EMBER IN DARKNESS Chapter 5 (Unexpected)

“I’m going to pass by the drugstore, so I’ll drop you off at the school gate.” Dr. Burke peered at our reflection at the mirror.
“Okay.” I took one last look at myself in my compact mirror to make sure I don’t have any fruit stains on my face, shirt or teeth.
“We’re here. Go to my office right after class, okay?”
“Sure.” I shut the car door and entered our school grounds as he drove off.
A queer silence surrounded us but I ignored it. I feel every eye focused on us, like strong magnetic fields dissolving into small vacuums on my back.
Great, just what I needed-more unwanted attention.
“Lily!” one blond, pig-tailed girl ran towards me, catching her breath when she stopped.
“Hi.” I greeted.
“Are you okay? We saw what happened on the news. I’m sorry about that.”
I smiled; at least some people here could still be nice. “Thank you…Hey, can you spread the word-that I will kill the bastard who did it?”
“Uhm-yeah?” she glanced at the ground, then back at me.
“I’m sorry. Forget what I said.” Doing so will just compromise her safety.
“It’s alright. You might want to stay away from Neon.”
“Why?”
She just shook her head, obviously scared that somebody might hear her or see her talking with me. “What’s your name?”
“Jane.” After that, she walked off.
Tell me about it. Come to think of it, people just treated me coldly when we broke up.
“You’ve seen enough of the things I’m going through, aren’t you the least scared of what could happen to you when you’re with me?” I asked River.
I know that Dr. Burke trusts me, but isn’t he putting his nephew’s life at great risk?
“Condolences to Miss Rione.” Mrs. Charlize announced when our class started.
“Thanks.” None of them has a clue that Spade’s still out there. Where could he be hiding? I’ve got to know who was looking for him that time-and who sent him. I don’t care why they were hunting me down.
“To any one of you who has seen Jesse Curdlock, he went missing two days ago, according to his parents.” Mrs. Charlize cleared her throat. “Was he with you during that time, Lily? When you cut class?”
“No. I don’t even know him!” Why are people associating me with missing kids and deaths?
Each of our classes started with condolences from teachers. It didn’t comfort me at all, but I appreciated it and smiled at them.
At lunch, River and I passed by bulletin boards filled with the missing kid’s photo. So, he was missing since the explosion… Is it possible that he had something to do with it? There’s just one chance out of a hundred.
The only people there were me and River, as far as I recall. I was about to open our door, he grabbed me from behind and covered me.
“Why did you follow me home, before the explosion?”
His previously sky-blue eyes now turned bright. He’s thinking of what to say.
“I shouldn’t even be asking you. You can’t answer me anyway.”
A loud, painful moan of static came from the speaker, as our announcer proclaimed:
Everybody, listen up. This is the Principal. There is a surprise party scheduled for tonight, at EXACTLY six thirty and ends nine; venue is Triston Events Hall. It’s that big dome near the gate in case you haven’t noticed. There will be free dinner, drinks and snacks-just bring your school I.D. Everybody is required to attend, attendance will be checked because it is our school’s ninety-ninth anniversary. Get your waivers from the front gate guard so that you could inform your parents and please, come in semi-formal attire. A.K.A party dresses and polo shirts; no tuxedos or gowns…..and class is dismissed. Look for something to wear.
“Perfect.” I finally decide to go to school and it’s an event. What should I wear?
“Dr. Burke!!!” I came barging in his office with poor River, who had to keep up with me because I held to his wrist the whole time. (It’s the only part of his arm that I can grab)
“Lily? Is there a problem?” He seemed alarmed.
“Yes! It’s worse than this whole school being burned to pieces! Did you hear the announcement?!” I panted heavily.
“I did-what’s wrong with it?”
“It’s too much of a short notice; I don’t have a party dress.” I’m practically whining, but face it. Every girl’s nightmare is not to have anything tasty to wear during an important party-a.k.a public exposure.
“Easy. River has a credit card. You guys can use it for now.” He smiled at River. “I’ll pay it later.”
“I am soooo in your debt!” I waltzed towards the door, still pulling River behind me.
“Be back before six.” Dr. Burke called.
When we arrived at Jellyace Mall, every familiar face at school’s already infiltrated the area.
“How am I supposed to get a dress when everybody’s rushing to get one?” I leaned on the tall column and thought of other places.
It’s hopeless. This is the only place that has nice dresses.
“That’s the one….”A gold colored halter dress immediately grabbed my attention. Captivated, I went inside the store and looked closer. It’s a flowing dress that reaches my knee; the back is cut to be as low as the elbows, with bead details gracing the bareness of its back. The front is gorgeous-enough cleavage exposed, and it even has a white purse with pretty beads decorated on one side; as to the shoes, there’s this white, low heeled pair of sandals with gold straps and a tiny pendant of sparkling stones hanging at the front, at the far corner of the store.
I let go of River and tried the pair on-they match my feet! River handed me the dress, accompanied by a salesclerk.
“You can try it on, miss.” He motioned for me to go to the fitting room.
“Okay. River, I can’t show it to you, okay? It’ll be a surprise.”
He nodded.
Hurriedly, I locked the door and tried the garment on…
“Wow.” It feels so comfortable and light, clinging to my body like a second skin, flaunting all assets-small waist, a not-so big chest but enough for cleavage and it brings out my eyes. It’s the perfect semi-formal dress! For my hair, I can just use a head band or two clips at both sides of my head and wear a small gold earring which is available at home.
In a flash, I jumped back to my white top and brown mini and opened the door.
“I didn’t find the price tag. How much is the sandals, dress and purse in total?”
“The purse will be free, and since we have a shoe sale today, the shoes would be for 2000 and the dress, 10000 bucks.” His dazzling smile beamed like the price he mentioned.
Goodness, 12000 bucks in total…These things aren’t made of diamonds!!!
“It’s too expensive. I can’t afford it.” A little heartbroken, I took one last look at the three items. I can’t possibly borrow that large sum of money from River and Dr. Burke; it’s almost a quarter of the money I have in my bank account.
“No need to worry, your boyfriend paid already.” He grabbed the dress, folded it and fixed it on a rectangular labeled box with the purse which he bagged in a satin pouch; same went for the sandals, but were encased in a round, black velvet-covered box.
Cool.
The clerk handed both boxes to River and gave him back his card.
“I feel like a beggar. Please return those and get a refund. I promise, I’ll get something a hundred times cheaper.” I complained for the thousandth time while we were on our way out. I told River I was hungry and I wanted to go home immediately.
River stopped in his tracks.
I noticed he’s looking at a salon-then, started dragging me inside.
“Stoooooop! I can fix my hair...” my sneakers screeched like tires on the tiles while I stopped him and said in a lowered voice so no one could hear: “…besides, look at the price for a trim, 50 bucks. Hello?! Thanks, but I really can groom myself.” His invitation was more of an insult.
He comprehended and proceeded to the ice cream stand.
I looked at my reflection on the glass, admiring my whole outfit. I could be like Lara Croft without the big, pointed boobs.
Another reflection came to view…Fathom!
Like a stalker, he was keeping a distance but obviously looking right at me. Scared that he might pounce on me like he did to the guards, I quickly walked towards River.
River noticed my sudden approach and looked at me questioningly.
“Uh…I think I saw Fathom…You know, the guy with pointed teeth.”
He nodded and handed me a cone with three scoops-vanilla, strawberry and mint with four cherries on top.
YUM.
“Why don’t you have one?”
Instead of answering my question in some way, River motioned for me to follow him.
“Want to have some?” I raised the half-slobbered cone to his face, making sure that the untouched part is in front of him. “You should try it…it’s the best combination besides blueberry and cheese plus bubble gum plus caramel and other combinations I can’t think of right now.”
He lowered my hand with the luscious cone and continued walking.
“What a pity.” I murmured, a little happy that I get to eat the good stuff by myself.
I was too preoccupied with eating the colossal cone, which, to my surprise, had a strawberry cream tip filling it halfway, that I didn’t notice that we were already at Dr. Burke’s office.
“You smell like strawberry ice cream.” Dr. Burke commented.
“It was actually vanilla with strawberry and mint and cherry topping…oh, and there’s a strawberry cream stuff inside the cone. I’m so going to buy from that ice cream stand from now on…everyday. I’m going to get one for you too so you could try it.”
“Thank you.” He chuckled. “So, did you get a nice dress?”
I scratched my head “I did, but I wanted to return it.”
“Why? Changed your mind?”
“Uh-huh… It’s too expensive. I was just trying the sandals but River took it.”
“But you like the dress?”
“It’s actually the most perfect dress I ever set my eyes on-for semi-formal attire.”
“Then keep it.”
Good grief. I never knew fairy godmothers could come in male with credit cards instead of wands.
“Thank you…I have a list of my debts in my notebook so that I can keep track of what I owe you guys, so that I can take it out from my account-when the bank unblocks it.” But judging from the clothes they bought, I bet it’ll cost like, half of my savings.
“It’s nothing. We’re family now.”
A family…how sweet. He’s like a father to me now.
“I’ll call the chauffeur to get you guys home. There are still some things I need to take care of in here.” He pointed to a pile of folders on the floor. “I’ll be home at six so I could drop you guys off.”
“Great!” We waited for the chauffeur outside school.
I wonder…where are my parents? and the who was that guy who they mistook for Spade?
When the car arrived, I asked the driver to pass by my house. I wasn’t able to do my own research yet.
“It’ll only take a while.” It feels a little weird not hearing any word as to where my retrieved parents’ bodies are-with that other body.
Dr. Burke should know.
“Here we are…Mr. Burke will be calling home after twenty minutes so please make it quick”
“Thanks.” I rushed outside and jogged to the rubble, crouching under the police tapes. It’s exactly what it looked like on TV.
I felt a tear forcing its way out of my eye. I don’t even recall where the door was.
Biting my bottom lip, I started walking on the chunks of cement and debris, looking for anything I could bring home.
Nothing.
“I miss you guys…I’m sorry I wasn’t home. I’m sorry…I’m sorry...I’m sorry…” I took larger breaths, feeling the need to do so. I want to wail and scream, but it won’t bring them back so I just let myself cry quietly except for a few sniffs and throat squeaks.
A few steps from where I stood, there is a round, untouched circle of tiles which I am sure, are our front porch tiles-the exact spot where River and I fell before I went unconscious.
No cracks, no jagged edges or any sign of damage on the tiles.
“Miss, we’ve got to go.” The chauffeur called.
“Coming.” I wiped my tears and ran back inside, not taking my eyes off the spot until we turned to the curb and headed home…my new home.
I noticed that River didn’t take his eyes off me since we left the rubble.
“It’s rude to stare.”
He looked away and placed a big bunch of folded tissue papers on my lap.
I giggled. “Thank you, I think I just need one.”
It’s hard to judge if that was humor or concern on his part-which I spent the whole time figuring, until we reached home.