As soon as I awoke, I quickly went to Marcos in the guest room, where he was staying at the time. He did not respond to my first knock, and at my second knock, I noticed the doorknob was not locked. When I reached for the doorknob, someone grabbed my arm behind me without warning.
"He's already gone, Gemma." Prince Augustus said. "Chasen left before sunrise, he doesn't want to bother you, so he left without you knowing."
I chose not to listen to him and insisted on opening the door, only to discover that it was empty. He's right, Marcos left without even telling me. How come he didn't inform me last night that he was going back? Even though I can't let you go again, I still want to say goodbye... I have a lot more to say before your flight, so why did you leave without even seeing me?
"Are you disappointed that he didn't say goodbye?". Prince Augustus asked.
I responded by lowering my gaze, but the prince lifted my chin to show me what he was holding in his hands. When I looked at the paper more closely, I saw that it was Marcos' drawing, which I had given him the night before.
"Can you tell me why you have that paper?" I asked as I attempted to take the paper to him.
"Despite my protests, Chasen forced me, that guy asked me to return it to you because he claimed you were the owner of this thing since he gave it to you a long time ago. And also," there was another paper that the prince showed me. "He asked me to bring you this as well."
I snatched the prince's two papers. Marcos has drawn a portrait of me on the second piece of paper. Marcos uses a sketch pad to depict various moods of mine. I can tell that you're improving. You can truly sketch a person now, not just a stick figure like you used to. Every detail of his picture was spot on as if he had previously remembered my features before sketching them.
"So, Chasen was the one who gave you the paper, which is why it's so important to you." Prince Augustus said.
He received a nod as I shifted my sight to him. "It's the only stuff I've got that has anything to do with Marcos."
From the day Marcos departed, he has not once left my head, even the sketch pad that contains my face, which I constantly carry with me. Thankfully, the four lads, Felipe, Elias, Janus, and Jonah, invited me to help them with preparations for the Halloween park that the school council planned, so I wouldn't be sad to recall Marcos for a while. We were all relieved that the park had been built and was ready to be opened to the public.
After getting dressed, I planned to go to Prince's room, but when I opened the door, I was startled to discover him standing right next to the door with Walden.
"As usual, you're late," Prince Augustus said.
I lowered my head in respect. "You should have merely waited for me in your room, Prince Augustus,"
Our class was dismissed early. Since Halloween is today, everyone is being sent back to see what Borstal has prepared not only for its students but also for the whole public. Screams could be heard from outside the school before we even entered. It looks like it's going to be a lot of fun.
"Greetings, and welcome to the park," the man at the entranceway stated in a dwarfish tone.
I forced the prince to walk inside, but he didn’t realize that I knew how the scary kids inside would act since I was one of those who assisted them. The prince took the flashlight, as did Walden. The prince no longer asked the bodyguards to follow us because we had Walden.
"You go first, Gemma," urged Prince Augustus.
"Huh? Me?" I asked, indicating myself.
"You should protect me since I'm the prince." Prince Augustus stated.
Here he goes again, claiming to be the prince to get out of the situation. "Don't tell me you're terrified; that's why you want me to go first," I said.
Prince Augustus scoffed. "I'm not scared; I simply want you to go first in case someone wants to stab me."
"Wait, what?" My body shivered as the prince stated, I'm not lying. I feel terrified all of a sudden. "Do you mean I'm your shield?"
Prince Augustus laughed a little.
"I think I should go first." Walden took my hand in his after he had pushed me back.
"No," Prince Augustus said as he dragged me to the head of the line. "He has to be the one who goes first."
"But, Prince..."
I took a deep breath. "It's all right, Walden." I forced a grin on my face. Please, Walden I just said that to look courageous in front of the prince, but the truth is that I want to flee and hide behind you instead.
The sounds and voices reverberating around me made me feel even more frightened. Until a lady comes, she looks to be nearly identical to the demon in conjuring. "Come on in." She laughed maniacally as she pointed to the crimson door in the middle of the room.
The crimson door slammed shut behind us, and I gripped the flashlight tighter in my hand. This is quite horrifying. A girl who had been possessed by some kind of demon, a man who was being tormented, and other characters based on the horror movie that everyone had seen. As it goes on, it becomes thrilling. However, what I didn't expect was that they would include a character who happens to be my most dreaded clown, penny-wise.
"Come and have some fun with me." Sinister laughter could be heard from Penny Wise's lips. I can see that his frightful fangs are still dripping with blood.
After fleeing in great terror, I only realized that Prince Augustus and Walden were no longer following me when I looked back. I took a few steps back and peered around the dark, empty park.
"P- Prince Augustus, Walden... W- where are you?"
I thought I heard something on the left side, so I shone the light in that direction.
"Are you there, Walden?" When a dark and mask-wearing figure emerged out of nowhere in the light of the flashlight, I nearly fell.
I was picked up by a stranger, which caught me off guard. "Hey! Put me down! Please help me! Can someone help me?" I let out a yell. "Where are you going to take me? Get off of me."
My tears streamed down my face as I trembled with terror. They came to a halt when they realized I was a long distance from Walden and then dumped me off.
"Gemma, please take a deep breath!"
"W- who are you?" I asked, still in terror.
One of them took off the mask that he was wearing. "It's me, Deacon."
"D- Deacon?" I couldn't help but get enraged with him, I hit him. "What exactly is this, Deacon? What are you trying to do? You've scared the living crap out of me!" I said it a bit louder.
"I'm sorry ... I'm very sorry, Gemma; it was foolish of me to attempt to terrify you, but this is the only way I can talk to you," Deacon explained.
"To talk?" I repeated. "In this manner? You should have just called me instead of kidnapping me. You have no idea how terrified I am right now, Deacon!"
As Deacon wrapped his arms around me, he said, "I'm sorry. It's just that I couldn't think of anything else to do to see you."
"However, this is..."
Shortly afterward, Prince Augustus arrived with Walden. The prince dragged me away from Deacon and then rushed to give Deacon a heavy hit, while Walden struck the rest of Deacon's buddies in the face. Prince Augustus didn't stop hitting Deacon, which I was afraid of until the prince pulled Deacon's hand and made him scream in pain.
"Enough, Prince!" I screamed, and I stopped him before he could completely break Deacon's hand.
The prince made Deacon stand before forcefully leaning on the tree. "I'm looking forward to our clash on the field; I'll make you regret what you did today!" He said fiercely, his eyes seeming to be on fire with wrath.
After dragging me away from Deacon, Prince Augustus grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to him.
"You shouldn't do anything like that..."
As soon as we were away from them, he came to a halt. Walden, as well as I, was taken aback when he abruptly embraced me. "Did that jerk do anything to you?" Prince Augustus inquired, his voice low and anxious in tone.
I shook my head.
It was after he let go of the hug that he touched my face, looked at my hand, and checked my arm and hand very closely. "Hold on a second, you got wounded," He said.
"Huh?" I also took a close look at my elbow. I didn't feel any pain, so I didn't notice it. I likely got it after colliding with a tree. "It's just a little scratch," I replied.
He dragged me out of the school and into the parking lot where his vehicle was parked. Before we departed, he ordered Walden to return to the entrance so that he could speak with the other royal guards and return to the palace. The vehicle came to a halt in front of the drugstore, Prince stepped out, and when he returned, he was holding alcohol and a band-aid.
The vehicle started up again and then came to a halt at the convenience store once again.
"What exactly are we doing here?" I asked.
"Just shut up and take a seat," He commanded me as if I were his dog, and then he clasped my hand in his. "Your hands are still trembling."
I took a glance at my hand, which was trembling violently. "It's nothing." I took my hand out of his grasp.
"You should have said it directly if you were afraid."
My head swung back and forth. "I don't have a choice since you're terrified as well."
"Do you honestly believe that I'm scared? I just said it to watch you flinch in fear." He explained.
"But,"
"Could you just quit being so nice? What you don't realize is that you are always in pain as a result of my actions!" He said with a creased brow, taking my hand once again and rubbing alcohol on my elbow.
"Aww!" I groaned, my voice breaking.
He applied pressure to the wound. I stopped and watched him blow my wound before applying the bandage.
I'm not sure I understand you anymore; you're agitated but more worried about me. I'm not sure what this part of myself is. You're causing my heart to race.
"Be more cautious next time." He said then he picked up a sandwich and carried it over to the counter.
"Eat this." He placed the sandwich in front of me.
"Are you not eating?" I asked.
He shook his head and looked away.