Elements: The Gifted
Chapter 11: Notes and Dead Things

Time seemed to stand stillas I stared at the horrific sight before me. This cannot be happening to me, I thought as I found myselfrereading the bloody message on my door over and over again.

I warned youand now you are going to pay.

Who could do this? Andwhy? There was nobody here in the dorms except Alex. I could feel my heartbeating chaotically. It almost felt like it was going to pop right out of mychest. But Alex wouldn’t do this! He maybe an asshole, but he doesn’t strike meas the type to kill animals. Suddenly a conversation a month back startedflooding through my mind. I heard oncethat he killed Mr. Ommen’s dog and that he written I’m coming for you next on his front door – in blood.

Well, I heard that the dog was also pinnedto the door, next to the bloody message.

Mia and Gabrielle had mentioned that Azazel had killedanimals and pinned them to victim’s doors, while writing messages in theirblood. Could it be Azazel doing this? Was he the one who had written that firstnote, the one telling me to leave Hunter Academy before things got bad? Or wasit someone who was imitating his work, trying to scare me? Maybe seeing himthat one night hadn’t been a coincidence after all.

I heard someone call my name, but I didn’t reply. Ibarely even heard them as I continued to stand there, feeling completelyimmobilized and numb. Who is doing this? And why? I couldn’t seem to stopasking myself these questions. Several screams erupted just then as somestudents saw the dead rabbit and message dripping down my door.

“Oh my God.” Someone said.

“We need to get Headmaster Death right away! It’s anemergency!”

I felt someone wrap their arm around me. I looked and sawthat it was Jordan. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice tight with concern.

I didn’t reply. I repeated his question in my head,trying to make sense of it. Was I alright? To be honest, I didn’t feel good. Icould feel a stabbing pain in my stomach and before I knew it, I was rushingtowards the closest trashcan, ridding my stomach of all the food that I hadconsumed while at the banquet. Jordan held my hair back away from my face,patting me gently on the back as I trembled.

“Thank you.” I panted.

“Anytime.”

He held on to me, never letting me go until Death finallyarrived. It was completely crowded, with nosy students trying to see what wasgoing on. I could see Scarlett, Mia, Morgan, Gabrielle, Alicia, and Jennifer eyeingme worriedly from the edge of the crowd, never taking their eyes off me. Thethought of my friends being here sent a rush of tranquility over me.

“Everybody out of the way,” Said a stern, womanly voice.The voice belonged to Ms. Peril and behind her were Headmaster Death, Ms.Tabby, Ms. Hardwick and Mr. Grey. They seemed to stop when they saw the rabbitand the message, their faces contorting in fear and horror.

“My God,” Death said. His already pale skin looked palerthan usual, almost resembling the nonmortuus. He turned to look at me. “Spencer, who did this?”

I was tired. Couldn’t the inquisitions wait until after Igot a full night’s sleep? “I don’t know. I found it like this when I got backfrom the Halloween banquet.”

Death’s red eyes turned to face the rest of the studentbody, his face accusatory. “Was anybody in this dorm house when this happened?”

My mind instantly thought of Alex again. Oh, no. I haveto protect him. “Death I—“

I was instantly cut off by none other than AbigailWestchester, her face taking on one of her innocent expressions that she usedwhen getting out of trouble. It always works. “I never recall seeing AlexanderTorchwood at the festival. When everyone got back he was here, doing whateverit is that loser does.” Some students chortled at that, making them soundcompletely idiotic, which caused my temper to flare. How dare she mock him?

“You,” I said, pulling away from Jordan and getting rightin that little trolls face. The sneer was instantly replaced by a look ofterror. She had the right to be afraid because I wasn’t going to play gameswith her anymore. This girl had just crossed into the wrong territory. “Need toshut up or I’m fixing to make you. Meaning I’m going to melt you’re pretty,little smartass mouth right off.”

Everyone seemed to gape at me, even my friends. They couldnot believe that I had just threatened the most popular girl in school. And tobe honest, neither could I. I must be in more shock then I realized.

I felt Jordan’s hands as he tried pulling me away fromher. She had a look of disbelief on her face. “You bitch—“

“Enough.” Death’s voice rang loudly in the corridors,causing everyone to shrink into silence. No one dared to breathe a word asDeath looked at everyone in the room. Finally his eyes rested on Alicia, whosqueaked at the intensity of Death’s stare. “You. Find Alexander and tell himto come up here. I would really like to speak to him about this!” We all flinched at the harshness of his voice as he gesturedat my door. Alicia just nodded. Everyone watched as she elbowed her way to thestaircase to go and replace Alex. Poor Alicia looked like she was in a hurry toget out of here and away from Death’s scary glare.

I turned towards Death in desperation. No way was I goingto let Alex take the blame for this. “Headmaster, please. Alex didn’t do this.Yes, he was the only one in the dorm at the time that this happened, but—“

“Well, if that’s the case then he is definitely atfault.” Ms. Peril said tersely. “And even if you say he didn’t do it – if hewas the only one in the dorm and hewas downstairs the whole time – don’tyou think he would have noticed someone waltzing through the doors and up tothe ice users’ corridor? I’m sorry, but the odds are not in his favor.” Okay,so her explanation didn’t sound unreasonable, but…

“It wasn’t him. He’s—“I took a deep breath, trying tocalm myself. “He’s my friend. And I know from personal experience how obnoxiousand mean he can be, but I swear thathe wouldn’t do this. It’s just not him.”

“Well, a lot of people thought he wasn’t capable of summoning a demon and ordering it to possesshim, but hey,” Jamie Black said snidely. “Look what happened. Not only arepeople afraid to leave their homes at night, but they also don’t feel safe in their homes.” He shrugged.“Sorry Mason, but you just can’t trust anyone anymore. Especially Torchwood.”

I didn’t reply. I just looked back at Death, pleadingly.“He didn’t do this.”

Death sighed, looking deeply tired. “I’m sorry, Spencer,but as Ms. Peril pointed out the signs are not good.”

“But what about, Azazel? He—“

“We do not speak his name!” Ms. Peril hissed. She eyed meshrewdly. “Only a fool would dare speak that wicked name.”

I frowned, piqued. “And what are the people called thatdon’t speak his name? Cowards.”

Ms. Peril ground her teeth together as she eyed me withmalice. Her hands clenched into fists. Fire seemed to engulf her hands. She didn’tseem to notice. “Why you little—“

“That is enough,” Death said in admonishment. “Goodness,Spencer. What has gotten into you? You are never this disrespect.”

“I just want people to listen to me. It’s rumored that Azazel killed animals and pinned them topeople’s doors – the ones he wouldcome after. He would leave bloody messages on their doors.” I pointed back atmy door, which was stained with blood. The poor rabbit was still hanging fromits little bushy tail. I looked away quickly. Bile was beginning to rise up inthe back of my throat again. “Who’s to say Azazel didn’t do this?”

“No one has seen himin years, Spencer.” Mr. Grey eyed me apologetically. “It couldn’t be—“

“But that’s not true,” Jordan said, cutting his uncle offmid-sentence. “We—I mean, Spencer – saw him a few days ago, while we we’repatrolling. Didn’t you, Spence?”

I heard a couple people gasp at this news, includingHeadmaster Death. They looked completely startled by this news.

“That’s right. I saw him from a distance – watching me.”

“And how do you know it was him?” Ms. Peril asked. Sheappeared to be the only one that didn’t fully believe our story. “Being raisedin the Powerless world, you couldn’t possible know what the man looks like.”

Jordan answered the question for me. “She didn’t see hisface per se, but she said she saw a man in a black cloak with red eyes lookingat her. And if I’m correct, he was knownas the red-eyed, black hooded monster here in Hallowville. Was he not?”

“Well…yes, but it could have been a demon trying to passoff as him. They’ll do that, youknow.”

I shook my head, exasperated. We were getting nowhere.“You’re all going to blame Alexander regardless, aren’t you? All because he’sAzazel’s son!” And I don’t know if it was because I was tired, stressed, orjust in shock, but I started to cry. I put my face in my hands as I shook withuncontrollable sobs. I felt Jordan wrap his arms around me, whispering andtelling me that it was going to be okay. But that just made me cry harder.

“Jordan,” I heard Death say. “Take Spencer back to yourroom to rest. I think she’s had enough for the night.”

“No!” I wailed. I pushed Jordan away and stared back atthe Headmaster defiantly. “I want to see Alex first.”

“I don’t think that is such a good idea.”

“Well, I don’t care what you think. I wanna see him.”

I could see Death was about to protest, until something,or someone, caught his eye. Everyone turned to watch as Alex made his waytowards Headmaster Death, with his head held high and his expression impassive.

That’suntil he saw my door.

“Whoa,” His blues widened in horror. “What happenedhere?”

“We thought maybe youcould tell us that, Mr. Torchwood.” Ms. Peril said. “Seeing as you were theonly one in the dorm at the time.”

Alex seemed to understand. He glared icily at her. “Ididn’t do this.” He looked at me then, his eyes desperate. “Tell them I didn’tdo this.”

I opened my mouth, but Death beat me too it. “Ms. Masonalready spoke on your behalf. She believes your father did it.”

He nodded. “Sounds like something he would do. My old mannever did like animals. I had this gold fish when I was three and he let itstarve to death.”

Headmaster Death merely stared at him.

“That makes sense,” Ms. Tabby mumbled. “I had the samething happen to me too. I had this fish tank full of gold fish and every weekI’d give one of my students in each class the privilege to feed them. When itwas you’re fathers turn, he didn’t do it, therefore causing all my fish todie.”

“Dude,” Morgan said, flabbergasted. “What did your dadhave against gold fish?”

“And what about you?” Ms. Peril asked, seeming to ignoreMorgan and his irrelevant questions.

“What about me?”

“Do you like animals?”

“Well, yeah.” He said, as if it was obvious. “I have apet hamster back home.”

“But you were the only one here when this happened. Howdo we know you’re not just imitating you’re fathers work?”

“Well, let me ask you something, Ms. Peril.” He said,coolly. “Now I know the banquet lasted about three to four hours, but accordingto everyone here, no one saw me leave. And to have a rabbit, you have to catchit in the wild. I never left this building. So how did I get a hold of a rabbit?There are no rabbits running around the dorm room, unless I really am obliviousand I missed them hopping around.”

Ms. Peril looked at a loss for words.

“That’s what I thought.” Alex said, smug.

“How do we know you haven’t had it holed up somewhere?”Jamie sneered. Cameron and the others murmured in agreement. “I mean, the smellalone says that it’s been dead for a couple of days now. And you’re messed upenough that I wouldn’t be surprised if you had it stored up in your closet,just waiting for the right chance like today, when you knew she wouldn’t behere.”

“Why would I havea dead rabbit in my closet?” Alex asked. He was looking at Jamie like he wasstupid. “It would stink up my clothes.”

“I hate to admit it,” Jordan said dryly. “But he has apoint. If he had a dead rabbit stuffed in his closet, not only would it stinkup his clothes, but probably his bedroom too. He would have smelled like deadanimal for a while now if that were the case.”

“Exactly.” Ibreathed. I smiled at Jordan gratefully, which he returned.

“Well,” Death said, still sounding unconvinced.“Regardless Alex, I’m going to have to expel you. The facts aren’t looking toogreat for you right now. And you have no alibi. I’m sorry.”

“But I didn’t do this! You have to believe me. I know Ican be creep sometimes and a real pain in the ass too, but I would never dothis. Please,” he begged. “Don’t take me back there. I can’t stand being inthat orphanage. It’s horrible.”

Alex lives in an orphanage! I guess it shouldn’t havebeen surprised, considering he didn’t have any family, but still, hearing itsaid out loud was completely baffling.

As Alex continued to stare at Death with innocent, blueeyes, I had a thought. Alex really couldn’t have done this. The whole time wewere away, he had been drawing. The trashcan full of discarded paper balls wasevidence enough.

“Headmaster,” I said, interrupting whatever he was aboutto say. Death looked at me quizzically. “When we all left, the last thing I sawAlex do was draw.” Death merely raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue.“When I got back there were loads of discarded paper balls in the waste basketdownstairs. Most of those he probably finished, but threw away because theyeither didn’t turn out right or he just didn’t replace them worth keeping. Eachdrawing would at least take up to twenty or thirty minutes.” I smiled, feelingsmug, while wagging my finger towards my door. “He couldn’t have done that.”

Death turned his red eyes back to Alex. “Is this true?”

“Yes,sir.” Most would say Alex looked arrogant at that moment, with his head heldhigh and his eyes staring at Death with a look of rebellious rage, but I knewbetter. It was just a mask to hide what he was truly feeling. Though, Iwouldn’t be surprised if he was pissed.

“Mind showing me one of them.”

Alex just nodded before quickly rushing downstairs. Hewas back seconds later, handing one of the crumpled paper balls wordlessly toDeath. He snatched it out of Alex’s hand, unwaded and stared at it, hisexpression changing from disbelieving to bewildered. He stared back at Alex,questions visible in his red eyes.

“Are all of them the same?”

“Yes,” Alex said his face passive as he watched Deathclosely. “I’ve been drawing that subject for a while.” He looked away, his facegoing from pale to red in a second. Was he blushing?

“Interesting.” Death mumbled. He scanned the picture onemore time and then folded it up, placing it in his back pocket. He turned hisgaze towards Ms. Hardwick. “Tell the Board that we may have Azazel stalking oneof our students and that we may need to start putting up wards around theschool.”

Ms. Hardwick flicked her eyes at Alex for a mere secondand then back to Death again. “So it’s not the boy.”

“No.” Death said, smiling gently at Alex. “It isdefinitely not Mr. Torchwood.”

Alex didn’t return his smile. He was still mad about theaccusations, for which I could understand.

“Will you bag up the rest of those paper balls?” Deathasked Alex kindly. Probably trying to make up for earlier. “I’m going to usethem as evidence; just in case someone does try to blacken you’re name again.”

Alex just nodded as he hastily headed back down stairs tocollect and bag the rest of the discarded paper balls. I looked back at Death,bemused. What had Alex drawn that it was enough to prove to Death that he wasinnocent? And what was it that it caused Alex to blush?

I did a double take when Ms. Hardwick disappeared. Oneminute she was here, the next she wasn’t. Gone in a blink of an eye. I looked at Jordan. I didn’t notice until nowhow tense he was. I guess these events bothered him as much as they did me.

“Wheredid Ms. Hardwick go?”

“To the Board.” He shook his head sadly. “All this crapabout Azazel is going to have the whole town in a frenzy.”

“Well, at least Alex was proven innocent.” I couldn’tstop smiling. I saved him, regardless if he didn’t want to admit it or not, butI helped clear his name.

Jordan didn’t look too thrilled, but I knew he was smartenough not to say so. At least not to me.

“What do you think he drew? That convinced HeadmasterDeath he definitely didn’t do this.” Jordan gestured at the mess on my door,which formed a lump in my throat when I looked at the little bunny rabbit.

“I don’t know,” I replied. More questions about thesecret drawing had me pondering all kinds of possibilities. “But whatever itwas it helped clear his name. And that’s all that matters.”

I stayed with Jordan that night.It was weird at first, sharing a bed with a guy, but it became a bit morecomfortable as we both fell into a heavy sleep. I hadn’t realized how tired Iwas and how so much of today’s events had taken its toll out on my body. I wascompletely exhausted and I knew it was probably going to take days before Ifully recovered.

Last night was all everybody talked about all week!

It became big news! I could hear whispers down the hallas I passed and the quick glances that shot my way whenever they thought Iwasn’t looking. And the topic was all about Azazel and me. Like Jordan, peoplewere convinced that I was the chosen one – the legendary girl that wouldfinally take down Azazel. I was still abit skeptic whenever it was brought up. Why would I ever be some chosen hero to stop some evil villain fromdestroying the world? I tried not to think about it often because it gave me a headachewhenever I really thought about it. Alot of people were still convinced that it was Alex who had pinned the rabbitto my door and those people were Cameron, Jamie, Abigail and most of the otherfire students. But I didn’t care what they thought. I know Alex didn’t do it.

Whenever I saw Alex in the halls or in the classroom, Inoticed him staring at me more then he used too. Except this time instead ofglaring at me, he would gaze at me for long periods of time, sometimes withappreciation and other times with looks I couldn’t quite decipher. Sometimes Icould feel his eyes on me in class, but sometimes I wouldn’t look back. I wastrying to be mysterious, but I don’t think I pulled it off like I wanted. Theheat of his gaze constantly had me shifting in my seat and causing my face toburn a bright red. And the worst part was that I knew he could see me because Icould hear him chuckling at my reaction. It was absolutely galling.

But yeah, since that night, my life has been nothing butconstant whispering and finger pointing. It was kind of annoying. Yes, the messageand the dead rabbit was traumatizing, but wouldn’t the best solution be just toget over it?

I asked my friends about it during lunch on Wednesday.

“Well,” Gabrielle said. “I’m a big animal lover. So I wouldnever get over it. If someone had pinned my Mr. Fluff Fluff to my bedroom door, someone would have tocommit me to a psychiatric ward. Not unless they want me to go postal on anyonethat came within reach.”

Morgan, who had been chewing his food in contentment,went rigid at her words. His mouth popped open and food started spewing out,like a waterfall, right back on his tray. He didn’t seem to notice.

“No.”was all he said, as he continued to stare at her with horrified, gray eyes.

Jordan and I exchanged smiles.

Well, at least weknow what his biggest fear is. I thought, speaking directly to Jordan’smind.

Hey, I don’t blamehim for being scared of Gabby, he thought wearily. Morgan wasn’t kidding when he said she can be a real masochist. I feelsorry for any bastard that falls head over heels for her.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “That’s just wrong.”

He shrugged, but didn’t reply as he went back to eating.

Scarlett, who had been quiet during this small debate,said, “Well, I would get over it. Yes, the rabbit thing was a bit over the top,but what’s done is done. You can’t let Bugs Bunny haunt you for the rest ofyour life.”

My point exactly.The incident was horrible, yes, but the solution to getting over something thatabhorred was to forget it altogether. But then another dilemma came to mind –one I didn’t particularly want to think about.

“Butwhat about the issues with Azazel—“Everybody seemed to cringe at his name. Ifought the urge to roll my eyes. “Sorry.” I tried again. “What about the issueswith him? He’s obviously trying toget rid of me. What with the first note telling me to leave and then—”

Gabrielle and the others exchanged startled glances.“What note? You mean the rabbit and the bloody message wasn’t the firstwarning?”

“Er, well, no. The first warning I got was a note tellingme to leave, otherwise bad things would happen.”

“Did you recognize the handwriting?” Scarlett asked.

“Well, that’s the thing,” Jordan said. Everyone turned tolook at him. “The message was typed.”

“Yeah, I can’t see himtyping a note.” Scarlett said, dubious.

“So it’s someone we know.” Mia said. Her lips trembled infear. “It could be anyone in this school. Are we even safe?”

“Headmaster Death said that the Board of Education shouldbe building up wards sometime this week,” Gabrielle said, soberly. “Even thestrongest of demons can’t get through them. They should keep us safe enoughuntil then.”

“Okay, but what about when I go home for Thanksgiving, orChristmas break?” I asked. “What about over the summer where he could easilykill my mom just to get to me?”

“I highly doubt he wouldgo to high extremes just to kill one girl.” Morgan said. “Even he’s got better things to do.”

I just frowned.

Scarlett laughed. “Yeah, like killingsomeone’s gold fish.”

We all snickered at that for several minutes until wewent back to eating in silence. I noticed they kept casting worried glancesover their shoulders, probably making sure that Azazel wasn’t lurking in theshadows, listening to them as they joked about him and his bad luck with fish.

Then my sudden worries reappeared. “You really don’tthink Azazel will come after me and my mom, do you?”

Jordan opened his mouth; probably about to say somethingcomforting, when Morgan – his nostrils flaring in anger – said, “Will you stopsaying his name? God, it’s no wonder all this stuff is happening to you. It’sbecause you’re cursed for saying his name.”

“There is no such thing as curses.” But as soon as thewords came out of my mouth did I not believe them. I mean, it made sense. Noneof this stuff started happening to me until I started saying his name. But thenI thought of Alex and the many times I heard him call his father by name.Wouldn’t he be cursed as well? Then again, he’s been shunned all his life andnot to mention accused for what happened Saturday, so why not? Maybe we we’re cursed.