Going to the last place they were should lead me to clues, right?
Elaine asked herself as she walked alone, taking the same path where she had seen Derek with Allan.
The weather had grown gloomy, clouds slowly gathering overhead while the wind tossed her hair haphazardly.
She had taken her time to calm down after her meeting with Allan, but it had been futile.
Reaching the denser part of the woods, she stopped and looked around.
She was sure it was somewhere here.
The tall trees all looked alike, making it difficult to tell where exactly she had seen them, but she knew she was close.
After several minutes of searching and making sure she didn’t wander too far and get lost, she leaned against a tree, exhausted from the walk.
Is it even worth it?
Who am I kidding?
I have no clue where to start, and there’s little progress.
More like no progress.
He isn’t even my friend.
With that thought, she decided to give up.
Elaine, she called herself, stop taking people’s words to heart.
Gwen was right.
There is nothing you can do about this.
Still, she’s wrong for lacking basic human emotion.
Straightening abruptly, she pushed herself away from the tree and began walking back to the dorm with a depressing sense of defeat.
Sunday morning mass went on as usual.
Allan sat at the piano, June and Elaine showed little interest in the service, and annoying giggles echoed here and there.
A typical day at Herbert Wilbur.
The only difference was the cold shoulder between Elaine and Gwen.
They had both chosen to ignore each other, though most of it came from Elaine.
She was still bitter about not finding out anything concerning Derek.
Though she knew Allan was responsible.
She needed no evidence.
After the service, Elaine walked with June as they headed back to their rooms.
“Do you have any plans for today?” Elaine asked.
“Let me guess. Sunday night wager. I wonder what it’ll be this time.”
“Well, yes,” June answered, her cheeks turning bright pink.
The blush didn’t go unnoticed by Elaine.
“But it isn’t the wager,” June added, on the verge of squealing.
“What? You look so excited.” Elaine laughed.
“Let me guess. Another date with Horace.”
“Yesss!”
June squealed, grabbing Elaine’s hands as they bounced excitedly in the middle of the corridor while other students walked around them.
“Oh, June, you’re so lucky!” Elaine said dramatically.
“Though I haven’t met him yet.”
“Really? You haven’t met Horace? He’s a close friend of Allan.”
June was too excited to notice the change in Elaine’s expression.
A close friend of Allan?
“Do you think he likes me?” June asked shyly.
“Well, since he asked to meet again, I’m certain he does.”
June’s smile widened immediately.
“Yes. I’m just too excited. Though Gwen doesn’t want me to meet him. I don’t know what her issue is. She keeps coddling me.”
“She probably has her reasons,” Elaine said.
She might not like Gwen right now, but Gwen was smart.
Very smart.
If she didn’t want June around Horace, there was probably a reason.
And now Elaine herself was beginning to feel uneasy.
He’s a close friend of Allan.
That alone was enough.
“What time?” Elaine asked.
“Huh?”
“What time are you meeting him?”
“Oh, that. Nine.”
“Nine? Isn’t that a little late?”
“I think it’s okay,” June said after a pause.
“He wants to show me something.”
“Something…”
“While I’m gone, make sure you participate in the game and don’t get lonely.”
“No worry, Elaine. In my free time, I’ll find someone for you.”
June grinned mischievously.
“Uh? Someone? Oh no, thank you. I’m not interested.”
“Why? Or is there already someone else?”
Elaine hesitated.
“I don’t know.”
“Wear something nice,” she added quickly.
“Sure. Bye. I’ll see you later.”
Elaine watched her disappear into her room before releasing a long sigh.
June was so carefree.
So hopeful.
Always full of life.
To Elaine, she was the loveliest person she had met at Herbert Wilbur.
Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling weighing on her chest.
Something about tonight felt wrong.
That night, darkness swallowed the sky, leaving only the moon and stars behind.
In the distance, the loud chatter of students filled the air.
“So you’re going to meet him now?” Elaine asked as she walked beside June.
They had spent the last thirty minutes choosing a dress for her.
“Yes. He said he’ll be waiting at the front.”
“Do you have any idea what he wants to show you?”
“No. He said it’s a surprise.”
“Alright then. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The words felt strange.
As though she wouldn’t.
What if June disappeared too, like Derek?
The thought sent a chill through her.
“Oh, make sure you participate in tonight’s game,” June reminded.
“Yes, ma’am,” Elaine replied dramatically, despite having no intention of participating.
June giggled and waved before heading toward Horace.
Elaine’s eyes followed her briefly.
Horace smiled when June approached.
To most people, it would have looked charming.
To Elaine, it looked dangerous.
Like mischief wrapped in human skin.
“Hi,” June greeted, more comfortably than before.
“That is my friend Elai—”
She turned.
Elaine was already gone.
Horace raised an eyebrow.
June quickly waved it off and changed the topic.
“So, what do you want to show me?”
“Eager. You’ll see soon enough.”
As they walked, Horace suddenly asked,
“Where’s Gwen?”
“Gwen? Oh, I haven’t seen her since this afternoon.”
“Did she tell you where she was going?”
“No. She usually just comes and goes.”
Why is he asking about Gwen?
June frowned internally.
June was so immersed in their conversation that she didn’t realize they had left the familiar paths behind.
There was no one around.
No students.
No laughter.
No crickets.
Nothing.
The place felt dead. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
By the time she noticed, a thin sheen of sweat had formed on her forehead.
Anxiety slowly crept into her chest.
“W-When will we get there?” she asked.
“Very soon. We’re close. Very close.”
His smile never faltered as he held her hand.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m just… feeling a little hot.”
Stopping, Horace placed a hand against her forehead.
“You’re burning up. Are you sick?”
“Sick? No!” June laughed awkwardly.
“I’m fine.”
Eventually, they stopped before a tall, old structure she had only seen once before.
The clock tower.
“Here,” Horace said, watching her expression carefully.
“It’s… the clock tower.”
“Isn’t it fascinating?”
“Yes.”
Though her expression suggested otherwise.
“I’ve seen it before.”
“Where?”
“From Elaine’s room. She has such a wide view. I looked outside once and saw it.”
“Ah. Then I suppose it isn’t much of a surprise.”
“No, it still is,” June said shyly.
“As long as you’re here.”
Horace smiled.
But his eyes sharpened.
“When you saw it… did anything happen?”
“Um, no. But Elaine and Gwen acted like they couldn’t see it.”
“Really? And then?”
“Nothing much. We had to leave.”
“Oh.”
He nodded thoughtfully.
“Let’s go in.”
“Huh?”
“After you.”
“Go in?”
“Yeah.”
June stared at the dark entrance.
“Horace, I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s far from school and it’s kind of… scary.”
Slowly, he stepped closer.
His hands settled around her waist.
June froze.
His face lowered toward hers.
Closer.
And closer.
His lips brushed against her cheek, dangerously close to her mouth.
“Horace…”
Her voice came out weak.
The world suddenly felt warm.
Too warm.
“What?” he murmured into her ear.
His hands slowly wandered across her body.
“I want to show you something. Let’s go in.”
Still hesitant, June carefully slipped out of his embrace and stepped toward the entrance.
Her fingers wrapped around the rusted handle.
Behind her, Horace wasn’t looking at the tower.
He wasn’t looking at the door.
His eyes were fixed on her feet.
Watching intently.
Waiting.
As June unknowingly crossed into forbidden territory.