Chapter 6 | Distraction

SAINT CLAIR ACADEMY STUDENT REPORTED MISSING:

Saint Clair Academy was one of the prestigious schools in the country. Every year, the academy accepts fifty brilliant scholars. Aside from the tuition-less enrollment and quality education, the scholars would receive monthly allowances and free lunch meals. One of these scholars was Helena Woodrow.

Helena Woodrow was reported missing by Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow on the thirteenth of September, Monday. The girl was last seen working at Sally’s Pizzeria on the eleventh of September, Saturday. The parents of Helena told the police that Helena would not usually go home for the weekends due to her work at the said pizzeria, so they did not bother when she failed to come home on Sunday.

However, Helena did not show up at their house the following day. Moreover, the manager at Sally’s Pizzeria told Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow that Helena did not come to work on Sunday.

If you have any information about Helena Woodrow’s whereabouts, please contact the number below.

Alice’s mouth was hanging wide open as she finished reading the article that Leia sent her.

It was early in the morning; the sun had fully settled itself in the skies, and Alice’s mind was wide awake. Despite her active thoughts, she cannot seem to process the news she had just read.

“Is this serious?” she whispered to herself as her eyes moved back and forth in her cell, trying to take in the information.

A knock on the door jolted her blank mind awake. “Alice, your parents wanted you downstairs.” It was Olivia, one of their house helpers.

“I’ll be down there in a sec.,” Alice answered as she ran her hands all over her face, trying to keep herself grounded in reality.

Alice and Helena were friends for only a week, and she was already missing. Alice could not help but blame herself for this. Alice was already unlucky ever since she was born; her presence brought unfortunate events to her people.

Was this her fault? Was this because she did not have her lucky charm with her?

Before going downstairs, Alice opened her jewelry box. She grabbed the necklace that sat alone inside. It had three pendants: a silver star, a golden horseshoe, and a small letter ‘L’ for luck.

It had been a long time since she wore a piece of jewelry, but today, she needed its comfort. She needed its protection from bad luck.

“I know you do not like bodyguards, but you need to have one right now,” Meredith initiated when she arrived at the dining area.

Alice already saw this coming, so she nodded and did not argue any further.

George, observing his daughter, cleared his throat as his eyes landed on Alice’s lucky necklace. “It’s not your fault, Al.”

“Oh, Alice…” her mother uttered as they looked at her with worry.

“It must be.” She shrugged. “Nothing like this happened in the academy before, right?”

“No, but cases like this already happened in different schools before, so don’t blame yourself for something that is out of your control,” Meredith consoled.

Alice shook her head and released a heavy breath. Despite her parents’ words of consolation, she could not help but blame herself; she was the epitome of unfortunateness, after all.

Silence reigned over the Le Blancs’ table until Meredith spoke, “Don’t worry about her, Al. She will be found in no time, and besides, we will give them resources to find her. Her parents are beneficiaries and members of UNITY, too, so a lot of people will look for Helena.”

“I hope so. I hope she will be found soon,” she uttered for a second, her eyes were staring mindlessly at the breakfast feast their house helpers made.

“Wait, what? Helena’s parents are beneficiaries of UNITY?”

Alice knew everyone in the UNITY, the beneficiaries, donators, members, officials, and even the volunteers. But she was not familiar with the Woodrow surname being listed as one of the UNITY members.

George nodded. “Yes, that is why you shouldn’t worry. They will have all the help they need, and Helena will be home safe soon.”

“Why aren’t they listed on the UNITY’s website?”

“We don’t list everyone there. Some of our beneficiaries and donators want privacy, so we give it to them.”

If that was true, Alice thought, then that means her birth parents might be part of UNITY. Maybe it was them in the photo frames at the academy.

She already threw that idea because it was impossible at the time, but this new information at hand, made it possible.

Saint Clair Academy was buzzing with whispers and conversations when Alice arrived. She could hear their theories as to why Helena was missing; she could even saw a few people pointing at her, probably saying, ‘That’s her; Helena’s friend, and the murderers’ daughters. Maybe she killed Helena.’

Alice regretted that she went to school today. She knew it would be unpleasant, especially that Helena would be the center of attention of everyone.

She knew that Helena would not like it.

“Before you say anything, this is not your fault.” Leia’s words were firm and final.

“You’re the third person to tell me that.”

“Because it’s true,” Leia insisted as the two of them took a seat in the back row of the classroom.

“We both know it’s not,” Alice mumbled.

Leia stared at her with so much disapproval, but Alice turned a blind eye and opened her emergency comic book.

She was reading Infinity Inc., the first volume and thirty-fourth issue. Of course, she had already read it, but she brought it today because this is where Hazard, a villain character, first appeared.

Hazard was just like Alice. She brought bad luck to everyone around her but herself.

And right now, Alice could relate to her more than anything else.

When lunch came, Alice and Leia decided to take separate ways.

Alice needed to head towards the hall of pictures; her mind was filled with Helena's disappearance, so she needed a far greater distraction than comic books could provide: her birth parents.

On the other hand, Leia had to go to the library for a quick conversation with Yu, the son of the senatorial candidate, Li Jing Zhang.

It was the first time they would not eat together, but as of the moment, it was the better option. The two could not bear to eat in a room full of students eyeing them, whispering about Helena and their small group.

“Good luck,” Alice declared.

“Where are you going again?”

“The hall. The one with the frames.”

Leia looked confused. “Why? If you want, you can come with me, and we’ll eat together after my conversation with Yu.”

“No, thanks,” Alice immediately declined.

She did not want to hear about Yu and Leia’s conversation about their dating arrangement, and Yu also made it clear in his message that he preferred to talk with Leia in private.

“But—”

Alice laughed. “Just go to the library and talk to him. I know you’re stalling.”

Leia’s face heated profusely. “Fine. But why are you going there again?”

“I’ll tell you next time. Bye!” Alice waved her hand and started walking away.

The hall was empty when Alice arrived. The sunlight reflected on the frames and the glass windows; Alice felt calm and peaceful as the isolation and silence gave her comfort.

She went to the last photo frame and stared at it intensively. There was a small plaque below the edge, saying, ‘UNITY.’ Her eyes went to Meredith and George Le Blanc first before landing on the couple beside them.

There was no denying it. It was her birth parents, Vivien and Roger.

Alice’s thoughts instantly spiraled. She was contented with what she knew about her birth parents before but knowing that they were part of UNITY raised many questions for her.

She regretted distracting herself from Helena’s disappearance. Instead of having calm thoughts, all she had right now were questions and tension around her brain.

“Is this your favorite spot or something?”

Alice moved to look at the voice that surprised her. Thomas was leaning on the wall; he had his undeniably gorgeous, enthusiastic smile plastered all over his dazzling face.

“No, but is it yours?” Alice was quick to answer.

Thomas’s smile grew wider. “I just like the peace and quiet of this place. How about you? You seem to like those pictures.”

“I like staring at random things.”

“You could stare at me. I’m totally a random thing.”

Alice took a step away from the frames and completely faced Thomas.

Was he flirting with her? Or was that just friendly banter? She was not sure. She could not read the meaning behind those words and his smile.

Alice shook her head and averted her gaze. “I should go; I forgot something at the library,” she announced.

She needed to stay away from Thomas Saint Clair. Candice was not here, but the students around the academy always had watchful eyes everywhere. Being seen with him alone in this empty hall would just steer trouble for her not-so-peaceful life.

“Now? It’s our lunch break.” Thomas looked confused as he glanced at his Apple watch.

Alice shrugged. “It’s important.”

“Alright. I guess I’ll see you around, Al.”

Alice’s face scrunched and heated at the same time.

Did he just call her ‘Al’?

“See you,” she squeaked before turning her back and walking away.

Alice failed to notice it, but as she walked away, her mind that was once filled with stressful thoughts about Helena and her biological parents, was now filled with Thomas and his playful smiles and flirtatious banters.

It turned out that Thomas Saint Clair was the distraction Alice needed.