The Shadow Stalker Around Her

Chapter 19

Skyla

(Past)

The next day I woke up by a soft nudge on my shoulder. I heard a familiar voice saying, "Woke up, honey. Your school isn't going to wait for you to come and then the classes would begin."

I frowned but didn't wake up. I laid on my granny's bed that way and fell asleep again. Again I felt a hard nudge over my shoulder. She yelled and said, "It's 7:45 in the morning. Don't you want to go to school, Skyla?" That made my eyes flew open. What did she just say the time? I looked at the grandfather clock in my granny's room. My eyes widened, and I immediately jumped from her bed. Oh, hell! I am super late today. Without saying anything, I ran out of her room. I was about to trip but managed before I fell on the ground. I heard my granny yelled out, "Slow down, Skyla."

"Yes, granny," I yelled back and went to my room to shower. I showered and got ready to go to school. I went downstairs and saw granny holding a water bottle, two tiffin containers, and a sandwich in her hand. She knew very well I wasn't going to waste a minute to run out of our home. She shoved my sandwich in my mouth and helped me to pack those containers in my backpack. One tiffin container was for me and another for her favorite, Carl. I took off to school on my bicycle. 

I kept my neutral expression as I entered the school. But I was hell scared to death remembering what I saw in my nightmare. No, I have to stay strong. My granny is with me. I promised her no to give in to my fear. Skyla, that's just a nightmare and nothing else. See, no! Don't make eye contact with anyone. Keep your back straight and go to your classroom. Nodding myself, I went to my classroom. The students in our class gave me a weird look which I ignore for good. I don't want to make a good impression in front of them. They want to talk behind my back, then let them. 

After my classes, I left our classroom and directly went to Carl's music room. I thought he wouldn't be there but to my surprise, he was there. He didn't look up for once. I knew very well he was angry for my behavior yesterday night. I am helpless and he shouldn't know me well. One wrong step, his life will be in danger. I sighed and closed the room from behind. I put his container in front of him, saying granny sent that for him. Then the violin rehearsal began.

Carl looked very serious from the time I started to play his instrument. He was making me nervous and I was making mistakes each time I play a note. 

He said impatiently, "You are doing wrong. Start from the beginning again." I did it again. 

He again instructed, "Slow down a bit." I didn't get him and I played in the wrong way again. 

He snapped and stood up, "What are you doing? You missed the tone again. Stop repeating the same mistake, Skyla." I nodded and started again. I tried to play properly this time. But in the midway, he stopped me. 

He said, taking his violin from my hand, "Stop there, Skyla. Let me show you and copy me after I finish. You aren't allowed to make mistakes again." He started to play again, and I looked at him with great concentration. The more I was watching him playing the violin, the more I began to admire his way of playing the violin with so much love as if his life depends on the music. 

He stopped and asked, "Did you see me playing carefully?"

Nodding firmly, I said, "Yes,"

He said, "Good, now start from the beginning." And I did. I closed my eyes and began to play the violin the way he did earlier through his heart. It's refreshing and the only way I can soothe my soul. It made me forget everything. I feel like I rebirth again, and there has nothing left for me to worry about in this world. It is true when everyone says music has healing power. Music has the ability to take anyone out of the miseries of their lives. Music is a therapy that connects people in a way no other medium can do. I can only rely on music now to make me forget my pain easily. 

When I ended playing the end note of a song, I opened my eyes. My hazel eyes locked with his grey ones. He said nothing, neither do I. For some unknown reason, I love to watch his icy grey eyes. He is cold and arrogant, but I find it matches his personality in a good way. He is beautiful and so attractive that I have a hard time tearing my gaze away from him. 

I pulled out my thought when I heard him saying, "Great. You can go home or practice as much as you want. I am leaving, as I have to go somewhere." I am not going to stay here. No! No way in the hell after what I saw in my nightmare. What if that dream comes true! I am going home. My students are going to wait for my return. I couldn't tutor them as I got a high fever, but not today. 

I immediately said, "I am going home now, Carl."

"Fine. I am closing this room now." Saying he started to pack his bag and about to close the door, I stopped him as I need to apologize to him.

I said, "Sure. Uh- Carl? I want to tell you something. Can I lend some time of yours?"

Frowning, he asked, "What is it?"

Taking a deep breath, I said, "I am sorry for the way I behave with you tomorrow. If you feel offended by me, I apologize to you. I didn't mean to offend you, but I was emotionally overwhelmed." I didn't notice his expression changed. Before I knew it, she took long strides toward me. I stepped back immediately fearing he might going to lash out at me. He looked furious. 

He snarled, holding my arms in a tight grip, and jerked me saying, "Do you think I care about you or your health, Skyla? If you think in that way, then let me remind you you are nothing to me. Whatever I am doing, for a purpose only. When I get what I want, you are free to go. Just bring me the trophy here, and we are done. You don't dare to think that whatever I did for you because I care. No, I don't actually, Skyla. I only care about the title and nothing else." He is blunt. His words broke my heart into a million pieces. I tried my best not to cry in front of him. I didn't want him to say me pathetic again. 

Grabbing my jaw, he said, "If you lose in the competition, I will destroy you. I, Carl, never accept defeat in my life. Do you understand?" 

Gulping hard, I said with a nod, "I understand, and I promise I will not let you down." I didn't stay for him to say something after that. I took my backpack and ran out of that music room. I directly went to the ladies' restroom and sobbed hard. Why? Why me? I didn't ask for his attention. He forced me to do this. I just wanted to apologize to him, but he misbehaved with me for no reason. Does he always have to be this rude? I don't want anything from him, but a little care and respect will not kill him if he shows it to me.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and gave out a helpless chuckle. "I am good at crying, aren't I? I wake up from my sleep at the midnight and cry over my nightmare. I come to school and cry when my senior or music teacher yells at me. I always think about my life and laugh over my fate thinking maybe I am born to cry. I am born to suffer. If that's what is written in my destiny, I am so going to change it. I am not going to cry again. Not anymore. I wouldn't let anyone misbehave with me after this day. And about that psycho killer, it will be better if I imagine that person doesn't exist." 

I wiped my tears and cleaned my face with water. After I dried my face with my hankie, I left that restroom and went to the backside of our school to walk on the field, or just sit under the trees. I needed fresh air before I leave for home. I walked through the hallway and went out of the backdoor, avoiding everyone's gaze in that hallway. As I went out toward the field, I saw from afar boys are playing football and some cheerleaders are cheering their respected team members. I passed that area and went far away from that field taking my left side, I began to walk down the other side of that field, where having big trees everywhere around that side of the field. 

I sat under a big tree and opened my notebook to start with my assignments. I also bring out my container from my backpack and began to eat my lunch while doing my assignments. I wouldn't be able to complete those as I have students to teach at home. They are all good kids and listen to me very carefully with interest whenever I discuss any important topics with them. My playing Violin, my granny, and my students are everything to me. If they aren't with me at this moment, I might have died a long time ago. They are the reason for my living now. And It would be unfair if I don't admit that Carl is also indirectly helping me in dragging me into the world of music. He is mean, but he is my role model now and going to stay this way forever. The bluntness of him hurt me, but he is doing the right thing if I think in other ways with a clear mindset. I need to learn how to hold my ground before I slip on it.

As I completed my work, I closed my papers and kept them in my file. Packing my back, I stood up and dusted my back. I began to walk away from that place thinking about the way to get rid of my nightmares and how not to disturb my granny at midnight. I went far away from that place, I stopped on my track when I heard a whimper. I narrowed my eyes and tried to hear again. As I heard a painful whimper again, I looked in that direction. The sound was coming a little far away. I was in denial about whether to go and check on that person or not. What if it is a trick of my stalker! I thought. 

I heard that sound again and it didn't take much time to understand that voice was of a girl. I slowly began to walk in the direction. I saw a shadow behind one of the big trees in that area of our school's football ground. I stopped when a thing registered in my head. Shadow. I paled in my track. Oh, Skyla. Stop fearing everything. That's a girl's voice and her shadow, not your stalker's shadow. That girl is in pain and that's why she is making painful sounds. Now go and be brave. You need to check on her. Got it? 

I took a deep breath and nod to myself. Let's check on that girl and help her if she needs help, alright? Then I am going to leave for my granny's bakery. I began to walk toward that tree. As my step fell on some dried leaves, it made a sound that made that girl alerted and she stopped crying immediately. I scared her. But I have to peek at her through that huge tree. I again started walking, but I didn't hear any sound coming from that girl. I crossed that tree and as my eyes fell on that girl, my eyes widened in horror. Oh, God. Who did this to her?