Chapter 10

'The saddest and  bitter thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies, those who you likely expected'. Shakespeare indeed said it right about this very statement. Betrayal from our enemy is expected, it makes us aware. However, Betrayal from someone we love and trust - nothing hits harder. It's is the knockout punch in a brutal fight. Trust leads you into a false sense of insecurity, slowly luring you to open yourself up to heartbreak. Life is indeed sadistic that way.

Two months ago.

  "I can't do it... It's dangerous, Jade"

"So you prefer we get caught?"

"We? How?"

"You saw everything...that makes you even to this whole mess"

"You bitch!!"

"Let's clean this once and for all...then back to our daily lives."

"I won't and will never be involved in your stupid act..."

"Ok...be prepared for what's going to hit you next then!"

"How dare you Jade!" She landed a fierce slap on her cheek.

"You slapped me?You? Camille?"

"Stay off me... forever!".

Class 12A.

The noisy early chattering of students filled the room not that today was any different from the other days. With the recent tragic happenings every student we're on guard for what will happen next be it good or bad.

The noise finally stopped when they all saw a young handsome man in their class with his dark hair neatly combed the back.

Was this the new teacher?

That was the thought on every student mind as he stood in front of them with a book and a warm genuine smile plastered on his lips.

"Good morning, Students" His soft voice resounding in the class. "Am Mister Hermes Shan, Your new biology teacher"

"Tell me it's a lie..."

"A young man?"

"Biology is now my favorite subject..."

"I thought it's was history..."

"Not anymore... with my dream man here" Students murmured as he finally spoke especially the female students not that the males were an exception.

"Are you really our biology teacher?" A girl at the front seat asked looking at the new teacher with dreamy eyes.

"Yes...I won't be teaching today cause I would love to know your names" He said folding his hands with a serious expression.

"That's won't be necessary Mister Shan, you can check the class register" A dark skinned boy said.

"Actually... it's kinda silly to ask our names on a teacher's first day. Not that is necessary"A student countered.

Hermes  stared at the faces of the students he would be teaching as times goes, Not that he had ever thought of being a teacher before.

"Where is the class president?" Hermes asked as he placed his hands on the front desk.

"He isn't in school...for days now I guess" Marvin, a student responded while standing up.

"Why?"

"You can't blame him anyways...his best friend passed away tragically" Marvin signed deeply. Hermes looked at his face while also observing every student faces. They all had a glint of sadness in their faces as Marvin mentioned their second best student and their class representative, Camille Locks name. He heard from the principal about the strange deaths that had  been occuring in  Zeal High for the past years and the two recent ones that had really shaken everyone's heart, making whosoever they meet a suspect.

Hermes Shan recalled what the school principal had seriously told him about been gentle and at the same time observant of his students he would be teaching especially Class 12A since it was in this class that the two late students were.

Ariel sat on the pavement across the school field as she casually dipped her hands in her  school's Jacket  anticipating the arrival of Nate. He had sent her a short text to meet when it's was lunch time. She could see has students roaming around the school in groups, singles, But where the hell was Nate?

"Hey" Ariel had a calm voice at her back which at the same time frightened her.

"Holy shit!" She turned back to see the person who made her heart almost yank off.

"I didn't mean to scare you" Nate smiled at her while sitting beside her watching as students filled the field.

"But you know you really have a way of scaring people or maybe it's only me" Ariel sat down adjusting her uniform.

"So you said you wanted to talk? And why the hell did you choose this place to talk?" Ariel glared at him, knowing the fact that this place he chose was always noisy during lunch time.

"Where would you have wanted me to choose?The restroom? " He chuckled lightly.

"Not funny...there are many silent places to talk and you know this very place" she retorted.

"Okay... Enough, I will choose a better location next time Miss" He said slightly laughing.

Ariel rolled her eyes.

"So what's it you want to talk about?" She said slowly turning to him.

"I will be going to Beverly towers" Nate said with a serious expression.

Ariel had a surprised look as he heard him say Beverly towers . Wasn't that the exact place Camille was killed? The place we both saw Camille lifeless body!

"Why the look?" Nate asked as he stared at her.

Ariel ignored his question composing herself. "And you mind telling me why you're going to Beverly towers?"

"I need clues, a proof that the deaths that has been happening isn't sucide but attempted murder. And I need to get nearer to this so called SKULKER "

Ariel was short of words as he heard him with all seriousness in his tone.

" So why Beverly towers... that is not where the other deaths happened except Camille's"

"It's a link... today I heard the principal talking to the detective in charge of this cases about Camille's phone" He paused. "Saying that he wanted to confirm if it's like the other deaths that had occurred."

  "So you are saying that there is something in her phone that could lead us to why and who this SKULKER is?"Ariel asked wanting to be sure.

"Yes, maybe about finding who this SKULKER is" Nate sighed facing her.

"If they have a link to these deaths, why do they still label it as sucide? Why haven't they caught this so called devil?" Ariel said while facing him.

"To save,likewise protect the school's image and students" Nate muttered.

"So unreasonable"

"Are you in then?" Nate asked suddenly with his hands folded along his chest.

"Uhn? Why am I relevant in what you want to do?"

"Don't tell me you aren't curious about this SKULKER of a person called you?I mean you would surely be thinking why you? How did this person knows me? How does- "

"Enough...am in"Ariel said pissed while standing up.

"Let's meet after school then" He  said with a grin on his lips.

"Mm" she slowly walked away from him, people thinking about why this SKULKER texted her.

Am I the next to die?For no absolute reason?

Again, loads of thoughts drifted to her mind oblivious of what was around her as she suddenly bumped into someone hardly.

"What the - " she said annoyingly as she raised her head to see the person which made her angry expression soften.

"Are you okay?" The sight of a young man dark hair looked untouched and neatly combed, healthy, sunkissed and his eyes a saturated shade of blue. His appearance was quite plain but subtly attractive.

"Yes - am fine" she muttered slowly still wondering who this man was. He didn't look like a student due to his formal dressing and the placement of the Zeal high crest on his shirt But a teacher- The new teacher? Biology teacher?

"

"You should watch where you are going next time, you looked lost." He stated with a concerned expression.

"So sorry sir" Ariel muttered.

"That's okay" Hermes said while leaving Ariel still dazzled by his whole thing.

So he is Hermes Shan...the new teacher Kema and Matt talked about? Didn't expect him to this young and handsome to be specific.