I don't really know how I feel about this chapter, or really this story. The last story I submitted got few hits, and it's a bit of a pride killer. As per my stories, this will be a romance, but it'll take another chapter to get to that. I'm planning four chapters, maybe more, maybe less. Hopefully I'll get back on track with my writing.
"Did you hear," one girl whispered. The collective around her tightened in curiosity.
"No, what happened?" Swarming around the first girl was a hive of gossiping girls, looking for the next juicy story.
"Well," said the first, "I heard that another girl got attacked last night."
"Another girl, that's the third one this month!" Whispers circled around the group.
5 girls, which was all that was on the mind of almost every student at Chesterfield Preparatory Academy. These girls had become the center of whispers and glances, small jokes and puns. The local news had always said the same thing, that a girl had been attacked. No details, no follow-up information, it was as if the school governors wanted to keep this as quiet as possible. Which would explain why each of the five had been asked to leave, because no one was ever expelled from Chesterfield Prep, they always left on their own volition.
The archaic school governors weren't important; moreover it was the girls who had been attacked. As said, the news never told them anything, so word of mouth had been the means for the truth to travel. However, with such chatter, there is always the possibility of things becoming inflated, which is exactly what happened. Stories varied from the relatively innocent to the completely criminal, from pushing and shoving to bloody murder. The complete truth was unknown, but what was known was that these attacks were getting worse.
This was the situation that Annabelle Baldwin found her school in. Annabelle was class president, the first girl to be class president in fact. As the senior president, she was looked up to by all of the students, or at least that's what the governors expected of her. So this is where she found herself, with 5 attacked female students and a paranoid student body.
Annabelle had just heard the gossiping girls speak of attacked girl number 5.
'How can they possibly know about that? It just happened last night!'
It was true, there was a fifth victim. Annabelle was one of few who knew the complete details of the five victims. Her, the police, and high ranking school official knew as well. She was figured to be someone of importance to the school, and as such held the right to privileged information.
The police gave the girls their own names to hide their identities, as if the small school community wouldn't notice missing students. "Marie" had been the first. She had been walking home from a bible study, when someone had hit her from behind with something. "Marie" ended up with a concussion and the only bit she remembered from the attack was a male voice.
"Jessica" had been the second, her attack had happened the very next week. She had also been walking alone, coming back from softball practice. Her attacker had not snuck up from behind her, but instead she had been tackled from the side. He had begun to choke her. "Jessica" had identified that this man had several rings on his hands, as she had felt the metal chill against her neck. The attacker had then hit her, knocking her out.
"Marcella" was the name given to the third victim. "Justine" was given to the fourth. They were roommates, and both had been assaulted in their own room. "Marcella" had awoken to a man covering her mouth and a knife to her neck. "Justine" had been knocked out already. "Marcella" didn't remember anything else. However, the paramedics had noticed bruises on both of their chests and inner thighs, indicating they had been groped while unconscious. Rape tests had been negative.
Then there was "Samantha." She had it worst of all. Her boyfriend had dumped her, and she had decided to get drunk. "Samantha" had been the easiest target, and had it the worst. She had been beaten and her attacker had forced himself on her. This was testament to the idea that the man was getting braver. The only account she could give was that he had three rings on his right hand and had blonde hair.
These were the thoughts that went through Annabelle's mind as she heard the gossiping girls. She marched towards them, demanding answers.
"How do you know about the most recent attack," she lashed out, angrily looking at the small mob.
A small, mousy looking girl chimed in. "We heard it from some kid, said the girl got roughed up and raped."
She was now intrigued, the only emotion to go with anger in her mind. How was it possible that someone else knew of what happened?
'Did someone who knew the case tell this kid? Or maybe he knew about it because he was there!' It was a long shot, but she had to go for it.
"Who is this kid? Where can I find him," she demanded.
The apparent leader chuckled a little. "Well, you just love playing detective, huh? I heard it from the new kid, the one who transferred here 2 months ago."
'Isn't it funny that a new kid shows up right before these incidents started?'
"Where can I find this new kid, and does he have a name?" Annabelle wanted to find this kid and get some answers hopefully.
"Ok, ok, Ms. President, no need to be all pushy. He was lying on a couch in the North Commons. He was sort of cute, you know, so we tried to be as welcoming to him as possible. The kid just laughed and said that we should be careful who we talk to, since a girl just got beaten and raped last night. He's kind of strange, but cute. I think he said his name was Brian."
Another girl piped up. "That's not it, he didn't even say his name!"
The leader blushed a little in embarrassment. "Hehe, I suppose that's true."
Annabelle sighed and walked hurriedly to the North Commons. Chesterfield was divided into four different areas: North, South, East, and West. Each area had its own academic specialty, and each of them had a large common area.
She made it to the North Commons, and opened the large wooden door. The name Commons was a bit of a misnomer. In actuality, the common areas were four separate small buildings, complete with ever comfort one could want. Annabelle walked in to find the room empty, not uncommon for that time of day. The only person in there was a lone boy sleeping on a couch by the fire.
Walking towards the boy, Annabelle stopped in her tracks. On the boy's right hand were three silver bands, each on a finger. The hand was draped over his face, shielding his eyes from the light. A mop of shaggy blonde hair was clearly visible.
'Blonde hair and rings, and he knew about the incident. This can't be a coincidence, I need to get help!' She slinked back, silently making her way to the door.
"Good afternoon Ms. President, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Annabelle stopped in her tracks and turned around, seeing piercing blue eyes boring into her. Her dark eyes met his, she was certain he could see her fear.
"W-well, I heard about.."
The boy chuckled, still lying on the couch and still looking at her. "There is no need to continue, I understand. You were told about me by someone, quite possibly from that herd of bovines that interrupted my business earlier. I have a similar appearance to that which was given by the fifth girl, and being that I am a recent addition to the student body, it's quite logical to seek me out. I would find myself suspicious as well."
"You talk oddly," said Annabelle. She squeaked and covered her mouth in embarrassment and fear.
He only continued chuckling. "I suppose that is true. That is just how I talk. I believe it to be much more proper to adhere to certain morals and manners; my speech pattern is just one of those."
Now that he had sat up, she could see his hands working furiously around something. "Um, what is up with your hands?"
"Oh," he said, looking apprehensive, "I have a small habit. Unless I'm sleeping, I can't concentrate without some form of movement." He opened his hand to show a small coin.
'He certainly is suspicious.'
"I'm assuming you are thinking that a new student with an odd disorder to be very suspicious. However, I assure you I have no hand in any of the tragedies."
"Then how did you know about them," she snapped. There was something wrong here and she wanted to find out.
"You are quite persistent, I admire that." Annabelle felt her cheeks rise in temperature at the compliment. "But, I'll have you know that my father is a sergeant at the police station, which I intern at. My apologies, but considering I have multiple police officers to sustain my alibi, you are simply looking at the wrong person."
Annabelle huffed and stormed out, there was something that just wasn't right about this kid. As she stormed out, she didn't notice the other pair of eyes that were on her, peering hungrily from the trees.