Warning: This Chapter contains bothering and uncomfortable gore scenes. If you don't like it, please skip the chapter, if possible.
Case 6,
Devil in a Red Dress,
Hajime's POV
"Have you heard about the girl in Section 3? Fyodor Dostoevsky, next class!" "Yes that class with so many ghosts!"
"I heard there is one scary spirit there that drove the weak ones away! I heard she took another student by tying them to her hair!"
"Yes, yes! The one with the bloody dress!"
"Shh, quiet, we're near the Section 3."
"Seriously? Ghosts don't exist, girl!"
Ugh... I guess that rumor has gotten exaggerated every single day. Last time, they said someone got attacked by suffocating them using the curtains, but someone came and saw it, so the girl was saved. Anyways, these rumors are getting out of hand. I can't even tell apart if someone's just making fun of the others, or it's actually true.
"Gooooood morning!" I slightly jolted back, my heart racing, and my eyes widened. It's Kise. God, can't this guy just leave me alone for once?
"Why are you here?"
He grinned. It's kinda hot, though. "Nothing. I just randomly saw you here, I came closer." Tch! Such reasons. He's popular, I'm not, can't this guy see our difference? I don't want any spotlight, HE's the spotlight, and yet he comes closer and puts my foot into his shoes every single time.
"Hmm? What's wro—" He stopped midway, as someone called out to me.
It's Rizen, all right. "Good morning, Hajime!" He stared for a while into Kise's face. "Oh, you're the transferee, welcome."
"Thank you. Hope we get along well," Kise held out his hand, while Rizen accepted with his. Let's be jealous 'cause he's stealing my first friend, and not tell anyone.
"You said you two weren't close. You don't have to keep that from me, you know.
"We're not close!" Of course I'll deny! Who wouldn't have this idiot?
"Yup, we're really close!"' He said in unison with my words. What the— who told who we were that close?! This guy just gives me more problem!
"Ooooh! Contradiction~" Rizen giggles. "There could be something going on~" He teases.
"Yeah, it's a master-sevant relationship. I'm the master, by the way." Now, this idiot is boasting. I never told him I'd be his servant!
"I never said we're like that, dumbass!" God, save me from this idiot.
"So, it's better to say toy and player relationship?" I gazed back to Rizen, who's actually looking more worse than before. He looked grossed out, and I can't bear to see it! Gosh, this is embarrassing!
"I...I never said we're playing games!"
"Ha...Hajime... you two are..." Rizen looked somewhat shaking.
"We're not friends!" We both said in unison.
He nodded back as a reply. He doesn't look convinced, I can tell. "Not friends... Player and toy... close... Oh, yeah...you guys don't have to explain, I already know..." I can't believe I'm witnessing this! It's all Kise's fault he's acting like this! I wanna die!
"I'm heading first!" I bursted out, storming out of the conversation. Dumbass Kise, he'll pay for this!
My head titled when I heard a voice from behind. "You could've waited for me." It's Rizen. Somehow, I feel annoyed at him for no reason....
"What?" Shit, I somehow sounded angry.
He left a grin on his lips, "Are you jealous? Hehe, you're acting grumpy like a little kid.
I replied back with a dumbfounded look. The hell I am! Well, of course, who would want that dumbass as a friend?! Well, I admit it, he's good-looking, but he's insensitive and an idiot!
"I-I am certainly not!" God, my cheeks feels like it's burning up!
"Oho~ You're probably jealous, cuz your friend's tryna flirt with your 'someone', haha~" His elbow poked me repeatedly while his eyes looked at me as if he's having lots of fun seeing my condition.
I sighed. Certainly, he misunderstood everything here. "Whatever, you don't have to mind us." I said as I brushed off the conversation.
I fixed my seat as I overheard girls talking to each others on the front rows as they put on their makeups and hair clips. It's the same topic once again.
"Hey, I heard those rumored ghost at section Dostoevsky at 12th grade next door is already gone! Confirmed by the Spiritual Club, this time!"
"Isn't that great?"
"But what's more scary is there's something else there! Raya from 12-Einstein saw her classmate, Freya got dragged by the girl with a pair of long hands!"
"But I saw Freya this morning..."
"But she's been weird these days, you know! She's been disappearing on some classes, too!"
"We should avoid her if she ever approach us!"
"Yeah, let's do that, we might get into weird trouble if we don't."
Rizen called me with a dumb smile on his face, approaching me. "Are you okay, Hajime?" I ignored. "Are you serious? I was just joking, stop sulking!"
I sighed, "To hell with him...." I whispered but it seemed like he heard it.
"Hey, don't be jealous! I admit he's got the looks, but I'm not into him, dude!" I paused.
"Wha?" He looked at me with confusion. "I don't care if you like that idiot, all I can say is don't, he's dumb!"
"Oh, by the way, did you know the new guy from Mandela?"
"Yes, girl! I asked for a picture and his account name on the Hermes app, and he willingly gave it to me! He even has posts there, he's so handsome!!!"
"Omg, I should do that later, too! I also heard he's academically unparalleled!" I paused.
"We talked about the same thing yesterday!" Two girls came laughing while the others joined.
"Who leaked those misinformation...?" I felt annoyance through my veins.
Who the heck would call an idiot academically unparalleled?! He's dumb, numb and an not even worthy of people's attention! All he has is his face!
"Okay, girls, it's time for a new fanclub, I was getting bored of basketball team's Thanos!"
"But girl, he's also hot!"
"We're not gonna get any of them, anyways, so let's join both!"
"These girls...." Rizen unexplainably chuckled.
"Caerus Goodwill from Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nijiro Kise from Nelson Mandela, Muno Hajime from Leonhard Euler, please report to the principal's office immediately. I repeat...."
"Your last name is Muno? I think I've heard it before..." Rizen wondered.
"It's...uh... Anyways, I'm going now, take care of my things for me, Rizen. Thanks!" I hurried out as I dodged his topic. It's not like I'm hiding my identity, I just don't want him dragged into my life too far.
I looked next to our class and saw Kise waving at me. He came slowly as I took my chance to walk to the office before him. I can't make it seem natural as he walked so fast, catching up to me, and eventually slowing down once he got closer.
"How are you doing? We're going for a hunt of evil spirits this time, you know. Get yourself ready this afternoon." I felt him smile next to me. I ignore, of course. Who would willingly get with him so easily?!
"Hey, don't ignore me! I never did anything!" He attempted to take my hand, but I reacted in time to swipe it off my areas.
"What did I even do?" This idiot...! I simply don't want anything to do with you, can't you see that?!
I stopped, eyes locked into him. "Nothing. I'm tired, don't talk to much."
"Sorry..." He muttered faintly.
As we reached, we were both silent. Despite hearing me go angry at him, he still dared to open the principal's office's door and allowed me to come in and came after me. Someone was already there before us.
"Take a seat, Muno Hajime, Nijiro Kise." The principal pointed at the small couch in front of her desk.
We both sat across the other guy while I scanned the whole place. A cabinet of medals and trophies—probably the school's achievements so far. A window on the back of the desk wherein you can see outside and frames of photos of old people. Probably late principals, too.
The guy across us is Probably Caerus Goodwill, the other guy called out. He has a pair of brown eyes, and permed black hair. The principal, on the other hand, is wearing a tie and a suit. His hair almost going bald and he keeps his aura as formal as possible.
"May I know the reason for calling us here, if you may, Principal Greg?" Kise asked.
He cleared his throat before a reply, "Ah, yes, of course. Mr. Goodwill, please do elaborate your concern regarding this case."
He smiled at Kise and faintly waved hello. "I have no problem if it's Kise doing the job, but I'm worried that my case hasn't been solved before."
"Case...?" I intervened their touching eyes-to-eyes reunion whatsoever.
"Yes. I saw a poster of you about dealing with paranormal cases. It has Kise's signature, so I thought I'd ask about it. I came to your classroom, but it seemed like you weren't there, so I had your friends go and tell you the task" I paused. Friends? I've only got one...
"What do you mean by task?" I specified.
He nodded before answering. "My friend, Freya was attacked by a spirit said in our room. She came back after a day, but she felt off. She forgets a lot of things and talk about nonsense or disappear after classes from time to time, and her grades went up, too. Your friends told me they'll give you the messages and took the money for me."
"Anyways, I'll deal with the Dostoevsky problem myself. I'll take care of the students of Leonard section later on." Kise stressed out.
"Don't worry, since Hajime don't know those guys, I'll deal with them. Take care of your business." He smiled kindly as he took his coat and waved us farewell.
"He's a nice guy isn't he...?" I spoke as I was caught in a daze.
"Nice?!" He looked shocked. "Look at me. Am I kind to you?"
"No." I answered as he finished his sentence.
"That hurts! Whatever, if you think I'm not kind, what more is he?" I gave a dumbfounded look.
"No." I answered once more, bidding my farewells to the principal and leaving Kise there.
As I reached outside, he came running after me. "I don't accept your opinion."
I glared back to him. "My. OPINION." He paused and I left him there, going back to the classroom.
As the bell rang, my mind's focus is still stuck in my mind. I don't have friends except Rizen, and he would never do that. In fact, he treats me, it's the opposite of taking money that was supposed to be mine! Still, I can't forgive Kise for putting my face on his flyers. Be could've used his, and how the hell did he took those?!
"Hajime, you've been in a daze for quite some time, now. What happened in the principal''s office?" I flinched, glaring at him.
"It's nothing." I sighed. "I'my just...a little tired, that's all..." An awkward smoke escaped my lips.
"If that's the case, take your rest, it's important, dude." He replied, patting me on the back.
"Hajime!" A familiar voice called out. Dumb Kise is here.
I took my time, stepping towards his direction. "What?" I gave a glare.
He just replied with a smile, and brushed off. "Nothing."
I followed him as he plastered a dumb smile on his face. His smile somehow ticks me off so much everytime I see it. Probably because he's insensitive and too much of a happy-go-lucky person, which I hate on him. Rizen is excluded, by the way.
"It's kinda awkward talking when you don't reply, Hajime." A sigh left his mouth. "Why don't you just—"
His words took an abrupt halt once a loud cry covered the entire room. No one is in the place and the entire school looked different...more like the feeling and aura.
We ran to where the sound lead and saw a woman getting attacked by an evil spirit. Her head with a portion of it's skull missing caught my attention first and foremost.
It's legs and hands so long, her hair looking as sturdy as metal wires as it pulled the girl in the classroom. A foul smell covered the room; something seemed rotting and her flesh almost torn apart. Her eyes so deep as if there's nothing left inside of it, and her mouth smiling with every teeth as pointy as fangs. She wore a bright bloody dress and her nails on her hands are very long.
My body felt the chills, while Kise went forth the monster. Some kind of light escaped his hand and cut the hair that held into the girl.
"Get her!" Kise exclaimed as the girl fell.
Good thing enough, I was able to catch her as we roll on the hard wooden floor. Kise cuts it off effortlessly, but her regenerative powers seemed to be enough to overpower Kise.
Everytime he cuts a part, it regrows and gets stronger moment by moment. Kise went for it's head, but it's hair covered it and deflected Kise, throwing him into me and the girl.
"Kise!" I called out into the unconscious Kise on top of me.
As I called out, he never spoke back. Fear crept into me, my body shivering and my existence almost immobilized. Bags of sweat are streaming on my skin and I feel like throwing up.
"Kise...wake up...!" I pleaded.
My chest slowly tightened. The feeling felt familiar as if it already happened before. The evil spirit came close into me and grabbed me using its hair, creeping through my body to my mouth.
"Am I... A-am...I...e-e-enough...?" Her voice cracks.
A dark light shone through my chest and slowly swallowed the evil spirit and everything else went pitch black.
***
"Carol, I heard you got the scholarship? Congratulations, we know you worked hard for this! Send us a letter from time to time!" A girl congratulated me while I took her hand.
I'm...inside someone body...this is Carol and I've got all her memories, but I also have mine intact. I don't know what happened but she feels like..."me"...
"What's wrong?"
"No-Nothing. Thank you, I couldn't have done this without help from you guys...T-thank you..." They smiled.
"No, this is your hard work. Anyway, Carol, we are going now, we still have baton practices. Byee!" The other girls waved while I did the same.
"Are you okay with the ball?" I quivered as someone approached from behind.
"Karla!"
She smiled, "Let's go home, it's already dark and it's already dead of the night."
As she insisted, I went after. Her presence looks weird today... She's awfully very kind and gentle. She's that, but more... disturbing...
I went directly into my room. The windows are open and a weird smell of incense being burned near the house. No...it's next room!
I rushed and went to her door. There inside, I saw her lighting up a candle and chanting something under her breath. "Karla!" I called out. "What are you doing?!"
I took her hand. She's bleeding on a cut in her hand, and black smoke seeping put of it. Before I could realize it, my soul was not on her body anymore and I'm watching them from the sides.
Black smoke came out of her and soon enveloped the two. "Karla! Karla!" Carol kept on calling her.
"It's all your fault! I'm pretty, I'm smart, I should've been the chosen one! I can't lose to someone as ugly as you! I can't... I just can't..."
Carol paused, her eyes watery. She didn't expect the words that came out of her sister—no, she probably knew, but ignored that fact. It's because she loved her very much.
"Well then...if I gave you my brain...would you accept me...?" Karla's eyes widened.
She took the knife Karla used and hit her he'd with the sharp tip until her brain were gauged out, blood splattering on Karen's bright red dress.
Her hair slowly expanded, her form changed overtime, and there revealed the evil spirit I saw. It's Carol...
***
I slowly opened my eyes partially. I can't open it fully and my body feels very tired that I can't dare to walk or talk. As far as I could tell, Kise is carrying me and the girl. He's barely moving and I can feel him hurting in the process. My thoughts slowly drifted away as soon as I was was brought somewhere.
The house felt cozy and light. It's quiet and there's no presence of people around. I cannot feel my body and my heart is barely beating. I can hear Kise talking after some time, but all those feels like a dream—fleeting and unexplainably vivid.
We were brought here by car, and Kise was the one who did all of those. I felt myself getting carried by someone inside. It's not Kise; in fact, the one who carried me smells like peonies on full blossom that I could get drunk into the feeling.
Candles flicker everywhere. There was only two men who were around me as I feel myself on top of something. It's not a bed, it's not cozy enough to be one.
They were chanting something while I stood lying and made no move in the process. A bright light covered the room and I feel myself at ease.
My wounds seemed headed and my fatigue all away. I wanted to talk to the people there, but I felt really tired and lost myself into sleep once more. All I felt is they carried me somewhere and everything else is black and foggy inside my head—heavy but cozy like how the gentle light felt in the glistening mornings.