regan heard at the weird words that the girl said. She assumed it was Vesper's voice and was mad that she was at school but not at class. When Regan unlocked the door, she saw no one in the bathroom.She quickly looked the other stalls, whose doors were opened, then looked at the hall outside but no one was there as well. As if Vesper had vanished in thin air.The girl then thought about her conversation. Who has these kinds of conversations? She remembered the word "poison", and how Vesper was talking about a girl with a guy. What weird things was she doing, Regan thought.She saw the time on her phone and only fifteen minutes had passed. The bathroom didn't seem a normal place anymore, so she left and got inside the library.Regan stayed there until chemistry class would be over. She entered the next class which was history, and Vesper still wasn't there. After history was over, it was lunch.The girl got her lunch and sat on an empty table. She thought that Vesper wasn't going to come at all. Regan ate in peace and was glad that no one tried to occupy the other chair. For her, it felt good to be disliked, she didn't have to be awkward with others.From somewhere, she saw Olivia, who stared at her with a scorn plastered on her face.As she walked closer, Regan didn't broke the eye contact."Hey there scarface, I don't see your lunatic friend around," said Olivia as she leaned on Regan's table."They're both lunatic," the blondie behind her added and they all laughed."And?" said Regan, her expression blank."Let's leave the loser alone, Liv," suggested the blondie."We will," assured Olivia, "just saying, your friend looks nice but she's a devil in disguise," she said to Regan and then leaned closer, "you see, I once saw her talking to a shadow."Her voice was barely above a whisper and Regan wondered why did she say that. Vesper talking to a shadow?"What?"Olivia chuckled, a mocking grin on her face, "I said what I said. See you, scarface."They all gave their signature mean faces and walked with their perky walk. As much as mad she was from inside, Regan tried to not remind or think about Olivia. Whenever she did, she'd remember when Olivia's hair caught fire.Suddenly her friend sat down and Regan looked at her confused."I've searched the whole cafeteria." Vesper said and let out a tired sigh."Where were you? Did you know about the exam?" Regan asked."What exam?""The chemistry one.""There was an exam?" Vesper said bewildered.Regan smacked her forehead, she had no idea."Yeah, nevermind, I didn't do it," said she."Why?""My head hurts," Regan said, "but why you skipped classes?""I was busy so I didn't came at all."Regan crossed her arms and reminded herself of when she heard her talking on the phone."But, I heard your voice in the bathroom. You were talking on the phone."Vesper's expression turned guarded and stiff, "No? Maybe you heard someone else. I wasn't at school. Did you see me there?""It was very similar to your voice. Guess I was mistakened." The girl replied. She was sure that voice was like Vesper's. But she could have also been mistakened."I have to ask you something," Regan said and looked at her friend"What?" Vesper asked confused.

Regan's face went paler than it already was as she recalled the red roses matter.

"What's going on girl? You're very lost.""Have you left any red roses in my room?""Red what?"