Chapter 9

It just couldn't happen. Four, maybe more, death at one school and one was an adult. These prefects who didn't hesitate to knock you out or drug you to lie afterwards. So much things in this school left unsaid...

I couldn't stay here if I wanted to stay alive. I couldn't stay even if Sebastian was here to protect me. He was a ghost and I was a weak mortal. Someone who could die at any moment.

Poison in my food, slipping off the roof, a bullet in the head, strangulation, drowning. So much ways for me to pass away...

I took my phone with shaky hands and punched in the phone number of my mother, hoping she was awake and not busy.

One beep, two beeps, three beeps and finally the voice of my dear mother. My sweat and caring mother. My mother who would save me from this damn school.

"Ethan ? Why are you calling at two in the morning ? Did something happen ? " She asked sleepily and I knew that I've awaken her only, I didn't care. I needed her and sleep was the least of my preoccupations.

"Mum, I need you to come and get me. I can't stay any longer ! " I told her, crying almost, afraid she would refuse and hang down.

"Ethan, what happened dear ?" She said, wide awake now, her voice more bright and present, and I knew I had all of her attention.

I was about to tell her everything that happened these past three days, to tell her about the deaths and the prefects but I heard the voice of my father speaking at my mom in the other line.

"Son ?" Directe, cold. My dad in one sentence.

But how did he know what was happening in the school ? Did something similar happened to him ? But it didn't matter. I had the opportunity to say everything that happened since I arrived and I couldn't keep everything for myself. So I told him everything, to the death and to the prefects, obviously not talking about Sebastian's ghost.

After a few minutes of silence where my dad didn't say anything and where I was taking back my breath, he finally spoke in a harsh tone of voice : "Son, you're now sixteen, an age were boys stop believing to ghosts and fairies. You aren't a girl my son, you aren't one of these kids who says they are princes and princesses. Do not make me ashamed by making me trust that you are still a silly child. So stop being a whiny boy and stop complaining to your mom about how awful that school is. Back when I was a child, we didn't even have phones to communicate to our parents. So whatever you are gonna say, I'm telling you that we are not coming back from India for you and your silly fantasies.

So he truly didn't care about me ? I who thought iddily that it was only a cover to hide a father with a big heart, was I wrong from the very start ? Have I grew believing wrong thoughts ? But it was true, and everything was showing it, that dad had never been the caring type of father.

So why should I see the truth only now ?

"I need to go. Say to mum I love her." I muttered, keeping my tears for me and trying not to show my emotions to my father. If I had to be more manly for him, then it was too late for that. I had already chosen my path and I couldn't turn back only for him.

But even if I knew that, sadness kept creeping in my heart and I even couldn't think properly anymore, I couldn't breathe enough air, I couldn't continue like that. Now I could see how lonely I was, especially with no one to protect me from death, and a dead ghost would be of any help.

But why would I have even dared to explain how dreadful I felt ? I knew all too well that my dad wouldn't trust my words . . . And there were now the culpability of wanting to leave Sebastien alone in that dire and mad school.

And as I was going deeper in my thoughts and as my heart was beating even faster as the minutes passed, a familiar warmth enveloped me in a hug. A hug I didn't know why but desperately needed.

"Calm down Ethan, don't worry." Shushed his voice in my ear, rocking me slowly.

I sobbed a little more, digging my head in his chest before nodding, still under the shock.

"Promise you will never leave me Sebastien..." I murmured, afraid that my parents would arrive in the instant to take me away from the school, even if it was impossible.

" I promise." He chuckled, holding me even tighter. "I will always be there for you."