Project YM

Chapter 1

"Hey! Get out of here and we will start our dance practice!" our class president shouts. "Leave all your things here."

I frowned at what she said. Except that I am not fond of dancing, I don't want to leave any of my stuff. Not that I think someone will steal it but I just don't want it to be out of sight.

So, even if she said to leave it, I grabbed my bag and put it on my shoulder then went out of the room. Good thing, I am not the only one who disobeys our president's words. Some of my classmates also brought their bags with them. So, I think this will be fine.

When we arrived at our practice place which is located at the end of our school premises, which is I don't even know why they picked this place, we fall in line.

"You're so stubborn, Shira," Yesha said while shaking her head. She's one of my classmates. "Jelah told us to leave our things, right? But you didn't do what she said."

I didn't answer her. Well, I don't want to talk to someone like her besides, she already knows the reason why I don't want to leave any of my stuff in our classroom. My things are like oxygen to me. I will die if I didn't see it around me.

"Jelah will be mad if she saw you," she added. "And I am sure that she will scold you."

I just let her say whatever she wants and focus my eyes on our teacher, Sir Frazer, that standing in the front.

"Okay. We'll start this practice. Just follow Jelah's move and steps for you to know what to do." Sir Frazer frowned when his gaze turned to me. "How can you dance properly if you are holding your bags?"

And just like what I expected, Jelah stared at me and shook her head. Woah! She'll scold me later.

"That is so easy, Sir," Maki said while smiling and put his bag at the side then go back to his position. "There. We can dance easily."

We do what he did which makes our teacher shake his head but didn't say anything. Well, he can't do anything about that since our classroom is too far away from this place. We will give so much effort if we get back there when we can put it in the side so we can practice well.

"Fine. Just start your practice."

Jelah played the music and start to dance. Then we start to follow her lead.

We move here and there. Step to the right then to the left and spin. Change partner, switch position, and spin.

We just do the same step and routine which makes us tired. I hate doing this kind of activity. If it wasn't for my grades, I will cut this class and just stay in the cafeteria. Geez! What did Sir Frazer think when to give us this kind of activity? This is annoying.

"Just practice that step again and again until you memorize it all," Jelah said. "I'm just going to the comfort room. Those who want to go to the comfort room will also be able to go."

Some of my classmates go with Jelah since the comfort room is far from where we are and some stay to rest or continue to practice. Even, though I have repeated all the dance steps because I did not get it. Well, I don't have the talent to dance so it is really hard for me to keep up with them.

“This is bad! Jelah's music is being corrupted!” One of my classmates said as she keeps using Jelah's laptop that we're using for our music.

“Eh? What are we going to do? I'm sure she will take her time in the comfort room.”

They start to panic because for sure If Jelah found this thing out, they will be scolded but I don't care. They keep using her laptop without her consent so it is their fault. They have to face the consequence of what they did.

But to be honest, I have a copy of that music that we need and it is actually given by Jelah as our backup if ever something like this might happen but I don't want to give this to them. It is on my laptop and if I say that I have a copy, they will surely use my laptop which is the thing I don't like. So, they have to take care of their mess.

I left them with that mess as I stay at the side to keep my own business. And I practice some hand movements that I can't keep up. That was the hardest part for me in this practice since the only thing I know is something about computers and laptops.

I stop when I felt someone looking at me so I search for it and saw one of my classmates is looking at me, Ives Devan.

I felt my cheeks blush. Geez! Of all people, why is he the one seeing what just I did? Ives is my crush so seeing me like this is so awkward and embarrassing!

I just smiled at him and go to places not far from where we practiced but made sure that no one will see what I am going to do. Now that Ives saw me, I need to make sure that I will perfect that dance because I don't want to look stupid in front of the man I like.

But before I start to move I just felt something that I can't explain. Well, I just got this kind of feeling that something bad might happen anytime. And I start feeling nervous so I sit and keep myself calm.

I hold my chest tight. This is s**t. Why am I feeling this way? What it is that does going to happen?

"Oh s**t!"

I look where my classmates are and I was shocked when I saw a group of armed men. They surrounded us which makes them scared the hell out of them. Who are these people and what the hell do they need from the people in here?

Most of the girls start crying in fear. While the boys are gathering around them like they were protecting the girls with those armed men. That was brave for them but that also can kill them all. How I wish they will not do anything stupid or else, we are all going to die here.

"Don't ever try to resist or shout if you don't want to hurt. We are armed so just do what we are here for." one of the guys said. I think, that was their leader and he command all these men. "All of the names that I am going to call will go to her. And if you didn't follow I will shoot you one by one. Meanings, the safety of others is in the hand of these people. Am I clear?"

They all nod in fear while I, stay where I am and silently observe around. I don't want to do something that may harm my classmates. But that doesn't mean I will not do anything to stop this stupid s**t!

I get my bag and ready myself to go away since they didn't seem to know where am I but before I could get up, I feel some cold things that touch my nape. I messed up before I tried. Damn!

"If you do something stupid, you're not the only one who will hurt. Do what I say. Stand up and go to your classmates." the guy who was pointing this gun at me said. "Go and keep yourself safe."

I don't have any choice but to do what he said. If I did know that this is the reason why I'm feeling nervous earlier, I should have done something.

"I said I will call names that need to go here." the leader said and looked at the paper that he was holding. "Jelah Melendrez."

Out of her will and full of fear, she stands up even if our classmates told her not to. She just shook her head at them and come to that man's side. Of what happened, we don't have any choice but to obey them or else, our parents will surely find our dead body here with a lot of bullets.

"Maki Lee. Ives Devan. Kris Zamony." Just like Jelah, those three stand up and come to our class president even though they're not like what is happening. Geez! What are they planning to do with them?

"Yeshira." I looked at Yesha when that man say that name and I saw that she was also looking at me. Actually, we both have the same name. She is Yeshira Sayuki while my name is Yeshira Michirian.

"Yeshira!" the leader shouted. "I told you to come here when I called your name!"

I raised my hand signaling to them that I will say something. "Which Yeshira do you call?" I asked and looked at him. "We have two Yeshiras." Yeah, I am brave because I have the feeling that I am not the one that this man is looking for. Well, if they were trying to take me, then they are just wasting their time because I am not from some kind of wealthy family.

He looked again at the paper. "Yeshira Michirian."

I was shocked when I heard my name. Is that even possible? What the hell is this?

"It looks like it is you that have been calling." I didn't resist when they hold me and drag beside Jelah. How can I react to this when I unexpectedly hear my name-calling by these kidnappers?

"Shira." I snapped out when Jelah hug me tight. "I didn't know what is happening but I will not let you get hurt by these people. And if it is kidnaped for ransom, I will make sure; Dad will surely pay for us." These four all came from a rich families so I understand why they want to take them but why am I included? I don't even have the money to pay for my tuition here in school then this happen to me? Fate must be kidding me, right?

"The five of you, follow me. Don't even try to run because we will not let your friends go unless we arrive where we should be taking you." the leader shouted and we, of course, followed him as he commanded. They were pointing guns at us now.

"What do you want from us?" Maki bravely said. "If you need money, then call our parents. They will give you more than you--"

"Shut up!" Maki stop talking when one of the men pointed his gun at us. "We don't care and we don't even need your money. Just shut up and wait until we say the reason why are we taking you."

No one dares to talk and we just silently walk until we reach some kind of compound located at the back of our school.

This part of the school is forbidden by the school management so no one knows that this compound even exists in the place. Is it possible that the school is known this attack and was helping these people?

"You will enter one by one." Leader said. "If you reach the dark stairway, make sure you will step and walk only on the right side of the stairs. There is someone who will come to you on the second floor." He said and slightly pushed Ives "You first, boy."

Ives look at us and then entered that damn compound. We just wait for two minutes then Maki entered. Another two for Kris and two minutes, we both Jelah entered.

"Do you have any idea why this happened to us?"

I shook my head. "But I am sure that this incident is not kidnaped for ransom."

"How can you say that?"

I shrugged my shoulder. "I just had this feeling. The first reason is they will surely know who am I and they know that I don't have any money."

She holds my hand when we reach the dark stairway. From this place, we need to be careful in our every step.

"According to that man, we need to keep right while climbing these stairs," Jelah said while holding my hands tight. I know that she's scared but she keeps hiding it because of me. She doesn't want me to worry about her. "I'll take the lead and make sure you will not do anything stupid. We have to follow their directions."

"Jelah, you don't have--"

"I told you before, right? I will always protect you." She didn't wait for me to speak and she just pull me up so I don't have any choice but to follow her.

I walk carefully through every step of these stairs and there, I was able to see hazily the reason why they instruct us to keep right there. I also started to hear a sound coming from them that make Jelah scared.

"S-Shira." Her hands tremble with fear but still pulls herself together.

"At the count of three, you have to run fast," I said and take a deep breath. I hear every growl of the dogs that guarded these stairs. Yeah, they were using dogs and it is their way to make sure that no one leaves this building, and based on these growls, three big dogs are surrounding us. "One... two... three!"

Jelah run just like I said so I let go of her hand. I don't want to cause any accident here and we will surely be if I didn't do that.

"Damn it!" I harshly cuss when I nearly got bit in my butt by one of that dogs so I run much faster. Damn it! Why do I have this feeling that I was the one they are targeting? I was the one they were attacking even if Jelah is ahead of me. "Ahhh! You're a piece of s**t, damn big dogs! Get away from me!" Seriously? I am their only target here. They tried to bite my butt again and again that's why I almost run out of breath when I reach the second floor.

"Shira!" Jelah comes to me and helps me stand up. "Are you okay?"

"I don't even eat dog meat but why are they so mad at me?" I was a frustrated mess with my hair but I was stunned to see the man who is standing in front of me. What the hell is he doing to her?

"S-Sir Frazer?"