The Message

Every inch of her body shivered as she lay on top of the new guy. She could barely move from being so cold. The new guy however helped her in getting up.

"You are cold like hell!" said Emma, shocked. 

"Sorry. My name is Stephen Tepes."

"Funny name." snapped Emma.

"Romanian father and English mother. What would anyone expect?" 

Emma walked towards a seat in the back of the bus and finally sat down in a corner. Stephen sat beside her.

"Why are you following me?" Asked Emma, annoyed.

"Just thought we could be friends," replied Stephen.

"You could sit beside any guy." pointed out Emma.

"You look pretty," said Stephen smiling.

Emma looked at Stephen surprised. She was sure that she was far from looking pretty. No one had ever mentioned that she was pretty. Few boys at the school previously had once told Emma that she was interesting and smart but no one mentioned the word pretty. This sudden confession of a new boy makes her suspect if someone forcibly made him say this to her. After all, she was the regular target of the bullies. Some students would definitely want her to look like an idiot falling for a guy who is too good looking for her.

"Wow you are so new and you are already trying to flirt. Did someone give you a dare?" Asked Emma, politely.

"No sweetheart," replied Stephen.

Taken aback by Stephen's reply, Emma looked at him stunned. The new boy just met her and immediately started flirting with her. This was something that happened only in movies.

"Who is sweetheart?" Asked Emma, irritated.

"I was referring to you," replied Stephen.

"Stop with this act and let me sit in peace," said Emma as she increased the volume of her earphones and folded her hands. She closed her eyes as she began listening to Taylor Swift's You Belong with Me.

Throughout the journey to the school, none of them spoke to each other. Emma sat quietly in her seat listening to the songs on her playlist. Music was one thing Emma loved apart from her books. It made her feel relaxed. She would regularly listen to her songs before and after school. A few minutes later, they reached the school. A security guard in a dark blue jacket and trousers opened the white gate and let the bus in.

Emma quickly paused the song and removed the earphones. As the bus slowed down to stop, all the students got up. Emma pushed Stephen to reach the folding door of the bus. The bus stopped in front of the grey building of the Roseville High School. The moment the door opened, Emma jumped out and ran through the grass that surrounded the huge grey building of the Roseville High School. Pushing the glass door at the entrance of the school, Emma walked inside.

'He thinks a loner like me will fall so easily. Probably the mean girls of the school wanted to play a joke on me again and gave him a dare.'

Emma sighed as she walked past the principal's office and the library to reach her locker. She wanted to get away as far as possible from the new boy. He just met her and told her things that she never expected to hear. She couldn't understand his intentions. One thing she already knew was that unlike most movies in real life people do not fall in love just like that. Either he was faking it or he was a complete idiot because she was no beauty.

'When will these bullies stop bothering me? This time they have gone too far. If they keep doing this, how will I manage? I don't even have Julia or Cathy now to eat lunch with me.'

Emma quickly ran to her locker and opened her bag. She removed some of her books and stuffed them inside the locker. Removing her jacket, she revealed a thick red shirt with puffy sleeves. She folded her jacket and pushed it inside the locker.

"Hey Emma, any news of Cathy?"

Emma turned and saw a black, tall muscular teenager wearing a football uniform. It was Andre, Cathy's boyfriend. Though he and Emma rarely spoke to each other, they knew each other well. They had gone to movies and parties along with Cathy. Since he played for the local football team, he was very popular and had lots of friends.

"Andre, I am sorry, there is no news yet," replied Emma.

"Her phone is dead too. This is getting horrible. Even my uncle has gone missing. What is the FBI doing? They should be here investigating by now." said Andre.

"I don't understand what is going on. Is there really a serial killer?" Asked Emma, curiously.

"My cousin Lilly is a forensic expert who handles autopsies for investigation in criminal cases. Guess what she told me. She told me that no one was killed." replied Andre.

"What? How are they dying?" Asked Emma, shocked. 

"Even to my cousin, this is a mystery. The police are surely unhappy with these deaths. No one seems to understand it. I just hope that people stop dying like this." said Andre, sad. 

"I too hope for the same. I wish they find Cathy soon," said Emma.

"Urgh, it is so cold in here! I should go for a bath now. Couch showed us some new techniques early in the morning and made us practice in the auditorium. See you later."

A notification suddenly appeared on Emma's phone. To her surprise, it was a message from Cathy.

"Wait Andre, look at this," said Emma, quickly. 

She showed her cellphone screen to Andre, who looked at the message stunned. 

'Hello Emma, my life is in danger. I saw something I shouldn't have. Our town is in danger. I am hiding at our secret place. Meet me after school. I will tell you everything.'

"Secret place? Where the hell is this place?" asked Andre, confused.

"I can show you that place but instead of meeting the Sheriff, why did she hide?" Asked Emma, puzzled. 

"Maybe she got herself involved in something very big. Only she can tell us the truth."

"Alright, we will go together to our secret place after school but Andre please don't tell anyone about this." requested Emma.

"Emma, this is wrong! We should tell the police about this. What will we gain by hiding something big like this? Everyone is searching for her and here she just told you her location."

"She sends me this message believing that I won't say anything to anyone. Let's not break her trust." 

"You are right. Fine, I won't say to anyone." agreed Andre.