Day 2

Day 2

   I woke up that morning thinking I was back at home. Disappointment washed over me as my feet touched the soft carpet and I realized that I wasn't in my bedroom. I turned on the bedside lamp and checked my watch. I groaned, as I was reminded of the dead battery. Sitting up, I looked at the small wall clock hanging by the bedroom door.
   The clock read 7:30, and I could see the sun starting to rise through the window. I climbed out of bed, and went into the small bathroom. My black T-shirt was damp with sweat, so I took it off, throwing it onto the white tiled bathroom floor. As I showered, I began thinking over everything that had happened in the last 24 hours.
   Who was that man in the suit?
   Why did he say I needed to be careful?
   And who attacked Kaitlin last night?
   All these questions lacking answers swam around my head as I finished my shower. I dressed quickly in a black hoodie and dark blue jeans, then headed downstairs for breakfast. At first, I was the only one in the large dining hall apart from the kitchen staff. I grabbed a tray of food, and soon enough other students began to arrive. It wasn't long till everyone was present.

   I noticed Kaitlin, flanked by Cindy and Lynda Vine. She was gently sobbing as her friends tried to comfort her. Paul sat next to me, pleased with the sausage and egg breakfast. He started talking about last night, while I internally debated on if I should tell him about the man in the suit showing up again. I really wanted to tell someone, but I quickly decided that wouldn't be a good idea. The last thing I needed was people thinking I was crazy. Yet no matter how hard I tried, I get couldn't the man's warning out of my head.
   "If you aren't careful, you won't last long on this island." I shook involuntarily at the memory.

   Ms. Hackshaw stood up from the teachers table and called for our attention. I couldn't quite place it at first, but there was something different about her that morning. Then I noticed her hair. Instead of it being in a tight bun like it usually was, she let it hang down to her shoulders. A few strands fell across her eyes, and it made her look even younger.
   "As you all know, we had a little incident last night. After with Kaitlin, and looking around the room, I can happily say that it was most likely just a nightmare." Her voice was steady and calm as she spoke. Mr. Burt, however, looked unconvinced and mad.
   "But if something like this happens again, you can rest assured there will be consequences.", the angry teacher said threateningly. This was unlike Mr. Burt, who normally kept a cool and level head with everyone, even me.
   As soon as Ms. Hackshaw had sat down, and the announcement was over, Cindy and Lynda stopped comforting Kaitlin. I guess they figured if it was just a nightmare, there was no need to try and help her. Focusing on their food instead, they ignored the still sobbing Kaitlin. I tried not to look at her as it made me sad or Mr. Burt who was glaring at me with what looked like hate in his eyes.
   

    Breakfast ended soon after the announcement, and we were told to go out into the front yard. The sky was still grey as we all funneled out onto the front steps of the building. The Caretaker was standing at the bottom of the steps, looking up at us with a smile. He wore a dark grey coat, with long black trousers.
   "Good morning boy and girls! My name is Oscar Rye-Song, and I am Nightwell Castle's caretaker. I was employed by Lady Karina Nightwell herself, and have been here ever since. If you need anything fixing all you need to do is stop by my office over there by the entrance." He gestured towards a small building by the main gate of the estate. He looked at me and smiled. It felt genuine and I actually began to consider going in to get my watch fixed.
   "Now I know this place is pretty cool, and there is a lot you can do here. However, we do have some rules. First of all, the Nightwell estate has two lakes. One very large and one very small that are very close to one another. You are free to swim in the small lake and all the other lakes you can find on this island, but that big lake is off limits.", he said. His cheerful smile was gone now, replaced by a stern and serious look. I noticed Cindy raise her hand.
   "Yes, little black haired lady.", he said.
   "It's Cindy. And if I may ask, why aren't we allowed to swim in that lake?" She asked in a very bitchy tone. Oscar sighed heavily and chuckled.
   "Well, Cindy, because if you do, you will drown. That lake has claimed more lives than I'd like to admit. These people were island natives, who had been swimming their whole lives, and they drowned. So unless you want to throw your life away, I'd suggest not going into that water.", he answered smugly. Cindy was surprised at the way Oscar had spoken to her, and wasn't able to come up with a come back. Instead, she just gave him a filthy look.
   "Now if there aren't anymore stupid questions, allow me to continue with rule two. No one is to enter the kitchen after it gets locked up at night. If you get the urge for a midnight snack, consider eating your own arm before trying to get in that kitchen.
   Next one is also simple, we have a large library full of hundreds of books. Feel free to read them to your heart's content. But only in the library. You are not allowed to take any of the books to your rooms.
   And finally, try and be inside before it gets too dark. This place can be a bit dangerous when the sun goes down.
   Follow these rules, and everything will be alright. Now try and enjoy your stay here at Nightwell." With that he smiled at as again before dismissing us and walking to his office.

   Ms. Hackshaw told us that today would be our last free day before we'd have to start school properly. Paul and Hector decided to have a movie marathon, and most of the class had shown up with snacks and drinks from the kitchen. Eventually, I got tired of being in the small room with all the others, and went out for some fresh air.
   I was walking out the front door when I saw her. Kaitlin, alone and crying, sat at the bottom of the steps. Madison had told us that Cindy and Lynda had dropped her shortly after Ms. Hackshaw's announcement. Apparently, she kept trying to convince them what happened was real, and they got sick of it. No one believed her aside from Mr. Burt.
   Except for me.
   The man in the suit had warned me for a reason, and I believed that reason was whatever had attacked her. I knew Kaitlin's room was across from mine, and if I had heard her screaming I would have run in without thinking. The reason why lay back in our first year.
   We had been in school for a few weeks when we finally spoke for the first time. It was during lunch, and at the time she was desperate for Cindy and Lynda's attention. However, neither girl wanted anything to do with the shy and nerdy ginger, and would often go out of their way to make her feel stupid. And yet she persisted in trying to be their friend.
   I can still remember the soft green eyes behind round glasses and the uncomfortable looking braces in her mouth. Her red hair was tied in a messy ponytail, a small amount of eyeliner could be seen as well as some light blush. 
   She sat alone, nobody wanting to talk or even be near her. But I couldn't sit by and watch her cry alone. I was not stranger to being teased and unpopular, so I was able to sympathize with what was happening to her.
   "Hey, it's Kaitlin, right?", I asked sitting next to her at the empty table.
   "Yeah, and you're... Nathan?", she asked in return. She spoke softly and her shyness was obvious and she seemed timid of me.
   "Yep. So, what do you think of the school?" With that question, I inadvertently opened a can of worms. She told me about how she missed her friends from her old school, and how she was finding it difficult to fit in. We talked all throughout lunch and after we started to grow close. She began sitting next to me at lunch with Paul and Hector, stopped sucking up to Cindy and Lynda, and began to make real friends. I even began to have strong feelings towards her, and it looked as though she felt the same.
   But that all changed a few weeks later. We were eating lunch, laughing at one of Paul's jokes when Lynda walked over to us.
   "Kaitlin, Cindy says she'd like you to come sit with us." Lynda didn't even look at me or the others, instead focusing on Kaitlin. I thought for sure Kaitlin would send her away, that she had learnt these girls weren't good friends, and didn't deserve her. And yet she all to quickly grabbed her lunch and went over to their table. 
   That would be the last time we ever ate together. Eventually she stopped messaging me or even saying hello to me in the mornings. She got contacts, started wearing her hair down, and put on more makeup than necessary. Once her braces came off, she could have passed for a completely different girl. 
   A few weeks later, Cindy stopped being indifferent to me, and instead began to treat me like I was the scum of the Earth. Kaitlin soon began to follow suit, treating me like Cindy and Lynda had treated her. To say it broke my heart would be an understatement. And yet, no matter how hard I tried, I could not find it within me to hate her. So even now, when I should feel glad at the fact that Cindy and Lynda had shown their true colors again, all I could feel was the same sympathy I felt when I first spoke to her.       
   Without a second thought, I sat down next to her, causing her to jump in surprise. Behind the teary eyes and runny makeup, I saw confusion in her face. I reached into my pocket and handed her a clean tissue. She used it to wipe her tears and nose, before screwing it up into a ball and putting it into her pocket.
   "W-what do you want?", she asked. Her voice was very weak and she seemed apprehensive of me. I took a deep breath before answering.
   "I just wanted to let you know that despite what the others say, I believe you. You aren't the type of person to make up stories like this for attention, and I've got a weird feeling about this place.", I answered. At first I was going to tell her about my own experiences on the island, but I wasn't sure if she would believe me. After all, my story in comparison was a lot more unbelievable.
   "Are you serious?", she asked looking at me in curiosity.
   "Yes." I answered, looking into her puffy green eyes which had long streaks of mascara running down to her cheeks. 
   She didn't respond for a few seconds, looking down at the floor. Then, without warning, she fell into my shoulder and began to cry. I instinctively placed my right arm around her and tried my best to comfort her.
   "I'm so sorry.", she cried.
   "For what?", I asked.
   "You were the only one who actually gave a shit about me, and in return I stabbed you in back." I could feel my eyes begin to water at her words. Despite what she just said being true, I couldn't help but still care for her.
   "It's OK, I forgive you.", I said pulling her in closer.
   "How?"
   "Because I know the person you really are. All you wanted was to be accepted, like many people do. I couldn't hate you for acting the way you did, because you wouldn't have if it wasn't for Cindy. She's the one I don't like, not you.", I answered.
   Slowly, she lifted her head up and looked me in the eyes. I pulled out another tissue and began to wipe away her tears for her. I then stood up, pulling her up with me.
   "Why don't you go upstairs and join the others. They're watching movies, and neither Cindy or Lynda are present." She shook her head in response.
   "I'm just going to head to my room and read till bed." She straightened her hair and clothes, and wiped away the black streaks with her saliva and another tissue.
   "Well then, I'll see you around.", I said turning to leave.
   "Wait!", she called out. I turned back around and she gave me a hug.
   "What is it?", I asked laughing.
   "I need to talk to you when you get back, it's been way too long and I have something important to tell you.", she said with a smile. Something I had not seen her do in a long time.
   "Sure.", I said smiling right back. That's when she surprised me by leaning over and giving me a light kiss on the cheek.
   "See you later.", she said before turning and walking back inside. I stood in place for a while, before smiling a bit to myself. Something I had not done in a long time. Then I turned around and walked down the path.

   I arrived at Oscar's office in a few short minutes, wondering if he would actually be able to fix my watch. Knocking on the door, I began to wonder if this was a good idea. Oscar pulled the door wide open and smiled.
   "Hello there, son! Come to get that watch fixed?"
   "Yes, sir.", I responded.
   "Then come inside and let me take a look at that piece you're wearing." He stepped aside as he spoke letting me into his small office. The office was a mess, and that's a nice way of putting it. It was dusty, and all the tables were covered in papers and various objects, aside from one in the back. It was also oddly warm. I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
   "How long is this going to take?", I asked as he sat at the uncluttered table while pulling out a large red toolbox. He gestured for the watch which I handed over to him apprehensively. He reached into his tool box, pulled out a thin knife, and in one quick motion popped the bottom of the watch off.
   "Judging by the amount of operating I'm going to have to do to get to the battery, I'd say roughly thirty to forty minutes at the most." I was disappointed by this answer, and took a seat in one of the empty chairs, wishing I had brought a book or my phone.
   Oscar worked rapidly, and soon my watch's insides were laid out on the table. As time slowly ticked forward, Oscar began casual conversation with me. He asked what I thought of the island and other questions in the same vein. I answered and soon began to become more involved.
   "So tell me, where did you get this watch?", he asked towards the end.
   "My dad gave it to me.", I answered sharply.
   "I take it by your tone that's a touchy subject? Don't worry, I won't press." He then continued in silence. 
   "Thank you, but the story isn't interesting." It really wasn't. My dad had left around five years ago on what he said was business. I hadn't seen him since then, and didn't know if I wanted to.
   "Well, whatever he did, I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt you. When I had children, I used to say some truly nasty things, but I still loved them. And when I left, I did it because I could see how bad I was for them and wanted to do the right thing for once. I'm sure that your dad did what he did out of love.", Oscar said placing the lid back on.
   "Let's just say it wasn't what he said, but what he didn't say.", I said getting up and walking towards him.
   "As I said, that's your business, not mine." He set the time and handed it to me. The ticking of the second hand brought a smile to face. The time read 5:30 PM and the sun was starting to set.
   "Thank you so much for all this, but I really must be going." I said putting on the watch.
   "Oh don't mention it, and you're quite right. I don't want you caught out after dark. That can be very dangerous." He walked over and opened the door for me. Something about his tone made me nervous, but I tried to brush it off. I said goodbye, and walked out, hearing the door shut behind me.

   As I walked up the path, the sky above darkened and a cool wind began to blow. Shadow covered the estate like a blanket, as automatic lights began to power on. He stood a few meters off the path, a smile plastered on his face. I stopped, fear spreading from my head to my toes. The man in the suit simply waved in response.
   "Hello Nathan! Just wanted to remind you to be careful." For some reason this angered me. I didn't like people who knew more than me rubbing it in.
   "What exactly am I supposed to be watching out for?" I asked, my voice a bit shaky but none the less angry. He just laughed.
   "Pray that you don't find out." And with that the man vanished yet again. I stood in the growing darkness, feeling a sense of dread build up in my chest. I began to run up the path toward the main building.
   Once inside the building, I struggled to catch my breath. When I looked up, after regulating my breathing, and was able to see Mr. Burt charging towards me with the rest of the class following behind. Before I could say a word, he slammed into me and pinned me against the wall.
   "What did you do to her?", he yelled into my face.
   "W-what? Who?", I asked.
   "Kaitlin! One minute people hear her banging and screaming, and the next both you and her have gone missing. So stop playing dumb and tell me where she is!" His grip on me was iron and the look in his jet black eyes terrified me.
   "I don't know! Please, you have to believe me, I was just at Mr. Rye-Song's office getting my watch fixed!" I yelled back. He pressed me harder against the wall, and I began to worry how far he would actually take this.
   "Don't lie to me!", he threatened.
   "I'm not!", I persisted.
   "Yes you are! You've been obsessed with her since we started school!", Cindy yelled from the crowd. Mr. Burt turned and looked at her then back at me.
   "If you lie to me one more time..."
   "MR. BURT!", came a loud booming voice. In all the commotion, nobody had seen or heard Oscar enter the building.
   At the loud voice Mr. Burt had let me go and turned to face the source of the voice. Mr. Burt looked at him with malice.
   "What do you want?", he asked aggressively.
   "I thought that it may be useful for you to know that he was in fact at my office this afternoon, and therefore could not have been the cause of this young girl's disappearance.", he answered back in an equally aggressive tone. At this, Ms. Hackshaw emerged from the crowd. 
   "Then what happened to her?", she asked.
   "Damned if I know. However, it wasn't this one's fault and I think you owe him an apology.", Oscar continued in a very angry tone. Mr. Burt just glared at him and me, before storming off. 
   Ms. Hackshaw sent us to our rooms while she contacted the local authorities to report Kaitlin's vanishing. Paul filled me in on what they knew, which was very little. They had heard a commotion from Paul's room while watching a movie, then her screaming. When they went to check in on her they found no trace of her.
   I sat alone in my room, thinking of Kaitlin. I thought of the smile she had shown me earlier that day, the return of the girl I once knew. Now gone, God knows where. Unable to stop myself, I began to weep for her.
   "Be strong, Nathan." I sat up in a flash to see the man in my room yet again. Anger and sadness took over me and I no longer had room to fear the man.
   "What happened to her?" I asked, tears falling from my face. He only looked downwards, with a sad look in his blue eyes.
   "It's best that you don't know." Then he too vanished into thin air. I sat there for a few more minutes before turning out the light, and crying myself to sleep.