CHAPTER 1: MANIAC

Shawn’s spirit awoke because of a strong shaking of his body and when he opens his eyes, he saw a man with half mask on his face so near to him, he got startled and jumps away from him.

“At last, you’re awake Shawn Myers,” he stares at him and menacingly smiles. “I was waiting for you to wake up but I got tired of waiting for you.”

He looked around him but he can only see vast darkness in his surrounding, “Who are you? Where am I?”

The man shakes his head, “It is not important who I am, what important is the piece of advice that I’ll be giving to you.”

Shawn became confused about what is happening, “Advice? What are you talking about? I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

He approached Shawn and whisper to his ear, “This is how simple my advice for you, just make sure you don’t die, or else, I will be the one who will kill you whether you’re in hell or heaven.”

“W-what do you mean?” his nervousness started to cripple his body.

He sighed in frustration, "It seems that I have no choice but to tell you," he walked towards him, "Chaos and destruction are on their way to hunt you so you need to prepare for what's coming. Always remember that you are the key."

Shawn shakes his head in disagreement, "I don't understand what you're talking about. You must be mistaken."

 The man smiled again at him, “You’ll know soon enough, but it’s time for me to go so I’ll see you again, Shawn Myers.” He walks towards the vast darkness as he laughs like a maniac.

Faint voices of someone are echoing in his surrounding, “Shawn!  Shawn!” Cold water poured on his face which woke his mind up.

He opens his eyes and saw his mother and his 5-year-old sister, Ashley, had concerned faces while he was drenched with water.

His mother immediately grabs a towel and hands it to Shawn, “Are you, okay son? We heard you downstairs screaming out loud so we thought something bad happened to you.”

“Sorry mom, I just had a nightmare.” he embarrassedly said.

She sighed in relief, “That’s good, go downstairs and we’re having our breakfast. You have class, right?

“Yes mom, I’ll be there in a minute.” Shawn stands up immediately to go to the bathroom.

After that, he goes downstairs and saw them eating and joins them, “Mom, where is dad? Is he not home yet from work?

His mother suddenly frowned her face, “He called me earlier, he said that there are many patients he is attending today so he can’t go home. Why you ask?”

“Nothing mom, don’t worry.” His father is a physician at Springhill General Hospital, so he goes home once a week. Shawn has barely seen him in their house for the last few months so he’s wondering what’s keeping him so busy lately.

After he eats his breakfast, he goes to his room upstairs and readies himself for school. After 15 minutes, he said goodbye to his mother and his sister.

Every day, he just walks to West Sierra High School which is not far away from his house. After a 10-minute walk, he arrived in front of the main gate where his friend, Arthur, is waiting for him.

Shawn goes to him immediately, “Hey Arthur, what’s up? Where are Cassandra and Raven?”

Arthur looks to his watch,” I don’t know dude, they are always running late as you know.”

 “The bell will ring in 7 minutes; we should get going.”

“Yeah, let’s go now.” and the two of them headed to their classroom.

Shawn and his friends have been together since the start of high school and now they are almost graduating, they still have a strong bond.

A minute before the bell rang, Cassandra and Raven arrived and gasping for breath because they run from the gate to their classroom.

Shawn approached them, “What took you so long both of you? You’re almost late.” he hands them a handkerchief to wipe their sweat.

“Cassandra is the reason why we are late,” she said as she catches breath, “she forgot her wallet so we have to go back to her house to get it.”

Shawn and Arthur laughed at the two, “You often forgot your wallet, Cass, do you have Alzheimer’s? Shawn said to her.

“Sorry Raven!” she approached her and hug Raven. “I won’t forget my wallet ever, I promise.”

Arthur shakes his head, “How many times did we hear that excuse, Cass?”

“No, it’s true, I promise you guys.” she persuasively said.

“Okay fine, I accept your apology,” she smiled at her, “but let’s sit now because our teacher may come in any minute.”

Our teacher exactly walked in so we all stand up and greet her good morning, “ Good morning 4-B, I have something to announce.” She searched for something in his bag and pull out a piece of paper, “ As everyone knows, the Foundation Day of our school is tomorrow so I want your section to have an event booth, so the booths that are not being taken are a photo booth and marriage booth. Which ones would like to do?”

Lily, our class president, raises her hand, “I think we should do a marriage booth, everyone. Raise your hands if you agree.”

Most of us including Shawn raise our hands, “So that’s settled, prepare for tomorrow because the headmaster will be inspecting every booth and the good ones will be given a good grade so do your best everyone. With that being said, let’s start our class.”

The class started and after 3 hours, it was lunch break so Shawn and his friends headed towards the canteen beside their classroom building. As usual, their crowd of students gathered at the front of the canteen.

 A great idea pops in Shawn’s head, “Guys, shall we do rock-paper-scissors and the ones who lose from the loser’s match will buy our food.” he suggested to them.

Arthur nods his head “Okay, let’s do it.”

“What about you guys? What do you think?” he turned his attention to the two girls.

Raven and Cassandra look at each other, “That’s good, let’s do that.”

Shawn and Arthur place their hands on their palm, “One, two, three!” Arthur loses because he picks scissors while Shawn picks stone, in the other hand, Raven loses to Cassandra because she picks paper and Cassandra picks scissors.

So Raven is against Arthur for the last match, “One, two, three!”

“I don’t like slow servants so go there right now.” Arthur suddenly frowned his face as Raven tells him that because he was the one who loses that match.

“You always piss me off, I’ll get my revenge on you.” he walks away from them while three of them are just laughing at him.

They found a table and sat at it while they are waiting for Arthur. A familiar perfume scent fills the air as Kayleigh and his friends walk in front of them.

Shawn stares at her as she walks by, “Hey Shawn! Your saliva is almost dripping.” Raven tries to shake his thought.

“You were staring so hard bro, don’t make it so obvious that you like her,” Raven said teasingly.

Cassandra laughs at him, “Why don’t you confess to her already? You’re a good guy, I think she will like you.”

“As if that’s how easy it is,” Shawn said in frustration, “being just near her makes me so nervous.”

Cassandra shakes his head in disagreement, “You wouldn’t know if you don’t try Shawn so just be brave and tell her.”

Shawn strongly disagrees with her, “No, I wouldn’t. I am contented to see her every day.”

“What if someone precedes you in her? Think about that.” Cassandra appealed to him.

Shawn gazed away from them, “I don’t want to think about that. Let’s not talk about that.”

Arthur already came with their food and heard their conversation, “What are you guys talking about?”

“I suggested in our ‘friend’ here that she should confess to that girl already,” Cassandra explains to him.

Arthur chuckles and lets out a little laugh, “Oh that’s why Shawn is frowning.”

Shawn gave them an annoyed huff, “Just give me the food dude so I can eat.” He immediately grabs his food and starts eating as well as them.

After 15 minutes, they finished eating and decided to go to their classroom. Lemuel, one of their classmates, approached them as they got into the room.

“ Hey Arthur, Shawn,” he calls their attention.

“ Lemuel, what’s the problem?” Shawn asked him.

He smiled at both of them, “The thing is I would like to recruit both of you to our varsity basketball team because many of our members quit recently so if you want to try out for the team, let me know.”  

Shawn and Arthur looked at each other both knowing what they gonna answer, “ Unfortunately, we have to pass but thanks for the offer. We can’t do sports and studies together. We’re really sorry”

“I understand, don’t worry. I just tried my luck on you guys but I’ll ask the other guys here for now.” he left and goes to their other classmates.

“Shouldn’t we try first before we turn his offer down?” Arthur suggested to him.

Shawn grimaced at the idea, “We both know we’re not good at playing basketball. I don’t want to embarrass myself there.”

“Whatever you say, dude.” Arthur sat on his chair while Shawn feels a call of nature so he immediately go to comfort room.

After he finish urinating in one of the cubicle, two guys came in and they were talking about something, “ Did you know that one of our classmate saw Kayleigh and Tristan together in the mall Last Saturday.?” Shawn was surprised of what he heard and continued listening.

“Tristan? The baseball team captain? Oh boy, he’s so lucky.” one of the guys said.

“Yeah, I heard rumors that they are secretly hiding their relationship. Some said that they are been together for long time but we just don’t know.”

“I think that’s why she turned down every guy who wants to court her.” the guy said as they go out of the comfort room.

Shawn quietly open the door and checks if still there. Shawn became disoriented, so he immediately went upstairs and sat in the classroom. Raven and Cassandra saw the emotion in Shawn’s face so they immediately approached him.

“Hey Shawn, what’s the problem?” Raven asked him.

Shawn shakes his head, “Nothing, there is no problem.”

“Then why your face looks like you lose your will to live. Stop lying to us.” Cassandra persuade him to speak.

He told them to get closer and whisper to their ears, “The truth is someone saw Kayleigh and Tristan together in the mall.”

Both of them are shocked by what they heard, “Really? Tristan? Maybe it’s just a coincidence that they met there and just talked to each other that time.”

“Yeah what if that’s just a coincidence right?” Raven suggested to him.

Their conversation was interrupted because their subject teacher came in, “ Good afternoon guys, take your seats and we’ll start our class.”

“Let’s talk later after school,” Raven said and both of them go to their respective seats.

The class started but Shawn’s mind was puzzled and still thinking about it, “Mr. Myers! Mr. Myers!” his teacher is calling him for dozing off in her class.

Shawn came back to his senses and immediately face his teacher, “I’m sorry ma’am.”

“You have the guts to daydream in my class, Mr. Myers. Now answer the problems on the board.” Shawn stands up unwillingly while Arthur is laughing at him.

He tries to answer problems on the board but his solutions are all wrong, “That’s what you get if you don’t listen to my class. I don’t want to see you dozing off in my class again, do you understand?” she said in an authoritative voice.

“Yes ma’am, I’m sorry.” he nods and embarrassedly goes to his chair.

The class continued and after a few hours, the class is finally finished. Shawn stands up and approached his friends, they all walk together to the main gate where they all separate ways and say to each other goodbye.

Shawn goes home as his friends waved at him while riding a tricycle. From afar, he can see a familiar person being followed by four men.

“Wait, is that Kayleigh?”