the first mystery (part 2 )

The more our lessons go by the more I feel like our teacher just drones on like some kind of lifeless robot. It's kinda creepy actually.

Anyways, after the bell rang I ended up just packing my bag and walking out. If I'm being totally honest, I don't even want to be in school right now. I hate this place with a passion, I mean I like learning new things and I like reading and writing. But, I definitely don't enjoy being crammed in a room with a bunch of other kids. I'm a total black sheep. I just don't belong here.

I considered walking out the front door, I could skip today right? If they call my foster parents I'll just make up some excuse. Sounds like a solid plan if I don't say so myself. ~

I had been well on my way to leaving this dump for the day. But, the second I put my hand on the door it just hit me. I totally forgot to turn in the book I checked out last week. Eh, it's probably fine right? When's that due anyway?

*Ziiiiiip*

I opened up my book bag and began digging around in there until I felt the jagged rectangular object I was looking for.

Okay, Ring by Koji Suzuki let's seeeeeee….oh would you look at that. It's due today! I guess it's a good thing I remembered so they don't charge me late fees like last time…

I spun on my heel and waltzed on down the hall. Most people have gone to the lunch room so at least it's not packed like a can of little hotdogs in here. I finally arrived at the giant arching doors that lead to the world of knowledge.

Our library is located at the exact center of the school almost set up in an 'all roads lead here' sort of way. The architect designing this building must have had something like that in mind.

"Hello again young man, are you checking another book out today?"

The librarian here is a nice older lady, I'm here all the time so she seems to remember me every time I walk in now.

"No, I'm just dropping this off. It's due today…"

"Oh, okay just a moment."

After the exchange I decided to look for another book. If I'm gonna skip the rest of the day then I might as well have something to read right?

I power walked like a soccer mom on over to the best section of the library a.k.a the horror section. I heard that book I just read is part of a series? Maybe I'll see if they have the sequel in stock.

"Wow, I'm surprised you actually showed up."

Huh? What was that? Why is that voice so crisp and clear right behind me?

I turned to look over my shoulder and saw this sap looking at me for some reason. It's that Gerard kid from earlier. What the hell's he want, a cookie or something? Shoo shoo go away, you look like a droopy face ass rat or something.

"Get out of here rodent."

"Rodent? You mean me?"

"Uh, yeah? You see anyone else around?"

"You really are antisocial aren't you?"

"yes, I am antisocial and you are really stupid. Are we done stating the obvious or can I go?"

"Okayokayokay…hold on, before you go I just need to ask you a question. Please, just answer me seriously…"

"…What?"

"Seriously…I just don't know who to talk to…"

"Will you spit it out already? I got places to be, things to do man."

"What could you possibly have that's so important, you don't even have any friends- Hey!? Don't just walk away from me!"

"Dude! Chill out, this is a library you know? Don't make a scene."

"Oh…my bad, sorry."

He looked around at the people here and there who were quite clearly getting annoyed by our conversation. At least he's smart enough to take a hint, well, sometimes at least. He hushed down to a whisper but to my dismay, he continued talking to me.

"You don't have to be so rude by the way…anyways…so I was wondering, do you…by chance…believe in ghosts?"

Wow, that's surprising. I didn't expect that to be the big question he's been pestering me about all day. I thought it would be something dumb and superficial like 'yo dude how many chicks you been with' or something.

"Nope."

"Really? I was hoping that there was someone I could talk to about this…"

"Okay, let's just say for a second hypothetically that I did believe in them. What then? Why are you talking to the weird kid over something like that?"

"Honestly…because I know anyone else in class would just laugh at me. They wouldn't take this problem seriously…"

"You keep saying 'problem' like there's something specific that's got you all weirded out or something."

"Yeah…well, you see it all started after last weekend. Like everything was fine until one day I started seeing things out the corner of my eye…I thought I was imagining things until last night."

"Last night? What happened then?"

"Well, I was getting ready to take a selfie..."

"Are you fucking kidding me"

"No, listen okay. I have a lot of followers online and I have to post a few times a week to keep them updated!"

"I'm walking out."

"Hold on! You didn't let me finish!"

"That's because what you're talking about is ridiculous, how did you go from ghosts to selfies?"

"Well if you let me finish you'll see! Anyways...so there I was in the kitchen getting ready to take the picture when on my screen I saw a shadow of a person walk out from behind the refrigerator! The thing literally turned and looked at me for a minute and then turned around and went down the hall…right into my room!"

"Oh wow…that is creepy. Did you catch it on video. Or snap a picture of it at least?"

"Sadly no…it would've been a lot easier to prove it really happened if I did…"

"Hmmm…so basically, you saw a ghost but you have no way to prove it?"

"Yes exactly, and even worse I think it's haunting my room!"

"Why do you say that?"

"Every once in a while when I'm in there I'll set something down. Like a cup or something right, and when I turn back it's totally moved over to the other side of the room!"

"Are you sure you didn't just move it over there and forgot about it? You seem like the type to do that sort of thing."

"No way dude…I thought maybe that was the case the first few times, but then I started taking note of when I put stuff down and it definitely moves by itself…I'm freaking out man, I'm scared to even sleep there anymore…"

As much as I hate to admit it, I can't just turn a blind eye to this guy. If it was any other sort of problem then I probably wouldn't care…but of all people, I definitely know what it feels like to be scared to sleep in your own room. Maybe I can try to figure something out here.