Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Ambiguously I stride to the locker hall my eyes starting upon the plain beige tile floor with mildew - darkened grout.

It was summer but I felt cold, the fear bothering within me with intense anxiety and panic.

What if I get caught up?

The question was nagging me.

I lift my glare and glance at the narrow metal lockers with air slits and the spare place. No one was around. The place felt quiet, dull and gloomy. There are empty lockers with doors yawning open. Few duffle bags and backpacks sit on the floor.

I have been exhausted and my eyes are heavy because of less sleep last two days with bothering ominous thoughts.

Inhaling and heavying a deep sigh. A shoelace poking out of a closed locker catches my glimpse. 

Frustratedly sighing I turn towards my locker and yank it open swiftly inserting the key.

The inside locker door arrays with my popular chick stickers along with a mirror that displays my unpleasant awful face.

Was it me?..

I doubt.

Dark circles covered under my eyes. My eyes are sunken and my lips are cracked. I leaned forward with a stiff neck taking a proper glare at the girl in front of me. I had not been wearing my regular makeup. I had been drifted off by thoughts that lead me no interest in my favourite choirs.

Rubbing my neck I heavy a sigh. Skipping meals and less sleep has affected me seriously.

If this was going to be leading I would end up failing as a prom queen this year. That's a thing that should never be happening because I would give up my crown to anyone except that annoying mule Dixie.

My head hurts.

My thoughts were back to the murder and there was a sudden knot in my stomach, my heartburning.

I was worried over borders on the paranoia. Extremely depleted overall the crises in my life. 

Ma...de...lyn...

A voice in a whispers makes me stop froze at my spot. I jerk my head and glance around the corridor. 

Did I just hear my name?

Maybe my intuition...

I roll my eyes over back to the pile of textbooks.

Made..lyn...

My heartbeat races causing pain in my chest. I stand rooted on to my spot rapidly blinking. 

Did I hear it again didn't I?

Someone...

Madelyn...

I stare around with tight shoulders with trembling lips and chin.

"Wh-Who?"I hardly stammer.

The corridor is quite an in gloom silence. Gulping my breath I pace a step forward and observe around discovering no one.

My chest tightening I grimace.

"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" a loud rather shirking voice makes me jump.

Who was that?

I heavy a deep weighted sigh holding on to my chest.

The voice was probably coming from the entrance to the toilet. Then I hear another familiar voice fall of in laughter.

"I told you, this new nerdy bitch won't be doing it!".

" WHY SHOULD I!?"I heard the girl yell again.

"Come on, you will have to face the consequences for running on to him the very first day you're here".

My face darkens when I recognised a familiar voice. I knew who she was and what was she about to.

"Put your heads down into the toilet seat!"Dixie smirks nastily at the new girl with blonde hair who stands in a corner with her furious face with hidden fear defending herself. 

"What are you doing Dixie?".

''Oh, you? the popular bitch," she smirks. "When did you start poking your nose into others problem?".

I squint my eyes regarding her.

The girl looks at me and then at Dixie. 

I turn to the girl and console her.

"You can move away," I say and Dixie interrupts. 

"No no no, how can you let her out?" she frowns at me. "That's mine and hers we are having an issue!".

"Bullying a person is not allowed, Dixie!".

She giggles. "From when did Miss popular bitch start following rules?".

I heave a sigh and frown at her.

" You can't do this!"I warn her. "How can you do it to a girl like you?".

"Like me?" she smirks sarcastically and regards the girl with a look of disgust rolling a lock of hair with her finger. "Ew, look at the way she is, a total nerd!".

Narrowing my gaze I fold my arms across my chest, forcing a smile.

"She is way better than you!"I protest and the girl turns to me with a pleasing smile.

"Did you forget that you are a popular bitch?" she smirks. "When did you start supporting these nerdy old heads?".

My face reddened and I part my lips to retort and pause when another voice behind me impedes.

" What's going on?".

I turn to see Eric who stands scratching at his cheek, eyebrows squished together. 

I dart my glare over to Dixie and she casts me a nasty smirk.

***

Students gather into the classroom while I take my front seat as usual.

Things have been weird and I could not take off my mind from the words of Mrs Karen. 

Next Sunday I would be visiting all of the houses on my list of suspects...

I heavy a sigh grimacing at the plain board in front of me which awaits to be filled with Professor Hawkins math sums as soon as he enters the classroom. 

My body turns cold a weight heaving my chest when the visions of that terrible night play in front of my eyes.

I didn't do it intentionally...

That was a mistake...

That was a great mistake...

I shouldn't have done it...

What if Mrs Karen finds out it was me?

What would the whole school think of me when they get to know I did a murder?

Panic ceased me.

Dixie's nasty evil smirk appeared in my vision. I could see the whole school staring at me and pointing out gossips. 

I can see a huge poster on the school notice board with my hand locked beside Mrs Karen with huge dark letters MURDERER!.

I stare my eyes bulging without blinking. The sound of my heartbeat thrashed in my ears. Jaws clenched I feel claustrophobic. 

My knees go weak and I feel dizzy. 

Nobody can stop me from going to jail.

The thoughts overwhelmed chills running cold down my spine

"Madie?"

"Madie?"

"Madelyn!?"

A familiar voice speaks to me and I hardly focus back on reality. I turn to see Alex with his casual charming smile with his dimples on his side.

"What's wrong with you?," He smiles wide. "You seem as if you have seen a crime".

Crime...

CRIME.

That word gave me chills but I  forced myself to act normal in front of Alex. I can't let him doubt me. I swallowed harder twice and then force a fake smile.

" N-Nothing, just you know a bit taken back with all those assignment stuff last night" I stroke my hair behind my ears fake forcing another smile.

"Mmm," He draws back arching one of his eyebrows suspiciously narrowing his gaze and tilting his head sideways. "Are you sure that it's all?".

I nod with silence smiling.

Regarding me skeptically for about seconds he beams running a hand through his honey hair.

"Someone provoked new feelings inside me today," he says.

I squint my eyes suspiciously.

New feeling?

My heartbeat paused for a second.

Was he suspecting me?

"Wha-What kind of feelings?" I ask him my hands grabbing the pencil on my table while my eyes looked into his cocoa brown gleaming ones.

He chuckles before he declares."A feeling that I cannot identify but a different feeling that shows me myself new to me!''.

I cease my brows squinting my eyes.

What was he talking about?

Feeling. Identify. Different. New?

He smiles turning and glaring ahead. "She is a beautiful angel who provoked my feelings," he continues. "I think I'm falling in love with her".

Love?

I could feel my cheeks turn warm suddenly my heartbeat accelerating all of my sorrows, fear and traumatizing thoughts vanished into the air.

My stomach flutters at the thought my pulse racing.

Does Alex love me?

A silly grin appears my gloomy mood disappearing. Unconsciously I part my lips to say something but hold back when his glinting gaze met mine with a hidden passion. 

My heart banging I stare into his deep cocoa brown eyes.

He twists a playful smile and winks.

"Want to know who the person is?," he asks and I nervously moisten my lips. "She is here already".

Do I have feelings for him?

Why am I so excited?

Come on Madelyn, Alex is going to propose to you.

My cheeks glowing I take a deep breath.

With a beaming expression, he smirks and points towards the door.

My heart drops a stinging pain pricking my chest. 

"She is the one," he says."Love at first sight!"

My stomach clutching the colour from my face drains, I droop my shoulders with wide eyes and eyebrows furrowed at the girl who enters in with a shy smile.

Her!?

A pain tightness my throat when I glare at the new girl  I had met at the girl's toilet whom I had saved from Dixie and her nasty bully. 

"She just ran over me early in the morning when I walked out of the gym".

"She?".

"Yeah!".

I should have let her die in the toilet seat!..

A pinch of jealousy pricks me.

My stomach hardens I look away.

Was he playing with me or was he serious?

"Pretty arnt she?" he smiles fumbling with the book in his hand while his eyes were on her.

"Seriously?''I turn to him and raise one of my eyebrows.

His sparkling eyes meet mine with an upturned bright face and smile.

"Of course!".

Why do I feel so broken?

Why do I feel so jealous?

Do I love Alex?

I just want him only to be with me.

I heave a sigh and shaking my head I frown.

"Form when did you start liking nerds?"I ask bitterly. 

"Hey Alex, Hey Maddie!"Kristin's greet interrupts in-between as she walks into the classroom with a gloomy smile.

"What are you girls up to huh?" Alex darts his gaze from her to me. "You two look like hit by a bus "he chuckles. 

"What do you mean?''.

"I mean look you both seem like haven't slept for years!" he laughs.

"What so funny is it?"Kristin says and walks to the empty seat beside me.

A hint of thought disturbs my mind back again.

Oh no!

Will the difference of my sleeplessness disturbed nights giveaway with my mysterious hidden secrets?

" Back to daydreaming!"Alex says in his husky voice and smirks. "Whatever that disturbs you tell me, babe, this gorgeous boy will solve it for you!" He winks.

Sighing I squint my eyes frowning. 

"I'm totally fine!"I snap turning to open my textbook as Professor Hawkins dashed towards the board and starts dumping his sums on to the board as soon as he enters with a silent greet which no one would've heard within the busy chatters.

After ten minutes of continuous writing of different sums that were put up on the board and taking time to solve them, I lift my glare sideways staring at Alexander who had an already made paper rocket in his hand and marks his aim to shoot it.

I follow his gaze at his aim and frown at the new girl.

With a long-suffering sigh, I narrow my glance upon him pressing my lips together in a thin line.

" What are you doing!?"I grate in my low voice.

"Oh," he darts his glance to me with a smirk. "What else?, I'm grabbing her attention".

" For what!?".

"What?, Why? I just want to grab her attention that's all" he aims and shoots the paper rocket.

With a slight headache, I snap my pencil tip on my book watch the scenario.

The rocket hits the girl on her shoulder while she stays focused inside her book. She lifts her head and turns to look down at the fallen paper rocket. Her blue eyes meet mine first and I look way.

I turn to Alex and catch him smiling silly at the girl and she responds with a tiny smile towards him then get back to her work.

A burning sensation takes place in my chest.

I should have let Dixie kick her ass!..

Trying to get things ignored with a headache I try to focus on my sums.

Mad...ee..lyn.....

I froze holding my pencil rigid the point pressing to the notebook.

Did I hear it accurate?

I wait for a few seconds and try to focus back on my sum.

Made...lyn... 

I panic and glance around. Everyone is concentrating on their work including Alexander.

"Did you hear that?"I whisper turning towards Kristin who was seriously focused on her sums.

"Hear what?" she raises one of her eyebrows confused. 

Hesitantly I shake my head swallowing. 

"N-Nothing !".

She regards me for a moment squinting her eyes and then casts me a smile, I force a smile and she goes back to her work.

Didn't see hear it?

Bitting my lips I heavy a sigh.

Did I imagine that?

These things make me crazy I should avoid these thoughts for now. 

Shaking my head I try to write when I hear the whisper calling my name again.

Adrenaline shoots through my system, my heart palpitating and tingling in my chest.

I heard it didn't I?

It was for real...

Swallowing harder I glance around.

Madelyn...

The temperature around me increases profuse sweating my mind becomes disoriented. 

I catch a glimpse at a dark thing standing at the corner of the classroom.

My chest tightens and I'm unable to take in more oxygen. Clenching my fist I feel my cold fingers on my palm. My mouth tastes sour an ache on the back of my throat making me difficult to swallow. 

I stare my eyes wide my body shivering at the dark tall figure that has no face except blank smoke instead and no feet just the body floating in the mid-air.

You...ki..lled....me....

Shuddering I shake my head.

Made...lyn....

You...kil..led...m..mme...

"N-No!"I whisper.

Heartbeat thrashing in my ears I feel dizzy.

You...Kill..ed..MEH!!!

"NO!''I bolt up yelling squeezing my eyes shut. My chin and lips trembling. 

Veins standing out in my neck my body shuddering I slowly open my eyes wanting to seek safety from the darkness. 

Everyone's eye in the classroom was taken attention over me including the confused wide gaze of Professor Hawkins. 

Anxious under their eagle glances I mutter.

" S-Sorry, Sh- Sorry".

"What happens?" Alex touches my hand concerned and I flinch at his touch. Ignoring his question I dart my glace over to the corner where the creepy figure had been and find the space empty.

Kristen comes to stand by my side her hands on my shoulder comforting me. 

"What happened Madelyn?" she asks and I swallow still starting at the space at the corner.

My mind waders in thoughts and I feel my body and legs weak. I feel cold and I turn to Kristen.

"I- I'm not well, I feel I would faint!" I hardly utter my words to her and she casts a comforting smile.

"It's okay".

"Everything is fine she just needs some rest!" Kristen comforts the class and leads me towards the door holding my arms after professor Hawkins had permitted us to go to the infirmary.

Clinging on to Kristin I feel my whole body weak. Things seem hard to concentrate on. There is an intense hidden fear within me. My mouth is dry hard to swallow. I walk pace by pace taking deep breaths.

"Kristin, "I turn to look at my friend who walks looking ahead without any words. "How long is the infirmary?".

She doesn't answer. 

"Kristin, I feel weak"I declare feeling my brain weak and panic ceasing with coldness. 

Biting my lips I stare ahead over my watery gaze.

The corridor appeared to be far away very long. I blink the daylight have been vanished and replaced by exhausting intense darkness. 

''Why does the  school seem different?''I ask pacing forth and forth on the no end path. "Kristin answer me!".

Made...lyn....

You...kil..lled..mmme...

The whisper grows higher and higher as we walk longer and longer.

My muscles stained, I blink less. I try to concentrate but hard to focus my body going weaker I collapse the entire vision in front of me darkened. 

Madelyn..nn...

Yoouuu...kill..lled...mme...

The whispers were the last thing that I could hear before I go into the deep darkness of unconsciousness.