CRACKS IN THE PRESENT

Asther, Summer and Aeron just watch Amber as the raging flames burn her. They don't feel any remorse while staring at the woman. Around them are the cold and unmoving body of Ethan, Evan, Ashley, Pierce and Sloane. Blood were spilled on the floor and walls of the room.

"Let's go. The night is getting deep," Aeron said. The other two nodded their head.

Their eyes widened when they saw Claire's body lying on the floor beside Alexandria. Blood was splattered on her dirty clothes. Aeron checks her pulse.

Aeron sighed. "She's dead."

"What should with do with her?" Summer asked.

"Leave her," Asther said sternly. Summer arched a brow that made the former rolled her eyes. "We can't do anything if she's dead already, she'll just be a huge encumbrance. Besides, we don't need her anymore, we just use exploited her anyway."

Aeron and Summer did not argue with her anymore.

The coldness of the night greeted them as soon as they step outside the house.  Asther breathed heavily. That house witnessed all their memories together, either sad or happy. She doesn't want to leave the place because it has a special place in her heart, but she has to.

She has to forget that house along with the past. She will burn them along with the people inside who made her life miserable.

"Asther?

She looks at Aeron who's holding a lighted torch. She nods her head. "Do it."

He complied. He throws the torch on the house and the fire gradually spread throughout the house. They stood there for at least a minute and watch the catastrophe.

"Let's go."

They turned around, but they did not expect what happened next. Police mobiles successively arrived at the place and surrounded the three. The cops are pointing guns at them.

Detective Alessandro Davien went out from one of the car.

"Play time is over, kids."

•••••

LAUREN'S POINT OF VIEW

two years ago

Sweats are dripping from my

forehead as I scan the test papers. I could not remember anything from all the reviews that I did. I pulled my hair in frustration.

Left with no choice, I look behind and call her who's silently answering the exams. I tear off a small piece of paper and write something before throwing it underneath her chair. I caught her attention, I motioned her to look below. She picked up the paper.

"Open it," I mouthed silently.

She was about to open it when someone grab it from me- it was Mrs. Ferrea, our professor.

She sighed and shook her head. "I am very disappointed, Ms. Rheign."

"But Ma'am-" She was about to explain when our professor grab her test paper before tearing it into pieces.

"I don't tolerate cheating and underhanded tactics inside my class."

Everyone looked at her with captious eyes, whispering ridicules without knowing the whole story.

Her lips parted as tears started brimming her eyes. She tried to look at me, but I avoided her gaze and continue answering the questionnaire, completely ignoring her miserable state.

"After this, follow me on the guidance office," Ms Ferrea told her. I wanted to stand up for her and admit the truth, but I was afraid of the repercussions if I did.

I know that what I did was horrible. I made her suffer the consequences of my own mistakes. I asked for her forgiveness, and Rheign, being the kind person that she is, forgave me without any hesitations.

However, it didn't end there. Maybe they are right, I'm indeed a walking abomination.

"Rheign, I'm really sorry for what happened last time. I was really scared of our professor that time. And I don't want to disappoint my mother as well. Getting a decent grade is the least I can do for them. But I'm still sorry. Don't worry, I will make it up to you," I sincerely apologized.

She sighed. "To be honest, I was really upset about that. But don't worry, I understand you."

"If only I'm smart as you," I uttered.

She suddenly hit my shoulder. "Shut up, we all excel in different things so stop being hard on yourself."

I look at her and smiled. "I guess you're right."

I roamed my eyes around. My lips curled into a sneer as I looked at one of our classmate. We're currently inside the pool area of the school to have our first swimming class.

"You hate Phoebe, right?"

She frowned at me. "Yeah, I hate her attitude. Why?"

I grinned at her. "Watch me."

"What will you do, Lauren?"

I stand up and walk behind Phoebe. Without any warning, I pushed her off the pool. I burst out laughing when she weakly tried to push herself out of the water with her arms and hands.

Rheign stands beside me. "L-Lauren, I think we need to help her. She seems drowning," she said worriedly.

I raised my eyebrows. "I thought you hate her?"

She nodded. "I do. But that doesn't mean I want her to drown."

I rolled my eyes. "You're too kind. Besides, that bitch is just acting, and she deserves it though, we just gave her a dose of her own medicine," I said with a snigger.

She held in my arms. "L-Lauren, she needs help! She's seriously running out of air now."

Rheign suddenly jump on the pool and tried to lift Phoebe's body out of the water. She tried to feel her pulse.

"Lauren, help me! Everyone, please help us!" she shouted and our teachers and classmates gather around us.

They immediately performed a CPR on Phoebe, but still, no response. Fear immediately crept up my system, my legs are wobbling as I tried to walk.

"Who did this?" our teacher asked. Rheign was about to utter something when I shouted.

"Rheign! It was Rheign! I saw her pushing Phoebe on the water!"

Her eyes widened. She looks at me with contempt, tears were threatening to fall from her eyes.

I averted my gaze from her. "I'm sorry."

•••••

I was panting and gasping for breath when I wake up. I bite my lips as I felt the familiar aching of my heart again- caused by the memories that I've been trying to forget.

That's my biggest secret. I destroyed someone's life because of my reckless decisions and I was afraid to face the consequences of my action. I lived with guilt inside me for the past few years.

I was pulled out of my reverie when the smell of burning woods pervaded my nose. I coughed when the smoke filled my lungs. I roam my eyes around the abandoned-looking room. My heart beats abnormally when I saw Lorelei on the other side, her eyes closed and head hanging low, apparently still asleep.

"Lei! Wake up!" I shouted, but I didn't receive any response.

I started sweating bullets when I saw the flame slowly creeping on the walls.

I tried to stand up, but when my hopeless situation finally dawned me, I couldn't stop my tears from falling anymore. My hands are tied behind me on a bed.

I extend my legs and kicked my best friend to wake her up. "Lei! You need to wake up!"

The room is being slowly consumed by the raging fire.

I turned my attention to Lei when I heard her cough. But that doesn't alleviate my fear because we're damn tied and imprisoned inside this godforsaken room!

"W-Where are we?"

I shook my head furiously. "I-I don't know either. But we need to get out inside this place right now!"

I tried to untie the knots, but all my efforts are futile!

"Damn it!" I screamed in frustration. I tried to look for something that can help me gash the ropes but I found nothing.

"Lauren," she suddenly called my name in a barely audible voice. She no longer tries to struggles from the ropes binding her. "I'm sorry."

My forehead creased. "Why are you saying sorry?"

She looked at me and smiled. "If we'll die tonight, just remember that you will always hold a special place on my heart. Though we only spent a short time together, you will always be my best friend."

Tears brimmed my eyes. "What the hell are you saying?! We will not die! W-We can find a way to escape," I said, even though I knew it was next to impossible as well.

My vision starts to get blurry. The temperature increases, the smoke is getting thicker and thicker with every passing seconds. The fire is getting wilder. The ceiling and door were completely consumed by fire.

I knew we would only last a few minutes. I'm running out of breath.

"No..." I uttered. The last thing I saw is a shadow before I finally lost my consciousness.

•••••

The white ceiling is the first thing that I saw when I open my eyes. Despite the throbbing pain in my head, I get up from the bed. I roam my eyes around, there are several hospital equipment. Wait, Hospital?!

I frowned. I look at my wrist, there is a suwero injected on it.

"W-Why am I here?" I asked myself.

As if on cue, the door opens. My mother's eyes widened in shock when she saw me. She even dropped the bag she's carrying. I would have laugh at her reaction if she's not crying right now.

She lunges towards me and wrap her arms around me. "Oh my God! You made me so worried!" she exclaimed in the midst of her tears.

I secretly smiled and returned her embrace. "I'm fine now, Mom. But it would be better if you will let go because you're seriously crushing me," I joked to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

She broke the hug and cupped my cheeks, tears are still dripping down from her eyes. "I t-thought I'm going to l-lose you too, Lauren," she said in between her sobs. "D-So you need something, sweetie? I brought some fruits for you."

I cleared my throat. "Just water, Mom."

She nodded her head before walking towards the small fridge inside the room. I immediately emptied the bottle of water that she handed me.

"You've been asleep for almost two days," she said while peeling an apple.

She heave out a sigh and looks at me. "What exactly happened, Lauren? I was just surprised when someone called last night and said that you're in the hospital. I didn't have the chance to ask them because I was really worried of you."

She served the platter full of fruits.

I look outside. The sun is seeping through the open window. I tried to remember what happened last night.

A loud explosion rattled the gymnasium where the prom was held. Mayhem ensued. And in the midst of the commotion, Claire suddenly appeared. She told us that Summer's life was in danger. We left the venue to save her. But in the middle of the drive, I suddenly felt drowsy. I woke up inside an abandon room with fire slowly consuming the walls.

"I can't remember anything as well," I casually answered my mother because I don't want her to be stressed about my situation.

She sighed and caresses my hair. "Let's not talk about it for now. What's more important is that you're safe."

I just answered her with a smile.

I'm in the verge of eating when someone knocks on the door. My mother opens it.

"Yes, hijo?" I heard her asked that person.

She turned to me after a while. To my surprise, Luther is behind her.

"Lauren, you have a visitor. I will talk to the doctor for a moment ," she said and motioned him to come inside.

"How are you?" he asks when my mother shuts the door close.

"I'm fine now. My wrist and feet are aching a bit but I'm fine."

He sighed. "That's good to hear."

Few moments of silence rose between the two of us.

"W-What exactly happened last n-night?" I asked, stammering.

His eyebrows furrowed. "You don't remember anything?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Aside from the explosion in the University and the burning room, I couldn't remember anything."

He seems surprise on what I said.

"The explosion was part of the plan."

I look at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

He pulled a chair and sits right beside my bed. "Let me start from the start. Remember the student who died on the first day of school?"

I nod my head. "Yeah. What about him?"

"He's affiliated with your classmates and was with them when Astreia's death took place."

My mouth hang open. So that explains their reactions when we found him dead at that day.

"About that explosion last night, the killers used that incident to divert your attentions and lure you to that place where they executed the final part of their plans. I and Detective Davien tried to stop it but we're too late. The house where the killers brought your remaining classmates  was already burning and engulfed in flames when we came. Fortunately, we were able to rescue you."

My mouth went agape. I'm just staring at the empty air in front of me while trying to absorb what Luther said.

"Lei," I whispered.

"What?" Luther asked.

I wipe the tears that escape my eyes. "Where is my best friend? Please, I need to see her!" I went hysterical.

I was about to stand up and remove my suwero when Luther immediately stopped me.

"What do you think are you doing? Calm down, will you?!"

I glared at him. "Calm down?! I need to see her right now, Luther! I need to make sure that she's alive and safe!"

"You don't need to go ballistic because she's safe. She's admitted in another room."

I throw him a glance and breathed deep to calm myself. I gave him an apologetic smile. "H-How is she?"

"She hasn't wake up yet but her vital signs are stable already."

I nodded and sighed in relief.

"As I was saying earlier, the killers planned everything. Base on the test, the liquors that you all drank that night contains stimulants that can increase someone's heart rate, triggers panic attack, anxiety and headaches. It can also make them fall asleep in a certain period of time depending on the amount of dosage."

So that explains the drowsiness that I felt last night.

"And Claire was responsible for that."

My mouth fell on the floor. "W-What?"

His expressions turned more serious. "Claire's sudden disappearance was schemed for all of you not to doubt her. When she came back, she made it seem like she was kidnapped so you will not have any suspicions. But the truth is, she's one of them. Her intention as to why she conspired with the others is still unknown."

I was tongue-tied. Everything seems hard for me to swallow. I have known Claire for two years, she's a calm and compose woman, a soft-spoken person who's gentle to everyone. That's why I'm puzzled right now!

Luther continued. "When you lost your consciousness, that's probably the time that they held you captive, and the worst things happened."

I bit my lips. "H-How are my other classmates?, They are s-safe, right?" I asked in a trembling voice.

Luther's face turned pale. "We were able to took you all out of the burning house before it completely disintegrated into dust. You and Lorelei only received minor injury, but the others-" I feel like my heart is going to pump out of my chest while listening. Luther shakes his head, as if he's having a hard time putting his thoughts into words.

He sighed. "Pierce is in a dangerous and critical situation. He was shot two times, on his shoulder and near his chest. It's a good thing that the bullet did not hit any important vessel or he'll be dead as a meat. The doctors already pulled the bullets out, but he's still unstable.

I feel like a huge stone was lifted off of my heart.

"Your classmate Alexandria is also in the same situation. She was stabbed and received a second degree burn. They lost a lot of blood so it's sensible to say that we can't expect their immediate recuperation. They're in the recovery room now."

I fleetingly close my eyes. I don't exactly know what happened last night, and it's making me sick and frustrated.

"But the others--" I opened my eyes and look at Luther. "They were dead on arrival."

And just like that, the slight relief that I felt minutes ago disappeared and was replaced with utmost shock and sorrow.

"W-Who killed them?"

Luther pursed his lips. "Do you really want to know?"

I swallowed a lump. "Please tell me."

And when I thought that what I heard is already too much, Luther drops something that shattered me even more.

"Summer and Aeron. Asther, Astreia's sister, is also one of them."