(Take a look at the picture inserted in the media)

"What is it?"

I asked as I wanted to know what Ana meant. She said that she wanted to tell why Alma was calm and was not violent today. I was curious to know the reason why a fierce spirit such as Alma was so calm?

Ana whispered,"I didn't tell it to you. But the reason of her being so calm is that this is the day when she met Richard. The priest told me that one day in a year comes when Alma is calm. It has been happening since Alma's death."

"If her spirit remains calm on this day, then we may be able to knock her down."said Ryan.

"No, we can't. It is said by the priest that we can't do anything with her on this day as it was the happiest day of her life. She finds her happiness on this day alone. Even if she is evil, we can't snatch someone's happiness."said Ana.

"But what about the pain that she has caused us? Don't we deserve happiness?"I asked.

"That's a different thing. She has faced a number of things that made her evil. She was not evil by birth. Even no one is a sinner by birth. The circumstances and the cruelty of this world makes them one. The two persons in whom Alma found her happiness cheated on her and made her evil. She loved them and in return they ended up hating her and made her one of the evil spirits." said Ana.

I realized how cruel the world is and how cruel it can get. 

Suddenly, Ana said,"I wanna tell you one thing more. Alma loved Richard secretly."

"What the heck!"said Ryan.

"What's wrong with it?"said Ana rolling her eyes.

"How could she fall for such a jerk! She was not crazy, was she?"said Ryan, amusingly.

"You don't get it. She didn't know him. To her, he was her friend who could not do anything wrong. "said Ana as she looked at Ryan and then at me.

"I think I get it now. But I think that a person should never fall for a friend!"yelled Ryan.

" What? Are you kidding me? I think it is good to be in love with a friend! At least you can be more like yourself with a friend!"yelled Ana.

"Now, I see where this is going. Then why don't you look at Alma's plight who fell in love with a friend? " Ryan protested.

"Ah, let me give you an example. You are Isa's friend and so you are so protective about her. What if you fall for her someday? On that day, you will realise how wrong you were"

Don't drag me into it, I thought. 

"I am protective and I will always remain like that. I am not going to change. I am sure I will not fall for her" said Ryan as he blushed a little.

"I think you have already fallen for her!" said Ana with a smirk on her face and that made Ryan blush.

"How can you be so sure about my feelings?"he asked.

"It's evident."she replied.

I had no idea why they were dragging me into this but that didn't bother me. Ryan was cute and tall but he was my friend and he will always be the same for me. 

They kept fighting over this topic. I didn't know myself what Ana meant when she looked at me. She was strange.

Meanwhile, our teacher, Ms Albertine Victor entered the class. Ana told her name to me before. Everyone stood up and wished her. She wore spectacles and searched the class. Her eyes finally stopped at me and she said,"You must be Isabella. Isabella Gray."

I nodded and said,"Yes, Ma'am."

She called me in front of the class and said,"Class! This is your new classmate, Isabella. Say hello to her."

Instead of saying what Albertine said, everyone shot a deadly glare at me except Ryan and Anastasia. 

"Don't mind, okay. They are a bit less friendly."said Ms Albertine in a kind tone.

I got back to my seat and looked at our teacher. She smiled and continued to do her work and that was teaching.

In the class, I kept thinking about Alma and looked at the window where Alma was sitting. She was still there sitting like a lifeless thing. She was lifeless, I know. Red tears were dropping one by one from her eyes and her eyes were all read. The red tears were actually bloody tears. I kept looking at her and I suddenly heard a voice,"Isabella. Ms Isabella! Are you sleeping?"

I looked at Ms Albertine who yelled at me.

"Where are you looking? I am teaching here and you're just enjoying! I feel very annoyed when anyone behaves like this! Behave yourself the next time!"she yelled again.

She was nice but strict as well. But I was helpless. I couldn't resist thinking and looking at Alma. She was angry, calm and sad. The three emotions mixed could be seen. 

I was getting bored. How boring the chapter was! The chapter that Ms. Albertine taught. I didn't even know the title of the chapter. I didn't even know what subject she was teaching! I took a glance at my textbook and realized that it was Chemistry. That was why it was so boring.

I was waiting and waiting for the class to get over and finally I heard the bell that indicated that the class was over.

Ms Albertine left the class and I leaped with joy. Everyone looked at me with a deadly glare and I sat awkwardly. 

Ryan held me and Ana from our arms and said,"Lets go out!"

"Hey! Hold it! You are pulling me hard!" yelled Anastasia but Ryan didn't listen to her and continued to do what he wanted. We noticed that Alma was following us as well. We rushed towards the garden and sat on one of the benches. I looked here and there to find at least one pair of friends but all in vain. But no one. No one was a friend of someone. Someone leaned on some tree, someone sat on the bench, someone rolled on the grass and the common thing in all of them was nothingness. Lifelessness. I was curios to see just one smile but there was none.

I found Alma sitting under a tree. I knew that Alma worshiped the Satan. She was sitting there like a dead doll. Just sitting and staring at the leaves and the sky. She kept her eyes locked to where they were for sometime and then she shifted her gaze towards me. I turned numb just to see her but soon I recovered when I saw her looking again above at the leaves. And then I saw something strange. I was horrified to see what she was doing.

I told Ana and Ryan to look at her. She pulled out a knife and stabbed herself. She kept stabbing her heart and splashes of black-red blood were coming out. She stabbed herself on her arms, legs and even in the middle of her head. She was doing it brutally that it reminded me of the slaughter houses. It was like an animal  was slaughtered. 

"Why is she hurting herself?"

<><>

Hey dear readers! Again I'm so sorry for the late update. Think and tell me why is Alma hurting herself?Till then bye bye.