There was a chilling story behind those words and Skylar sought it. After school, Skylar met up with Rhyder at the indoor basketball court where he trained. He was able to take a moment out for Skylar. He jogged his way there, his forehead was covered with beads of sweat and as they left the court, he wiped them from the end of his jersey. His blond hair was soaked slightly, it stood like a cap over his head. Speaking of which, Skylar concocted a conversation regarding the upcoming holidays but veiled her true intentions by the anticipation.

"What are you going to do for Christmas?" She asked as they walked down the hall.

"The usual. Dinner with mom and dad. What about you? What's your plan?"

"I don't know yet. My parents are at Southfield, and I won't be able to visit them, so I was thinking of crashing at Karla's or Cassia's place for winter."

"Oh, that's good. Maybe we might be able to meet up and go somewhere- together, I mean- as friends." His words cast a smile on Skylar's face, the thought of them going out alone sufficed her even if it was a few seconds.

"Yeah, sure." Said Skylar, "By the way, I wanted to ask…" Skylar didn't want to be out of the blue so she took a second and paused, she could not allow her imagination to run wild. She had to cogitate her words about this.

"Sure, what is it?" He said.

"I and Blaze were sent to the principal's office in the morning." She began.

"Yeah, I'm guessing it was about what happened last night. How's your cheek?"

"It's fine." Skylar abruptly turned her head, oblivious as to why, but she had dodged Rhyder's hand to gently caress her cheek out of pure kindness. She regretted it instantly, she wanted his touch, she wanted the warmth. "Sorry," She said, "But it was something Mr Davis said that pushed Blaze to his limit…"

In her own words, Skylar had told Rhyder what Blaze had said. Skylar couldn't understand one thing, what did his father have to do with anything?

"Listen, there's something about Blaze's family you should know." Said Rhyder, "From what I've heard, that family is a mess. It became one after their… daughter passed away. But his dad is a psychopath."

"What do you mean? You mean he killed an st-"

"Shh!" Rhyder looked around, making sure that his whistling story would not be in earshot of students walking nearby. "Yes. That's what the rumours say. Mr Davis was in the same class as Blaze's dad, Archer Drake, during their last year here, in this very high school, Archer killed a student but never owned up to it."

"Who would?"

"Exactly." He whispered, "Nobody knew who did it. They all thought the girl died by drowning herself in the bathroom. The police stated the case as a suicide. But then a few years later, Archer Drake told Mr Davis that he was the one who killed her, he confessed but Mr Davis said nothing for reasons unknown. Then, about ten years later, a little girl from Blaze's elementary school was murdered, all evidence pointed to his father.

"So what happened to him?" Skylar asked.

"Nobody knows. He's not in prison. Although, people speculate that he committed suicide before anyone could catch him. All I know is that he's most likely dead."

It was indeed a chilling story and for that to have happened to Blaze's father, his family, Skylar couldn't help but wonder how it had affected him. Did this shape him to the person he is now?

"Oh my god." Skylar said, "Is this all true?"

"Yeah, at least most of it. People like Jade and Blake Walker, who were very close to Blaze, believe that his father was a killer." He replied.

"But why? Why would he walk the same path as his father? With all the violence he's been up to, the drinking, the smoking-"

"And the drugs," Rhyder added.

"Why?" Skylar sighed incredulity.

"As a way to cope, I believe. Especially after his sister died."

"When was that?"

"Around the same time, his dad died, probably after."

"Oh, gosh. Poor kid. Living alone with his mother." Skylar muttered pitifully.

"Yeah, just make sure not to mention this to anyone. Last time someone did, he had to eat soup for the rest of his life."

It was no wonder why Blaze didn't have any friends and why the teachers were afraid of giving him detention. The whole school feared his name because of his psychotic father. Skylar distressed it enough to shake the story out of her head that she constantly looked like she was perturbed.

"What's wrong?" Said Cassia, when she entered the room to find Skylar sitting stifled on her bed.

"Uh, nothing. Just thinking about the winter holidays." Said Skylar, distracting herself and changing the subject.

"Oh, yeah. I asked mom about that. She said she wouldn't mind taking you in but we were planning to go to California for Christmas, plus it doesn't snow there," said cassia

"That's good. Winters here are brutal, aren't they?"

"Yeah, maybe you stay with Karla?"

"Sure I'll have to ask. Do you have any idea where she is?"

"Probably with her new boyfriend." Said Cassia

"Did she tell you who it was?" Skylar asked cautiously. 

"Nope. Only that she felt bad for cheating on Jimmy."

*

Karla knocked on his office door but strolled in naturally as if it was her habitat. Mr Hawker was busy marking books, he paid no attention to whosoever entered his office.

"Hey." She said.

"This isn't between working hours, Karla." His voice soothed her, she loved how he'd say her name, it made her feel magnetic. "What do you want?"

"Since winter vacation is coming up, I was wondering what you are going to be doing for Christmas?" She spoke lusciously.

"Us teachers don't have vacations. We have a lot of work to do. So most likely I'll be working for Christmas." Mr Hawker said while transfixed at his books below.

Karla didn't seem impressed with his nonchalant attitude. She lifted his chin and forced those brown eyes to stare deep in her green eyes, like quarry out for something sexual. She smiled lovingly at him but he averted his glance nervously.

"Wouldn't you want to spend Christmas with me?" Karla asked.

"Of course-," Karla leaned in closer, growing him to be more lenient, "But I assumed you'd be busy…" just before Karla's lips reached his softly, Mr Hawker jumped to his feet.

"Not here, Karla…" He whispered, he was maintaining his composure but he glanced at her wistfully.

"Will you make sure we can see each other?" Karla asked.

"Yes." Mr Hawker pulled out a post-it note and wrote his address speedily before handing it to her, "Be careful alright."

"Don't worry," Karla folded the note and placed it in her breasts pocket, "I won't get caught. As long as no one will find out about us, we can continue doing what we do."

"I wouldn't guarantee it, Karla. With someone like Jade around, we should be worried."

"Please don't mention her name, not when we're together like this. It's a bad omen, she might just pop out of nowhere."

*

Skylar joined Timothy at the festive and wondrous cafeteria, where the smell of Christmas pudding and roast chicken filled her nostrils. The walls of the cafeteria were decorated with Holly and Christmas lights shining red, white and green, the bright golden lights above her head reflected clearly from the black canvas windows. There was a large window at the end of the hall, a long table sat in front of it, providing Skylar with a beautiful view of the gentle snow falling gracefully across the black canvas.

Skylar made sure to ask Timothy beforehand to buy her lunch and to save her a seat at their table, they claimed the one at the end of the hall, Skylar would always sit there with her friends.

"Hey." Timothy waved. He was sitting next to a girl, whom Skylar had seen in the fencing club. "I saved you a seat."

Skylar sat down and realised a boy munching loudly beside her, he had messy golden hair, broad shoulders and freckles over his nose and on his chubby cheeks. Skylar rolled her eyes and thought of how rude he was to eat like that. But she was glad to see the familiar faces of Karla and Cassia sitting in front of her.

"Hey, K. Where were you?" Skylar asked.

"Just to mom and she would love for you to stay with us for Christmas," Karla exclaimed.

"Aw, thank you so much. I hope I won't be a burden to you guys."

"Don't worry about it."

The boy next to Skylar groaned loudly as if his favourite football team had lost a big match, although it was not the case, Skylar caught sight of a message log on his phone but he quickly tapped the screen and typed like his life depended on it.

"Um, Skylar." Said Timothy, "This is my friend Larrissa, you'll be learning a few lessons with her once you start fencing. And uh- that guy- correction- that weirdo is, um, Alex Simmons. Don't ask me why he's here."

Alex dropped his phone and continued munching his food desperately. Something told Skylar that if the apocalypse had started or he knew he was going to be murdered then the last thing he would do would be to eat till he was obese.

"Anyway," Said Timothy, sliding a tray towards Skylar with his bandaged arm, "Eat, before it gets cold."

Skylar dunked into her vegetarian meal of pasta and stared into the black canvas ahead. It was dark and cold, all she could see was the reflection of everything behind her. All the lights dancing from the Christmas tree and Jade laughing with her friends. Someone caught her eye, it was Rhyder sitting wearily beside her, seeming as though he would rather be with Skylar than that witch. Skylar turned to look over her shoulder at him, wishing the same thing and she wanted him to know that.

Before their eyes met, a cold sensation took over Skylar, it dripped down her back, like the grim reaper was defiling her. Her hair was soaked from the roots, it was so cold that she shot up and glared deadly in the eyes at whoever did this. She expected Jade, whom she thought might have noticed Skylar and Rhyder's longingly glances. But it wasn't.

He was shocked, he had no idea what he had done. His cup was half raised and his arm was stiff in that position. He was aghast, with his mouth partly opened to speak, but before he could, Alex sniggered.

"That…" Blaze said, unbelievably, "was an accident, I swear."

"An accident?" Skylar repeated.

"Yeah, I was gonna dump it at him-" Blaze stammered.

"What is your problem, man?" Timothy stood up defensively.

"Nothing! I gave her a free glass of water."

Alex began laughing hysterically, Blaze was taken aback but harassed him up to his feet and head-locked him.

"I'm sorry, OK?" He said, "It's this son of a bitch I have to deal with!"

"Yay!" Alex cheered.

"Shut up!"

Blaze tightened his grip and left with Alex struggling to walk straight beside him. Skylar sat down, almost ashamed to have stood up.

"You OK?" Said, Timothy.

"I'm fine. You didn't have to stand up for me like that." She replied she was not OK with being treated like a drain for everyone to tip put their drinks upon.

"No, I did. And not only for you but for myself too. I don't want to be bullied from that guy ever again. Who the hell does he think he is? I got much more to say to that retarded face."

"No, please don't. You wouldn't want to cause a scene now do you?" Skylar said calmly, resting her hand gently on his arm, relieving him too.

"Are you alright, Skylar?" Rhyder jumped onto Alex's empty set with a worried expression.

"I'm fine really." Skylar smiled softly.

"But what does Alex have anything to do with Blaze anyway?" Karla asked.

"Oh, a lot. They're 'friends'." Rhyder put up air quotes. "But they're weird. They talk a lot, some mysterious things- hey, where are you going?"

Skylar smiled over her shoulder as she stormed away. She bolted out of the cafeteria, hoping she would find them. She raced down the halls, following the voice of Alex hysterical laughter and him crying, "I don't wanna die!" His high, cold voice was like a howl of wind blowing up the cold air on her skin; a freezing chill it was. She carefully and slowly followed them outside, without being seen. Blaze was taking Alex around the corner of Section-C. Skylar approached them and leaned against the wall.

Alex was panting, dying with laughter. "I don't wanna die! I wanna fly! Whee!" There was a smack against the skin.

"Get your shit together, Al." Blaze said cold. "You're a big piece of shit. You told me that they found another body. Where?"

"Oh yeah, forgot about that. In the usual place, in the forest, where all the other bodies are trashed."

"What did Kat say about it?"

"Nothing. That the police found the body."

"Is that it?"

"Yep," Alex replied.

There was about short silence then a sound of a cigarette lighter creaked open. A flame danced as it sizzled when it burned the cigarette.

"I swear next time I'll kill you if you say anything stupid like that again." Said Blaze.

"Or what? You're gonna pour water on someone who wasn't me."

"Shut up, I didn't know it was her. Besides what were you doing there?"

"I was hired again." Said Alex.

"Jade?"

"Isn't she always on your mind?"

"She won't quit, will she? Once she finds Skylar's secret."

Skylar needed to leave before they realised that their conversation was being intercepted but little did she know that the steps she was taking were etched in the snow.