Chapter 4 Her replica

"What the hell happened to you?" Athena asked, assisting Darelia to sit up and her eyes widened, she was back on the bed again or maybe it was her roommates who brought her to the room. "What happened to you?" Fair asked, even though she wanted to feel unconcerned because she hated the way Darelia has not been saying anything.

Darelia looked at them, remembering her encounter in the toilet and she sighed, going back to sleep. "Did she just snub us?" Fair scoffed, "Maybe she's just tired." Athena defended her and she covered her with the duvet while Fair walked out of the room, going back to class.

Darelia was beginning to get scared, what exactly was happening? "I don't understand any of it -- what exactly is happening?" Darelia thought, rubbing the fur of her cat as she tried to sleep but she couldn't. She kept on remembering all that she has seen and heard, the school was looking really creepy to her.

IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE ✓

"Principal Mana!" Haven called as she entered into the office and the principal smiled upon seeing her. "I hope Dare has been coping well?" Principal Mana asked and Haven frowned, who is Dare? "Your new roommate -- I mean Darelia." She corrected herself quickly, why does she keep calling her Dare? And who the hell gave her that name when dare is just a game?

Haven sat down, "That is exactly why I am here." She started, looking at principal Mana's reaction but she found none. "I noticed she hasn't said a word since she came into our room yesterday." Haven said and the principal sighed, resting her back on her arm chair.

Would it be nice to tell her about Darelia being dumb? Will Darelia actually like it? "Whenever she wants to say something or write something, she draws images instead and she passed out today too." Haven sounded so concerned which was the first time principal Mana would see her that way.

"Images? She doesn't write words?" Haven thought principal Mana was as surprised as she was. She indeed is surprised because Darelia's supposed mother didn't include it in her file while giving information to the principal. "I came to confirm it from you and ask if something can be done to help her." Haven admitted though it made her cringe that she actually cared about someone she doesn't even know.

Principal Mana looked at the door and saw it properly closed, "Darelia is actually dumb." She said in a low voice and Haven gasped, that explains her silence all along. "I'm glad you want to help and I hope this conversation would end here, keep it between us." Principal Mana warned and Haven quickly nodded.

"She might get bullied since she is dumb and she can't even write to express herself, she needs help principal Mana." Haven said in a desperate manner, afraid of what might keep happening to Darelia if she isn't helped.

Principal Mana smiled, "That is why I placed her in your room, you would be able to protect her from bullies." She said and a glint waved past Haven's eyes. She had been bullied before and she dealt with them in the most cruel way ever, she would surely deal with anyone who bullies Darelia because she hates bullies.

"About someone who can help her, I think I have one." Principal smiled, breaking Haven's thoughts and the door opened, a young lady walking in her heels. Dressed like a complete nun, she had her nose covered too. "This is Miss Andrea, she will be in charge of Darelia." Principal Mana introduced.

Haven looked at her with unsure eyes, how come she had been prepared like she knew the principal would recommend her? It sounded strange to Haven but she smiled instead. "Miss Haven --" Miss Andrea cut her short and Haven's eyes dimmed, how did she know her name?

"I am a friend of principal Mana and I know more than half of the students here, don't be surprised." Miss Andrea said and Haven unconsciously nodded and walked out of the office like she is being controlled to. "Why do I feel this is quite strange?" Haven muttered when she stepped outside because it wasn't of her will to come out of the principal's office yet, she still wanted to talk about Darelia's dumbness.

Haven entered into their room, looking straight at Darelia's bed but she was nowhere to be found. "Darelia...." She muttered, rushing outside to search for her, what if she ended up in the hands of bullies now that half of the people in the class knows she can't write?

Darelia was at the front of the statue, staring inquisitively at it. Something was off and she could feel it, something strange was coming from the statue and she wanted to find out. Her hands reached for the statue and touched it, "Darelia?!" Haven's yell made her flinch but she could swear she felt the statue move.

"How did she know my name? I only told Athena and she didn't understand." Darelia thought and her cat which was sitting in her second hand meowed in response. "What are you doing out here?" Haven asked, throwing a glance at the statue.

Darelia just continued looking at her like a dummy, isn't Haven the same girl that had behaved cold towards since she came? What changed? "I knew your name through principal Mana, I just happened to run into her on my way here." Haven lied, she has to hide the fact that she can actually read Darelia's words through her drawing.

Darelia nodded, hugging her cat and looking back at the statue again. "It looks strange to you too?" Haven asked, seeing that Darelia's gaze has been on the statue too long and she quickly nodded. Everywhere suddenly became dark and complete fog filled everywhere, separating her from Haven.

"Darelia? Darelia!" Haven called, confused on how it could become dark suddenly when it was just three in the afternoon and at the same time worried for Darelia, what if something attacks her when she can't even talk? She tried using her black cat powers to search amidst the fog for Darelia.

Darelia on the other hand has lost her cat because it jumped down from her hands immediately everywhere became dark. She couldn't talk, scream or yell. The only thing she could do was look around and run of anything dangerous attacks but it has been silent for the past two minutes which sent shrills down her spine.

She turned back when she suddenly felt a presence behind her but she couldn't see anyone. "Darelia --" She could hear Haven yelling out her name but since she couldn't reply, she just remained still almost crying as to why she was dumb.

"Behind you, Darelia!" The voice, it sounded different from the manly one she always hear and when she looked back, her replica dressed like a reverend sister pushed her to the ground and Darelia started shifting backwards quickly when she saw the canines of the girl who looked like her, ready to dig into her flesh - her throat seemed hooked as she tried to scream.