Chapter 14: Meeting the stunning stranger

"Be a good girl and don't get into any fights at school!" Riri warned with seriousness in her tone.

She knew her sister could be a real pain in the ass sometimes and a big time trouble maker. She was the complete opposite of her sister, while Ariana was quiet and collected, Ivy was loud mouthed and sassy. Although, Ariana was a big tease most times especially to her loved ones.

"You know that's not possible but I will try my best not to kill anyone for your sake," she crowed, a devilish smirk playing on her lips as she got out of the car.

"Oh, jesus!" She groaned in weariness while her friends chuckled at her sister's devilish attitude.

"It's not funny!" She protested, igniting the engine. She drove out of the school premises into the highway. Fresh air flowed into the car bringing the freshness of the country air to their senses.

"Oh my God Riri! Kim!" Beth screamed, eyes wide with horror. She placed her palm on her mouth as she gazed at her phone with a frightening expression.

"What is it?" Kim and Riri demanded, panic washing over their faces as they imagined the worse.

"Oh my God. Remember Amelia and john went on a camping reunion with their childhood friends?"

"Yes?"

"They are all dead! They died gruesomely. Only John and Amelia survived!" She gushed, her hands shaking in fright as she handed her phone to her sister who was seated at the front seat.

"Fuck! This is damn brutal! Who did this?" Kim exclaimed.

"They must be devastated," Riri mumbled with a sympathetic look.

"How about we pay them a visit at the hospital?" She suggested.

"Hell no. I feel sorry for them but remember we still have to attend classes. Besides, she stopped being our friend the moment she ditched us for Jackie, who ended up stabbing her in her in the back and trying to steal her long time crush!"

"I know but don't you think now is the time to show her who her true friends are? She needs us now more than ever. Besides we still got about 35 minutes to spare and we are just a few minutes from the hospital. It would only take a second." She turned her head briefly, gazing at Kim as she let out a convincing smile.

"Oh God. You know I hate it when you get like this." Kim's brows arched and her face drowned in the sea of defeat.

"Riri is right. If I were in her shoes I would be beyond petrified. I just can't imagine the pain she's feeling right now." She bowed her head in a gesture of sadness.

*****

"What are you doing here? Are you here to mock me? Are you here to tell me that I said so, Jackie couldn't be trusted? Tell me are you here to rub it in my face? Are you here to tell me I told you so you shouldn't have gone to that goddamn forest cause I saw it in my fucking dreams?" She burst in tears and grabbed Ariana by her jacket.

"Tell me why do you always have to be so fucking right?" She demanded, her hands gripping tight unto her jacket.

"I'm not always right. I'm just glad you didn't die. I don't what what I would have done if you did. You mean the world to me Lia, you have no idea." She pulled her into a tight hug as rivulets of tears streamed down her cheeks.

Amelia loosened her grip on Ariana's jacket and wrapped her hands around her as she tightened the hug.

"I thought I was gonna die. He was right in front us, staring at us with those red orbs. My legs grew weak and I just couldn't run. I saw my life flash before my very eyes!"

"He let us go. He just dashed into the shadows and we never saw him again. He spared our lives!" She closed her eyes, reminiscing on the events of last night. The pain and fright she felt, it all came rushing back. She tried to stop crying and tried to be strong like she always has been but she couldn't. She just couldn't shake this one off.

"It's okay, you're alive. That's all that matters! I'm here for you Lia, we will get through this together." She assured with a pat on her back.

"I've never been so scared of anything in my life," she whimpered.

"Hello. Guys we are still here, remember!" Kim made a moue of feigning indignation.

"They acted like we were invisible. Hugging her right away. Riri when was the last time you hugged me?!" Beth protested.

Riri blushed and quickly defended, "Oh come on, I hug you everyday."

"Really I can't seem to remember. Maybe my memory is fading. You liar!" She jumped at Ariana and pulled her into a suffocating hug.

"Beth, I'm choking!" She faked gagging sounds. Kim and Lia chuckled at Beth's funny display of affection.

"Don't mind my younger sister. She behaves childish all the time," Kim mocked, her eyes were gleaming with delight.

"Hey, who are you calling childish? We were born on the same day!"

"Wow, what did I miss?" John walked into the room, a look of surprise washed over his face.

"Nothing much!" She grinned as she watched Ariana struggle to break free from Beth's hug.

"It's great to see you smile again. It's been long since I last saw that genuine smile from you."

"I guess now I know what it means to have real friends, friends who love and make me smile, not parasites."

She laughed when Beth pulled her sister into the awkward hug.

"Come on, Lia, join us."

"I wouldn't miss that for the world."

"And you too, John."

*****

Blake was seated on a black arm chair, his long and slender legs were crossed as his back rested comfortablely on the chair. He stared at the slender middle aged man who was grinning foolishly at him while his face remained without emotions.

"Mr.p Blake, it is an honor to be in your presence. So the rumors of your aesthetic features are true. I was surprised when you called me this morning. To what do I owe this pleasurable visit?"

Blake let out a silent chuckle and revealed, "Mr Dexter, your words are indeed flattering. I'm here for something of much more greater importance. I hear that ten of your students were killed in the woods. It is really disturbing and sad."

Dexter sighed and revealed with a saddened expression, "Indeed it is. They are yet to assertion what kind of creature killed them. Yesterday was full of many misfortunes. One of our esteemed senior professors from the stern school of business died yesterday. We are currently looking for his replacement but let's get straight to why you're here."

"How about I be his replacement? But I can only lecture the final year students of Business and political economy."

Mr Dexter let out a small laugh before quickly apologizing, "Forgive my rudeness. It would be an insult to a man of your repute and cannibal to lecture here. For Christ sake, you're the richest man in the world!"

Blake chuckled silently and replied, "Mr Dexter your flattery is exaggerated. I'm just a man and I'm no different from anyone. Besides, I enjoyed teaching when I was a PhD student. It would be fun to experience it once more."

"You know I can't say no. I mean you have made so much contributions to the school. If you really just want to experience teaching again then it's fine but I still feel your coming here today was of little relevance. You should have just told me this on the phone."

"Matters like this are not to be discussed on the phone." He maintained with a chortle.

"Mr. Blake you're too polite. One more thing, with a face like that, the female students may find it hard to concentrate," he joked and they both laughed.

"I figured. I would have that taken care of. Also, to keep my identity hidden, I would go by the name Drake Harris."

"That's a great cover. Seems like have this all figured out."

"I assure you Mr. Dexter, I do," he admitted, the conner of his lips curling up a little.

*****

"Oh my God Riri, we are gonna be late!" Beth squeaked as they hurried down the hallway.

"I don't regret it, it was fun!"

"Race to class. Winner gets free lunch!" Beth suggested with a smirk and she subsequently took to her heels.

"Oh come on, sister. That's cheating!" Screamed Kim who also joined in the race.

"Come on Riri!"

"I think I will sit this one out. You guys can..." She suddenly bumped into something hard and the impact caused her to lose her footing.

She was just about to hit the ground when a strong arm held her waist and she was immediately pulled up against the hard and taut chest of the man in front of her .

Her silvery grey orbs met with his blue ones as her eyes remained fixed to his georgous face. It felt like the whole world was put on mute and all she could see was him.

Her heart drummed hard against her ribcage and she feared that it might actually break free. She felt sparks emanate from where his hands were wrapped firmly around her waist before settling on her already throbbing core. Her stomach flipped in pleasure as butterflies did a joyful dance in it. Who was this guy? And why does he make her feel this way?

She was still ogling at his handsome features when his hands slipped off her waist and her butt immediately hit the ground. Only when she felt the piercing pain from her buttocks did she come to her senses.

He smirked and told, "Next time watch where you're going. And look, there's some droll on your mouth." He straightened his suit jacket and ambled down the hallway in long strides.

She blushed, her fingers touching the corner her lips and there was indeed some drool. With her cheeks red in embarrassment, she cleaned off the drool and mumbled to herself, "Asshole!"