BEHIND THE SHADOOWS

Several weeks had passed in a blink of an eye, but Claire is still missing. Everyone of us, especially Samantha is getting worried for her, which is totally understandable. The police already informed her parents regarding her sudden disappearance.

And in that recent weeks, we became the dartboard of other sections' curious and condemning stares. Our class were suddenly treated as plague, almost every students avoided us, afraid that the culprit of the previous events is one of us. Rumors have spread all over the campus, and all of them are really ridiculous.

"Seriously, one more filthy words from these bitches' mouth and I will cut their tongues. They are so annoying," Lei exclaimed as we walked pass by the three students gossiping about us.

I nudged her. "Calm down, they are not worthy of our time."

"Yeah, you're probably right. But my ears are already burning hearing their ridicules," she grumbled as we sit in the table. "Is there any progress on the police's investigation yet? You talked to Mr. Morelli right? Do they have a lead already?"

I rolled my eyes. "Hold your horses, ask one question at a time."

She chuckled. "Fine, sorry. I'm just eager to know if they have already identify the suspect because I don't think I can stand these bastards' contemptuous remarks anymore."

I sighed. "Unfortunately, I haven't heard anything from them as well. The last time I had a contact with them is when I told Mr. Davien what I heard on the library the same day Claire went missing. I don't know if they found any evidence that will link those things, if they are indeed connected."

"I don't think it's just a mere coincidence, though. Anyway, what do you want to eat? My treat."

I shake my head. "My mother unexpectedly gave me money yesterday, so I can pay for it."

"I did not ask if you have a money, dummy. I asked for your order," she replied, rolling her eyes at me.

I chuckled. "Are you in your period or something? You're so irascible and hot-headed today," I teased her.

"Hey guys! Why didn't you invite us? I'm badly hurt!"

Our bickering was impeded with Ethan's loud voice, behind him are some of our classmates and the others are lining up in the counter.

"I don't want to have a squabble with some narrow-minded bitch ," Lei responded, giving Amber a short glance.

The latter scoffed at Lei. "As if I want to have a lunch with you either."

Ethan raised both of her hands between the two. "Don't tell me you're going to start a bitch fight here? Please, we want to eat in peace."

Silent stretched between the two of them.

"Both of you seriously need to lower down your pride and make amends with each other," Ashley interjected.

Amber raise an eyebrow. "Coming from an egotistical person."

"Indeed. Stop being a plaster saint, Ash," Lei added.

The former clasped her hands on her chest and looks at them. "Wow, now you're conspiring against me?" she asked with a feigned offended look.

Lei and Amber look at each other before bursting into laughter. My lips broke down into a grin as I watch them. I may be her best friend, but I know they are still important to Loralei as well. They know each other longer, that's also the reason why I really felt bad when they had a dispute, which I'm partly the reason.

"I'm glad that both of you are okay now," I told Lei as she sits beside me. The boys followed our other classmates to order foods.

She nods her head. "I am grateful, too. But I still don't regret slapping Amber, I think it really knocked a sense to her."

We later decided to bring the foods to our room and eat there to avoid commotions. The other students are already giving us sardonic glances and we want to avoid scuffle. Evan and Pierce need to held Sloane and Ethan because they almost picked a fight with some bastards who won't stop talking shit about us.

"This is probably the first time that our class eat together in one table for a lunch," Alexandria said.

We nodded, agreeing to her statement.

"But the situation would be better if we're complete," Samantha said out of the blue, silencing us. She seemed to noticed the tension and smiled awkwardly. "Oh, I didn't mean to ruin the fun. Don't mind me."

Evan sighed. "Don't be sorry. We miss them too. But we can't do anything with Airen and Carter's death."

The entire lunch was fun and jovial, lead by Ethan who seems to have an unlimited supplies of jokes inside his sleeves, as usual.

Lucas suddenly sits beside me while I'm scrolling through my phone. We're just waiting for Ms. Clara to arrive.

I look at him. "H-Hi," I said uneasily.

He stares at me for quite few seconds before smirking. That infamous grin again that can give creep to anyone's system.

"You're digging your own grave for being too gullible, Lauren. You're so easy to fool, and your naivety will drag you to hell," he said before going back to his seat.

My eyes followed him. I just stare at him who's now reading his book on the corner. I don't know if he can feel my obvious stares and is just ignoring it or what. Lucas is a complete anti-social. Lorelei told me that they are classmates since grade-school, but she never saw him having friends. He will just talk to someone if it's necessary.

That's why it is really strange and staggering of him acting like this. Ever since our talk in the library, I became uncomfortable around him. I feel like he knows something that none of us knows. He's like a book that is too hard to read, but he seems to know everything about us. And that really bothers me.

I shake my head. "I'm being paranoid again."

ASHER'S POINT OF VIEW

"Asher, aren't you coming with us? We'll unwind and drink beer in Ethan's house," Lincoln asked me.

I shook my head. "I'll pass for today, bro. I need to do something important."

He nodded and went outside. I fix my stuff and follow them. Someone put an arm around my shoulder out of the sudden, it was Aeron.

"Hey, bro," I greeted him.

He looks at me for a second. "Aren't you coming with us?"

I sighed. "Even if I want to, I really can't. My mother told me to go home early, she did not tell me the reason though," I replied.

He nodded his head. "Is that so? Then I'mma get going now. Take care," he said while waving his hand.

I nod at them as we reached the gate.

"Enjoy, y'all!" I shouted.

I watch them ride their respective cars. When they were already out of my sight, I continue walking. But the direction I'm taking is not of going directly to our house.

The elusive atmosphere and bar lights greeted me as soon as I step inside the pub. From the lazy spin of the fans, to the recumbent light of eventide that will soon be starlit black, the bar soaks in the ambiance of the good night.

"You're fifteen minutes late today, Asher," Arwen told me who is serving drinks to the customers.

I chuckled a bit. "Sorry, I need to run some errands before going here," I responded before going inside a certain room. I change my school uniform into a white long sleeve polo shirt overlaid with a black vest and a tie.

"Here's an order on table number 8, Ash."

I nod my head and grab the tray filled with drinks and liquors from Kyle.

"Here are your orders, Ma'am and Sir. Enjoy your stay," I said to them with a smile.

I'm a part-time server in Stag Nite Bar for almost two years now, but no one knows it, not even Lincoln, my best friend. Ever since my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer, her jewelry business went down hill. She was bed-ridden for almost three years now, and we experience a financial crisis, but I never told anyone about that. Not because I don't trust my friends, but because I'm ashamed of our current situation. I don't want to see any ounce of pity from them. I know people will call me stupid, but that's the truth.

Because of that, I have no choice but to work my fingers to the bone. It was tough, but I managed to survive.

"Ash, table number 1."

I was disrupted from my reverie when Kyle called my name. I heaved a deep sigh and continue working.

"Table six."

"There's an order in table fifteen."

"Follow up order in eight."

"Serve these to the VIP room."

"Give these to table number ten."

I slump wearily on the couch after my shift ended. I wipe the beads of sweat dripping on my forehead and let out a heavy sigh.

"Damn, what a rough day," I whispered to myself.

I knead my throbbing head and momentarily close my eyes. After resting for a bit, I walk inside the workers' room and change my clothes to a more comfortable one.

"Take care, Asher!"

I nod my head to Arwen and Kyle before walking to the opposite direction. The cold wind is fondling against my skin as I take the road leading to our house. I hug my jacket to fend off the coldness.

The phone inside my pants suddenly rang. I fish it out and saw a message from my sister. I type a reply.

I stop walking when I heard a rustle from behind. The wind becomes colder, sending shiver down my spine. The eerie feeling intensified when I felt a strange presence in my back. I swallowed a lump and turn around. The flickering lamp post is kindling night shadows to the ground. The leaves are dancing along with the breeze. But nothing is really uncanny.

I laugh and shrugged my shoulders. "I really need a good rest now."

I was about continue walking when someone emerged from the darkness. Slowly, that person closes the distance between the two of us. And I was rooted on my spot when she finally showed herself. My mouth went agape as fear crept up my system.

"It's nice to meet you again, Asher."

That's the last words I heard before I lost my consciousness when someone hits my head from behind.

•••••

The flickering lights greeted me when I slowly opened my eyes. I look around the almost empty room, there is nothing here but a wooden table and a lighted candle on top of it- the only illumination of the room.

I shake my throbbing head. "What is this place?"

I close my eyes and tried to hark back to what happened last night that leads me in this place. My eyes widened in fear as soon as I remember everything. I immediately stand up and walk towards the door. The wooden floor is creaking with every steps I make, aggravating the sinister atmosphere of the room.

"Bullshit," I muttered when I can't open the door. I tried to kick it, but it didn't even badge.

"Fuck this!" I cursed.

I walk towards the only aperture inside the room. I squat to peak outside, but I can only see pure darkness. I sit on the floor hopelessly and grab my hair out of frustration.

I flinched when the hinges of the door grated, breaking the eerie silence. A hooded man emerged from the gloom and look down at me, his lips curved into a disturbing sneer.

My blood boiled. I stared at him with outrage. "You're a fucking traitor."

His grin became wider. "You slept for so long. I bet your mother is worried sick now."

"You son of a bitch. Don't you fucking dragging her on this mess." I blew a fuse when he mentioned my mother. I stood up and dashed towards him furiously. But before I could even reach him, he raised a gun and point it to me, petrifying me in my spot.

He shakes his head while chuckling. "What does it feel to be pathetically helpless, Asher? It's infuriating, isn't it?"

He walks closer, with the weapon still pointing at me. I tensed up when the tip of the gun touches my forehead.

"I want to shoot you dead right now, but that will not be enough to satisfy me. Shall we start now?"

I glared at him. "I will not play whatever stupid game you have inside that twisted mind of yours."

Without any warning, he fired the gun and it hits my left shoulder.

"Argh! Curse you!" I shrieked in pain.

I fell on my knees when he shoots my legs, aggravating the pain coursing through my body.

He crouched down in front of me and grabs my jaw. "Stop acting like a gutsy bastard. Your life is in my hands now, so better do what I say. Understand? Hmmm?" he whispered gravely. "The game is very simple, Asher."

He let go of my face and walk towards the table. "I will ask you one simple question, and all you need to do is answer me with utmost honesty. Easy, right?" he asked with a playful grin.

He grabs something from her jacket and throw it to me. "Does her face rings a bell?"

Despite my bewilderment, I pick it. Fear ran across my face when I recognized the person on the photo. I look at him, tears brimming on my eyes. "W-What?"

His eyes gleamed with anger. "You still remember her, don't you?"

I shake my head and throw the picture. "N-No, i-it's not my fault. I-I didn't mean it. T-They just forced me to do it. N-No," I said, stuttering.

I didn't have the chance to defend myself when he suddenly lunges towards me, choking my neck while pointing the gun in my nape. "You have a choice, you have a fucking choice to refused and saved her, Asher. She trusted you, yet you betrayed her. Don't you fucking dare call me a traitor when you're far worse than me," he exclaimed, his voice shaking.

I finally permitted my eyes to cry. I look at him. "I-I'm sorry. I already regretted it."

He slam my face to the floor. "Sorry? Do you seriously think that your sorry will return her life? It's too late to apologize because it's all useless now!" He went ballistic and continuously shoots my legs, my shouts and cries breaking the silence of the night.

"Ahhh! S-stop now! I'm begging you, please stop this!"

He kicked my face causing blood to squirt from my mouth. He pulled my hair. "She pleaded too, but you didn't listen."

He cupped my cheeks and entered the gun inside my mouth. I tried to break free from his grip, but I'm too weak to even raised a finger.

"Any last words, Asher?"

Her dying words suddenly rings in my ears- "I hate you."

His eyes widened when I hold the gun with my shaking hands. I smiled bitterly.

With a pang of remorse, I pulled the trigger. "I'm sorry, Blair."