Chapter 12- Behind

Lanie's POV:

I can't help but frown every time I caught someone looking at me. They are obviously looking at me! And when I caught them, they will just look away like it's nothing.

Since Yshmael's fanatics made a scene in the cafeteria, everyone started gossiping. They're not doing anything or asking me about what had happened. They're not picking a fight with me also, but they are staring. And it alone made me uncomfortable.

I heaved a sigh. I still want to spend my time here in the library but I think I'll just stay in our dorm room for now. I don't want any attention right now, it's distracting me.

I edged towards the library's door and went to our door. Like what I'm expecting, I found no one here. I'm sure that my roommates are wandering somewhere around the Academy.

I changed into comfortable clothes then faced my computer. After a few minutes, my stomach hurts. I felt hungry.

I reached the fridge but I don't find anything I like. I decided to go out and just eat in the cafeteria.

"It's so cold," I hugged myself as the breeze greeted me. 

In a few minutes, the sun will set and the night will took over. The sorrounding is a bit gloomy and the clouds seems heavy. I think, it will pour later. 

I went back to our room to get my jacket. I wore that and put may hands on it's pocket.

I frowned as I feel something in one of the pocket. I took it out and I'm confused when I saw a falshdrive. An old and rusty one.

"What is this?" I said as I tried remembering where I found this. "Oh! The secret passage!" My eyes got bigger when I remembered picking it there. I almost forgot about this!

My instinct kicks in. I immediately went back to our room and inserted the flashdrive to my laptop. I lost my appetite while waiting. I'm nervous and my heart is beating loudly.

I bit my lower lip in anticipation. My eyebrow furrowed when I saw nothing when I clicked it. The flash drive just contains an album and a link to whatever site it is.

My hands are trembling as I looked at the images. I almost puke when I saw the pictures. 

Those are pictures of dead bodies. Bloody and almost butchered. Some of the bodies have holes. The organs are removed. They were cut anywhere, I even saw a chainsaw mark from one of the body with a few stitches!

I gasped and put my hand on my mouth. I closed the album, I can't take it anymore! There are almost a hundred pictures but I only managed to see maybe ten of it. 

I clicked the link. And my hunch is right, it's a link to a website of an unfamiliar name.  But before I can even think what website it is, a video showed before me.

"This is from three years ago..." I said looking at the date when the video was filmed. I became more doubtful because the video is the only content that this unknown site has.

I took a few more deep breaths to muster up my courage. I clicked the video clip. The loading icon showed and I waited for maybe ten seconds.

My eyes widened when I saw what kind of video it is. It's the same with the pictures I just saw! A video of torturing, butchering and even removing body organs! And the victims are alive while the goons are enjoying killing them slowly. Those are not humans. Maybe they are high on drugs but they are not human! They are monters!

I covered the video with my hand. I forwarded the video but suddenly stopped when I saw familiar faces. I don't know them but I'm sure that I saw them somewhere!

I tried remembering where and when I saw them. Shit! I saw them on Hespheria's magazines and newspaper! They're faces are on the local televisions and posters. Some are on their mid- thirties, enjoying the live show in front of them. They are the one who's commanding the goons on what they'll do to the victims.

"Aronzaga's... Dark Society?" I read the three words that appeared on the last part of the video.

I'm still in shocked when a set of numbers and words appeared on the screen of my laptop.

"Shit!" I cursed as I realize what's happening.

Someone is hacking my system!

I quickly pocketed the flashdrive. I managed to remove my accounts and some files before shutting my computer down.

I hugged the laptop as I ran towards the door. I don't know where I should go, I just follow my instinct. 

I got out from the dormitory and run towards the rear part of the Academy. 

I'm catching my breath as soon as I stopped at the front of an old and huge wishing well. It's the same with those in ancient times.

I don't even think if it's the right thing to do, all I know is I need to get rid this laptop of mine. 

I immediately throw my computer into the depth of the well. I even heard the faint sound it made when it fell into the water.

Trembling, I draw near the well to make sure my laptop was in the depths of it. I never thought that I can be this careless. But I never thought that the flash drives' contents are that dangerous and sensitive! 

My knees are still trembling when I sat down and leaned  on the well. I am not good in hacking and I don't know if what I did is right. I'm anxious just by thinking that whoever hacks my computer got a hold of my IP address.

"Fool. You're one of a fool, Maelanie," I said to myself. 

I even forgot that the moment I watched the clip, someone started tracing me. It's like the video is being protected from unfamiliar IP address.

I waited a few more minutes to calm down my self.

I looked around for one more time, and when I'm sure that there's no one around, I quickly took my leave.

I'm  walking like a drunkard, my knees are weak and still trembling and I even hugged the walls so that I can stand still.

"Oh, shit!" I mumbled as I saw where exactly I am. I'm on the other side of the Academy, at the very far end. It seems that due to panic, I did not realize that I got here unconsciouly.

I stopped walking. I have a feeling that I'm being followed. I don't see any students here. I'm in the front of the building where the classrooms are, and it's dinnertime right now, I'm sure that everyone are in the cafeteria, eating their dinner.

I turned to where I came, there's no one there, too. Or am I being paranoid?

"What the?!" I almost cursed when a tall person showed in front of me.

He covered my mouth and pulled me somewhere. He's a man, I'm sure of it!

I wanted to fight but I'm feeling that he's harmless. After dragging me to a more hidden place, he let me go.

"Yshmael?" I recognize him.  He's wearing an all black clothes and cap that's why I don't recognize him earlier.

I roamed my eyes and I saw where are we, in a mini room. It's like a small and abandoned office. Even the things are old and dusty.

"I want to ask you something," he approached me.

The video I saw played again in my mind. Even the name, Aronzaga's Dark Society.

I shivered at the thought. It's possible that he's connected to what I saw. I'm doubting him more. He's an Aronzaga. 

He moves one step closer. I step backward until I felt the wall in my back. He cornered me.

"Tell me... Where did you get the key?"

I confusedly stared at him, "I don't know what you're talking about." I don't remember telling him that. 

I know what he's doing. He's trying to caught me or he really knows that I have a key.

Whatever it is, I won't give in.

His face darkened. "Then tell me, how did you find out the secret passage? Don't you ever tell me that it's just a coincidence and you got there by accident because if I think about it, you surely know about it."

I just looked at him.

"Answer me," he demanded.

"How about you? Where did you get the key?" I asked before I could restrain myself.

His jaw tightened. He averted my gaze. "I don't know where did you learn about the secret passage or what you know about that. But if I were you, if you know something or not, you better shut up. You won't be able to bear the consequences of your actions."

"Is this a warning, Mr. Aronzaga?" I asked, emphasizing his last name.

He stared at me intently. "No, it's a threat, Maelanie." He said before leaving the room. 

I was left stunned and confused.

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