Glitch

Chapter 3

The next day I came to school early, since I had another fight with my parents. I didn't get another ounce of sleep, to preoccupied with my nightmares that I can't remember anymore but I just know they were scary.

Around 6 am, I was already at the school. No one else was around except the janitors and a few students that needed to travel earlier than the rest since their houses were far.

I made my way towards our spot where we use the board, not really sitting on the ground where we used it yesterday at lunch time. But simply stared into the pool, watching as the wind blew unto the pool creating hypnotizing ripples. There seemed to be what seems like a indistinctive whispering, that I try hard to understand. Whispers, that were in tongues I felt as they were pulling into a gravitanional imaginary hole. Pulling me deeper into its depths.

"Huh?" I asked as I was pulled away from my trance when someone tapped my shoulder turning to see Nicole and saw that the sun was shinning brightly. A lot more student's were by the kiosk now, buying chips.

"I said, You’re here early." Nicole chuckled as she sat down beside me. "What were you staring at? You seemed to be so out of it."

I shook my head and as I don't really remember. I checked my watch to see the time. It’s 10 minutes until the bell, I’ve been sitting here staring at the pool for nearly an hour.

“There you are…We’ve been looking all over for you.” Abigail said as she and Nathalie went near me and Nicole.

“I’ve been here since 6 am…” I said as I stood up.

“We’ve already circled the entire campus. You weren’t here awhile ago.” I just stared over her shoulder, my eyes looking straight at something I couldn’t actually see. My eyes were just drawn directly to that direction.

I don’t know why but the longer I stare it’s as though the air formulated on that specific side. The air look thicker there, it looked as though how air looked like when it was overly hot. As I stared longer it was as though an image formed, maybe it was my imagination as I had no sleep but it was forming until someone snapped they’re finger’s in front of me.

I was snapped out of the trance again and stood up and walked passed them. Something felt different though it was as if I was watching my own body move on its own accord. It felt like I was watching a movie that had a filter on it. All audio sounded as though it was I was underwater. I understood it, yet didn’t at the same time.

I was staring blankly while we moved with our flag ceremony. It was sluggish, I was singing absent mindedly; Like the words just come out of my mouth automatically. While going up the stares, I felt no fatigue from walking up to the 3rd floor of the room.

I looked down unto where the quadrangle was, then observed the surroundings as though getting used to it. Looking at my ID with great curiosity, then looking at the key of my locker. It felt weird… I knew who these people are, I know why I was there. I know what they key was for and yet… at the same time I didn’t.

Everything felt so weird, even if it seemed normal. I felt my phone in my pocket, then opening it. Looking at it in fascination, as though I have never seen anything like it in the entirety of my life. Even if, I do use it everyday. I felt as though someone else who was in my skin.

I don’t recall the next moments as it went by like a blur, the next thing I knew it was already lunch time. I blinked when we were sitting around the book were the board was hidden.

“I can’t actually remember anything from yesterday.” Was what I heard from Angela making me blink the I noticed I was staring at her. “I know I am pretty hahaha, anyways I saw a random guy in my dream and was asking…”

It was like she glitch and became quiet, staring over my shoulder, then later on smirking. She stared at me with a smirk. My vision looked like it had a hazy, dreamy type of filter, I looked at her in a bored manner.

“Took you long enough.” Was what I heard, I don’t know where it came from but I heard a response.

“It was hard to make her agree, when’d you get in?” It was a male voice, I wanted to actually look around but based on how Abigail, Nicole and Nathalie were it seemed as though I was the only one who hears this voices.

“This morning.” The female voice said nonchalantly.

“Is there a joke we don’t get?” Abigail said as she looked at us. Which caused me and Angela to blink then look around confused.

“You two have been staring at each other for like 5 minutes already.” Nathalie said before pointing at us. “Are you two dating? If you two are lesbian, we would total understand.”

“Huh? Yeah, we are.” Angela said while laughing awkwardly.

“We made a silent agreement to like marry each other by 30 if we are still single.” I joked while giggling. “So, done yet?”

They set aside there lunch boxes and plates as we pulled the board out. I just noticed the sun rarely shines on our spot anymore, unlike the other days or in the past years, now it felt as though our place was different from other students. Also, they kept they’re distance now unlike yesterday this time it was a very visible distance.

“Nathalie, you haven’t tried it yet have you?” I asked her as she stayed back watching us.

“No, I’ll just watch you guys.” She said to which she just sat back behind us watching.

The usual routine of playing went by, nothing new really since we’ve been doing it for three days straight now. We had gotten used to the terrifying breeze, the feeling of someone watching over our shoulders. In the matter of fact we had gotten so used to it that it did not faze us anymore.

When lunch ended we headed back to the rooms, I sat by Angela as I got clingy to people I am close with. Slightly, noticing how her demeanor had change. The way she sat, the way she leaned unto the side

When lunch ended we headed back to the rooms, I sat by Angela as I got clingy to people I am close with. Slightly, noticing how her demeanor had change. The way she sat, the way she leaned unto the side of her chair seemed different, the air around her too was different.

I remember smelling a hint of pine and earth mixed with her scent, she was listening intently to our teacher. I stared at her through my peripheral from time to time, my vision didn’t have that hazy, dreamy filter thing on It anymore. Just plain clear imagery with a hint of sharpness to it.

“Pst, can I borrow a pen?” She took a while to respond as though processing what I said before turning around looking for the zipper of the bag. When she turned my direction, I noticed that her eye color was lighter than its usual color.

“I don’t have an extra pen nor a pen.” I looked at her as though I was about to probe an organism that was under the light of a microscope. Angela had borrowed my pen this morning as she forgot her’s. At this rate I don’t know if, something unexplainable is happening to us or our minds are playing tricks on us.

“And who are you suppose to be?” Whispering the question as we copied notes off the power point. I noticed how she had looked at me and before looking back unto the board again.

“I am, me. Who else am I suppose to be?” Whispered back, even her voice seemed to be a bit lower than usual.

Sighing at her response before writing again.

“We’ve been batch mates for three years, had a bit of interaction and slowly becoming closer to one another. You’re not her, and you are not the one from yesterday neither.” I like observing people before I choose if I want to be friends with them. As I got addicted to Psychology before I took a crash course of how to read people, since that way it’d be easier. I kind of know each one of my classmates, habits and personalities just by watching and looking at the way they write.

She didn’t answer and continued writing. To which I took a peak at the way she writes now. Neat, like her usual way of righting.

“Who are you… My friend writes with her right hand not left, plus she writes in cursive not print you can check her old notes for reference but who are you.” I pointed it out to which she answered with a click of her tongue, before staring into the projector for a few seconds then blinking. Her natural chocolate eyes were back, her adjusted the way she sat.

“New one? Didn’t we just got rid of the last one yesterday?” I screamingly whispered to her. To which she looked at me and tilted her notebook to my side so we can speak discreetly despite being in the front rows.

“That was what I was going to say awhile ago. This one came to me last night, and I kind of allowed him to stay for a while.” Was what she said. “He’s wondering how did you notice?”

“Eyes are the windows to the soul bish, seriously I can just feel it but then when I look at you to confirm it’s through the eyes.” I answered back while looking around to see if anyone was listening. Abigail rarely leaves her seat at the back, while as I stay in the second row I mostly change seats during class either to Abigail or Angela.

“So, this one is a guy?”

“Yeah, He told me his name was Clyde.” She stopped and then looked confused for a second before adding.

“And Kevin. The one awhile ago was Kevin.”

“Two? There are two of them? How about the kid from yesterday?”

“I’ll try to check, just don’t name her.”

She looked at me and entered a trance again, her eyes cloudy as it seemed. Then I saw how her eyes changed from chocolate to black. That kind of creeped me out, I can’t explain how I can see it… I just can, and I can

vaguely see what they look like for a second before I forget what they look like.

She looked around smiling, then pouts at me with her hand out. Okay, maybe giving her candy was a bad Idea. She seemed kind of cute and didn’t have that scary, menacing shadow around her anymore.

“Hi, do you have a name? I can give you candy later after class.” I said to her with a smile. Like, I said. We weren’t afraid anymore and more of fascinated with this. “You know what… I’ll call you Secret instead. That way it’ll be easier. Umm can you give the controls? Back to her please?”

She nodded obediently, before blinking and continued writing again. It was the guy this time and not my friend, nor the one awhile ago. This one had a light brown eye color.. Kevin’s eyes were like… Dark brown that was a few shades lighter than Angela’s and Secret’s were pitch back. I was about to ask a question why was he here instead of her but he spoke before I asked.

“Changing, takes a lot of energy from her. She’s asleep somewhere in here. She’ll be back later.” I just nodded my head at him.

When dismissal came she still hadn’t returned but I was actually okay with it, she sat with a posture that would have made you think she was a basket player who was an MVP before. Since we had an earlier dismissal today than Nicole and Nathalie as they were from a different section.

“So, that’s not. Angela nor the kid from yesterday?” Abigail asked as we sat at our spot, I had filled her in with what I had just knew.

I looked to Angela still seeing that her eyes were the same Light brown color for confirmation. “Yup, that’s Clyde.”

“How did…”

“He said she let him in.”

“How can you discern them? I wouldn’t have noticed if you didn’t tell me.”

“I don’t know, I can feel it plus when looking into their eyes. We can ask Nicole if she can see them, she has a third eye right?” I crossed my legs and faced her “Did you bring the board?”

She placed her bag down and started looking for it. While she was busy looking for the board in her bag, Nicole and Nathalie arrived.

“Angela, Jasper was looking for you awhile ago.” Despite Nicole calling her name, she just looked at her and gave her a deadpanned expression. Nicole then turned to me and whispered. “What’s her problem?”

“That’s not her.” Was all I said and I was she turned serious then whispered to me.

“The one from yesterday?”

“Someone…new… ” Was what all I said then I remembered I had a promise to Secret of buying her candy, I excused myself from them and went to buy some. When, got back Nicole was holding Angela’s hand with her eyes closed. While Angela seemed to be amused with what she was doing.

“Definitely a new one.” As she opened her eyes.

“Yeah, and a guy at that.”

“From the nearby school at that. Probably the same age us.” I was starting to actually doubt her at this point. They Clyde seemed to be about 17, but he wasn’t from our country based on the way he spoke.

“Guys, I think… I lost the board.” Was what Abigail told us as she looked up from her bag.

“Should we make a new one? I mean it’s just made out of paper and a few letters.” Nicole said as she sat down with us.

“I can’t make it, I have an ugly writing. You need to write it down in one sitting, right? With no mistakes?” I asked as I looked at Abigail. “You can’t make a new one as your soul is mostly tied to the first one. It would be a double jeopardy if you create a second one.”

“How about Angela?” Nicole said as we looked at Angela who looked at us in amusement. “Or whoever this is.”

“Clyde, nice to meet you too.” Was what Angela said, I don’t know why but I felt an attraction towards this one… I nearly choked in my own thoughts. This is probably a dead guy, who is I don’t know how many years older than me and is in the body of my best friend. I am actually attracted to females and this felt wrong.

“She…” I looked at her to which she raised her eyebrow at me. “He… can’t.. he’s dead. No offense.”

“None taken.” She chuckled at me which I tried hard to hide my blush. I heard a chuckle within my head that I tried shaking off. “She can though.”

Entering another trance like state before she held out her hand to take the pen and the paper.

“You… sure we should make a new one?” I asked, I was okay with using a board that was already made but creating a different one… Just felt… Felt as though we were digging our own graves with this.

“I mean, there is nothing wrong it’s not like we are summoning things.” Nicole said as she looked at Angela.

“I’ll go with whatever you guys do.” Nathalie said as set her bag down.

“I am okay with it. So Abigail how do you start?” Angela said as she opened the pen.

“Start with drawing the symbol. You know how that looks, right?” Abigail said to which Angela complied with. “Then YES and NO, then the alphabet divided into 13. Then the numbers and lastly the goodbye. Just remember to put enough margin at the edges, another rule was to make sure that the cap would not leave the board while the conversation is on going.”

“How about keeping methods? Anything, I need to know?” Angela asked as she wrote the alphabet. The atmosphere grew cold and dark as she wrote each letter. As though shadows loomed over us, I am not sure if they noticed it but I did. Unlike the first time, I didn’t fell fear. I felt…It’s not comfort but not fear neither. It’s like I know what we are calling is something dark and actually wants to play with us, I just don't get why fear would not register into our systems to tell us to actually stop at that time.

“Umm, do not crumple or fold the board.”

“And do not rip it as well. It might cause what ever we call from the other side to be released.” I said to her.

“How long has… Clyde been in you?” Nicole suddenly asks.

“There are two of them actually.” I told her. “Her soul shifts, allowing one to talk charge or control the body.”

It grew quiet as Angela started writing the numbers, so quiet I could have sworn I had gone deaf if Nicole had not spoken.

“How do you know this?” She looks at me with amazement. I hadn’t actually noticed that the three of them were looking at me until Nicole called my attention.

“I… just do? I mean, it’s just changing who takes the wheel. The owner is still within but another does all the work or experiences all the events for them.” As they still did not take their eyes off me, I made an excuse as to why I know this. “The internet, it’s in there if you know what to search.”

Which wasn’t a lie. As I found a lot of witchcraft there when I was a kid; loads of spells, charms, and other incantations. Actually if I try looking for it now, nothing registers but I had written them down somewhere. I was even tempted to create a voodoo doll before, the only thing that stopped me was my memory. As I forgot why I was angry and then later on decided a voodoo doll was not worth it.

“Actually, I also have one thing to share.” Nicole started, which made us look at her. “I also can… do the soul shifting thing that Angela does. Mine’s name is Rex.”

She closed her eyes then smirked at us, compared to Angela though… I can’t feel or see anything different with her. It’s like it was still her but just.. boyish. Abigail and Nathalie were surprised though but to me… I don’t know why but I kind of didn’t like her little act. I was about to say something when Angela stood up.

“Done~ Wanna try it?” Angela asked as she showed us the board.

The first board that we used, didn’t make me feel eerie. But this second board did. As though there was a stronger magnetic force, tied to this. As though the gravitational pull of this one, keeping the cap on it was stronger. I couldn’t help but keep on watching Nicole with the little charade she had though because as far as I know. This type of things were not something to joke about specially now that we had seen what could actually happen.