Chapter 8

Quote 7. Again Death is inevitable. However death should only be pronounced after a well - lived life. No families should be allowed to say goodbye to their child even before they even had a chance. Whoever is behind this gruesome deaths was drawing the battle line.

We all gathered around the open grave as the casket was lowered into its eternal home. There were silent sobs piercing the typical silence cries as she was laid to rest.

"May soul of the faithful departed rest in peace." The priest said bowing his heads and holding the rosary.

  ' Oh Lord, lend your gentle eyes and mercy over your children, for in happiness they still weep and safety they still die...'

Friends, families , students gathered as another promising student was laid to eternal rest. Ariel leaned on a wall as she watched how Jade's parent and her only sister Darby were sobbing in emotional and physical exhaustion.

She didn't deserve to die even though. Ariel thinks.

My eyes glinted as she saw Nate who went forward and offered flowers to the grieving families. Ariel had wanted to leave since her best friends Kema and Matt had gone home but for some unknown reasons she lingered around.

  Beep, Beep.

Her phone rang as she looked up at her phone in a undefined expression.

Camille stood at the middle of the deserted path nervously and at the same time fearfully. She had been waiting at this path after they had finished the memorial of Jade McNeil. Different thoughts raced through her mind as she clamped her palms together due to the cold that engulfed the atmosphere and looked up at the sky as the full moon brightly shone on her face.

She looked up at her phone at the message that popped up.

We meet again:)

  Again?

She texted back immediately .

' Am here...show your face!'

Camille angrily texted back with a faint confidence. The dark clouds were looming as she stood near the road. She had to admit ever since that threatening message she had been on the edge. Something tells her this mystery person knows her every movement - but something in the corner of her eyes stops her.

A lanky figure stands in the middle of the road spread apart and hands by the side in a threatening stance. The cloth was covered in a dark red cloak but what made her blood run cold was the mask. It fully covers the figure from the top of the head to the neck like it was ghostly pale. Her breath hitches in her throat as it tilt its head daring her to move, something told her it was a male but she couldn't really decipher because of the darkness that covered the sky.

An overwhelming sense of fear infiltrates her body as she struggled to breathe. The figure takes a menacing step towards and it is enough to send her to a sprint. The only thoughts in her head was to Run. She looked around her and saw she was nowhere and everyone had gone. Camille took to  her heels into the woods in total darkness, she could sense strong footsteps pursing her. She tried to feel her phone in her pocket as she hid in a corner but it suddenly drops as a frightening figure appeared in front of her.

"Game over" His crooked deep voice sent shivers down her spines.

St Dean's Cementry.

Time:9pm.

Ariel gasped as a message was sent to her from an unknown number.

' It's me...A student is about to die'

'Delay is dangerous...Come alone to Beverly tower'

'Time is ticking slowly'

Ariel didn't know what to do at that present moment... Beverly tower was an abandoned factory that wasn't in use anymore and was located near Dean's Cementry.

What if she loses her own life too? What if this isn't true...or a process to lure her to her own untimely death?

Her eyes glances over a large expanse of  land littered with deserted trees. A distant figure hidden behind another willow tree captures her attention as she held her phone tightly in her palm. She straightens her posture and squints her eyes.

A dark cloaked figure

Her breath stopped as she looked further, Am I hallucinating? Her legs takes over her mind as she  hastingly marches over the mystery and strange person, by the time she got there the figure had already taken off.

"Ariel" she jumps at the voice and her heart feels it's about to jump off her chest.

"Nate" she sighed at the friendly sight of his presence. "You scared me "

"Sorry". He raises his hands in the air.

"I need to check something really urgently" I ran across the trees towards Beverly tower while I was sure Nate was going to go after me which made me feel a little bit relieved.

Nate and I stood in front of the building staring at the isolated compound in fear.

"What are you doing here...for Christ sake" he nudged me.

I handed him my cellphone because I really couldn't explain what's was going on. He collected the cellphone in hesitation and slowly scanned through the messages in a mixed expression.

"You received it not long " he said in a furrowed brow.

"Yes" I could only but sigh.

"We should call the police..." He said slowly.

"No... what's if this is the chance to catch the culprit... Jade's murderer" he stared at me with a lot of thoughts bothering him.

Suddenly we had a loud bang on the floor which alerted us and we both looked up and saw a faint shadow moving away it was not clear due to the height.

"Ariel..." Nate voice slowly faded off and I looked at the direction he was pointing at. Ariel places her hand in her mouth as she glances at the lifeless body in a pool of blood. Through closer inspection, she recognizes the corpses  Camille Locks!? One of their top student in school. She had spoken to her only twice but it was just a random talk about maths, but the sight of the lifeless girl brings tears in her eyes.

Ariel cellphone buzzed in Nate's palm, we both stared at each other in fear before looking at the message.

' Too late... Just wanted to tell you how dangerous i am, Ariel Garrett' My eyes almost popped out as I read my full name. Who the hell was this

  From the look of her, her left arm was twisted in an unusual angle, clearly broken that she fell from a great height. The voice in the back of Ariel's head questions. It seems likely that the large gash in her neck contradicts her falling. She resists the urge to purge as blood spills out from the large wound staining the wooden floor. The scent makes her stomach rumble and she immediately steps back, only to bump into Nate's broad chest. He places his hand on her shoulder comfortingly before dragging her away from the gruesome sight. It looked like someone had alerted the cops because we could her the siren loudly at a distance. Her dilated pupils stared at the wall as she tries to block out the flickering images of those uninspiring eyes staring into her soul.

"We need to leave quickly "Nate's voice echoed in her ears as he led her out.

"Who did this?" I could only ask even though we didn't know that answer.

"The same person who killed Jade."