Chapter 17- The gourd(1)

In the boys washroom...

Ray continuously splashed water on his face before his gaze came to settle on his reflection on the mirror. After watching the scene in the lunchroom he left the girls for the washroom to stabilize the emotions of rage that had tended to explode in him. The reflection on the mirror looked nothing like the normal Ray who had been sitting at the lunchroom an hour ago. His eyes had turned to slits and very ugly reptile like scales on his hand was increasingly creeping up his hand. In a few minutes, Rays appearance had transformed into something ugly,dark and sinister with his skin broken with cracks.

"Damnit!",he cursed as his grip on the sink tightened. If he didn't calm down his raging thoughts ,there was no telling he could stay alive till the next day if someone caught him in this state . He couldn't possibly stay in the bathroom locked up forever. Someone would eventually come over. After almost an hour of struggling with his thoughts and emotions, Rays slit like eyes was gradually returning back to normal. His cracked reptile like skin was closing up at a visible speed. He finally breathed a sigh of relief when everything returned back to normal. His transformation always occured anytime his emotions was in a turmoil or at the extreme. luckily, this time he averted the danger of being discovered on time. His eyes revealed a dangerous glint in them and his fist clenched tightly . Edan Caine, every dog had it's day. He thought sinisterly.

* * *

After the tests were completed, the new students were made to wait in the hall. The day dragged on and soon it started getting a bit dark. A teacher came into the hall to make some announcements. This time it wasn't Mr Langston but a middle aged woman with blonde hair. She had gentle facial features and a smile that soothed the heart. The school counselor, Ms Lauren was a complete contrast to the instructor that had supervised their exams.

For some reasons, the results would be delayed till the next day. The students were instructed to submit all communication gadgets. Majority expressed their dissatisfaction over their phones being taken away while a few whispered on hiding them in the dorm. Ms Lauren must have heard as she warned against hiding them. These gadgets could be tracked down and any student found breaking this stringent rule would be immediately expelled. After the series of warnings, no one dared to talk about hiding gadgets anymore. Of course, Natalie couldn't care any less. In fact, she felt she was better off without it. She didn't have many friends before coming to Mourline. In highschool,she was always treated as the weird girl in class and often bullied because of her introverted nature. That was before her father's new found wealth. So she never kept in touch with them. Above all, she felt like her father was trying to push her away since nothing could explain his reason for choosing a far off school. Even though it was the best in the country. She actually thought it as starting a new life and leaving every part of her former sad experience.

After she submitted hers, Natalie headed for the girls dormitory. leaving the seemingly unending chatters behind.

_ _ _

Derek pushed the door to the clinic open. With a "closed sign" hanging out the door, the clinic was empty.

"you're here", Emmett said on seeing him, his expression looking slightly troubled, "come with me". Derek nodded and followed behind the professor. They went to a deeper and more secluded part of the clinic . Stopping in front of an iron door with a do-not-enter description on it, Emmett swiped a card and keyed in a series of numbers before the door opened. The door housed the entrance to a kind of underground basement. The two quietly climbed down the stairs before Derek spoke up, "what's the situation?". Emmett sighed, "your brother was attacked by two students, scavengers during the test. But he knocked them out and brought them underground." he paused and then continued, "they were tortured and they affirmed being responsible for the two deaths". Derek fell silent , his frown becoming more evident.

Demons as superior as they were, were bounded by rules and principles. One of which was to never kill savagely without reason. As demons only targeted people who were convicted or criminals, normal people were very hardly hunted. Demons who go against this rule, draining the lives of normal innocent people and thereby gradually sinking into the state of madness become outlaws,Scavengers as they were called, would be ceaselessly hunted by other demons when discovered till they perished to avoid further havoc . No sane demon in Mourline could have done something as extremely detrimental as this except a scavenger. Thankfully, the culprits of the two deaths out of three had been found.

Now, Derek couldn't help but frown at the thought that a few more scavengers were let loose in Mourline.Emmett was obviously worried about that too. More deaths was something they didn't wish for till the others were caught.

They both soon arrived at their location. Emmett pushed the wooden door open and they stepped into a dimly lit room