CHAPTER 16 First: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/805544080/ Previous: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1050624806/ Next: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1054356140/ POV: Dean There is something weird going on at this school, and it started when our school burnt down, and now is continuing with Amber. Not many people know of the oddness that is Amber, but I do, mostly because of my best buddy, Forrest. Dana, the former alpha, and former beta who is now omega used to have this sort of crush on Forrest. Forrest didn't exactly like her back, he thought she was a nice friend, but he actually liked Cae or Lily alot. I don't exactly remember which he liked the best. He hadn't really talked to them, just admired from afar, but still. Dana was now psycho, and everyone knew it. If she ever said anything actually audible it was some kind of curse she was saying. Rumours said she had gotten into dark magic and stuff along those lines, but I didn't believe it. I knew it was something more. I took it upon myself to find out what's going on with these disappearances, and what's going on with Amber. From what I've seen it hasn't looked like her friends are doing anything, especially if they know something, they just seemed to dance around her like puppets under her control, and if the puppets managed to cut the strings... they just seemed to disappear. The rest of the school wasn't any help either, with her being alpha they were drawn to her like moths to a flame. Even Forrest didn't want a part in this, he kept talking about was how all he wanted was to take a break from all the drama and popularity. It struck me with annoyance when he said he wouldn't accompany me on my small quest, but I decided if it was gonna be done right, it had to be done by me. My quest consisted of three parts: Tracking, interrogation, suspicion. I wouldn't be as brutal as I might make it sound, but I was going to find and corner Dana, Reagan, and Amber, in that order, and question them casually, if anything sparked my suspicion I would investigate further. I started my small quest in study hall which I had coincidently shared with Dana. Walking up to the brown haired girl was a very big deal now that she had basically committed social svicide, so I had to be as discreet as possible. Walking into the classroom that made up the study hall for all grades was terrifying. Even though I was only going to talk to some crazy girl it felt like I could drop dead at any moment. I peeked my head in from the doorway and carefully assessed. I was gonna be the last person in here, but good news was there was only a couple widely known gossipers. I walked in quietly. To aid me on my short journey of not being recognised I pulled up my hood which helped tremendously. Hardly anyone even glanced in my direction. Loud whispers slid around the classroom which would probably help mask my own talking. I spotted Dana sitting and drawing in a sketchbook on the far corner of the class. Walking quietly closer not even worrying about our lazy teacher who only told us to do our homework, I sat next to Dana. She didn't seem to notice at first. I looked at the notebook which had drawings of fire, and badly drawn sketches of people next to names and the word 'suspect'. The name Amber was circled three times in red and black markers. I tapped her shoulder, "Umm, Dana?" I said awkwardly She mumbled something I couldn't quite catch. I decided to try out a more forward approach, "Dana. I want to talk to you about the Fiery Phantom." By now the name had been all over the news, and everyone had heard it. "Have you seen the news lately?" She asked, in a clear voice rough from disuse. I was a little shocked. I wasn't expecting anything, but incoherent mumbles or little shrugs. "I need the answer now." I was so shocked i hadn't answered her, "Umm... Yes. Yes I have." "News on the Fiery Phantom?" She asked her previously dull eyes lighting to be the colour of warm dirt in the sun. "Yes. They say they've actually got a witness, but others think it's just a teenager out for attention. The witness actually happens to be Amber's brother people have said." I spoke so quickly I was again surprised when she nodded. She mumbled something again along the lines of "Cover up." Then she quickly flipped a page in her notebook, and like some wild animal started crazily jotting something down her head whipped around wildly and her eyes gained a insane tint to them. It was kind of ironic how I had come to question her, but instead and being questioned by this insane girl-if you could even call her a girl. She acted like a wild beast scavenging for any bit of food-or in her case news. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Maybe I should just go to Reagan and forget about Dana. Dana suddenly stopped her furious writing and snapped her head toward me in such a way that I was sure it would have hurt her neck. (Continue on next page)
"What else do you know?" She asked in a sinister tone. "That's all I know!" I almost shouted at her. Dana's animalistic eyes trailed down my panicked face clearly not believing me. She grabbed my shirt, "WHAT ELSE DO YOU KNOW?!" She screamed thrashing me around. Though I would probably have been strong enough to at least stand a chance, as the panic set in it seemed to restrict me from movement. Somewhere in the far back of my mind I knew that it was flight, fight, or freeze instinct. I just couldn't comprehend why my mind had chosen to freeze. This could permanently scar my reputation. I could faintly see from some part of my mind that wasn't preoccupied, teachers and students gathering around to physically remove Dana from her prey--me. I could somewhat see Dana grappling to get to me, and two full grown men struggling to hold her down. I could almost feel the small hand that grabbed my arm and lead me out and almost see the milky blonde hair. Amber.
