Graduation Day

CHAPTER FOUR

WHILE Ianna was walking, Elai and Lynna talked a lot about school. They were the only two with her because Eana had just said goodbye.

"Where will you study after you graduate here?" she asked the two, who looked at each other and then smiled. She didn't know if those smiles were real or fake but she doesn't care.

"Maybe, it's still here," Lynna answered.

"Do you like scary stories about our school, Ianna?" Elai was excited. That’s what she likes to hear, scary horror stories.

"Yeah, we still have a lot of time," Lynna added. So she nodded. According to them, since elementary, they're already studying in this school. So, they knew every corner of the school.

"Did you know Ianna, that every Graduation Day at this school, deaths are happening?" Elai started the story. She felt like every piece of her body hair was already standing on what Elai said.

"Why?"

"They said, this school is cursed. There are others who are saying that there is a serial killer in this school. They wander around but still, they don't get caught. It's not just one person who dies every year Ianna. Do you see those balete trees? Those acacia trees? " Elai pointed to the trees around them. "A lot of people were found dead in each of those trees, Ianna. That's also why they don't cut down the tree because the spirits that died in those might get angry. . . Every Graduation Day, it's not fun. Because there's always someone who gets killed—"

"Then why are you still studying here? Why aren't you afraid? And why is it that there are so many who want to study here? And why is there no news coming out about the deads?"

"We're not afraid, Ianna. Do you know why? Because the killing happens only on graduation day. And the killer targets are the one who are a graduating students." Lynna said. "And if it's ever our graduation day will gonna happen, we won't attend for our safety, right Elai?"

"Actually, a lot of teachers and students have left here, Ianna. Long time ago, there used to be a lot of people hanging out here in the trees. But now it's empty. That's why we hardly see people here, isn't it? Only a few people are studying here, Ianna, compared to before. ” Elai explained. "Teacher Zeffy is one of those who have been here for a long time. Ianna, when graduation day comes, don't be surprised when you see someone hanging from every tree."

She was starting to get afraid. It was as if she was imagining people hanging from bloody trees with their eyes wide open.

"But how? Who's the murderer? Was there any CCTV footage?"

"Ianna, do you know why the deaths were not reported outside school? Because the school owners are covering it up. And we have a suspect. . ." Elai stopped and looked into her eyes. "Every graduation day, that murderer is always here, somebody says they also saw the killer come home with blood on his body—"

"Who?" she asked immediately.

"One of the grandchildren of the owner of this school, Ianna. And maybe the killer is in our class, so be careful of every movements you mak—"

"What are you guys doing here? Are you taking cutting classes?" they almost jumped in shock when someone spoke behind them.

"LEXI!" the two shouted.

Then the school she attended was scary. She still has many questions. Like when did the killings start? Why isn't the school closed yet? But she was not able to ask because the bell rang meaning their first period in the afternoon is about to start.

***

WHILE in class, Shatile turned to Ianna next to her who was listening intently to the teacher. She stared at her face, she's really beautiful, She has fair white skin. She also has a pointed nose, her eyes are round and her red lips are just perfect.

Why wasn't she just given Ianna's look? Why would she have been blessed with so much acne? She also noticed earlier that Lexi, Ianna, Elai and Lynna entered the class at the same time. She thought about, can she get the same treatment like Ianna if she's beautiful too? Would Elain what to be with her too?

"Is there a problem?" she was surprised when Ianna suddenly looked at her. She asked it in her soft and gentle voice while smiling. She then averted her eyes.

"N-nothing. . ." she answered then she look down.

"You’re Shatile, am I right?" she whisper so she just nodded.

"I'm Ianna." she looked at her again and she saw her smiling genuinely. Ianna looks kind and she is a friendly person. Unlike Elai, who's also beautiful, but has ugly soul.

***

WHILE on her way home, Ianna passed by a house that looked like a dead body in a coffin. She would have just ignore it but when she saw her mom with baby Woni there.

"MOM!" He shouted and then approached her mom. She immediately carries her sister "What are you two doing here?"

"I'm here to comfort Mareng Susan, her husband is the one who's in the coffin. Karding's body was found recently but according to the investigators from the LGU the corpse was already dead almost a week ago." her mom answered.

"Ah. Come on, let's go home," she said. "It's getting late and Woni might get cold or worst  a fever."

"Okay, I'm going to cook as well."

They were about to leave but she suddenly stopped when she saw the tarpaulin of the deceased. The picture of the deceased stuck in her mind. She had already seen him. She's about it, she saw him before!

"M-mom. . ." she looked at her mom with her eyes widened.

"Come on, Ianna! Just forget about what you saw before!" her mom stopped what she was saying as if she know already what she was about to say.

"But mom, how could you—"

"Let's just go home! Let's go!" her mom shouted, she looked angry. So she just nodded and cried quietly as she followed her mom.

***

"YOU told Ianna about our school secret?" Zon asked his girlfriend as they lay on the bed. They were naked and they had just had sex in his room. He doesn't have parents so he's free to whoever he wanted to take home a girl.

"Yes, babe." Elai answered proudly. He knows his girlfriend's habit, when she doesn't like a woman, she befriends her, and then she plays with her.

"For what?"

"To scare her, of course! To make her quit school voluntarily," she said. He can't blame her girlfriend. Because Ianna is really beautiful and there is a good chance that the men's attention will be diverted to her.

"Babe, just let Ianna—"

"I get it. You like that Ianna, are you?" Elai even got up from the bed and looked at him badly.

"What? Of course not, babe," he pulled her and hugged her even though they were both naked. "Silly girl, you're enough, okay."

But the truth is, his girlfriend isn't the only one he's having sex with, but many women. He's really good at keeping secrets from his girlfriend. Only Marco and Kit know about his side chicks.

Elai's kiss made her smirk. She kisses him from the lips down to the most sensitive part of him. He moaned when he felt his girlfriend tongue doing, she's sucking his dick.

***

"SO is the rumor true?" Shatile asked her mom about what happened to their neighbor, Susan.

"Yes, sweetie. So, be careful. Maybe the rumors are also true that there is a killer around here."

"Mom, you're scaring me! That’s not true." she doesn't want to believe in killers. But deep inside, she's more than afraid. What if the rumors are true? Who's the killer?

"All right, how do you explain what happened to Karding? The stomach is empty, everything was totally gone!"

Anyway, her mom has a point, normal people can’t do that thing. Maybe, the one who did it might be someone who isn't in the right frame of mind. She was more confident about what she was thinking.

Shatile formed a smirk as she remembered someone. She can't forget what happens at their school every graduation day. Dead people! Gore crime scene! A hidden murderer.