WHERE'S GRACE?

Those words hung back in my mind. I kept staring at it until I heard Ms. Myra, the warden, cleared her throat.

I lifted my eyes with mixed emotions. The warden stared at me blankly.

"We just wanted to inform you and ask you to be cautious. Also, if you have any information regarding Zendaya or how she died, we strongly recommended you to share it with us." She demanded.

I stared at her for a while and then heard myself speak.

"I know nothing about her. I acknowledge your concern. Thank you!" I said plainly and raised from my seat to leave.

She continued her work as soon as I got up. Walking towards the door, I felt I would fall off.

What's happening? What is this supposed to mean?

However, I crashed into someone as I walked, wandering in my thoughts.

"I am so sorry!" I apologized as soon as I realized I was walking half-minded.

When I didn't hear a reply, I slowly lifted my eyes up only to notice the person I dashed was no other than our HOD, Ms. Penelope. I took two steps backwards.

She stared at me in confusion. Again, my attire! What a night it has been.

"Eh, why so conservative in an age of provocative clothing?" She asked, raising her brows.

I wasn't expecting a comment on wearing a conservative outfit. So I looked at Penelope's face with eyes widened.

Although I was habitual to such comments, this wasn't a state in which I would like to reason with my HOD.

"Sorry?" It was the only thing I could utter out at that time.

"Why are you hiding your beauty behind those doors? Why do you feel you should not express what you are?" She posted one by one questions, leisurely glancing at me.

"With due respect, Ms. Penelope, I am not hiding my beauty. I am protecting my beauty. Not everything is for expression." I replied with patience. "You see, if a sweet is left uncovered on the street, it will definitely attract flies. Clearly, the flies are not to be blamed." I shrugged.

And without waiting further to hear anything, I took leave from her. But from side-eyes, I could see she was annoyed and offended. However, I already had too much to care about. So, I left.

When I finally came out of that suffocating environment, I saw Evan standing beside the gate worriedly. I walked towards him with a soft smile. He noticed me coming and also the paper in my hand.

"What's that?" He asked as soon as I reached him.

"Oh, this!" I lifted the paper in my hand.

"A shockingly disturbing note was found from the drawer of my previous room where my roommate died." I sighed and let out all that I was hiding back.

His eyes bugged out when he heard what I said. Soon the expressions altered from angry to worry to discomfort and fret. I kept looking at his changing looks blankly, as I had nothing to say.

"You can't stay here anymore." He declared with concern lingering in his eyes.

"It's okay, Evan. I will wait till morning. I want to meet my friends tomorrow at college." I insisted.

"But..."

"I promise I'll catch up with you guys tomorrow, and we'll discuss it. But right now," I said, tiredly as if there was a burden over my shoulders. "I really need some alone time." I pleaded, and he nodded understandably.

"Call me if you need anything anytime. Okay?" He repeated for the millionth time before leaving.

I nodded with a faint smile. After Evan left, I don't really remember what happened. I climbed up to my new room, unlocked it, snatched out my headscarf, changed and wrapped myself in the blanket. My head was buried inside the nylon pillow as silent tears flooded from my eyes.

What is happening? Why is it happening? First, my friend is hurt. Then, my roommate died. And now, I am receiving threat notes. What's wrong with this place?

Questions kept encircling my mind for a long time until my eyelids were no longer capable of holding their weight. They eventually shut down, making me sink into the depths of darkness.

My eyes flashed open painfully when I heard my cell phone growling beside my ear inside the fashionable purse. I rubbed my eyes to adjust to the sunshine, which was falling right onto my bed.

Yawning, I lazily unclipped the purse and took out the phone. Till the time it was in my hand, it had turned silent after excessively screeching on top of its voice.

15 missed. 20 messages.

The screen lit up. I tapped on it to find the details.

5 missed calls from Hannah.

3 missed calls from Mumma.

4 missed calls from Martha.

3 missed calls from Evan.

Woah! Did people miss me so much?

I glanced at the time, narrowing my eyes as my eyesight was still recovering itself.

9:30 a.m. Shoot! I am tooo late!

I sprinted towards the washroom and came out as soon as I could with a deep blue top reaching my knees and a white palazzo bagging around my legs.

I placed a white toque over my head, stuffing my hair into it with a few bangs revealing themselves around my forehead. I packed my stuff up in the college handbag. Grabbing my keys, I ran out of my room to dashed towards the classrooms.

I made some calls and messages on my way towards the college. Basically, I messaged Mumma, Martha and Evan that I was in college and would call them as soon as I'm free and then dialled Hannah's number.

The ring went on for a long time until the point I thought she wouldn't pick up. But just at the last bell, she answered.

"Eh, where are you?" Hannah's on the go voice rang in my ears. She had a lot of noise in her background, so she spoke a little louder.

"Just entering the campus. What about you?" I swiftly asked as I walked through the students standing in the corridors.

"I am on the second floor. Our lockers. Hurry, I need to talk about something important." She said secretively with hints of worry in her voice.

"Okay, I'll be there!" I hung up the phone and crammed it inside the bag.

On my way, I crashed with Maddy and Janice. They informed me that the previous few lectures have been given off to all the students, and Penelope was seen roaming amongst the students.

Something strange was happening.

I heard them as we headed towards our lockers. As soon as we reached the second floor, my eyes began searching for Hannah in the crowd.

We moved forward through the students when someone tickled me from behind. Startled, I turned back alertly as a current passed down my spine.

There she was! Hannah stood behind me, holding one arm in a sling. But she wasn't laughing as always. Instead, a concerned look hung over her face.

"What's up?" I asked suspiciously.

"Grace," she said with a worried voice. "I can't find her anywhere. The last I heard from her was at night. She sent a voice message informing me that she'll have to wait back with her group to complete their assignment." She narrated.

********
Hey, peeps!
I'm uploading four chapters in a row today!
Trying my best to complete the novel by the deadline while struggling with exams. 🥺

Please don't forget to shower your love through votes and comments!
I will really motivate me to complete the book.

Wish me luck🤟

~Toodles:)