Chapter Eighteen

In the school library:

"Hey, Adam? Don't you think it is taking Alex a little too long to bring a vacuum cleaner?" Edna asks.

"Yeah... Now that you mentioned..."

ARRRGHHHH!!!

"That sounded like Alex," Adam announces. "Quick! Let's go check on him." They all storm out of the library in search of the scared voice.

They sprinted and sprinted, about to take a right to enter the hallway where the storage is Adam makes a quick halt and stretches out his hands to stop the girls. Immediately they halt, Alex comes crossing their path with speed pulling a vacuum cleaner along. Noticing the presence of Adam, he trips and comes trampling down on his face.

"You good, Alex?" Adam asks with a smile.

"You demon! Is all you are capable of doing smiling?" Alex asks lying on his face. "Do I look good to you!?" He gets up. "You gave me the scariest experience of my life! Honestly, I thought the only thing scarier than jail was death. But now there is something scarier: Old Man Paul."

"You aren't making any sense," Mary speaks up.

"Huh? You telling me you haven't heard the rumour about Old Man Paul?" She shakes her head. "*Sigh* They say he is a serial killer. The rumours started last summer when he was seen with a chainsaw and covered in blood."

"Tsk! That's a lie." Edna says.

"So you say. But you have no idea how this experience was for me. I almost sh*t my pants so you know."

"Quite your prats! This is no time for banter." Mary scolds.

"Banter!? Well let me tell you what happened lady, so you can judge for yourself if it's a joke or not."

"Well go on then! We're all ears."

"So after you sent me for the vacuum cleaner, I broke into the storage since it was locked then when I was leaving a metal briefcase caught my eyes so I was eager to know what was stored in there. I broke into that too. There was a book in it titled, 'Mythics' and it had a skull on it. I was too slow and then..."

Alex is locked and stuck in the dark scary room with Paul. Alex's heart is thumping. It can almost be heard when you are a metre close to him.

"M-Mr Paul, why did you close th-the door, please?"

"Why polite all of a sudden." Paul scoffs.

"Whaaaat? You know me, Mr Paul. I am always polite and respectful. Say... It is really dark here. Please pardon my rudeness, but can you please switch on the light."

"Oh sure. Just give me a second."

*Click* He turns on the light and this gives Alex a flash blindness. He winces for some seconds as he recovers from the blurriness of vision and that 'one touch' stinging pain. After his vision becomes normal and he opens his eyes, right before him is Old Man Paul blowing on him his old stinking breath and staring hungrily into his eyes.

Alex shrieks as he jumps back for safety. "Wha-what is it Mr Paul?" Paul doesn't answer and he dips his hand in his pocket slowly. This boosts the fear in Alex and he starts to panic more. "P-p-please d-d-don't kill me. I have so much to live for. Please-please." Alex starts to weep.

*Sigh* Paul sighs and takes out a pair of black gloves which he puts on. His act makes Alex's dreaded heart explode. He gets on his knees by the table and begins begging. Paul who is unmoved by his plea walks past him to the briefcase and then closes it.

Paul bends down to Alex's current height and then whispers in his ear:

"It is good you understand the situation. You are lucky that we are in the school or else..." Alex shakes his head vehemently and then 'zips his lips'. "... Smart kid. a letter gets out and it's your funeral. Now get what you came for and get!"

Not waiting for a second invitation, Alex scrams.

"...so the moment he locked us up in the..." He recalls Paul's words. "...he told me all these old people jocks." Alex forces out a peal of laughter.

"Tsk! You done wasting our time?" Mary asks. "I told you: this is no time for banter."

"Yeah. Sorry."

"Then why did you scream?" Edna asks.

"Just wanted to see if my voice will echo," Alex replies.

"Anyway, let us all move back to the library," Adam suggests. "Girls head back. I will help Alex with the stuff." Mary and Edna leave. That whole moment, Adam never stops staring into those scared lifeless and lost eyes of Alex. He looks so sad and pitiful. "Yo, Alex? You know you can tell me if something is wrong right?"

Alex smiles and then nods. "I know bro. But really, I'm cool."

"If you say so. Come let's go."

Alex still feeling uneasy thinks to himself, 'That table I knelt by, there were scratch marks on the floor there. As if it has been dragged from its position several times. That man is hiding something there, in that room. And I will find it out...maybe.'

Meanwhile, as Mary and Edna walk they chatter.

"Hey Edna, Alex is a human right?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"Do you recall him mentioning a book titled Mythics?"

"Oh I do but leave me out of it. You kicked me out of the Doves remember? I am good as long as my dearest Adam doesn't find out about what I really am. So not interested."

"Can you act mature? That book must be a bestiary. Have you thought of how Paul got it. This is not about being a Dove. If he finds out about the existence of us Mythics there can and will be chaos."

"I doubt he found anything out and I also doubt his story. Alex is a liar. For someone who was lamenting, he sure had a happy ending story. He is definitely hiding something but for now, let's finish the work early so I can beat my curfew."

"Yeah, let's go."

All four of them meet up back at the library and finish up the work. All their minds were bent on accomplishing the task that they didn't see the night approach.

"Sh*t! Guys, it is already night." Alex announces.

"Chillax! We are done with most of the work." Edna says. "Now it's just left with you to return the stuff you stole."

"For your information, I didn't steal them. Mr Paul lent them to me."

"Yeah-yeah so you say. Just send them back so we can leave for our homes." Mary says.

"Wait, Alex! Let me give you a hand."

"Thanks, bro." They leave the girls behind and head for the storage.

The two girls stand there in the library staring at each other awkwardly as if they all had the same idea in mind.

"Hey, Edna! Don't think of asking Adam to act as your escort home. I don't want to be late. Plus, with your ability, you should be able to fend off any creeps."

"Whaaaaat! Pffff! I wasn't thinking of that at all. And also, you are not the boss of me or him."

"Uh-huh. Let's go wait for him outside. Shall we?" Edna nods and they both head out.

Going out they now notice how dark it is.

"Hey, it is very late," Edna says. She takes out her phone. "It is already 7 pm."

"Quite your complaint. No one forced you to stay behind. Plus I'm sure they will get here any minute now."

Meanwhile, Adam and Alex have just finished putting the stuff back into the storage. They head out and lock up the room and start to stroll out. As they go, Adam suddenly stops and then turns back.

"Is something wrong, Adam?"

"It's fine."

They continue their stroll but then Adam stops again and looks back with haste.

"Dude, what's wrong? It's only the wall that is behind us."

"Yes. I know that. Did you hear a wolf howling?"