Chapter 5: Chapter 5: From The Depths of Torment, The Worst Arose

Tuesday, May 10th 2005

 

*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*

I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock beeping in my ear, pulling me out of a restless sleep. As I lay there for a moment, trying to shake off the grogginess, my mind immediately went to the events of the previous day. The human sacrifice I had witnessed, the realization that Emily was in danger, and me accepting Lily’s offer to help her stop the cult. It all felt like a nightmare, but I knew it was all too real.

I sat up in bed and rubbed my eyes, trying to clear my head. I had a feeling it was going to be a long day, and I needed to be on top of my game if I was going to stop the cult and protect more people from getting killed.

After a quick breakfast, I set off for school, my mind racing with thoughts of what the day might bring. As I walked, I noticed Emily approaching from the opposite direction, a cheerful smile on her face.

"Hey, John!" she called out as she approached. "What happened to your face?" She worriedly asked.

I touched the bandages on my face self-consciously, trying to come up with a believable excuse. "Oh, I fell down the stairs when I was walking home yesterday." I lied.

"You should be more careful," Emily chided, her tone playful. "You don't want to end up with more injuries."

I chuckled, trying to brush off her concern. "I'll try to be more careful," I promised.

As we walked, Emily chattered on about various things, filling me in on the latest gossip and happenings in town. I listened with half an ear, my attention mostly focused on our surroundings. I was on high alert, scanning the area for any signs of danger or cult activity. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched, and I was determined to keep Emily safe.

"Did you hear about that person that went missing?" Emily asked, her voice suddenly serious. "I think her name was Rachel?"

I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Rachel was the woman I had seen being sacrificed at the forest shrine the previous night. I knew I couldn't tell Emily the truth about what I had seen, but I also couldn't just pretend like I didn't know anything.

"Yeah, I heard about it," I said slowly, trying to choose my words carefully. "It's really strange. Do they have any idea what happened to her?"

Emily shook her head worriedly. "No, it's like she just vanished into thin air. The police are investigating, but so far they haven't turned up any leads. It's just so weird, you know? This stuff has been happening quite frequently recently. People going missing. It’s scary."

I nodded, my mind racing with thoughts of what I should do. I knew I had to do something to stop the cult and protect Emily and the other "candidates," but I wasn't sure how to go about it.

"Yeah, it is scary," I said, trying to sound as normal as possible. "I hope they find out what’s happening and put an end to it soon."

Emily looked at me, her eyes narrowed slightly. "You don't seem very surprised by this," she observed. "Do you know something about the disappearances?"

I shook my head, trying to keep my face neutral. "No, I don't know anything," I lied. "I just hope they find her safe and sound." I hated lying to Emily, but I wasn’t sure if she would believe me if I told her that an evil cult was after her. She’d think I was crazy.

Emily seemed to accept my answer, and we continued walking in silence for a few minutes. As we approached the school, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. It was like the whole town was holding its breath, waiting for something terrible to happen. I had a feeling that I was the only one who knew what was coming, and it was up to me to stop it.

We walked into the classroom and immediately sensed a change in the air. Something felt off, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. I looked around the room, trying to pinpoint the source of the strange energy, but everything seemed normal.

That is until I noticed Sarah. She was usually the life of the party, but today she was quiet and subdued. Her friends seemed to be avoiding eye contact with her, and she seemed lost in thought, her eyes fixed on the floor.

I couldn't help but wonder what could have changed. Sarah had been fine just yesterday, and now she seemed completely different. I tried not to let it bother me too much, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

I took my seat beside Emily and watched Sarah for a moment, trying to figure out what could be going on. Maybe she had a falling out with someone?

As the lesson progressed, Sarah seemed to grow more and more restless. She fidgeted in her seat and kept looking over at the door as if she were expecting something. When the teacher asked her a question, she seemed to snap out of her reverie and mumbled a response, her eyes darting around the room nervously.

Suddenly, Sarah stood up from her chair.

"Uhm, may I-I go to the bathroom, please?" Her head was down and her voice was shaking.

There was something about the way she asked that seemed forced and uneasy, like she were afraid of something.

"Can I go to the bathroom too?" Lily asked, also standing up.

The teacher hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay, but make sure to be back before the end of the period."

Sarah and Lily left the room together, with Sarah looking like a frightened animal.

I leaned back in my chair, trying to make sense of what was happening. Something was definitely off. It was no way a coincidence that Lily and Sarah went to the bathroom at the same time. But why would they? Don't they hate each other?

"Mr Fairfield." The voice of the teacher interrupted my thoughts.

"Uh-uhm, yes?" I stuttered, surprised at my name being called out of nowhere.

"Please read the next paragraph." He commanded.

Crap! I was too invested in the situation between Lily and Sarah.

"Uhm, sure. No problem. It's uh-" I frantically searched for the paragraph, relieved when Emily brought her book towards me, pointing her finger at the correct spot. Oh! There it is. I’ll make sure to thank you later, Emily.

"From The Depths of Torment, The Worst Arose-" I continued reading the paragraph, trying to focus on the task at hand.

Before I knew it, it was lunchtime, and I was sitting at a table by myself, picking at my food and trying to ignore the strange looks I was getting from some of the other students. I had hoped to make some new friends at my new school, but so far that had proven to be easier said than done.

Just as I was starting to resign myself to a lonely lunchtime, Emily walked over and sat down across from me.

"Hey, John," she said, smiling brightly. "Mind if I join you?"

I was a bit surprised, to be honest. Emily had her own group of friends, and I figured she'd want to sit with them instead of a loner like me. But I wasn't going to turn down the opportunity to have some company, so I gestured to the seat across from me.

"Sure, go ahead."

Emily sat down and pulled out her lunch, which she started to eat with a gusto that I couldn't help but admire.

"So, why are you eating with me instead of with your friends?" I asked, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.

Emily shrugged. "Oh, they're just being their usual selves today," she said, rolling her eyes. "I figured I'd take a break from their drama and eat with someone a little more down to earth."

I couldn't help but feel a warm feeling in my chest at her words. It was nice to know that I wasn't completely alone at this new school.

We spent the rest of lunchtime chatting and getting to know each other a bit better. Emily was funny and easy to talk to, and I found myself enjoying her company more and more as the minutes ticked by. She had a way of making me laugh, even when I was feeling down.

"You know, John, you shouldn't be so gloomy all the time," Emily said, as we finished up our lunches. "I mean, sure, moving to a new town can be tough, but there are always good things to be found if you look hard enough."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her optimism. "Easy for you to say," I replied. "You've already made friends here. I'm still struggling to find my place."

"Well, you've got me now," Emily said, giving me a playful punch on the arm. "And who knows, maybe we'll find some more friends along the way."

I couldn't help but smile at her words. Maybe she was right. Maybe things weren't as bad as I thought they were.

"So, what do you have for lunch today?" Emily asked, peering into my lunch bag.

I shrugged. "Just the usual sandwich and some chips," I replied. "Nothing too exciting."

"Well, that's because you're not getting creative," Emily said, pulling out a Tupperware container filled with colorful vegetables and a small bag of rice. "See, I packed a stir fry for today. It's healthy and delicious."

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "You made a stir fry for lunch? That's a bit... advanced, isn't it?"

Emily giggled. "Oh, it's not that hard," she said. "I just sautéed some veggies and mixed it in with some rice. It's actually really simple to make."

"Well, I'll have to take your word for it," I said, taking a bite of my sandwich. "I'm not exactly the most proficient cook in the world."

"That's okay, there's always room for improvement," Emily said, smiling. "Maybe I can teach you a few things sometime. Cooking can be a lot of fun, you know."

I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. It was hard to stay grumpy around someone as cheerful as Emily.

"Yeah, maybe you can," I said. "I'll have to take you up on that offer sometime."

I thought for a moment. "Well, I haven't had much time to explore the town yet. I've been pretty busy with school and everything." I said. 

"Oh, that's a shame," Emily said, frowning. "There's so much to do around here! We have a great park, and a lake for swimming in the summer. And there's a cool arcade downtown that has all sorts of games. You should come check it out sometime."

"That sounds like fun," I said, trying to sound enthusiastic. The truth was, I wasn't much of an outdoorsy person, and the thought of swimming in a lake made me a bit nervous. But I didn't want to disappoint Emily, so I put on a brave face.

"Great! Maybe we can go sometime this weekend," Emily said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I couldn't help but feel a bit confused at her enthusiasm. "Uh, sure, that sounds fun," I replied, trying to hide my confusion.

"Yay! I'm so excited," Emily said, clapping her hands together. "I can't wait to show you all of the cool places around town. It'll be so much fun, I promise."

"Uh, okay," I said, still feeling a bit bewildered by her sudden enthusiasm.

"You don't seem very excited," Emily observed, frowning slightly.

"No, no, I am," I quickly reassured her. "I'm just surprised, that's all. I didn't expect you to be so excited about hanging out with me."

"Well, why not?" Emily asked, tilting her head to the side. "I think you're a really great guy, John. You're kind, and brave, and you stand up for what's right. Plus, you're really cute too," she added, blushing slightly.

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I couldn't help but feel my face heating up at her compliment. "Uh, thanks," I mumbled, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

"I'm serious, John," Emily said, her expression turning more serious. "I really enjoy spending time with you, and I hope we can continue to hang out in the future."

"I'd like that too," I said, smiling at her.

"Great!" Emily said, grinning back at me. "Now let's finish our lunch and get back to class. We don't want to be late."

As we finished our meals and headed back to class, I couldn't shake the feeling of determination that had taken hold of me. I knew that I had to do everything in my power to protect Emily and the other "candidates" from the cult. I couldn't let anything happen to her, not when I had the chance to do something about it.

"Hey, John, are you okay?" Emily asked, looking up at me with a concerned expression. "You seem really serious all of a sudden."

"I'm fine," I replied, forcing a smile. "I just have a lot on my mind, that's all."

"Well, if there's anything you want to talk about, I'm here for you," Emily said, giving me a reassuring pat on the back.

"Thanks, Emily," I said, feeling grateful for her friendship. "I really appreciate it."

As we entered the classroom and took our seats, I made a silent vow to do everything in my power to keep Emily safe. No matter what it took, I was going to make sure that she was protected from the dangers that lurked in our town.

As the next lesson began, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Sarah, who had been acting so strange earlier, was nowhere to be seen.

Lily shook her head, a worried look on her face. "No, I haven't seen her since we went to the bathroom together."

I furrowed my brow, trying to make sense of everything. Could Lily have had something to do with Sarah's disappearance? It seemed unlikely, but I knew I couldn't rule anything out.

But as I watched Lily intently, I knew deep down that there was no way she could be involved. She was kind and compassionate, and there was no way she would do anything to harm her classmates. 

I sighed and turned my attention back to the lesson, trying to push aside my suspicions. There was no point in jumping to conclusions without any evidence. I just had to hope that Sarah was okay and that we would find out what was going on soon.

And while the lesson continued, I somehow managed to find myself in another predicament.

I tried to focus on the lesson, but it was getting harder and harder to pay attention. My bladder was practically screaming at me, urging me to go to the bathroom.

I squirmed in my seat, trying to ignore the urge. But it was no use. The need to go was overwhelming.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I raised my hand, hoping the teacher wouldn't notice the desperation in my voice.

"Excuse me, can I go to the bathroom?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

The teacher raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing something was off. "Are you feeling okay, John?"

I nodded, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just really need to go."

The teacher hesitated for a moment before finally giving in. "Okay, but make it quick."

I practically leapt out of my seat and raced to the bathroom, relief flooding through my body. Finally, I was going to be able to pee in peace.

As I stood at the urinal, I couldn't help but laugh at myself. Who would have thought that something as simple as needing to pee could cause so much stress?

But as I zipped up my pants and washed my hands, the feeling of unease returned. There were still so many things that I had to worry about.

I finished up in the bathroom and made my way back to the classroom, taking the stairs down to the lower level. As I approached the stairs, I heard a faint sobbing sound coming from the other side.

Curious, I inched closer and listened. It sounded like a girl, crying and muttering to herself.

"Why did this have to happen?" she whimpered.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should intervene. But then, something in the girl's voice made me feel like I had to do something. I couldn't just leave her alone to cry like that.

I walked closer to the stairs. And that's when I saw her.

Sarah, the popular girl from my class, was huddled in the corner, sobbing uncontrollably. She looked up as I entered, and the expression on her face was one of pure terror.

"Get away from me!" she shrieked, her voice trembling with fear. "Why won't you and Lily leave me and my brother alone!"

I held up my hands in a placating gesture, trying to calm her down. "Whoa, Sarah, it's just me. What's going on? Why are you so scared?"

But Sarah just kept screaming and crying, completely inconsolable. And then, before I could even react, she bolted past me and disappeared into the hallway.

I stood there, stunned, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Why was Sarah so terrified of me? And what was she talking about, she wants me and Lily to leave her alone. We haven't done anything to her. Rather, she's the one who was bullying Lily and sent her brother to kick my ass.

Ah, damn it. Why does it feel like I'm missing something?

I shook my head, still trying to process everything. This was getting more and more confusing by the minute.

I made my way back to the class, my mind racing with questions. 

As the last period began, I couldn't help but notice that Sarah was back and seemed even more out of it than before. She wasn't responding to the teacher and seemed lost in thought, her eyes fixed on the floor. I still held a grudge over the incident with her brother beating me up, but I couldn't help feeling a little bad for her after seeing her crying earlier.

After school was over, I asked Emily if she was going home with her friends again. 

"Yeah, I'm going to my club," she replied with a smile. "Hey, you should come with me and maybe join the club. We've been looking for a new member." She said excitedly.

I hesitated for a moment, considering my options. On one hand, I didn't want to leave Emily alone in case the cult tried to make a move on her. On the other hand, joining a club seemed like a lot of work and I wasn't sure I was ready for that kind of commitment. Still, If it's to protect Emily then...

"Sure, let's go check out the club," I said, trying to sound as enthusiastic as possible. "But I can't make any promises about joining, okay?"

"Awesome!" Emily exclaimed, her face lighting up with excitement. "I can't wait to show you around and introduce you to everyone. They're all really nice, and I think you'll fit right in."

As we made our way to the club, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nervousness and uncertainty. I knew that I needed to be careful and stay vigilant, but at the same time, I couldn't help but be drawn in by Emily's enthusiasm and positive energy. I just hoped that I would be able to keep her safe and protect her from whatever dangers lay ahead.

I stood alone in the courtyard, waiting for Emily to come back. I couldn't help but think about the strange events of the day. Sarah's strange behavior, the crying. It all seemed so confusing and I wasn't sure what to make of it.

As I was lost in thought, I was interrupted by a familiar voice I'd hoped to never hear again. "I told you to keep your hands off her."

I turned to see a boy with blonde hair and blue eyes standing in front of me. My heart sank. I knew I was in for it now.

"I didn't do anything to Sarah," I said, holding my hands up defensively.

"Oh yeah? Then why's she acting so strange?" He retorted. "She's been acting weird all day and won't even talk to me. What did you do to her?"

"I didn't do anything," I repeated. "She's been acting weird all day. I don't know what's going on with her."

"Weird or not, I won't let anyone mess with my sister," He said, his voice full of determination.

I knew that I had to be careful with my words. The last time I crossed paths with this blonde monkey, he had given me a severe beating. I had no desire to repeat that experience.

"I would never dare to go near Sarah again," I said, trying to placate him. "You gave me a good beating last time. I learned my lesson."

He seemed to accept my words, but he still looked at me with a menacing glare. "Just remember that if you ever do anything to hurt Sarah, you'll have to answer me."

"I'm painfully aware of that," I answered

I nodded, relieved that the confrontation seemed to be over. After he left, Emily suddenly ran over to me.

"You know Jason?" she asked, looking up at me.

"I don't think so," I replied, confused. "Who is he?"

"He's the guy you were just talking to," Emily explained. "He's on the baseball team and helps out with the club sometimes."

I couldn't believe it. The guy who had just threatened me was supporting the club that Emily wanted me to join. He's also on the baseball team, I think I remember Emily saying that they're pretty good. He must be fairly popular. I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy about the whole situation.

"Oh," I said, trying to play it cool. "I didn't realize. I guess I just got the wrong impression of him."

"He didn't do anything to you, did he?" she asked with a concerned expression.

I shook my head. "No, no. He just thought I did something to Sarah. But I didn't, I swear. She's been acting really strange today."

Emily nodded, frowning. "I know, I noticed that too. Maybe we should try to find out what's going on with her. You know, Jason can be a little intense sometimes, but he's actually a really nice guy. I'm sure he didn't mean any harm."

I wasn't so sure about that, but I didn't want to cause any more problems. I just wanted to put the whole incident behind me and move on.

"Well, I guess we should get going to the club," I said, changing the subject.

"Yeah, let's go!" Emily replied, smiling.

We headed to the club together, still a little shaken by the encounter with Jason.

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