⍟Third POV⍟

In just 20 minutes, Alex had managed to make his way to school. As he approached, he noticed a thin crowd of students trickling across the front yard, their voices blending together in a symphony of excitement. Waving and calling out to friends, they all converged on the front doors, eager to start the day. Squeezing through the loud and crowded hallways, Alex finally found himself standing at his locker, next to a familiar face. It was Ava, his friend.

Ava stood there, her vibrant red jacket and matching red jeans catching his attention. Her hair, also a fiery shade of red, perfectly complemented her outfit. It was no secret that Ava had always loved the color red, ever since she was a child. Alex couldn't help but smile as he greeted her.

"Oh hey, Ava," he said warmly.

Ava responded with a simple "Sup," her tone indicating that she might not be in the best mood.

"Not much," Alex replied, trying to keep the conversation going. "How was your summer?"

"It was good," Ava replied curtly.

Alex sensed that something was off, but he didn't want to push her. "Okay," he said, his smile fading slightly.

Just as he was about to continue the conversation, a figure tapped on his shoulder. Turning around, Alex's eyes widened with delight as he saw his best friend, Dwayne, standing there with a bright smile.

"Hey there, Alex boy! How was the summer?" Dwayne asked, his enthusiasm contagious.

"It was awesome! How about yours?" Alex replied, his excitement matching Dwayne's."

Yeah, mine was good too," Dwayne said, his smile never fading.

However, Dwayne's attention quickly shifted to Ava, and his tone took a slight edge. "Hello, witch," he greeted her, raising an eyebrow.

Ava, never one to back down, responded with a playful smirk. "Hello, Fancypants."

Dwayne then turned his attention back to Alex, leaning in closer and whispering in his ear. "So, Alex, I wanted to talk to you about last night."

Alex's body tensed up, a mixture of shock and nervousness washing over him. He tried to remain composed, not wanting to show his true emotions. "Uh? What about last night? Did you go somewhere fun?" he asked, feigning ignorance."

"Don't play dumb, Alex," Dwayne said, his voice serious. "I received some weird texts last night. Did you get any?"

Alex's heart raced, realizing that Dwayne was referring to the mysterious texts from Dyaln they had both received. He decided it was best to address the issue later. "Yeah, I did. Let's talk about it later, okay?"

"Okay, fine. Let's talk later, but don't bail on me. It's important," Dwayne warned, his eyes searching for reassurance. Alex nodded, silently promising to have the conversation soon.

Suddenly, another friend arrived. Her name was Lucy, and she was elegantly dressed in a flowing skirt and a stylish top. Alex was taken aback by her appearance, as she was usually known for her shy and reserved nature.

As Lucy approached Alex, she greeted him with a warm smile, "Hi Alex, how are you?"

Returning her smile, Alex replied, "I'm good, thank you. And how about you? Are you doing well?"

Lucy's smile faded as she was abruptly interrupted by Mateo, Maria, and Emma. Maria, with a hint of disdain in her voice, walked up to Lucy and remarked, "Hey Lucy, what are you wearing? It looks so stupid."

Lucy's emotions overwhelmed her, and tears welled up in her eyes. She muttered softly, "Why say that?"

Emma, joining in on the mockery, laughed and interjected, "Well, hello. Now move." Lucy then decided to leave and started walking in the hallway.

Feeling a surge of anger, Alex couldn't stay silent any longer. He spoke up, his voice filled with indignation, "Right, because your fashion sense is stupid too. After all, only a stupid person can recognize another's stupid clothes."

As Dwayne observed the situation, he couldn't help but think to himself, "Dude, you were only supposed to insult Maria. Now you've unintentionally insulted them both."

Maria exclaimed angrily, her voice dripping with disdain, "News flash, Alex, no one asked you!"

Alex retorted, his tone laced with sarcasm, "Well, I didn't hear anyone asking for your opinion either about Lucy's clothes. How about you take your unsolicited fashion advice to someone who actually cares?"

Maria shot back, her voice seething with frustration, "Oh, so you, do not piss me off?"

Alex smirked, trying to hide my amusement, and replied, "Oooh, I'm shaking."

Mateo, known for his rebellious nature, ran his fingers through his tousled hair and flashed him a mischievous smile before saying, "Both of you stop now, see you later Alex."

Despite Mateo's reputation as a troublemaker, he had never done anything wrong to him, so Alex responded casually, "Later."

Maria, Emma, and Mateo then left the scene.

Dwayne, still standing beside him, turned to face him and said, "That was nice of you, Alex, to defend Lucy like that." Alex smiled at him.

Ava, who had been observing the exchange, nodded in agreement and waved bye before heading towards the gym.

Alex let out a sigh, feeling the weight of the tense situation, and said, "This school year is already off to a great start, huh?"

Dwayne playfully punched his arm and chuckled, "Yeah, I guess so. Let's head to the gym now."

Alex went with Dwayne to the gym, where the blaring music echoed through the speakers, creating a chaotic atmosphere. As the crowd jostled Alex, panic surged within him, and his mind flashed back to the events of the previous night.

Concerned, Dwayne asked, "You okay, Alex?"

Attempting to appear composed, Alex replied, "Yeah, I'm absolutely fine. It's just really crowded in here. Do you see anywhere to sit?"

Dwayne scanned the area and pointed, saying, "If you say so. Look over there, I see a couple of empty seats. Let's go, Alex."

In the top row of bleachers, Ava sat engrossed in her worn sketchbook. As Alex observed, a pair of freshmen approached her, but Ava hissed at them, causing them to stumble over themselves in their haste to get away. She continued to glare at them before noticing Alex watching her. With a bright smile, she nodded towards the empty bench beside her.

"Is she inviting me to sit with her?" Alex wondered to himself.

Before he could respond, Dwayne interrupted and whispered, "Go sit next to her. I'll stay here, but don't keep me waiting for too long. Got it?"

Contemplating the idea, Alex thought, Maybe I could talk to Ava about what happened last night. She's knowledgeable about supernatural occurrences, and she'll believe me for sure.

With a nod, Alex acknowledged Dwayne's request, and Dwayne settled onto the the bench.

Alex climbed to the top row of the bleachers and slid over to Ava's corner, a nervous excitement bubbling within him. "It's okay if I sit here, right?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Ava's face lit up with a warm smile as she turned to face him. "Of course, Alex," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of mischief. "Just my ghost friend, but he's incorporeal, so it doesn't really count."

Alex chuckled, thinking it was all a joke, until he realized that Ava wasn't laughing. In fact, he was the only one who found it amusing.

His mouth fell open in shock, his laughter fading into an awkward silence. "Uh, sorry," he stammered, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I just can't tell if you're messing with me."

Ava raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "What?" she questioned, her voice laced with curiosity.

Alex's shock deepened, unsure of how to respond. "I... I mean, I thought you were joking about the ghost friend," he admitted, his words stumbling out.

Ava remained calm, her eyes fixed on him. "It's all part of my mystique," she said, her voice carrying a hint of mystery.

Feeling a mix of confusion and intrigue, Alex glanced at the bench beside him and then back at Ava's expressionless face. Gathering his courage, he decided to take a chance and sat down next to her.

Ava's lips curled into a playful smile. "Bold move, sitting in someone's lap before you're even introduced," she teased, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Alex couldn't help but smile back, feeling a sense of ease in Ava's presence. "Well, maybe ghost and I can grab a coffee later," he suggested, his voice filled with a newfound confidence.

As they sat together, time seemed to slip away, and they engaged in deep conversation, sharing stories and secrets. But eventually, Ava broke the comfortable silence. "So, are you going to tell me what you're so freaked out about, or are you having fun dismembering that poor bench?" she asked, her tone gentle yet curious.

Alex's gaze dropped to his hands, realizing that he had been absentmindedly picking splinters off the edge of the bleachers. He took a deep breath, summoning the courage to open up. "I do want to talk about it," he confessed, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "It's just... it's a weird story."

Ava reached out, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "Alex, look at me," she said softly, her eyes filled with understanding. "Weird is my middle name."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Alex's lips. "Really?" he asked, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

Ava chuckled, shaking her head. "No, it's David," she replied, her playful tone lightening the mood. "But if you tell anyone, I will go to your house and hide eyeballs in your food."

Alex's surprise turned into a mixture of laughter and disbelief. "You wouldn't," he said, a playful challenge in his voice.

Ava's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Oh, believe me, I would," she responded, her tone filled with mock seriousness. "Next time you go to pour a bowl of cereal? BLOOP, eyeballs."

Alex smiled at Ava, grateful for her willingness to listen to me. "Okay, noted," alex said, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.

Then, he mustered up the courage to ask her, "What would you say if I told you that last night I saw some kind of monster?"

Ava's response was measured. "Depends on what this monster looked like," she said.

Alex took a deep breath and said, my voice shaking slightly, "Well, it looked like Dylan, if you know what I mean."

"Ahh, Dylan," Ava said, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. "That brings back memories."

Alex continued, "Then it started attacking me, and its face kind of shadowy. Underneath the skin was just...I don't know."

"Like a shadow ghost" Ava said matter-of-factly.

Alex was surprised that she knew what he was talking about. "Yeah, that's the one. So you think I saw a shadow ghost?"

Ava nodded. "It's possible."

Alex shuddered, remembering the fear he had felt during the attack last night. "The weirdest thing is that I woke up the next morning, and it was gone. Why would it just attack me and leave?"

"Couldn't it be a dream?" Ava asked, trying to offer a rational explanation.

Alex reached up to feel his neck, where the bruises from the attack still lingered. "It was definitely not a dream, Ava. Dreams don't leave bruises."

Ava nodded in understanding. "They can actually. There are beings who can enter or even affect your dreams. One of those could probably use your dreams to hurt you. You could also be under a curse or something. I've heard a lot about those."

Alex couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Wow, I feel like I'm in love with you," I said, half-jokingly.

Ava laughed, a sound that was music to his ears. "What's that supposed to mean, I don't blame you though. I am pretty amazing with supernatural stuff."

Alex smiled at her, feeling grateful for her help. "And humble too," alex added. "Thanks, Ava. I really needed to talk to someone, but I didn't think anyone would believe me. Thank you so much."

Ava's skeptical expression softened slightly as she spoke, "Hmm, I still want to believe you, but it's hard when you could be making all this up just to mess with me."

Rolling her eyes, Ava continued, "Anyway, I'm done with you now."

Alex gasped in surprise, his voice filled with a hint of desperation, "Wait, done with me? What do you mean?"

Ava couldn't help but smile, her eyes sparkling mischievously, as she replied, "I mean, being nice person. If people found out about this, they might think it's okay to talk to me and I don't want that."

Alex's smile faltered, a mix of understanding and disappointment crossing his face. Alex stood up, feeling a sense of unease as he edged toward the stairs. Before leaving, he turned to Ava and thanked her again for her time, his voice tinged with gratitude.

As he made his way down the bleachers, the sound of chatter and excitement filled the air. The crowd continued to fill in, leaving Alex searching for a place to squeeze in. Just as he was about to resign himself to standing alone, he heard Dwayne's voice calling out to him, "Alex, come here! I reserved a spot for you. There's an empty seat next to me."

And then, a confident and charismatic boy stepped up to the microphone, his voice booming through the gymnasium. "How are all my amazing Riverwood High students doing today?" he exclaimed.

The crowd erupted in a thunderous response, their cheers echoing off the walls. The bleachers trembled and shook as the students pounded their feet on the wooden floor, their excitement palpable.

Alex turned to his friend Dwayne, a mix of awe and envy in his eyes. "When did Leo become so popular and attractive?" he asked, his voice filled with admiration.

Dwayne chuckled and replied, "Well, it seems like Leo's popularity skyrocketed shortly after he hit six feet tall and discovered the wonders of hair gel. And let's not forget, he got elected as our student body president."

Leo waved to the cheering crowd, flashing a dazzling smile that seemed to light up the entire gymnasium. The students cheered even louder, their enthusiasm reaching new heights.

Leo took a deep breath and spoke into the microphone once again, his voice filled with confidence. "Welcome back, everyone! For those who don't know me yet, I am Leo Anderson, your student body president. I know it's tough to say goodbye to summer, but trust me, this school year is going to be one for the books. You won't want to miss a single moment."

At Leo's signal, several cheerleaders jumped up from the bleachers, their vibrant pom-poms waving in the air. The crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers and applause, their excitement reaching a fever pitch.

Among the cheerleaders was Kimmy, her energy and enthusiasm shining through. She moved with grace and precision, captivating the crowd with her every move.

Alex couldn't help but admire Kimmy's talent. "Looks like Kimmy is doing pretty well," he remarked, a hint of admiration in his voice.

One by one, the cheerleaders tumbled and danced across the gymnasium floor, their routines flawlessly executed. Kimmy drew thunderous cheers as she effortlessly performed a roundoff into a backflip, leaving the crowd in awe.

Dwayne, caught up in the moment, clapped awkwardly and shouted, "Yay! Go team!"

Leo grinned from the podium, his eyes sparkling with pride. He soaked in the energy of the crowd, feeling a sense of accomplishment and gratitude. The cheerleaders returned to their seats, their faces beaming with satisfaction.

As the cheers died down Leo continued to address the crowd, "Wow, that cheer squad really blew our minds, didn't they? Let's give them another round of applause!" The audience erupted in cheers and claps once again.

As the cheer squad exited the stage, a group of guys in basketball jerseys formed up in front of the podium. Dwayne nudged me and pointed, "Look, there's Andy, he's on the team!"

Alex couldn't help but smile, feeling proud of my friend. "Yeah, he really worked hard for it. Good for him."

Just then, the gym lights started to flicker, casting an eerie glow across the room. Dwayne, looked puzzled and exclaimed, "Huh? What the heck is going on?"

Alex's heart raced as he whispered, "Oh no, this can't be good."

Suddenly, Leo's voice boomed over the speakers, drowning out the nervous chatter of the students. "Everyone, please remain calm and stay seated. We don't want anyone to fall from the-"

Ksshhhhhhhkkkk!

A burst of static cut him off, and the music stuttered, fading in and out. Then, with a deafening BANG, the gym doors were blown open by a frigid gust of wind. A chill ran down my spine as the lights flickered back on, revealing the shocked expressions on everyone's faces.

In that moment, Dwayne grabbed my arm, his grip tight and urgent. "Hold up, Alex. Shut up, do you hear that?" he whispered, his voice filled with fear.

Sweating and shivering, alex strained his ears, trying to discern any sound amidst the chaos. "Hear what?" He managed to stammer out.

Dwayne shushed him, his eyes wide with terror. And then, alex heard it too. A faint, chilling sound that seemed to hover on the edge of his perception. It snatched the breath from his body and left him feeling cold to the core."No. Please, not here," he muttered to himself, his voice trembling uncontrollably. He glanced around, meeting the bewildered gazes of his former friends.

Andy's face contorted in confusion. "What the heck is happening?"

Leo shook his head in disbelief. "This can't be real, can it?"

Ava's voice trembled as she muttered, "What the...?"

Lucy's eyes widened in horror. "No way, this can't be happening!"

Kimmy let out a gasp, her hand covering her mouth. "Oh my god, what is going on?"

Alex kept looking at his friends, and then he also noticed Noah, who was in the front row. He appeared scared, and his face was pale.

As the music sputtered and died, leaving them in complete darkness, a voice pierced through the silence. It was a voice that sent shivers down his spine, both alien and horrifyingly familiar.

We will meet again soon," the voice echoed, chilling his bones. "I will pay each and every one of you a visit. Hahaha."

In the corner of the gym, there was a person who was sitting alone on the bench. He was wearing a black hoodie, black jeans, and white shoes. The person smiled and stretched his arms, saying, "It seems like you're finally getting out of those woods, huh? This will be trouble. I guess it means more work for me."

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So how was the chapter so far. I hope you liked it. Feel free to leave comments if you didn't understand any part. Thank you for taking your precious time to read my story.

If you want to answer the questions below then feel free to answer them. Only if you want to, no pressure.

Q1 :- ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀᴜsᴇᴅ ᴅʏʟᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟᴇx ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪs ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs?