II. Dark Lust

     “Stay calm, Cass. You got this,” I whispered to myself as I dragged myself home. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, it began raining hard. I wanted to run, but my body was too weak to even sprint. I can’t stop now; I had to get home. Every step felt heavier as the rain drenched me and the sheer cold pierce through my skin.

     Few steps later, I started to shiver; few more steps, and my eyes welled up. Right now, this weather is all I have; it concealed my tears with its rain and muffled my weeping and screams with its thunder. My chest felt heavy as my heart throbbed with overwhelming trauma. How I wish a lightning would just strike me down and end all the darkness choking me once and for all.

     I finally I got home. There’s one problem though; I told my parents I’m staying at a friend’s house, so I had no other choice but to sneak into my own home. If my mom found out I lied and went to a party, I might as well be dead; moreover, if my dad discovered that I lost my phone, he’d probably revive my sorry butt just so he could kill me himself. Oh, the terror. Parents will be parents I suppose.

     There’s no turning back; I slipped my key into the keyhole and opened the front door as quietly as I can like I was some sort of a burglar. Without a sound, I creeped straight up to my room and went in the bathroom. I couldn’t think straight. This was indeed a tragic night.  I should consider myself lucky for getting home in one piece.

     I leaned over my sink and washed my face with water that was so cold it almost gave me frostbite. I reached out for my towel and dabbed my face dry. As I stood straight to look at my reflection, the light flickered, and I froze.

     I saw a hazy shadow figure hovering behind me. I swallowed. The shadow placed its hands on my shoulder slowly, very slowly, and all the hair in my body stood up as a chill ran down my spine. In a swift movement, one of its hands grabbed me by the neck. My eyes started welling up, and I couldn’t catch my breath.

     I shut my eyes tight and my tears trickled down my cheeks. My mind was battered with different kinds of fear. I felt the pressure on my neck slowly loosening. When I opened my eyes, the shadow was gone. I quickly changed my clothes and rushed to my bed. I curled myself in my blanket, closed my eyes, and prayed no more weird things happen tonight.

Thursday

     I didn’t get any proper sleep, but I needed to get up really early so that my parents who think I’m at a sleepover wouldn’t see me. I changed in my uniform and left, trying my best not to be reminded of all the fudged-up things that happened last night. I walked to the 24/7 convenience store to grab something to eat. As I was paying for my instant, unhealthy breakfast, I looked out the window and saw the sidewalk where the fierce battle from last night took place. I suddenly wondered if people in the convenience store noticed anything during the unholy fight scene last night. People continue walking by not knowing what has happened on the pavement they're walking on. I can literally visualize myself lying on the ground watching the beast and Mr. Giant Sword battle each other.

     "Miss? Here's your change," said the cashier. I apologized immediately realizing that I was spacing out the entire time; I then thanked the guy and left.  I walked to school while eating my breakfast on the go. A lot has transpired last night; I just want a normal day. Please, let me have a normal day. I was caught up in the supernatural events that I couldn’t distinguish reality from delusion anymore.

     It was still early for the first period, so I went to my desk next to the window, grabbed my journal and pencil, and started writing. It was my way to express my mood. I just let myself free and reach into a world where I can escape this cruel movie called reality. As I was writing, a hand appeared on my desk. I trailed the arm with my eyes to see whose rude hand was on my desk. I saw Tracy Macasaquit standing in front of me, one hand on my desk, one hand holding a cellphone, and two angry cat eyes staring fiercely at me.

     “Is that my phone?” I tried to sound surprised. "It's so nice of you to bring it back to me, thank you!" I said sarcastically. I tried to grab my phone, but she pulled it away. I gave her an annoyed look.

     "Don't think I don't know what you’re trying to do, Cass!" she yelled. "You left your phone on purpose so Josh would have an excuse to see you! Too bad, I saw it first!"

     I stood up and went face to face with the obnoxious hag known to everyone as Tracy Macasaquit. “It wasn’t on purpose believe me. Please give me back my phone or else,” I replied calmly.

     “Or else what?” Tracy smirked.

     “Or else I’ll tell the teachers the truth about where the pep squad gets their extra ‘cheer’ because I know for a fact it isn’t from the milo energy drink you claim to be the content of your tumbler,” I smiled.

     "I'm gonna destroy you, drama snitch!" Tracy yelled as she slammed my poor innocent phone on my desk.

     "Not if I destroy you first, pep bitch," I smirked. All my classmates began cheering.

     Tracy tried to compose herself and stormed out of our classroom. As if she has anything to compose, that flat-chested wench. My classmates continued to cheer and started chanting my name repeatedly. They were making all kinds of noise. A few moments later, Mr. Garcia, our adviser, went in and hushed the uproar. He asked for me and escorted me to the principal's office for a dialogue; I’m assuming it has something to do with my suspension.

     I went into the principal’s office as graceful as I could. I was offered a seat, so I sat down poised and showing no signs of fear. No matter how scared I was last night, I have to uphold my image as the fearless drama club president.

     "Ms. Isip, you’ve cut your hair. It's nice to see you back;  however, it has come to my attention that upon your return, you have already caused a scene disturbing the school’s rules and regulations of our fine institution," said Principal Mercedes in her floral blouse which looked uncomfortable. The blouse clearly cannot accommodate her body. I squinted my eyes fearing that one of her buttons just gives up and rockets away and blinds one of my eyes.

     "How have I disturbed the rules of our institution, Miss Mercedes?" I asked. "Did I perhaps wake the rules of our institution from its slumber?" I added making Ms. Mercedes chuckle.

     "Stop with your smart mouth, Ms. Isip!" interrupted Mr. Garcia.

     "No need to raise you voice Mr. Garcia," said the sweet, oversized principal. "As I was saying, Cassidy, today is your return to school and according to witnesses, you violated a couple of rules already. You are aware that the bringing of mobile phones is prohibited; in addition, you yelled at a schoolmate and disrespected her in front of your classmates.” I got a feeling that all these accusations came from a particular flat-chested adolescent with insecurity issues. Now, who’s a snitch?

     "With all due respect Miss, I'd like to explain myself"

     "Go ahead, twist the facts Ms. Isip," said Mr. Garcia.

     "I believe I was speaking with the principal, Sir," I replied. Garcia looked at the principal and gestured towards me as if saying punish her or something. Ms. Mercedes gestured me to go on and Garcia rolled his eyes.

     "As I was saying, if bringing a phone is prohibited, then you should punish Tracy Macasaquit. She’s the one who brought the cellphone and gave it to me. With that in mind, I will gladly surrender my phone and retrieve it after class; furthermore, I did not yell nor disrespect Ms. Macasaquit. In fact, she went in our room, yelled at ME, disrespected ME, and accused ME; however, I do not see her being called in the principal's office. I recommend you review all allegations against me for which I am innocent in all counts."

     "Anything else you'd like to add?" replied Ms. Mercedes with a smile.

     "I rest my case," I said with a confident smile. I knew Ms. Mercedes was on my side. She was my English teacher before she became the principal, and she’s the one who recruited me to the drama club.

     "If that's the case, you may go back to your class now," said the principal as she confiscated my cellphone. I thanked her with a warm smile and looked at Mr. Garcia, rolling my eyes at him.

     The first period bell hasn’t rung yet, so before I returned to my class, I headed to the ladies' room first. It’s been a while since I last felt myself in power. I was staring at my reflection to capture a mental image of what satisfaction looks like when I heard a strange noise behind one of the cubicles.

     I walked toward the cubicles to hear better. Upon listening, the noise sounded like muffled snarling; it worried me. Without hesitation, I opened the cubicle door to find a girl slumped in a corner. The floor was filled with what seemed like ash almost ankle-deep.

     The girl was wearing a white mask which reminded me of the creepy hooded guy from last night, but I had the feeling that there's a good chance it was Tracy.

     The girl began to snarl even more when she saw me; her dead eyes turned furious and started growling my name. Now, I'm sure it was Tracy; no other girl could utter my name with such loathing. I nonchalantly closed the cubicle door and stepped away.

     I was waiting for Tracy to appear when I felt a presence behind me; it must be the shadow figure from last night. I felt its cold hands reach for my face. My face felt warm. Suddenly, the cubicle door flung toward me; I dodged.

     It felt like something was on my face.  I faced the mirror and found myself wearing a black mask. The mask exuded a sophisticated expression and had a crown-like edge on top. As I held up my hand, I realised that I was wielding a whip. The handle felt dark: warm and cold. It’s like holding ice under boiling water. The whip itself was made of black material. It glittered like glass crystals, felt like silver, and patterned like scales made of thorns.

     As I was admiring my weapon, Tracy emerged from the cubicle wearing the white mask, holding an axe, and covered in black slime. She was growling as she approached me. If she would have done this rage on stage I would have hated her less. It's entertaining. Anyhow, this is not the time for a critique.

     Usually, in situations like this, I would feel scared and weak. I guess my shadow turned off the switch in my brain labelled fear. I took my stance, gripped my whip, cracked it, and lashed Tracy. Minimum damage was dealt. She growled. I realised that no matter how cool I looked like, I was in bit of a disadvantage. The ladies' room was too small to use my whip's maximum capacity as a weapon. I stared at my whip. I clenched the handle hard and thought, “If only I had something shorter and sturdier.” The moment I desired for a change of weapon, I saw the thin and long piece of black material shrink right before my eyes. It reduced its length and turned hard and sturdy. I held my new weapon up and gazed upon its appearance with awe. My whip is now a rapier.

     While I was distracted with my rapier, Tracy ran towards me lunging her axe, boy, was she fast. I sidestepped and slashed her in her arm. She picked her axe and tried to chop me again; I stepped back and this time, pierced her shoulder. She screamed so loud. I'm afraid people might hear her. Sorry Tracy. I never meant to cause you some serious damage. Honestly, I wanted to hurt you, but not this way. Tracy continued screeching.

     "Silence!" I shouted as I thrusted forward, but the pep hag evaded my attack. I pulled up, turned, and slashed Tracy making her lose her balance. She pulled her axe and threw it at me. I tried to evade, but it nicked my arm. Her axe shattered the mirror and got stuck on the wall. I wanted to end the fight, but I didn't want to kill Tracy. She was standing crookedly, defenceless. I felt sorry for her. She was dripping black slime and her mask looked sad and angry. Wait, that's it! The mask! The hooded man died when his mask was shattered.

     I dashed towards Tracy and struck her abdomen with the bottom end of my sword's hilt. She growled with pain and fell on the floor. I flipped her over, sat on her, and tried to pry the mask from her face. She clawed at me and scratched me. I was bleeding. It took almost all my strength to remove the mask. Her mask was glued to her face with black slime. I pulled and I pulled until finally, I got it off her face. Tracy stopped struggling and lay motionless on the floor. I threw the mask behind me and checked for a pulse. She was still alive, thank God. I felt my mask vanish from my face like blowing on a dandelion. I shook her trying to wake her up. She opened her eyes very slowly.

     "I-Isip? Is that you?" she whispered.

     "Yes. Are you okay?" I answered.

     "I-I guess," she sat and rubbed her temples. She irked and grabbed her shoulder which I pierced, so I stood and pulled her up. I don't know how to explain all the damages dealt in the girl's bathroom.

     I put Tracy's arm around my shoulder to help her walk. I scanned the battle field which used to be the girls' bath room. It was a wreck. I caught a glimpse of her axe as it fell from the wall and on Tracy's mask, shattering it in pieces.

     Tracy's scream surprised me as she fell hard on the floor grabbing her chest. I tried to calm her down, but she screamed until she gagged. Black slime oozed out of her mouth, nostrils, and eyes. She was coughing and convulsing. I grabbed her shoulders and cried out her name. I didn’t know what to do.

     Her shattered mask evaporated, so did her axe. I was crying, Tracy please stay with me. Don’t do this to me. I may have disliked you, but I didn’t wish for any of this to happen. I shouted for help; I screamed at the top of my lungs, calling out for help. Please, Tracy, live… She stopped gagging and her body stopped struggling. No… I leaned forward to listen to her breathing; I checked her pulse. She was dead. Her eyes rolled upward.

     No… This can’t be happening. I pulled her and hugged her lifeless body. I held her tight; I didn’t want to let go. I continued shouting for help, but no one came. Then, I felt her body shrink. I clenched on to her tighter; I didn't let go of her until I found myself hugging thin air. I embraced myself and wept. I was staring at blank space. Tracy evaporated. She evaporated! What the hell is happening?!

     A few moments later, I heard the door open. Patrice walked in.

     "Hey girl! What are you doing on the floor? Are you okay?" she asked as she quickly sat on the floor with me and embraced me. She put my head on her shoulder and stroked my back.

     "I'm not okay, Trish,” I replied, sobbing.

     “Cass, tell me what happened,” I was about to explain the wrecked ladies’ room, but to my surprise, everything was back to normal. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Just moments ago the room was completely wrecked. I stood up and touched the unshattered mirror. Impossible.

     “Cass, you’re freaking me out. What’s wrong?” added Patrice, placing her hands on my shoulders.

     "It's Tracy. She-she's gone, because of me," I sobbed and placed my face on my hands

     "Tracy?"

     "Yes. Tracy Macasaquit."

     "Who is this Tracy Macasaquit? Is she a relative or a friend or something?" asked Patrice.

     I looked up. "You don't know Tracy Macasaquit?"

     Patrice shook her head with a genuine wonder painted on her face, "No, it's the first time I heard her name."