Chapter-05

“One sec” I stopped him. I looked at him, got frozen.

“Today there’s a party. I will tell you about the venue. Will you come?”

“Sure, I will come for you.” For me? I didn’t expect this answer.

After an hour I met hazel at a shop. “Is that boy coming?”

“Yes, yes, thousand times yes. Can we go to another topic?”

“Okay, sorry. So, can we take some dress?” I nodded and entered the shop. There are many nice outfits but I don’t think it suits me. Most of them are short. I never wore anything like that.

“Are you going to take this or not?” she pointed her hand at a glittery black dress that will come above my knees?

“Um... I am looking for some cosy dress”

“Are you having a girls’ night? Take this please.” I looked at it and I think I can give it a try. We exited the shop and went straight to the party. I hope he will come. I searched to see him but I could only see many uncountable teens are drinking, kissing, hooking up etc... when I turned away from them, hazel was gone. She went without telling muttered with frustration. I took my phone and messaged Maddy to come here. I need some company which should be here.

“Stella,” someone called me slowly.

“Hi Chris,” he looked at me twice. “You look so beautiful.”

“Thank you” I tried not to blush, but I did.

“Can you accompany me? I have never been to the party”

“Same as me” he took my hands and sat somewhere alone on a couch away from the others. I don’t know whether a boy like Chris never met at a party. He’s a perfect boy and it will be sad to hear if he’s single.

“Now I already about me, talk about your family or anything.”

“Nothing much interesting to hear”

“I am not looking for an interesting story, just talk”

“I am a single child.”

“Oh, same as me. Anything other than that?”

“Nope. So how are things with Adam?”

“What... I don’t want to talk about that.”

“No, actually, Adam is trying to talk to you. Look ahead.” I turned from Chris, and Adam is looking at me and waiting.

“Adam didn’t speak a single word after that thing happened”

“Maybe he wants to. If you don’t want, I will talk with them,” He volunteered willingly.

“No, I don’t want you to intrude in this.”

“It’s okay I am going.” he got from the couch and walked straight to him. I didn’t take a single move to stop him. I also don’t want to hear their conversation. I saw them speaking normally, but suddenly Adam looked furious and slapped Chris. Temper raised inside me. I will surely kick his ass. Chris gave no reaction after he slapped him. Adam looked afraid.

“What the hell do you want?” I yelled at him. It’s difficult to raise my voice in high party music.

Adam ignored my question. “Who are you, man? My hand hurts like hell”

“Answer me,” I yelled again.

“I just want to talk to you and ask sorry. Why is the interrupting me?”

“He’s my friend. I asked him to talk to you. I don’t want to see your face”

“You are changing Stella, is it because of this stupid friend?”

“Don’t you dare talk about him? I think I should have not loved you.” I let out my real feelings for the first time. I never, ever had this much courage.

“What? Are we breaking up?” I looked down, not answering anything. I am trying not to cry.

“She said, she doesn’t want you. Now leave,” Chris spoke this time, wrapped his arms around my shoulder.

“I didn’t ask you. You answer me Stella” I know I should tell you something. I think I will rather be alone than with a backstabbing boyfriend.

“YES,” I said out loud. He looked stunned for a minute.

“You are going to regret it. Do not trust him,” he yelled furiously and left. When he left, Maddy spotted me and ran towards me. She looked confused, not knowing what happened. She reached the party at the wrong time.

“Do you want to go with her and relax?” Chris asked me. He doesn’t know Maddy, but he can guess it from the way I looked at her. She’s my stress buster. I nodded.

“Take care of her,” he said to Maddy.

“And…” he added.

“Don’t take your ex-boyfriend’s word. You can trust me”

“What happened?” Maddy asked after he left. I hugged her, not telling anything.

“I will give you time, don’t worry dear” we got out of the house to get some air. I told her everything, and we sat in silence.

“You did the right thing. You should be happy now. “

“Really…” I frowned. I felt like I wasted all these years with the wrong person.

“Yes, let’s enjoy the party. I will teach you,” she grabbed my hands and went inside.

“Here, drink this,”

“What’s that?”

“Don’t act innocent, it’s just champagne”

“I won’t drink,” I shoved away.

“No, you should. I am telling you this. Whatever I said will be good for you. So don’t resist” I took the glass and drank. Maybe I am trying to have some fun hereafter. But I forgot about Chris.

After some shots, I spilt the drink. “Hey, don’t you like it?” Maddy asked.

“No... I mean yes, but I need to find Chris.”

“Oh cool. You can’t live without seeing him,” she smirked.

“He’s my friend. A friend. Don’t misunderstand it.” I left with that word. I searched and searched and can’t find him. Suddenly someone pushed me. I am standing near a room. It opened, and I fell.

“Can’t they see clearly” I got up, and I heard a voice nearby.

“You should be here. Your intention is purely evil,” someone said, approaching the room.

“The voice seems familiar,” oh I should hide somewhere. I went inside the closet and closed it.

“It’s not my intention. Iam just working for them. I should finish my task and you are interrupting me,” Chris said, entering the room followed by professor Alaric. What are they talking about? I should have not hidden here. I tried not to make any noise.

“Whatever you say, I won’t let you get it.”

“Then I won’t leave here without it.” Chris stubbornly said.

“Try me, I rather die than give it to you”

I have no idea what they are talking about and why the hell a professor is at a party. So weird. I can’t understand Chris. He’s hiding many things. Iam sweating in the closet, I should go out. I am insane. I can’t open the closet. I will be caught. First of all, I should have not drunk. Iam feeling giddy.

The argument stopped for a minute, and something crashed into the room. I surely can’t look at it.

“I now know your weakness, Chris. Remember, I can kill you,” the professor says, and there’s no reply from Chris.

“But I won’t kill you. I will escape from here while you stay here,” the professor murmured to himself and the door slammed shut.

I opened the closet and saw Chris laying on the floor. His hands are on his other arm, holding tightly with pain.

“Chris, what happened. Why he is hurting you?” I asked him.

Instead, he looked shocked. “What are you doing here?”

“I came here looking for you. That’s not important. You need to go to the hospital,” I told, glimpsing his arm.

“What’s that?” I yelled. There’s no injury or blood, but his hands look like some sort of mechanical machine. The skin is peeled off, revealing android like parts. Just the one part of his hands look like that. He immediately hid it. “No, there’s nothing here. Please leave now,” his voice barely audible to me.

“No, I won’t, what’s happening with you?”

“Stella, understand me. I will explain it to you later. Leave now,” he shouted this time, and I took some steps backwards with a hurt look and ran away. I should have not run away, but what’s wrong with him.

Who is he???