TWELVE

THE thick voice asking me that question doesn't belong to anyone I know. I shiver on my spot, creating a perfect excuse.

"I repeat, who you are?" he asks again and I know that this time...I've got to answer him.

Slowly, I rotate to him.

His narrow eyes bore confusion, his head's big and bald, but his red beard is overgrown and it also weaved.

"I... I... I'm the janitor," I bit my lips, feeling stupid for telling a dumb lie.

Who uses 'janitor' as a lie these days, it's not even a fucking high school. Tracy always say that I'm the worst liar ever and I think my inexperience skill is gonna put me in soup of my own.

"Mm-mmm?"

"Yeah." I tug the tip of my dress nervously feeling the lightness of the material.

I really need to get out of here before the rest knows of my disappearance or he finds out who truly I am. But the fool seems to believe the lie as he nods, while scanning me with his too-small narrowed eyes.

There is no doubt that he's one of them, the evidence is just written on his tattooed body and the hoop on his nose which makes me wonder how he's breathing comfortably.

"I was about leaving before you walked in." I smile coolly at him and move away from the counter, making my way to the door.

Chills run through my veins as he grabs my arm, his grip proves strong as I imagine his hefty body.

"I don't think so, Miss." his deep scary voice informs me. I stare into his eyes and discover that it's dark, really dark in color.

"What?" I chuckle trying to make the atmosphere thin.

"You slithery bitch, dirty spider!" He curses and his fist balls traveling to hit my stomach. However, as fast as I perceive it coming, I swiftly slip back when his grip around my arm lost and I storm on the floor. I groan, it hurt more than the punch will be.

I gaze at him from the floor, surveying his moment like a prey. Hurriedly, I drift backward as he approaches me.

"D... don't," I warn him still moving back. My hand locates an object, I grab it and point it at him.

He smirks at me and rushes towards me, quickly I spring up and get in position to defend myself with my both hands curve together and my fists ball.

"D... don't come near, I know Ju... Jujutsu."

Tracy and I learn Jujutsu after junior year, because her mom wants her to be able to defend herself in a strange situation and I join her after she told me about her hot teacher. So every day, we drool over his flexing muscle and admire his masculine nature.

He was so manly. So, luckily I was able to learn some defense.

"Really?"

The Boogeyman laughs and I frown waiting to know the reason behind his happiness, not minding his expression I compose myself to look bold and push my left leg back wider.

"I'm warning you, fatty."

He looks at me and his hands akimbo, "you really wanna fight me, Small girl? With a remote." I look down at my hand and frown at the black device in my reach. I look back at him.

"Huh, come on, what you got?"

As he starts moving towards me, I fling the object to him, it lands on his face, he cries and holds his face. That's a bad throw but it landed on a good part. I turn briskly, moving out to reach the door. But I stop as something grip my hair. I whimper, struggling against the hold.

"Where do you think you're going, sly? We ain't done yet." He pulls me to his chest and I grab the opportunity to throw a kick at him, using my left leg by winding it forward with full force. He groans letting me free. He falls on the floor, moaning in pain.

"I told ya, uh, I know Jujutsu." I praise myself breathing heavily.

A twitching sound gets my attention, I look up to see Ralph locking the door. I freeze. I've just been caught. "Holy shit" I curse.

"I told ya, she's feisty." he said and I turn back to look at who he chats with, It's Messiah.

My doom.

•••

I fall roughly down back on the cold floor beside the window as Ralph pushes me down and bore at him, his green eyes lock with mine before he steps away.

"I warned you, I so much warned! Told you she is–"

It's like Messiah is tired of the shit gushing out of Ralph's mouth. In a swift, he pulls out something from his jean pocket and points it at Ralph.

I inhale as I realized that he is holding a pistol. I've never seen one in real life except for movies.

"Shut your damn clips up and follow my lead!" Messiah command with so much energy.

"Why?" Ralph's jaw clenches, it's obvious he is angry and do no longer have control of the situation.

"Because I'm the fucking boss, I represent Marco." Both stare at each other, breathing steadily.

I swallow the sob prickling my throat and stare bewilder at the homicidal scene displaying before me. Ralph sigh in defeat, he glances over to me. He snorts and flees, I watch his figure descend low.

Messiah sighs too. He slowly put the gun back in his jean. I stare as the black metallic slayer object enclose inside the black jean's pocket. He turns to me cutting away the scene of the gun.

When I ponder whether he may chain me back, he just exits the room. I launch my head back, allowing it to meet the window. Just when I believe I found a way out, I fail.

"I'm sorry,"

I frown at Stella for blaming herself for my failure.

"I got you into this mess."

I huff, "it's not your fault, Stella. I'm just a clumsy person." I smile at her. She beams back.

I face the window, maybe that isn't the way to escape, maybe it's another way. But there is a way out, there's surely a way out and I'm going to find it.