DISCLAIMER
This story is fiction. All places and characters are all product of author's imagination. Some scenes in the story may be familiar to real events as it inspired to true unsolved crimes.
WARNING
All the scenes in every chapter contains of graphic depiction of violence and other sensitive issues that can trigger to the reader. Discretion is advised.
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"There's another one too?" I utter quietly when I saw a girl standing straight under the tree, watching the boy sitting on the bench with his girlfriend.Based on her uniform she was my schoolmate. There's also a deep laceration in her right cheek and water dripping from her, I also saw marks in her wrist like someone tie her. So in my conclusion that is a case of bullying went too far and the way she watch those couple with rage, they must be her perpetrator.
When the ghost turn her head towards me, I immediately avert my eyes and fortunately, the housemother finally came.
"Good morning, you must be Zoey Lopez, the new student, yes?"- she greeted me warmly.
"Yes."- I answered consciously as my nervousness came back again.
Right! These is my first day in my new school and for an introvert person like me, this is pretty challenging because it will be a new environment and new faces, meaning new adjustment. I heaved a sigh when I think that I need to do socializing again and making friends so I won't become an outcast.
"If only I didn't trust that two-face bitch." I utter to myself before I shake my head to forget my nightmare from my old school.
"I'm Martha Taylor, I'm the housemother of girl's dormitory. You can call me Mrs. Martha"- she introduced herself before she unceremoniously pulled my luggage bag. "Let me assist you to your room."
I was about to decline her offer to carry my luggage bag but she already ascending the stair, so I had no choice but to follow her. The girl's dormitory has four floors. The first floor is the reception area while the rest of the floor is student's room which has 11 room each. Whilst we walking towards the elevator, Mrs. Martha orient me about the rules and regulations of our dorm and she also told me the nearest coffee shop and diners which 10 minutes walk from here. When we reach the elevator, Mrs. Martha push the button and the door immediately open. When we finally inside the elevator she push the "4" button.
"Oh! Before I forgot your other things are already delivered in your dorm and you have three roommates, so please get along with them."
I just nodded my head as a sign that I understand. Mrs. Martha didn't talk anymore because the elevator let out a ding sound sign that we finally arrived to fourth floor. As usual, Mrs. Martha lead the way and I follow her.
"We're here. Your room is 405."
When I lift my head, I suddenly freeze on my spot and I just stare to the girl in a bathrobe standing straight in front of room 406, her dilapidated eyes are staring in the door like she's waiting it to open itself, her hair is damp like she just finish showering, there's also a bloodstained in her back and she's mumbling in skakey voice.
"N-No...nn-n-not....Celina."
I just stare at the girl, observing her to create a conclusion on how she die because you can grasp about what happened to them base on wounds in their body and their actions to centain people that has connection to their death and it becomes my habit to deduce their death though I never share it with anyone because if I did, it's either they think I'm crazy or make me a suspect. Well! I actually share my deduction with my friend once and the result is why I am here now.
And also I hate attention.
Anyway, base on the blood in her back, she got stab in her back. Literally after her bath. The ghost seems to sense my stare and turn her head to me. Normally, I would avert my eyes when the ghost notice me staring but for some reason I didn't do it this time. I don't know if it's because the tears flowing in her dead eyes or because she looks like seeking my help.
Maybe I just pity her.
"Ms. Lopez, are you alright?" I snapped back to reality when Mrs. Martha tap my shoulder.
"I'm fine."- I lied and give her small smile to assure her before I took a quick glance to the ghost and yep! She's still staring at me.
Mrs. Martha still doubtful but she never pressed any further. "That card will be your key since we upgraded the lock into smart lock last week. Your roommates are aalready here, so I hope you get along with them. Do you want me to help you unpack? "- she offered but I respectfully declined her offer because I don't want to bother her anymore and good thing, she didn't initiate.
"Okay then, I will let you rest now. Remember what I said in elevator, okay?"
I nodded my head and watch her leave and when the time she enter the elevator, I decided it's time for me to also go inside but when I turn around I almost fall off my butt when a girl popped out in front of me. At first, I thought it's the ghost but when I saw her holding a phone in her left hand and a plastic bag in her right hand, I conclude she's a living person.
Because no ghost will order take out.
"Oh! You must be our new roommate. Welcome!"- she greeted me warmly. The girl is short, maybe flat 5", she has long curly hair that tied up into ponytail and a tanned skin.
"Yes. I'm Zoey Lopez. Nice to meet you."
"And I'm Mirabelle Clementon."- she said and offer her hand for handshake which I immediately accept. "Let's go inside. I'll introduce you to our other roommates."
Mirabell tap her card key before she open the door. When we enter to our room, the first thing I saw is the four loft beds that place to the sides and in the middle of the room is our three roommates sitting in tatami table and staring at us.
"Ok, everyone meet Zoey Lopez. She will be our new roommate from today."- Mirabelle announced. "...and I brought food."
When Mirabelle said "food" is when our three roommates react cheerfully like the food is more important than my presence and the girl with chubby body even snatch the plastic containing food from her. Mirabelle heaved a defeated sigh before turning at me.
"C'mon, let's eat. I purposely bought four take outs because I thought you might not have lunch." Mirabelle sure attentive and caring.
As we all eating, my three other roommates finally introduce themselves and the first to introduce herself is the chubby girl.
"I'm Gina Lei Aquino, 17 years. I'm in junior year at Ephemeral Academy, so we're schoolmate."- Gina whilst her mouth still stuff with food.
"Gross, Gina." The girl with short wavy hair and wearing lit accessories grumbled as she throw napkin at Gina. "Anyway, I'm Lenalyn Dunham, the Queen of Ephemeral Academy. Nice to meet you, honey."
I furrowed my brows in confusion to what she said. Queen? Is there some rank in Ephemeral Academy that they given to students with special ability that I don't know about? You know? Like in some typical fictional story on Webtoon.
"Please forgive her delusional."- this time it's the girl with glasses said while her attention is still in the book. "Lenalyn just have what you called Princess Syndrome."
"No, I'm not."- refute intently.
"Yes, you are."- Gina join in.
"Shut up, chubs."
"Okay, stop."- Mirabelle mediate before they bickering goes further. "Can we not show our childish behavior to Zoey and scared her off?"
"What's the point of that? Sooner or later she will know our true colors."- the girl with glasses said before she finally look at me. "My name is Delilah Montes. I hope you stay with us longer. "
I smile at her and joked. "Well! As long as you don't stole my manga."
Delilah blink her eyes twice before she turn to Lenalyn.
"Do you hear the girl, don't stole her things and shrug it off as borrow."
"You should say that to yourself because you are the one obsessed with things with pages and words"- Lenalyn retaliate.
We spend a little time chatting and joking around. I'm really thankful that my roommates are accommodating and easy to approach even Delilah who looks like aloof is also can joke around though she always provoke Lenalyn.
10:30 PM is when we decided to get ready to sleep. I wrap my wet hair with towel after I had quick bath and stepped out the bathroom. Our dorm actually has own bathroom and toilet, kitchen and laundry area though the wall is thin but I still think it's a good price because we have heater, aircon and WiFi installed in our dorm. I climbed up to my bed as I removed the towel wrapped in my head but I immediately retract my back when I leaned in the wall it's very hot.
"Hey! Gina, isn't the wall so hot."- I said to Gina that laying in her bed while scrolling in her phone. She place her hand on the wall and immediately retract her hand.
"Yep! It's so hot."- Gina agreed and continue scrolling to her phone like nothing happened. "Maybe our neighbor put her heater blast."
"In the middle of summer?"- I exclaimed, still can't believe there's someone will blast their heater in these excruciating heat.
Gina shrugged her shoulder. "Maybe, our neighbor has hypothyroidism."- it's Delilah who answered. "Don't bother yourself about it, if they want to suffer, let them be."
I'm still feel doubtful but I decided to ignore it and blow my hair dry. Maybe Delilah is right, maybe our neighbor still feeling cold despite the heat and I don't want to bother them in the middle of the night because of my suspicion and the other reason is there a ghost lodging in front of room 406.
"Maybe it's the ghost who put the heater in blast to prank whoever in that room."- I thought in my head.
I just shake my head and as I lay down to my bed, the sleep instantly drawn at me.
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
I jolted in my bed when a blood-curdling scream echo to our dorm. I also notice my other three roommates woke up because of the scream. My eyes shot the clock a look as my habit every time I wake up and it's read 7:00 in the morning.
"What's that scary scream?"- Lenalyn asked as she descends her bed.
Gina and DDelila also rush down their bed so I did the same thing. I heard the door in the bathroom burst open and Mirabelle walk out there.
"I'm going to check."- Mirabelle said and left our dorm and the three of us also follow.
When we finally outside, I was stunned for a moment because I saw the ghost yesterday again watching the commotion in front of her.
"Zoey, let's go."- Lenalyn grabbed my arms and pulled me toward room 406 and force ourselves to the front to see the commotion.
The smell of musty and rotting flesh cross my nose and the air of aircon hit my skin as we finally inside the room. I saw Gina trying to calm the girl crying in the corner while Mirabelle is on the phone, maybe calling the police and Delilah is staring at the corpse.
I approach Delilah and I gasped when I saw the corpse, not because of the corpse starts decomposing but because the corpse is similar to the ghost outside.
"She was stab on the back."- Delilah suddenly stated.
"How long do you think she's dead?"- I asked.
Delilah doesn't answer immediately, it seems she's still estimating the time of death. So while waiting I decided to observe the corpse. The girl is sitting on her chair while her head place on top of her desk, her eyes rolled back and there's a knife plant in her lower back.
"Maybe two days based on how stiff she is."
Something is wrong. That's the first thing I thought though I don't know what's gone wrong but my gut telling me something doesn't add up.
"Move the way! They're here."
I immediately snapped back from my thoughts and turn to the door when someone shout but instead of a police, three boys wearing the uniform of Ephemeral Academy enter the room.
"Who are they? Why is everyone seems relief to see them."- I asked Delilah in a lower voice.
"Oh! They are member of a club in EA whose investigate crimes. Either it's cold case or abandoned case, they will investigate it."
I furrowed my eyebrow in disbelief. What kind of school that I'll get into that they have club for investigating true crimes? "And what name of their club?"
"The Riddle Club."