HAUNTED PRINCE by DENIS DANIEL (children's ebooks free online txt) 📕

“Hey, I think it’s happening again.” Layla’s voice startled me when she talked at me by my locker the next day at school.

“What is happening again?” I asked worried and confused,

I was worried because someone was going to tell Bratt his girlfriend is talking to me and that would bring me trouble. I was confused because I didn’t know what she was referring to. Too many things were happening in my life and it was hard to point out which one she was talking about.

“The memories are coming back.” She said and raised her voice a little in panic.

“Ok, calm down.” I lowered my voice almost like a whisper, “how much do you remember?”

“I’m not sure. They come randomly most of the time. When I do something like when I eat or just walking on the road.”

“We can’t talk here. Meet me at the parking lot at lunch.”

“I can’t, I will be with Bratton and his friends. It will be suspicious if I’d leave him and go somewhere because I never do that.”

“After lunch then. What class do you go after lunch?”

“Drama, why?”

“I want you to skip it.”

“What? No. She looked shocked, “I would never skip class, no way.”

She was being hard and I needed to know what she remembered, but I couldn’t force her to do something she didn’t want to.

“Okay, fine. Maybe tomorrow then.” I said in surrender.

“See you tomorrow.” She left then, but I was frustrated because she left before I knew if she agreed or not. I had to do something.

****

I was expecting to ask Alex for help but she show up in school. After school I was just sitting in my car waiting for Ashley to come from the gym. This day was boring, I thought of going back to the woods to train by myself but I decided against. I didn’t want to go make a fool of myself out there besides I didn’t know why Alex didn’t show up today. It had been a while since the last time she skipped school. I tried to call her but it went to voicemail.

I wanted to know if she was okay or not but I knew she would be okay because I knew she can take care of herself. But about the thing that kills people I wasn’t so sure she could fight that. It had been very quiet and besides she told me she was protected, even though I wasn’t very sure about that either.

I would’ve gone to her house if I knew her father was okay with it or if he knew we were together. Since a stranger he met once wouldn’t just show up to her house just because his daughter was missing school.

But Alex didn’t worry me as much as Layla did, because I knew she could take care of herself. What Layla remembered made me anxious, I didn’t want it to get her in trouble. Iris should’ve never messed up with her head. But, if she never brought back her memories then Layla wouldn’t have remembered anything and that was worse because I need to get something. Something to help me be ahead of this thing for once.

The only thing I could do to help her was to make sure she was going to be okay. Because in a way I felt responsible for what happened to her. I felt like I brought those things in town because they were looking for me and that led them to terrorize the town in secret. Before I would deny it, but now I knew and believed too. The things I could do, things I was capable of doing. If I was able to do what I did then it was obvious Rebecca was right about her theory too. But I had no plans of seeing her face again. I will face the monsters by myself I didn’t need her help.

“Hey,” Ashley said after jumping inside.

“Hey,” I replied but didn’t look at her or say anything else.

“Whoa!” she said looking at me turning her whole body my way.

“What?” I asked a little irritated even though I had no reason to.

“Oh, I know. You didn’t see your lover today. I’m pretty sure she is fine. She seemed like a tough girl.”

I decided to go with what she was saying besides part of my frustration was about her, “yah, I guess.” I didn’t say much after.

“But there is something else. It makes you look like you are carrying the weight the world on your shoulders.” She stopped for a second looking at me with concern, “and that is the look I haven’t seen on you for a long time. I know now you prefer to do your own things but I’m begging you, don’t go back to the person you were. Because you’ll force me to get involved. I won’t let you suffer alone.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going back there, I’m just worried about Alex.”

“She is fine. Or wait a second!” she concentrated on my eyes, “you can’t be serious, thinking the same thing happened to her too. I thought you were over it.”

“Yes I was. But now I’m not so sure anymore. Ashley I think I’m gonna lose my mind if I lose her too.” I admitted since I could only keep it in for so long, I might as well say it out loud now.

“Hey, hey, nothing is going to happen to her. Okay? You can’t think like that.”

“I just get so worried sometimes.”

“She is fine. Don’t start making assumptions now. Let’s go home and she will here tomorrow safe and sound.” I sighed and drove the rest of the way home quietly.

***

The first thing I looked for the next day was Alex. I parked my car t my usual spot stared at the entrance hoping to see her because she always wait for me there when she came early.

Today she wasn’t there, my heart dropped a little and a little hint of worry tugged my stomach. But I tried to remain optimistic, she wasn’t like the other girls and she told me herself she couldn’t be harmed so I hang on that.

“See you later.” Ashley said as she got off the car to meet her friends.

I got out as well looking at people for any sign of fear or contempt more than they always act. But I was still invincible like I’ve been for couple weeks now.

I headed for the entrance but I saw Bratt on other side of the parking lot with his goons heading the same direction so, I decided to rush back quickly to my car. I knew I could take him plus his friends now even without using my super powers. The problem was I didn’t want to draw attention again, or make him try harder and mess my life by going after Ashley. I hid by my car watching him going to the entrance.

But while I was hiding from Bratt I felt a surge of energy that I was aware of. It was couple of feet away, I stood still pretending to be focusing on something else.

As it got closer I prepared to attack her because I knew she thought she was surprising me. Unfortunately it wasn’t very easy to surprise me anymore. So when she was close enough I turned and grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up, which earned me a little squeak from her. I lowered her down and pushed her against my car and kissed her fiercely until all my worry was gone and ran out of breathe.

She was stunned and speechless, which means she wasn’t expecting that at all. I moved some hair out of her face and looked at her with that amused and stunned expression on her face. I was compelled to kiss her again, and I did.

“We have to go to class.” She said with a soft low voice,

“Oh, yah, let’s go.” I replied finally became aware of my surrounding.

We rushed to class even though I would prefer not to because I wasn’t fond of getting to class on time. Skipping calculus wasn’t possible because I needed to graduate even without knowing if I could use the diploma I will get. After calculus time moved very slowly and the rest of morning and we didn’t talk much either just me peeking at Alex and her blushing when our eyes met.

By lunch time which felt like forever I could finally be alone with her. I could finally talk and kiss her some more if there was time. But first things first, talking about first things I didn’t see Layla the entire day. I looked for her at the far side of the cafeteria where Bratt and the cool kids were sitting. I saw Layla with Bratt’s arm around her shoulders and somehow strangely I found her looking at me as well.

But it was only for a short moment because I arrived by our table which was very far from theirs. And when the cafeteria was filled it was impossible to see someone on other side. I sat down and Alex was looking at me curiously.

“What?” I asked feeling self-conscious.

“What was that about?”

“What do you mean? This morning or I looking on the other side of the cafeteria.”

“Both.”

“Let’s start with this morning, first, I missed you and I was,” I felt shy a little before I could continue, “Worried something happened to you because you switched off your phone and I was scared of coming to your house.” She didn’t say a word just listening, “and Layla is starting to remember things, I didn’t see her today and she told me she would tell me if she remember anything today. So, I looked on that side to see if she came to school today. Where were you yesterday?”

“It’s a long story. It will be better if I told you about it from somewhere else. And you don’t need to worry about me, I already told you that those things can’t harm me. I am protected, remember?”

“Yes, I remember. Sometimes I can’t stop old feelings from coming back up.” I admitted.

“I understand, I missed you too. I couldn’t wait for the day to be over yesterday.” She said and seeing the sincerity on her eyes made me think of things I wasn’t supposed to in public like that.

“Do you want to get out of here?” I asked out of nowhere, it was more like the words escaped my mouth.

She finished a few bites of her burger and apple juice, “now I want to get out of here.” She never leave her lunch behind.

We got off our chairs and we headed for the entrance. It’s a good thing to be the freak of the community sometimes, because people don’t really care what you do. As long as you are far from them as possible it’s fine. Most teachers didn’t really if I ever get in their classes or not as long as I didn’t put myself in position to cross paths with them as in fail in class I could do anything.