CHAPTER THREE : WHO IS 'HE'?

[Voice of unlocking the door]

What should we do? Ellyn says, looking at Jones.

Shh, be quite says Jones in her ears.

[The voice continues]

This door is locked from inside, says Mr. Doe, the sweeper.

[Ellyn breathing heavily]

Hey hey, calm down holding Ellyn, says Jones.

What happened Mr. Doe, asks Beewood.

I think the door is locked from the inside.

Or maybe it's just (tries to open) stuck, the door needs some servicing. Please keep these in the music room, for now, I'll call the carpenter and fix this tomorrow.

Smiles Doe, thank you Mr. Beewood.

Yeah, you can go now.

[Footsteps moving away]

(Exhales sharply) Ellyn places her head on Jones's chest, oh God. (smiles and looks at Jones) Let's go.

Yeah, behind me.

Okay.

They slowly unlock the door and check around

Close the door ( whispers Jones)

As they move near to the principal's office, they hear him yelling at someone.

They peak into the door and see the principal with Harry's mother.

This is all your fault, I will take this case to the court.

Mrs. Brown, please calm down and think this through. So many children study here, your son was on wrong track, he did that to himself, we didn't do anything.

Oh! Really, what is this then?

[Ellyn whispers to Jones, what is it?

Jones - I can't see it.]

You were going to expel my son, weren't you? You gave this to him and asked him to do your dirty work, and he got himself killed (starts sobbing) You will definitely need a lawyer now.

Please, Mrs. Brown, it is nothing like you think, I saw him spying on me and Ms. Daisy clicking pictures of us after school. That's why I gave this to him as a warning.

(Sobbing) I-I don't understand, he was so happy a week before and told me he'll be rich and powerful.

I am sorry for your loss Mrs. Brown, I will do whatever help can be done, take this please. (offering tissue)

Thank you, and sorry for what I said, I am just.

Oh no that's okay I get it. It's better to clear all the doubts.

Thank you, I should go now.

Hmm.

She's coming, she's coming.

Hide.

[They hid behind the lockers and see Ms. Daisy getting into the principal's room]

We'll have to tell the sheriff.

No-no we can't do that.

We have to, he's back, he's back (sobbing) says, Ms. Daisy.

Who said that you were the one saying that he would never return.

Well, I was wrong. I heard someone talking, he is back Bee.

[Beewood hugs Daisy]

[What! says Ellyn]

What will happen? Dead bodies everywhere again? I am so afraid.

Shush, don't cry. We'll do something.

[They return to the Tate's]

It was useless.

Don't say that, we came to know that (mimics) Mr. Bee and Ms. Daisy are dating.

Laughs Ellyn, but what about Harry.

Well, we know that Beewood was going to expel him because he was spying on Daisy and Beewood, maybe this was because he caught them holding each other or something. It had nothing to do with his death.

Or maybe not, because Beewood said that Harry was on the wrong tracks, maybe Harry was doing something wrong.

Yeah, it can be possible because Harry's mom said that he was happy a week before and said he'll be powerful and rich.

Right!

Something happened here, in this town years back. And we have to find what, because something that happened before is happening again and 'he', don't know who is back.

Ugh, complicated.

When will the reports come?

Anytime now.

[Di-Ding]

Oh, here it is. Let's go.

Where?

I'll take you.

( They reach Marcus's secret place, which was in the hospital he works)

What place is this? asks Jones

Sometimes, the sheriff asks doctors to treat special cases here, which requires more safety and less publicity.

How do you know all this?

Because of my father, his dirty works are done here. (in a sad voice)

What does that mean?

( Enters Marcus )

Hello, bird. (laughs Marcus)

Hello Marcus, how are you? (smiling)

I am good, long time hah! My little bird (Smiles Marcus)

Bird? LOL. (whispers jones)

Yes.

Okay, Marcus. Can you tell me about the reports?

Yes, he was stabbed definitely but this tattoo is something you should search about. It's been so many years around maybe 20-30 that such tattoos were seen on almost every dead body in this town, it was believed that the people with such tattoos worked for 'Him'

'Him', who?

(coming closer says Marcus in a low voice,) The Devil.

Scoffs Jones, what?

Oh, Marcus. You know I don't believe in such stuff.

Ey bird, I know you don't but it was real, everybody did. Even your mom.

What? My mom? Does she know about 'him'?

Yes, everybody did. You better ask your mom, I have other cases to handle. Take this ( gives the report to Ellyn )

Thank you, Marcus.

Bye.

Bye.

[Ellyn and Jones walking]

Do you believe in such stuff?

(scoffs) Hell no, I mean I think your Uncle Marcus is a freak though.

Ay, don't be rude, he helped us.

Okay, okay just kidding. But really, I don't believe in such stuff, still, you can maybe ask your mom about this, hah?

Yeah, I am thinking 'we' should.

Chuckles Jones. Okay.

[Luna opens the door]

Oh, hello Jones. Come in.

Mom, do you know something about 'him'?

Who, honey?

[Jones mimics like Marcus, with slow dark voice] The devil.

(Luna chuckles) What?

[Ellyn slaps on his arms] Shush.

Mom, do you recognize this tattoo.

Just as she watches the picture, the smile on her face vanishes.

Where did you get this from, Ellyn?

Do you remember, I told you about my school friend Harry? We found this on his body.

Do you recognize this?

Oh, honey, you should not know about this. Stop doing this, okay it is not a joke with a serious tone says, Luna.

But mom, he was murdered. We want to know who did this to him.

Ellyn, you are not the police. They'll figure this out. You better throw these pictures away or I'll do it myself. (says Luna angrily)

Mom, (Ellyn sits with her and holds her) please, he was my friend. And I am not doing anything wrong, I just want to know what happened, that's it. Then, I'll throw these away.

Do you promise?

Yes, I promise.

Okay.

[She starts the story]

When I was young, around your age, I used to go to Crystal Dane School, everything was very peaceful before a guy entered the school. He used to talk about powers and eternity and I never used to believe in those things, we all did things for fun, you know how high school can be, right? That is why honey I don't want you to know these things.

Oh, please just tell the whole damn story.

Exhales Luna, okay. So, he was my friend too. After school, he asked us to go with him. Me, Daisy, Beewood, Dona, Robert, William.

Wait-wait. Dona, Robert?

Yes, Dona Lopez, your mom.

How do you know her?

We used to go to school together, and the day you came to me, I recognized you are Dona's son (smiles Luna) But I haven't seen her since, so I assumed Dona and Robert live separately.

Yeah, after she died, we do.

(In shock) What happened?

Cancer.

I am sorry, I didn't know.

No, It's okay. Please continue with the story

So we all used to enjoy the little games he used to ask us to play with him but that day it was huge. He asked us to sit in a circle and placed a terrifying doll with sticks on his head in the middle of the circle and sat in the front of the doll and yelled in some language we didn't recognize, we thought it is just a game. He said, 'Oh my master, accept ye and bless me with the power, the eternity to worship thee' He repeated this 4 times we were laughing and then he falls down to the ground. We all got worried, we tried to wake him up but he was not breathing, I swear I checked but he was not breathing, we were so tensed and he suddenly woke up and said he accepted, he accepted us. He was serious and happy, it was not a game. And I, Dona, Robert, Beewood and Daisy, we wanted to know the truth, we did leave the group but we followed them to see what they do. They got these different tattoos in their hands, which somehow used to look similar and one day at night Robert, Dona, and I found all of them dead together around the doll, they were 10 in total. We freaked out and never went to the place again. because it was dark and scary. After 6 months, the tattoos were seen on almost every other dead student, who joined the group.

How did this all go away then?

After few months, Menetta came to us and told us that he is not a member of that group, he was there to spy and know the truth. We bearly believed him until he showed us everything he has observed, but before we could find who was behind this, everything vanished, everybody who was worshipping him just vanished.

How, but how is that possible?

I don't know maybe the police lied, maybe they all were dead but everything just disappeared.

And honey, I don't want you in this stuff please, it's not safe. There are consequences for such stuff.

Yes mom, please trust me and don't worry.

Same for you Jones, I'll advise this to you too.

Yes, Ms. Luna, don't worry.

And you throw these pictures.

Okay, mom, I will.

[Ellyn and Jones over the phone]

Now what?

I won't stop, I want to know who killed Harry.

I feel that too, somebody is just using this rumor to kill people. Earlier he got away with all those crimes he did but this time, he won't.

I have an idea.

What?

Your mom said, Sheriff Menetta searched a lot about them by joining the group, we can check if he has those documents now.

Okay, so he will hand over that file to us? or are you suggesting to break into his home?

Yes.

Oh God, I am not doing that.

Okay, if you don't want to, we should just wait until 'he' kills all of us.

(ughh, exhales Ellyn) Okay. What do you want me to do?

(Smiles Jones) Just bring your mom's car we'll go to the sheriff's home now.

Okay. Coming.

[Ellyn and Jones in the car]

What if he sees us? Do we have a plan or what?

He won't see us, because he won't be at his home, he'll be on his rounds.

How do you know that?

He's Lily's father, and Lily and I were best friends.

Were?

Yeah, I mean, she has changed a lot now.

Oh, she broke your heart? (smiling Ellyn)

umm, no-no, we were just friends.

Ah-ha, Lucas told me.

What? That son of a.

(Ellyn laughs)

We have to pick him up too.

Oh, he is coming?

Yeah. He would help us if Lily wakes up.

Okay.

There he is.

Come on in.

Hey, Ellyn.

Hey, Lucas. How are you now?

Oh, I am good.

[They park the car 4 houses before sheriff's home]

Okay, I have a plan, says Lucas. You can go from the front door to Lily while I and Ellyn will come behind you and break into the sheriff's room and get the documents.

What!? No-no, I am not going to Lily.

Oh man, I thought you are over her.

Yes, that I am. But I am not going to her at 1 pm, what if she is with her boyfriend.

Oh, so you'll be jealous.

Shut up, Lucas. I am not doing this, we are breaking in.

Okay, but how?

It's the sheriff's home, he doesn't keep his windows open, okay?

I think Lucas is right, you should go and keep Lily busy, maybe sort things out about your and her friendship.

What? No, I have a better plan, why not Lucas goes in.

Because I didn't like her as you did.

Oh shut up (says Jones in an angry voice)

So it's final, you are going in, and keep the door open we'll close it after we enter.

Okay (in slow voice)

[Lily opens the door]

Oh, Jones? Is everything okay?

Yeah, yeah I mean, I wanted to talk to you about something and I know your dad wouldn't be home today so I thought we can talk.

What?

Ahh! I mean, can we talk?

Yeah sure, come in.

Oh, I'll close the door.

Okay.

Yeah, after you.

[He leaves the door open and Lucas and Ellyn come inside]

Okay, so what do you want to talk about?

Umm, that I haven't thought about says slowly.

Hah?

Ahh, how's everything going between you and George.

We broke up, says Lily in an upset tone.

What? Why?

I can't tell you why?

Oh, you can tell me anything, maybe I can help you fix things with him.

No, I don't want to fix anything.

Did he hurt you?

No.

Then what is it?

(exhales sharply) It was you.

What? What did I do?

I just realized that I don't love him and you, my best friend have gotten away from me. I don't want that, so I broke up with him.

[Meanwhile Ellyn and Lucas:]

(in slow voice)

This is locked.

What do you expect? Getaway, I'll open it.

[Ellyn tames a pin out of her head and opens the lock]

Wow, you're pro.

Shush-shush, be quiet and quick.

Okay (in slow voice)

Check in this drawer. It is locked too.

Wait a minute, (she opens that look too)

Here they are.

How will we know which file is it?

Ellyn calculating (I am 17, my mom was in high school 28 years back, so it will be 1993)

Check 1993, says Ellyn.

This is the set for 1993 which he couldn't solve maybe, that's why these are here.

Yes, perfect.

(Opens the file)

Holy crap, this is freaky.

(They look at each other)

Ellyn clicks the pictures. Let's go quickly put this back.

Okay.

(They place everything back at the place)

[Lily and Jones]

Um, I didn't go away from you, it's just you changed.

In a crying tone, no I didn't. I thought I don't feel anything for you, but the thing is I Like You, I like you, Jones. And that's the reason I broke up with George. Hey, don't cry. It's okay.

She hugs Jones.

[And Ellyn and Lucas come out of the room and watched them hugging]

I think we should go, says Ellyn.

[And the doorbell rings Ding-ding]

Crap, says Lucas.