Erik saw Fred and he hurriedly went to him.
“Hey buddy, I’m glad you came,” Fred said.
“ I came for you, Fred. I need you to be safe and away from all these “ Erik said.
“All these what? Everyone is having fun and no one is picking on me here… At least for today so why would you want me away from my peace?” Fred questioned.
“You don’t know these people, they are dangerous!” he warned.
“You are talking like a hero but I’ve always liked the villain in every movie and book. Haha,” he chuckled playfully.
“This is not a joke Fred, I watched and loved those villains with you,” Erik said.
“So why are you tryna he a hero? No one is bad, they all have their backstory that no one knows about. Everyone is good in their own story and everyone is bad in other people’s view” He countered.
Erik sighs and stopped a girl carrying around a pack of fizzy drinks. He got one for himself and Freddie.
“I don’t want to be a hero buddy,” Fred said.
“So you want to be a villain?” he asked.
“Hell no! Loosen up man, enjoy the party” he said to Erik.
“There’s something you need to know though, It was never my intention to leave town without telling you anything. My parents are dead Fred!” he said.
Regret and guilt took him over as he lowered the can of soda from his mouth.
“What? How? Oh my God, I didn’t even ask about them since you came back. Her cookies… I’m so sorry buddy, while I was whining about friendship, I didn’t know I have failed as one already” he said.
“You don’t have to feel sorry for me, you must like those people who ki||ed them. The villains” he said.
Fred looked sad and hurt, he wasn’t expecting the story to turn against him in a minute.
“What am I even doing here?” He said dejectedly and dropped his drink on the high table to leave.
“Uh.. your wrist, are you okay? How did you get that mark?” Erik asked.
Fred examined his wrist and saw the mark Erik had noticed.
“Oh, this? If I tell you, you won’t believe it” Fred moved closer to him to whisper.
“I will believe anything Fred, tell me,” Erik said looking serious and prepared to know if Haliah was right.
“I ran into a crazy woman behind the school, I had gone to my usual spot to study to hide from Tommy when she came out of nowhere. She must be the type that is obsessed with horror theme lifestyle. Guy! Her costume was mad but she clawed me” He said and stopped.
“Clawed you? Why?” Erik questioned.
“She was hovering around me for a while acting like she was alone there and when I challenged her, she asked if I can see her. I took my books to leave when she clawed me with this scary voice of hers but I was lucky to escape her, I hit her with my textbook” he said.
“Wait what? You only hit her with your textbook? Lady of wills?” Erik asked stunned.
“What are you talking about?” Fred asked confused.
“I need you to come with me now, I must show you something” he was about to grab his hand when Lady in Black showed up at the party.
The students were scared at first and everything was put to stop but she smiled and with a dismal wave of her hands urged them to continue their party.
“Pretend you didn’t see me guys, I’m a friend of the Hanson,” she said with a smile and everyone cheered.
“Freddie? Can you come here for a sec?” She said.
Erik was surprised to see her and the fact that she called Freddie first the moment she arrived. What’s she up to with Fred? If she wanted to turn him against them, she would have worked on it all this while.
One thing was sure, Lady in Black’s plan is not to turn Fred against him but why is she after him?!
He thought and he scanned the room looking for Haliah and Susan.
HALIAH’s OLD CHAMBER
Haliah had returned to her old room with the hope of getting her hands on some of her mother’s notes that she kept in there. Part of her was happy to find out everything was the same. The passcode, wallpaper, and even the comb she left on the table before leaving for Mexico then to rescue Erik… oops to ruin his life.
Looking back to the memories, tears filled her eyes as she sat on her chair in front of the dresser.
She cursed her fate for being cruel to her when she could have a perfect life.
Just then, the door clicks open and her mother came into view. She had sensed her arrival and came looking for her.
“What are you doing back here Haliah?” She asked.
Haliah sniffles in her tears and tilt her head up to stop the rest from dropping,” I will leave now” she said.
“Haliah my dear” she called out lovingly.
“You’ve grown too weak and this won’t get you anywhere, hanging out with them is nothing like your fate. You will only cause them harm! Darkness and light can’t cohabit” her mother said.
“How could you say that to me, mom?! Why can’t I be the light? Why must I belong to darkness just because I came from one?” She yelled.
“ I am the only one that can accept you for who you are baby… no one!” She said.
Hot tears came streaming down her cheeks and she realized her mother won’t give up on her or back off from her friends unless she gives in to her fate.
Perhaps, allowing her power to take over once would bring her father back.
She showed her mother Ferya’s mark on her but not the fact that they are bonded together.
“I was foolish mom, I’ve been preyed upon because I had hopes to escape my fate” she cried.
“Oh my … Ciara!” She groaned.
THE PARTY 9:00 (The time Kira woke up crying)
Susan was checking out everywhere when she saw lady in Black talking to Fred in a very concerned manner.
She studied her face and it was different from the evil Lady in Black she had read about in books and the one that attacked them.
Her face was soft and tender towards Freddie who was so lost talking to her. Like a son telling of his troubles to his mother.
Somewhere in the house, Ciara was walking through the corridors with ice packs in her hand when she sensed something dark and ominous. The scent sends butterflies to her stomach and she smiled excitedly to face wh@ťěver it is that came for her but she never expected it to be FERYA.