I LOOKED PUZZLED staring at him. I didn't think I knew Tino enough, to describe him, they were other sides of him that just kept unraveling time after time, and him being a sort of observant nosy character was just a part of the long list.

  ''Blanca De'Beau?ejour.'' He uttered looking at me though I knew exactly what he was thinking.

  ''De'Beau?ejour.'' He empathized on her last name, still no bell.

  ''I don't follow.'' I shrugged.

  ''Henry De'Beau?ejour? Nothing. None? Seriously?''

  I shook my head.

  ''Okay. Strange the whole school knows about Henry De'Beau?ejour.'' Tino exclaimed.

  ''Tino. Whose Henry De'Beau?ejour?'' I asked.

  ''Fine. Come.'' He gestured for me to follow him.

  Hallways away from her locker, I wondered what was with his sudden behavior. The name bringing and the ashened look. He took me to his locker and opened it, it was a huge scatter in there, everything was on top of everything. He looked alittle embarrassed staring at everything.

  He normalized the look and started to dig into his locker, searching for who knew what. I sighed leaning back at the locker next to his. 'What a distraction, perfect, to get away from all the unreal.' I placed my hands in my pockets.

  ''Blanca De'Beau?ejour. Even her Name's sexy. .'' I uttered, then sighed again.

  Tino seemed to be taking his time in there searching for whatever, he was looking for.

  ''Tino. Classes will be starting soon, maybe you can just tel-''

  ''Uh-huh!'' He exclaimed.

  He found some old looking like Newspaper, that looked like it had be suffocated in there for Months.

  ''Look at this!''

  And it smelt just as bad as it looked. I coughed alittle.

  ''Sorry. . .'' Tino said sheepishly.

  ''Tino. Do I really have to read th-"

  My eyes noticed something about this Newspaper. The head lines I had seen them before. 'MAN FOUND DEAD AT CLUSTER SUBWAY STATION' they were the exact same ones Dad was reading that morning. I peered at them gingerly.

  But I still didn't understand what relation Blanca had with all of this.

  ''What's all this?'' I asked.

  ''This year a number of people've gone missing, and nothing like Normal scale of missing like Huge scale of missing, the numbers just keep rising, of course they're last year's as well and the other year, and the year before and-" Tino had got to have the strangest way of explaining things.

  ''Tino. Where's all of this going?'' I baffledly asked.

  ''Okay, listen some of these people returned. Of course Dead found in various parts of the city, far away from their homes and families. But that's not even the worst part. They all seem to share one similarity, linking their attacks.''

  ''Which is?'' I asked.

  He pointed back at the Newspaper, on the photo of the Man found Dead, on his neck he had some odd looking drawing, I presumed it to be. I squinted back at him.

  ''They call it Dankoma Plàmatos.''

  ''Dankoma plàmados?'' I repeated.

  ''Plàma~Tos, it's in Greek. It means creature bite.''

  I peered at it again.

  ''It has been nearly a decade, and the consistency of this spreads. It was firstly just parts of the capital, until it spread throughout the city. Strangely only in this city Nowhere else. Now here's the crazy part to all of this, guess who came up with all of this conclusion and research.''

  I looked at him oblivious. As all this name bringing started to make sense.

  ''Blanca De'Beau?ejour.'' I drawled.

  ''Uhhh-'' he grimaced.

  '' 'S Dad- uncle? Grandfather? I dunno. Henry De'Beau?ejour.''

  ''Correction father.''

  ''Well, I did say it was him.'' I argued.

  ''Fair enough.''

  ''Wait are you implying that Blanca's Dad's some serial killer and his murdering all those people and leaving some signature on them to make it obvious that the deaths are done by the same person?'' I asked, curiously raising my brows.

  ''No.'' He stared like I had just said the craziest thing ever to be heard.

  ''Professor Henry De'Beau?ejour, french scientist. Who did research on the current victims affairs.'' He explained. ''He claimed to be working on some new project of all this discovery, he called it '. But he went missing the very next day. Priorly, people assumed this was all a serial killer's doing, just like you, they thought the bloody bites where some sort of signature, you know targeting anyone regardless of who you are in society. But Henry De'Beau?ejour and his pal Doctor felter found out they were actually made by a creature. Which showed no similarities to any species alive or ever to be present, the DNA showed no evidence of human constructed or of human creation, neither did the animal species fit, the tested specimen, but it was discovered that it was creature made. He had some notion and conspiracy theory about it, I have it in my notes somewhere here. .''

  He turned back to his locker.

  ''So, any chances of his returning?'' I asked.

  ''Yep. Of course Dead, just not by the bite, he also had it- he had the same bite, just not still quite. . . Dead. Although, they're multiple interviews, articles, reports and striking rumours surrounding his case. But I'll say what I remember, nothing chronological. Alright, he returned back to his house one night.

  ''That was immensely appalling, and it sort of disturbed the pattern, so they run some tests on him. To Find out what was different. Why he was still alive, and answers to what did that to him and all those who went through the same process, they never got any answers, well if they did they sure as hell hadn't been honest about it, nothing's been disclosed with the public. And in Henry's speaking of anything, I read a post, I dunno if it's true or not, but it said, that he oddly didn't know, infact he didn't know what happened, all HE remembered was waking up at a construction site, Nude.

  ''During some interview on News current affairs on the headlining topic, He's colleagues claimed that he had requested to resume their working research, shockingly he was actually allowed, but they said that he just wasn't himself anymore, when asked about his cooperation, they answered that he couldn't remember a number of things anymore, it was like part of his memory had been swallowed up. And after News leaked this time his wife and daughter going missing, don't worry it was only for a week.

  ''He's shitty neighbors went over to evaluate and got their stupid fifteen minutes of fame and went live on social media, informing everyone everything, they acquired, in simpler terms, the blunt truth, saying he tottally just lost it! He tried to kill their shitty arses whether genuine or not Bastards, I don't think it was fair what they did with his condition and he's missing family and guess what bud the world agreed with me. He was pardoned, considering he's current state.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  ''He was although obliged to an Asylum, in the East part of the city for his craze. But it was said his condition only worsened, I read a paper that talked about him, apparently some anonymous Reporter had it deeper and managed to get this, the article that I read was under Henry's assumptions, they seemed to be a fan of his work, and after what happened to him they just had to know.

  ''The article went by far, and invaded Henry's privacy, describing his condition and what he went through, it had on, he went through severe trauma, to a point where he had tons of panic attacks, black outs. He didn't even speak anymore, he completely lost it and tried to cut off fellow Nutcases ears with his teeth. And after they isolated him from everyone else. I have No idea how he did it, but he somehow managed to escape, you'd figure probably back to his home to see his wife and Daughter. Unfortunately Not. He's body was found at Cluster five~o~two subway station. He had allegedly jumped infront of a subway and that's how he. .''

  He made a snap sound with his mouth, extending out his arm to the neck, in form of like an air slice.

  ''And in relation, something's different about Blanca now.'' He ultimately concluded.

  ''Are you joking? Her father committed suicide right after becoming some psycho. .'' I delivered too calmly for the aspects of my words.

  ''Aaron. She and her mother went missing for an entire week.'' He said with great emphasis and an obvious edge added to it that they was more to what was disclosed.

  ''Probably to escape Henry's crazy.'' I deemed.

  He shrugged, ''Perhaps. Or maybe the same thing happened to them, I'm considering whatever happened to her father happened to the both of them as well, I mean, a close source probably those shitty neighbors again, anyway they said Mrs. De'Beau?ejour, seemed alot paranoid after returning from a '.'' He said with much sarcasm, narrowing his light brown eyes. ''It will only take a minute before News has it that Mrs. De'Beau?ejour and her daughter have been taken into custody, for doing who'll know what, then to the asylum, and I'll be like .''

  I peered at him sort of folded into curiosity. ''Tino why do you know all of this, I know it's national news but what's with the intense curiosity?''

  He chuckled. ''History project, at first me and Tyrone didn't know what to write on until this came up. Our project's on Hevellyn Hills Mysteries. For our pair project work. You're in Mr. Miller's history class, right?''

  I nodded.

  ''Then you have to get your head on this history work, he wants a pair report on Hevellyn Hills Mysterious Historical Affairs for like a quarter of our grade.''

  Tino was my only friend at this school and he had a partner already. The Deadline was the beginning of next month, the first week on a Friday. And the project was already two weeks in with students working. I assumed everyone already had one by now.

  ''Who am I going to pair up with?'' My voice worked lowly, contemplating, my head reclined on the locker I was leaning against. The same time the bell went.

  ''Maybe I can help, I'll ask my bud Sieve if he has a partner. And if he doesn't I'll let you know.'' He offered his lips tickling a faint half smile.

  ''Thanks. Tino.'' I really meant every ounce of it.

  He nodded dimissingly as if it was a casual thing for a friend but his expression quickly shifted and he peered at me, narrowing his suspicious gaze.

  ''And a word of advice. Stay away from De'Beau?ejour. I'm not the only one saying she's been acting funky, even her own buds. Bud.'' He continued lowering his gaze full of concern and something else taunt, ''Do yourself a favor and stay away from her, they're others nearly as hot as she. .'' Now grinning with a dirty emphasis, his eyes sparked with mirth and intense mischief, shutting his locker.

  I reddened alittle. Rethinking my actions. It was unlike me to follow girls. Frankly, all I wanted was to get distracted by the first chance that crossed my mind. And it appeared to be her. It seemed like she was living her own type of crazy, Tino did us both a favor to input on her my friendship or any sort of flirtation would have been seen as mockery to her and we would have got on the wrong foot. When I thought about Dankoma Plàmatos and all it's related deaths and Henry De'Beau?ejour, if that didn't spell crazy, I don't know what did.

  I sighed thinking about another problem that felt crazy. My Extra hour after school, my fencing had not improved, probably a slight change of me learning how to be positioned before starting and a few new moves with my sword. It wasn't so depressing, I found it thrilling learning all those tactics.

  Immediately the last bell of school went I headed off to the boys' locker room to change then proceeded to the fence room. When I walked I half expected to be the second one in, of course Mr. Pablo was the first, he was always the first person to be there and the last to leave. It was surprising he wasn't there yet. It was unlike him to be running late considering he blabbed on and on about punctuality. Surprising for a person who doesn't have that much friends - specifically one good friend, who'd come by my locker everytime at the end of school, I usually would get there five minutes after everyone else had arrived. I knew this because Mr. Pablo would point that out everytime I walked in, I thought I'd surprise him today and come early.

  I was alone. I started to consider maybe he had canceled and everyone but me knew. I thought of exercising my sword, as I waited, for my assumption to be wrong. I stood in the correct position, then I held my sword firmly. I began to think maybe I was too early. I tried performing a few moves I learnt, Tino had taught me this one, his supposive signature move, it was a sharp Air slice move. Just as I executed it my sword abruptedly slipped out of my hand, sliding to the other side. I shut my eyes refraining from kicking myself, Tino had shown me it a couple of times, brilliantly executing it everytime.

  I could have sworn I was getting good at it. I sighed, I didn't need an opponent to knock my sword, out of my hands, I clumsily did that bit for myself. I stood infront of it glaring at it, why wouldn't it stay, it was perfect during tennis, why was this proving to be such a pain.

  ''You're not bad. You know.'' Said a darkly velvet voice at the door, which startled me alittle. Thankfully, it wasn't Mr. Pablo I would hate for him to see that, even though he saw me flop on a daily basis.

  It was that Stefanie girl. I was quite surprised to see her. I wondered what she was doing here. She was neither in the extra lessons program nor was she even in her fence suit.

  ''Excuse me?'' I uttered. Not that I didn't know what she was talking about but I needed some clearance.

  ''Try to not let go of your sword when you swing it.'' She said walking in, she picked it up and swung it by the edge like it was as light as a feather. She then performed a perfect air slice move, then handed it to me.

  I nodded slightly, hidding my amazement.

  ''You're great at fence. And you're obviously not here for practice. So?''

  I waited for her to fill in the blank space.

  ''I'm looking for Mr. Pablo, I wanted to talk to him about something before he started teaching, I thought he'd be here. .'' She explained with her eyes searching the room.

  I glanced around as well, others had started showing up, it was a good sign for me, I felt my agitating mind settle, practice was still on however, still no Mr. Pablo.

  ''I suppose he's running late.'' I said holding my sword straight next to my face.

  I performed the same move nearly better than my first. She looked at me do it. She moved forward and pushed my elbow a little higher and made my arm straight, she stood at the end of my sword, then touched the tip and her finger slowly traced back to my elbow.

  ''Stiffen your muscles but not too tight.''

  Then she pushed my arm with her finger into a right angle.

  ''Do that. Strongly.'' She instructed me.

  She stood back, at my sword end again. I did as she said.

  ''Do it again. ''

  And I followed, this time shaper, I did it, repeatedly until I almost hit her. Almost, she stepped out just in time.

  ''See not bad.'' She said. I was dully thinking of that's why fencers were helmets.

  It was good, really good that it made me wonder why was she helping me. I prefigured she disliked me after that comment I made, she decried enough for me to get that but now she actually picked up the very sword she had once cast out of my hand, handed it to me and showed me a move. Odd. Perhaps she was over it. Because I was ready to make a mends.

  ''I'm really sorry about what I said after you knocked me out. I didn't mean it like that.''

  Her gestures seemed to be always tied to one, an amusingly devious face, alluring with a panache generosity, now it simply devoid emotion. ''We're Even, if you fight me next time.''

  ''You're joking, I can't fence you. Fairly atleast. ''

  ''I went easy on you. .''

  ''And I ended up on the floor.'' It was ridiculous to acknowledge that but it was better than fencing her again.

  ''Then I don't accept your apology.'' She replied with an edge of exaggerated exhaustion.

  I sighed, I turned directing my gaze to hers. Before I uttered a word, I noticed the room had become oddly quiet. The students fooling around on the left side had just froze like deer in headlights and as for the others doing absolutely nothing gawked suddenly, everyone seemed to be staring at the door. I hazily turned probably Mr. Pablo had finally arrived.

  Not at all. The were gawking at the , what they referred Branden Richards as. He smugly walked in with Ryan Austin. The way this crowd was staring like some celestial god descending from the sky.

  The students had formed a crowd and joined us at the front. Then continued to gawk at him. He stood up front. I looked at him and noticed he and his buddy were in their fence suits. He casually rotated his gaze at everyone, then stopped at me. I figured because I was at the center of all of this. I saw he's eyes turn slightly left, therefore exhibiting this avidity registration. That Sunset admiring kind of look. It as only for a moment before He turned back at me then his features tightened and twisted in ire, narrowing his deep blue eyes at me.

  I developed a small pinch between my brows, my features rearranging into intense wonder. As if I understood why he was glaring at me. Ryan Austin must have noticed the strange tension between us, because he cleared his throat loudly then nudged him by the shoulder. Branden glanced at him, as he's expressions shifted into indifference.

  ''Mr. Pablo's caught up in the staff room, there's a teacher's meeting going on. He's not coming.'' Branden said, blunt and an absolute fit of candid in his utter.

  The very time I ever heard him speak, he's voice was pretty good, decently strong and casual depth, with a bass breaking, he was british, like most of us here. Unfortunately, for me my accent had taken a weird assortment development, unlike Dad's complete accent, mine was between his british and Mom's, which was the typical, rustic unyielding tone of the Hevellyn hills accents, wreathed together.

  It finally settled in my head, that Mr. Pablo wasn't coming, it both dejected and slightly inflamed me that he wasn't coming, it was obviously blunt that he didn't have to be late, only excused, by not actually coming. The first time I came early the Man decided on not showing up.

  ''Hence why I'm here. He asked me to join you all for the remaining minutes.'' He added.

  My brows flew to my hairline, alot more stun, the Dark swan our coach for the next couple minutes. My spirits seemed to lighten up. Well, that wasn't so bad.