Zhaine's POV
Early in the morning, the eleven of us were called to the conference room. From the window, we can clearly see our schoolmates leaving, riding ships, going home for the break. While us, we are just here… nothing.
"What are you thinking so deep?" Darryl asked me. He handed me my favorite chocolate drink. He knows me too well.
"I just miss my mom and dad. It's annoying because I can only see them during Christmas break," I said while jealously looking at our classmates who can be with their families.
"At least we are together," Darryl said while resting his chin on my back. I just smiled. He is right… at least I'm with them, and also my Kuya.
"Yucks! You guys get a room! You are showing off again!" Dexie suddenly shouted from a distance.
"Bitter!" I shouted back jokingly.
"Dexie, if you are jealous just say it, I am here!" Kevin shouted and tried to hug her, but she quickly stepped back.
"Yucks! So gross, shut up!" Dexie shouted.
Kevin frowned. "Why 'yucks'?! Do you think I'm ugly?! Tss! Many girls like me!"
We all laughed a little. Kevin is really so full of himself.
"Bro, you are really ugly," Andrey said while tapping Kevin's back.
Kevin got angry. "Andrey!!"
The door suddenly opened and our principal came in. Haaay, good thing this time she is wearing proper clothes, not like last night. Our adviser Sir Salva came with her.
"You are in charge of them," the principal said shortly, then she left right away.
****
Until now, I'm still bothered about that strange video, so I decided to ask them again. I don't know why, but I feel like something is wrong…
I went closer to Kevin.
"Kevin, serious talk, no jokes. That video last night… is that your prank?" I asked quietly.
Kevin scratched his head a little.
"Zhaine, I already said no. I swear, even if Andrew dies, I have nothing to do with that video!"
"Hey idiot, why you mention my name?" Andrew said and joined us.
"Dude, that video from last night… it looks like a snuff film. Do you remember the girl? She looks like our guidance counselor. Andrew, are you sure you didn't plan that prank?"
"I'm not!" Andrew quickly said. "That's what I'm thinking too. It looked so real. And only me and you here are good with special effects!"
Then he suddenly stopped and his eyes went wide like he realized something.
"W-what if there is a serial killer on this island? Like in horror movies… stuck on an island, killing us one by one…"
Kevin suddenly hit him on the head.
"You're crazy! But listen… yesterday before the party, my USB with the slideshow was missing. I looked for it for hours, but Blake found it."
Kevin tapped my back.
"Zhaine, relax. Maybe it's just a prank. And Andrew, stop watching too many horror movies. Your imagination is too much."
I sighed deeply. Kevin has a point too. The USB was missing, so maybe it's really just a prank. Zhaine, calm down… maybe you're just overthinking. Too many horror movies.
"Darryl, Zhaine, Jackson, Tiffany, Blake, Dixie, Andrew, Lee, Rex, Kevin, and Andrey, you are hereby sentenced to stay in campus premises for the next two weeks. Our principal wants all of you to reflect on your actions while doing island community service," Sir Salva announced.
We all reacted and complained.
"Sir, is this punishment final? This is not fair!" Lee said.
"Sir I need vacation! I'm so tired of Andrey's face!" Dixie cried.
"Hey Dixie, if anyone is suffering here, it's me! I'm Andrey's roommate!" Kevin shouted.
"Wow guys, I feel so loved. Thank you so much. I love you all… so much," Andrey said sarcastically while wearing earphones.
"Did you hear that? He really has thick ears!" Kevin joked.
Everyone kept complaining, and Sir Salva sighed deeply.
"Unfortunately, I can't do anything. Even I am stuck here. For the next few days, we will stay on the island. Think of it as a vacation."
"Yeah, right?" The whispers of my classmates echoed around. Some of them are even smiling at the idea. Come to think of it, he has a point. I mean, we are seniors. We only have a few months left. After this, we will go to different colleges, and for sure we will rarely be complete again.
"So, who will stay in the island?" Kuya Jackson asked.
"I will. The cooks, some guards, and also the principal's adopted son, Sir Simon. He will act as the principal for now. He is always watching us." Sir Salva answered while pointing at the CCTV cameras around the place that were installed last year after the tragic incident in the library.
"Creepy," Kevin whispered while waving at the cameras one by one.
"So you mean only few of us are here?" I asked again.
"I know you are all scared because of what happened last year, but I assure you, your safety is our priority. That is the purpose of the CCTV cameras we installed." Sir said again.
Andrey raised his hand and was called.
"Sir Salva, where is the guidance counselor?"
Maybe he is asking because of that video last night.
"We received a message from her last night. There was an emergency, so she already left the island this morning." Sir Salva said.
I felt relieved when I heard that. I looked at Kevin and he gave me an "I told you so" look. He really looks like a dog sometimes.
"So, can we leave now?" Rex asked.
"Wait! I have a special announcement! Drumroll please!" Sir Salva shouted happily and pointed at Blake. Blake just nodded and took a drumstick from his pocket and tapped the table like a drum.
"Dugdugdug! Congratulations to Zhane Santos and Andrey Anderson! You are officially accepted to the Film School in New York! Your acceptance letters just arrived fresh from the big apple!" Sir announced and handed us the letters.
Oh my God. Is this real? Somebody pinch me.
Everyone clapped. I can't stop smiling. Finally, my dream came true. I looked at Andrey and he also looks so happy. We both have the same dream anyway, that idiot.
"Way to go, Zhaine bunsoy!" Kuya said while messing my hair. Even Tiffany and Dixie are congratulating me.
Then I suddenly remembered Darryl… and my happiness slowly faded.
I felt bad when I saw his face. He is smiling, but I know he is not happy. We already fought about this before, so I know this is a big deal for him. Even Kuya and him also argued about it.
"Darryl…" I said softly, but he just nodded and smiled again.
"One more thing, we also have a transferee coming later." Sir Salva added.
A transferee? That's too late and during semestral break? Weird.
"Sir, what did that student even take? hahaha," Kuya joked.
"Just leave it. He offered a big amount of money just to study here. You know the principal, so he agreed right away."
That principal really is like a human version of Mr. Krabs.
Third Person's POV
Rex walking carefully in the hallway while looking around to make sure that no one is watching him. He stop at the monitoring room, which is the office of Mr. Simon.
"oh Rex, it's you, come in" Mr.Simon said quickly when he saw Rex and he looked very excited.
When Rex enters the monitoring room, he saw many small monitors like televisions. All the monitor's showed every part of the school because of the CCTV cameras.
"Do you have it?" Mr. Simon asked and Rex just smirked and immediately give the flash drive.
"Allbrand new videos." Rex said Proudly
"Who is the main character?" Mr.Simon asked while biting his lips.
"Tsss...The top thirteen girls...Excluding Hershey." Rex said with no emotions.
"Good" Mr.simon said softly, Rex stretch his hand in the front of Mr.Simon
"Don;'t forget about our deal" Rex
"Yes, don't worry about it, as long as you keep my secret" Mr.sinon said while looking to him
*****
Mr.simon focused on watching the video's in the flash drive, He was so focused that he didn't notice someone already inside the room.
"Damn… Tiffany is really beautiful," he whispered while watching a girl showering on the screen.
He was about to watch Zhaine's video when suddenly someone hit him with a baseball bat.He immediately passed out.
*****
When he woke up, his head was in pain. He slowly opened his eyes and saw that he was tied to a chair. His hands and feet are tightly tied.
"Awake now, sir?" a sarcastic voice said.
"W-who are you?! Let me go if you don't want to be kicked out of this school!" he shouted, but the person just laughed.
The person is wearing a long black robe and a demon mask.
"I am the last person you will see before you die," the person whispered.
"Youson of a bitch! Let me go! "Help! Somebody help me!" Mr. Stanley shouted, but the room is soundproof.
"Shhhh.You'll enjoy this you bastard." The person smiled and put tape on his mouth. He can't scream anymore.
Then the person cut his shirt with a knife and stabbed him lightly.
"Don't worry, just a small cut," the person said. Then the person took a jar full of cockroaches.
"They will be the one to punish you," he whispered.
Mr. Simon's eyes widened in fear.
The cockroaches were poured into his wound. He screamed in pain.
Then a box was opened… full of rats.
"Enjoy the feast," the person said.
Mr. Simon kept screaming while the rats and cockroaches attacked him.
"Bye, sir Simon. You are just like them… a pest," the person said before leaving.
Zhaine's POV
Usually, instead of having dinner in the cafeteria, we decided to do a bonfire near the beach since only a few of us are on the island.
"Sis, did you see Darryl?" I asked Tiffany while she is busy laying the mat and sleeping bags on the sand.
"No. Wait, didn't you two talk after you received the letter?" Tiffany asked, and I just nodded. She sighed deeply.
"Sis, you know what? If Darryl really loves you, he should support you. Don't worry okay? Do what makes you happy. And this is your dream since you were a kid. Zhaine, we are just teenagers. Nothing is sure yet. Okay I'm not being negative but what if Darryl isn't your forever? Are you ready to give up your dream—speaking of the devil," she whispered and nodded behind me.
I quickly turned around and saw Darryl. I feel nervous.
"Go ahead, I'll find my boyfie," Tiffany said and left fast. That girl really left me!
I took a deep breath and walked to Darryl.
"Hey," I said, still unsure, but I'm not used to not talking to him.
"Hey," he replied with a smile. My nervousness slowly disappeared.
"Why you look sad? You should be happy, you got accepted in New York," he said.
"I thought you were mad at me," I said, trying to pout.
He just smiled widely and held my hand. "I'm not. Honestly, I was shocked. I don't want us to be far apart but that's your dream right? As long as you're happy, I'm fine with that."
He hugged me again, but this time it feels a little sad. I love Darryl so much, I don't want us to be apart, but what about my dream?
"Hey, you know what? Distance sucks but so what? I love you and you love me. That's what matters."
I pulled away and raised my pinky finger. "Believe in the power of Skype?"
He laughed and kissed me on the nose. "I will wait for you because I don't and will never want anyone else. Believe in the power of Skype."
We locked our pinky fingers, promising not to let distance break us. I don't know why, but my eyes started tearing up. Graduation is still far, but I already feel sad. Growing up is a trap. Growing up sucks. I want to be sixteen forever.
"Hey Darryl, help us get some wood!" my brother really loves to interrupt.
"I'll help you first, brother-in-law. Save me a seat okay? I have something to give you later."
I got so excited. What could that be?
"Students, may I have your attention?" Mr. Salva arrived with a guy who looks like our age. "He is Nathan Villaverde, the transfer student."
He smiled at everyone, but when he looked at me, he suddenly waved. I didn't want to embarrass him, so I just smiled back.
Why does he feel so familiar?
"Zhaine, looks like that cute transferee likes you," Dixie whispered, so I quickly elbowed her to shut up. I'm scared Darryl or others might hear her, for sure there will be fight again.
The other boys still not arriving, so I sat beside Tiffany and Dixie again to talk.
"That's why the wind suddenly got worse," Dixie said in a serious tone, so Tiffany and I looked up. It's Andrey.
"Like you are the one I'm looking for," Andrey whispered back. "By the way, do you have alcohol? Mine already finished."
He scratched his head, looking shy asking us because we are not that close.
"Alcohol? what are you, a girl?!" Tiffany joked, and Dixie agreed.
"Hey! Not for me! It's for bonfire!" Andrey said, already annoyed.
I know this conversation will go nowhere, so I stood up and dusted the sand on my jacket and shorts. I will just go to our room and get alcohol from clinic.
"Come with me," I said to Dixie and Tiffany, but they said they are too lazy, so Andrey came with me instead.
The school buildings are not that bright because administration is saving electricity, but I'm not scared because we are just students here and we also have flashlights.
"Zhaine, don't you notice something weird?" Andrey suddenly broke the silence.
I don't know why, but I suddenly felt nervous so I asked him what he means.
"The Top Twelve list. Don't you find it strange? How Andrew got included when he is always bullied? Dixie doesn't have any club. Lee, I don't even know him, I just met him yesterday. And me and Kevin, we are always the target of Rex. We are not popular at all."
I got confused too, but there are still many possibilities.
"We don't know who makes the list, Drey. But okay, what if it is rigged? So what? At least you experienced it."
Every semester the Top Twelve list is released and I'm one of the regulars on it. Not because I have many achievements, but maybe because I'm the sister of basketball captain, close to cheerleaders, and girlfriend of student council president.
"Don't you notice? All people in that list… they were there when Allysa died," Andrey said seriously.
I got chills. I shook my head and tried to remove it from my mind.
"Duh! you also in that list but you wasn't in the library that day. Your theory is not working. Even Darryl!" I said and walked faster to the clinic.
But Andrew followed me.
"I was there that night, Zhaine. I was in the library sleeping. I don't know what happened because I was listening to music. Darryl and others were in audio-visual room that night. We were supposed to watch a movie but I fell asleep in the library. Allysa also knocked on their room, but they didn't open or help her!"
"Okay stop talking because you are officially creeping me out. Andrey, you've watched too many horror movies that you become a product of fear!"
I can't believe what I'm hearing. Because of my fast walking, I didn't notice someone in front of me, so I bumped into him. I heard things fall on the ground.
"What the— Zhaine!" Rex complained. He was the one I bumped into. He quickly picked up the flash drives on the floor. Andrew helped me stand up while Rex was acting very nervous.
"S-sorry, I will help you there," I said and tried to pick up the flash drives too, but Rex already stopped me. For a moment, Andrew and I just looked at each other. Then suddenly, Rex ran away fast. What is wrong with those flash drives? Why is he acting so paranoid? Maybe there are cheat sheets there?
We went back with Andrew near the seaside. We brought two bottles of alcohol but Kuya and the wood are still not there. I just sat beside Tiffany while feeling hungry.
"Hey!"
I got surprised when Nathan suddenly came and sat beside me. Oh no! That is Darryl's seat!
"Ah… hi? hehe," I forced a smile.
"Nathan is my name," he said and offered his hand. I don't want to look rude so I shook his hand.
"I'm Zhaine," I said short.
"And I'm her boyfriend so back off!"
I got shocked when Darryl suddenly appeared behind Nathan. His eyes were very sharp.
"Darryl," I said to stop him but he didn't listen.
"You're in my seat, Nathan," Darryl said coldly. Nathan just smiled and stood up.
"Chill dude. By the way, nice meeting you again, Zhaine," he said while smiling and walked away. Again? Did I hear that right?
"Guys, did you see Hershey?" Sir Salva suddenly asked. Hershey? Since the party, I never saw her again.
"She went home, right?" Dixie asked.
"No. She is not in the passenger of the ships that left earlier. We assumed she stayed on the island knowing some of you will be here."
We all looked at each other because of what Sir Salva said. Yikes! I hope she won't ruin our semestral break.
Singing, laughing, and teasing each other—that is what we are doing while eating. It is really fun when we have bonfire. For a moment, we forget our problems and the heavy pressure of graduation coming soon. There are thirteen of us together, so it is so noisy that we can almost not hear the waves of the sea. Even the transferee named Nathan is already joining the fun, he easily got close with Kevin.
When it hit eleven o'clock, slowly our classmates started leaving until only six of us are left; me, Darryl, Kuya Jackson, Tiffany, Andrey, and Sir Salva. The cold wind from the sea feels so nice that our conversation becomes deeper. After a while, we also felt sleepy so we started cleaning.
Carrying a bucket full of seawater, Kuya Jackson was walking unsteadily. He was about to reach the bonfire when he suddenly slipped and accidentally spilled the water on Andrey who is just sitting on the sand. Andrey became completely wet like a drenched chick. He shouted because of the cold, but we can't help but laugh.
In the middle of our loud laughing, I suddenly heard a faint scream. I don't know if it is just my imagination, so I stepped a little away from them to listen better. After a few seconds, I heard it again—and it sounds like coming from the school. It might be real!
"Zhaine? What's the problem?" Darryl asked, so I immediately told them to be quiet.
We all became silent while listening carefully to the surroundings. Only the sound of waves hitting the shore can be heard. Then again, I heard the scream—but this time, I am not the only one hearing it, they can hear it too.
"W-who is that?" Tiffany asked while holding Kuya tightly. "It's just the six of us on this island and someone is screaming… this is exactly how horror movies start."
Andrey removed his headphones and held his head. "We are all going to die," he said, clearly scared.
"Don't be paranoid Andrey! Maybe someone is just—"
Darryl was not able to finish his sentence when suddenly, three loud gunshots echoed in the air like it came from a gun.
"Does that sound like teenagers making love?" Andrey said sarcastically.