Chapter 3: Keep Sake

“They’re here!” Mr. Johnson repeated, more urgently this time.

Fear was something that John Craig did not have in his vocabulary. Everyone in the bounty-hunting business knows that the “Card Trick Master” is not the type of person to be scared about anything. Not even death. Certainly not even those monsters. Fear doesn’t describe what he felt when he heard they were here. It was anger. Hatred. Loathing.  He used to be the one who chases after fugitives. How come he was the one who is being chased now?

He stood and quickly grabbed his card gun. This has to stop now.

He was halfway through the door when Cecilia called out to him.“Where do you think you are going? Didn’t you hear what Mr. Johnson said? It’s dangerous out there!”

“I’m gonna put a stop to this.”

Isabel couldn’t help but snicker. “Seriously? You actually think that weapon of yours could stop them? We are talking about the undead here, and FYI: they can’t be killed. Not even with sharp card bullets.”

“Isabel is right, John. Please, just calm down.” Cecilia motioned for him to sit beside them.

John heaved a heavy sigh. They were right. He was being irrational. “Alright. But we have to get out of here soon.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll think of a plan. Let’s just rest; we’ll need the energy.”

“But the zombies-”

“It’s okay,” Allison assured. “They won’t go near us. Not with these oil paintings around us.”

At first they weren’t comfortable sleeping because of the thought of the zombies lurking around in the same building as they are so Isabel volunteered to watch over them to give them a peace of mind. Whenever something happens she would wake them up immediately. They agreed, but they have to take turns so that everyone could get a chance to rest.

When all of them were fast asleep, Isabel walked around the gallery to amuse herself. She had to admit, Allison’s father was a good painter. She’s not really a fan of art but the paintings were quite fascinating.

After what seemed to be a couple of hours, Isabel sat down and took out her small notebook. It was a gift from her father four years ago. Keep track of everything happening in your life, he had told her. It would be very useful for you in the future. It was a few weeks after her mom’s death, about the time when he started the experiments.

She opened the notebook and started writing.

Nothing much happened today, but all of us got tired because of the fourteen-hour drive. We safely got into the sanctuary. So far, the theory about the oil paint was correct. It did keep the zombies out. That’s good, we had time to rest for tomorrow. Somehow I was assured that the theory about the carillon tower healing them was true. I don’t know the scientific explanation about it but I really hope it works. I don’t want all our efforts to be wasted.

“I hope you’re watching up there dad,” she thought as looked up in the white ceilings of the wall. “I’m going to make you proud.”

Lesson Learned #4

Sometimes, the only escape in this world is sleeping. No worries, no regret. Bonus: you get to live in a dream where you could be anyone you want to be. If it gets worse and leads to a nightmare.. all you have to do is wake up. 

Lesson Learned #3

Sometimes, you just get tired of it. of EVERYTHING. 

Rivals

Something fell from her locker door when she opened it. Serena looked suspiciously at the envelope for a while before bending over to pick it up. Strange. She made it very clear that she will not accept any letters or notes from them. Save those for someone who would read them, she shouted one day out of annoyance. I’ve had enough of this. The next day, all her admirers found a large sign taped in her locker: This is not a mailbox. To save time and energy, kindly put it in a garbage bin nearby because that’s where it is going anyway. She wasn’t really the kind of person who throws out love notes. She’s harsh most of the time, but she cares about other people’s feelings nonetheless. But enough is enough.

Now that she looked carefully, she realized that the envelope in her hands was pink and fragrant. Boys don’t use those kinds of envelope for love letters, do they? Curiously, she tore it open and read the note inside. Reena, it says, with the trademark heart she got used to seeing. It was that same weird-shaped heart that looks more like a bloated M than a heart.  

Inter-school Dance competition on the 25^th. That’s a week from now. I recommended you to the principal, and she agreed! You’re one of the representatives for Southeast High. :) Please don’t hate me for this!! Your cutest friend, Kate.

***

“Ugh. I can’t recall how it goes but I know it was a song from High School Musical.” Kate scratched her head and sank into deep thought. “It’s like catching lightning.. lala-la-lala-la..” she sang.

It’s like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you
It’s one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better
So can I have this dance

Can I have this dance?

“That’s it! That’s the song she’s been crazy about.” Kate exclaimed excitedly. “Wow. You’re a good singer, Jake. Not to mention, a very talented dancer, too. No wonder you are so popular with all the girls out there.”

The raven haired boy shrugged. Not all of them, he thought. That girl would not even spare me a glance.

“Seriously, did Serena really like that song? You’re talking about the Ice Queen, right?”

“Please stop calling her that. She hates being called an Ice Queen,” Kate said without looking up. “Why do you ask?” she added, referring to his question.

“She just… doesn’t seem to be someone who would listen to that kind of music. I thought-”

“What was that craziness all about?!” Serena bursted upon entering the room. She went straight to Kate, demanding explanation.

“I asked you not to hate me for it…” Kate said, holding her hand up in defense.

“You should have consulted me first!”

“I had no choice. I had to decide quickly as the President!”

Jake, totally ignored by now, continued to watch as the girls argued.

“I’m sure there are other girls out there who would want to take that spot. Why pick me?”

“Eherm,” he smiled at the two dumbfounded girls staring at him.

“What’s that man doing here?” Serena pointed to him.

“Whoa, is that how you greet a friend?” he grinned.

“We are not friends.” She tried hard to stop herself from adding, how I wish I never met you. “Go away.”

“Uhm. Reena, I’m afraid he has to stay..” Kate said nervously.

Serena turned to her.

“He’s your dance partner.”

***

Kate had just finished explaining about the theme of the competition, which is social dances, and how Jake was picked by the faculty to be her partner. Still, Serena’s expression was deadpan. The message was clear. She’d rather die than to be his dance partner. After some persuasion from Kate,

She reluctantly agreed.

“Just keep in mind that you guys should do your best. Our school has been champion in that competition for several consecutive years already. We don’t want to break that.” Kate said seriously.

“I guess we better start practicing then!” Jake said enthusiastically. “Why don’t we use Ice Qu- I mean, Serena’s song?”

“I was thinking of that too!” Kate said with the same level of enthusiasm.

“Great! What do you think, Serena Fuentes?” he curtsied and let his hand out towards her, “Can I have this dance?”

The Ice Queen

All students in Southeast High call her the “Ice Queen,” but her real name is Serena Fuentes. Why Ice Queen? You might ask. Well, that is because she has this sang-froid, sarcastic and cold attitude. People are always reluctant to talk to her for the fear of being ignored. But despite her jaded demeanor, she has been kind and caring on occasion. You’d rarely see her laugh, but she smiles when amused.

She likes to keep her brown hair short, a couple of inches above her shoulder blades. She wears brown contacts in order to hide her ocean blue eyes that always catch her fellow students’ attention. You will always see her dressed in style whenever she not in the school’s uniform. Aside from her beauty, she is also one of the best in her class, making this 17-year-old girl popular with boys, as well as the girls, in the whole campus.

As the saying goes, “there is more than meets the eye.” Ice Queen Serena is a mere façade of the real Serena Angelica Fuentes, and only her bestfriends are aware of it. Tina and Kate Robins were childhood friends with her, and they know Serena’s past. She was born and raised in the Philippines but her mother was English and her father, Japanese. Some people say that she looked a lot like her mother. Their family was liked by people in their neighborhood for their humility in spite of the riches they possess. Sadly, poor little Serena was left alone in this world when her parents died in an accident. She stayed in the orphanage for a while. But after she proved herself independent enough to live on her own, she left. Since then, she started living on her own with the money her parents left. She also changed from a bubbly, happy-go-lucky girl to a serious and independent one. She currently resides in a condo along Katipunan where she can freely be herself. It is spacious enough for her to be able to do what she loves the most: dancing.