Chapter One: The Mystery Man

On a sunny midmorning Monday. She arose from her slumber with sweat pouring from her forehead from the intense nightmare she just encountered last night. Her name is Amber Banks, a sixteen-year-old girl high school student who's about to start her first day at her new school. As she walked downstairs towards the kitchen, she noticed that both her parents aren't home, and left already for work. She spotted a note on the table from her mother, and it read:

Dear Amber,

Sorry I forgot to wake you up for your first day of high school, got a call from work and your father had to drive me there. There's money for you on the desk and remember to bring your keys with you to lock up the house when you are on your way to school today. We will be back later, have fun at your first day of school, and make some new friends.

Love

Mom and Dad.

Amber grabbed the money that her mom left out for her and packed her bag up with the school supplies that she needed for her first day. She walked outside, locked the door behind her and started to walk towards the bus stop. Upon her arrival, she spotted a couple of girls waiting for the bus as well. She walked up slowly without making a fool of herself and approached the group of girls.

"Hi, my name is Amber Banks, I'm new to the school," Spoke Amber as she waits for a reply from the other girls.

"Hi Amber, my name is Samantha Tyler, today's my first day of high school as well. Would you like to sit together on the bus?" said Samantha.

"Okay, sure that would be great."

Along the bus ride towards Winston B. Grant High School, both Amber and Sam started to get to know each other. While in the back of the bus, there was something wicked that was about to happen.

"Look I don't care what you sat about me Sarah, but I don't like being called a bitch."

"Well, deal with it Tara. If I ever see you with my boyfriend again, are friendship ends where the doors to the high school begin," Said Sarah.

Amber and Sam peeked over the seat and considered the back in where the two friends were fighting over a boy.

"Who are those two?" said Amber. "That's Sarah McMullen, and her BFF Tara Johnson, there both seniors, and childhood friends. They basically run this school, and if you piss them off, you're going to be thrown into their punishment room, which happens to be the janitor's closet." Explained Samantha.

One of the boys was listening on their conversation.

"I heard on the last day of junior high, one of the girls pissed off Sarah for picking on her, she went and told the teacher on Sarah and when word got around about it, and Sarah grabbed that girl by her hair and threw her into the punishment room. She was never seen again. Rumors have it that the girl got out, and was never the same afterwards," Said the boy.

"Wow, how do you know about that?" asked Amber.

"I used to hang out with Sarah's group with her boyfriend, me and him we were best buds until Sarah came into the picture and told me to get lost. My name is Ashton, I'm a sophomore at the high school. What's your names?"

"My name is Amber, and this is my new friend Samantha, we're new to the high school," said Amber.

"Well word of warning, stay clear of the senior girls (meaning Sarah and Tara) and also her boyfriend, Jackson Cooper, he's a senior, got left back a couple of years, along with Sarah. This is their fourth time repeating senior year of high school," Said Ashton.

"Whoa what did they do?" asked Amber.

"Basically, Jackson skipped a lot of his classes, and played hooky, and they did nothing about it because his father is the head of the board of education. With Sarah, she didn't do so well in any of her classes, and had paid people to do her homework, and got caught cheating on a dozen of people's test, of course the school didn't do anything about her either, because her mother is the president of the board of education. That is why both Sarah and Jackson are together, and untouchable because of their parents," Said Ashton.

"That's not right, they need to be stopped," said Amber.

"There's nothing you can do Amber, those two have the school wrapped around their little fingers. It's best to leave it alone," Announced Ashton.

As the students arrived, Amber and Sam started to walk towards the gym for freshman orientation where they meant with the supervisor for the freshman class, Ms. Vanessa Chambers.

"Welcome boys and girls to your first freshman year at Winston B. Grant High School, I'm your guidance counselor and your school's freshman supervisor, Ms. Chambers. With the knowledge and education that you'll all be learning throughout your four years here at WBG HS, will boost your skills and leadership abilities for the outside world. In addition, there are some rules that the freshman class must obey by:

Rule #1 and our golden rule that all freshman should always respect: All freshman students are forbidden to attend any senior activities or events during school hours.

Rule #2: there will be no cheating when during test, if any student is caught cheating, they will receive a failing grade, and will get dropped from that class.

Rule #3: all freshman students are to stay clear from the senior class, if only a senior class student is a part of the mentor program, then they can help a student from the freshman class. Other conditions may be applied.

Lastly, and this also follows Rule #1. Rule #4: If a freshman student is caught with a senior classmate during school hours (meaning if the both students are caught handholding or other, and if the senior is not in the mentor program. Then both the freshman and senior student will be removed from the school grounds, and won't be allowed to attend this school," Announced Ms. Chambers; now are there any questions in regards with the rules?

"Excuse me miss, I understand with the rule with "no dating a senior classmate" can we be friends with a student from the senior class?" asked a freshman student.

"Friendship with a senior classmate is accepted, but if that friendship is turned into other than both students are removed from the school immediately," Said Ms. Chambers. "Now are there any other questions with the rules? Good then, all right first-year class report to your first class of the day, and my office is always open. Enjoy your day."

As both Sam and Amber walked towards their first class, they spotted Sarah and Tara near the girl's bathroom with Sarah's boyfriend Jackson walking along side of Sarah. Jackson looked down towards the hallway and spotted Amber walking, she stopped and saw Jackson looking at her, and she didn't know what to do until he turned his head back around and walk outside with Sarah.

"OMG, did Jackson Cooper, a senior, just locked eyes onto you Amber? That's not a good sign," Said Samantha.

"Wait what! Does that mean I'm going to get into trouble with Sarah?" said Amber.

"You won't get into trouble if he made eye contact with you, but if you are caught with him; Sarah is going to go after you," Said Samantha.

During their first class, Amber saw Jackson outside near the benches with Sarah, Tara and a bunch of seniors. She couldn't take her eyes off him, until her teacher noticed Amber wasn't paying attention.

"Ms. Banks! Turn your attention towards the lesson that's on the board this minute, instead of losing your focus outside," Said her teacher Mr. Andrews.

"Sorry Mr. Andrews, it won't happen again," Said Amber.

"See that it doesn't happen again, okay class it's time to open up the floor with your answers on the question that's on the blackboard. The question says; if one or more people are in a group, and one of those people doesn't follow instructions. What will happen to that person, and the flow of the group? Yes, Samantha.

"Will that person be asked to leave the group if he or she isn't pulling any effort in the project and wouldn't get any credit from the project?" answered Samantha.

"That's exactly what will happen to that person if he or she isn't given any input inside the group, they won't get any credit, or be a part of the group anymore. Anymore answers towards this question?" said Mr. Andrews.

While the students were answering the question, Amber could not begin to put the pieces together into why Jackson would lock his eyes onto her. At lunch time, Amber and Samantha spotted Ashton and his group of friends and was asked to sit with him.

"Gals, welcome to the table of coolness. Let me introduce you to the group, this is Kim, Tyler, Jeromy, Ashley, and Tiffany. Kim and Tyler are juniors, Jeromy and Tiffany are sophomores, and Ashely is our freshman. Guys it's is Amber and Samantha, there also freshman," Announced Ashton.

"Oh, that's awesome, more freshman yay!" said Ashely as she hugged both Amber and Sam.

During lunch Samantha and Amber started to talk about their classes and that Jackson locked eyes onto Amber that got Ashton shocked.

"What! He locked eyes onto you. That's not good, if Sarah finds out then Amber, you're going to be ending up in her punishment room. Best to keep your distance from those girls," Said Ashton.

"Yea listen to what Ashton is saying Amber, that group is bad news. I and Tyler were close to Sarah and Jackson, until Tara stepped in as Sarah's bodyguard and pushed us away," Said Kim.

"Alright I'll keep my distance from the seniors, thanks Kim," Said Amber.

During Amber's next class in the girl's locker room, she was putting her gym stuff away until Sarah and Tara came behind her.

"You think for one minute that I wouldn't find out that you were looking at my boyfriend, Amber, is it?" said Sarah.

"No, I didn't look at him; I swear it was Jackson that locked his eyes onto me. I did nothing, please Sarah believe me, I would never look at him," Said Amber as she started to cry.

"Well I heard otherwise that you kept on looking at him. So now prepare to be thrown inside my punishment room for the wrong that you have done," Said Sarah.

So, Tara and a group of her friends grabbed Amber, and walked her outside of the locker room and approached the punishment room, Sarah opened the door and they threw Amber inside of the room and locked the door behind them. Amber was screaming out for help and hoping that someone would hear her cries. As hours went by, she was growing more scared to be locked inside the punishment room, until she started to hear noises from outside the doorway.

"Who goes there? Hello is anyone there. Please save me from this hell, I need you here with me now," screamed Amber.

"I'm right here darling; I'm not going to leave your sight. Your safe with me, I won't let anything harm you while I'm here," Said the mystery voice from behind the doorway.

"Who are you? How do I know that you are here to help me?" (A rushing breeze when past her, and suddenly a winged man appeared in front of her).

"I'm your protector, I'm your shield, I'm your savior, and I'm here to save you from this… trapped within.

Amber's eyes started to go faint, and in her last breath, she spoke out a name… Jackson.