5 Contract first day (1/2)
A thousand 'Aaa' rang in my ears.
I rammed my head under the pillow pushing the weight down, but the noises would not fade away. It took me all night to chase that demon out of my house and I got only two hours of sleep, and now this?!
The noise went silent as soon as I slammed my fist on the window. It was somewhat like an alarm clock.
I got myself ready for school wondering what was going on this early morning. The noise was so loud as if a big fighting stadium rose out of the earth beside my house within one night, or maybe it was the siren for accidents. It could even be that new kind of exercises where people breathe in and out singing 'Aa' loudly. I heard they called it the 'Chi' practice from China.
I opened the front door and something flapped into my face. I hit the thing with my bag and when the vision was clear, I saw—
The beginning of my doom.
Walking into the lawn, looking up the roof, I saw—
It was like black dots spreading everywhere. I pranced on my previously green lawn trying to find a walking space, felt almost—just almost—like Harry Potter when little Harry got his admission letters to Hogwarts for the first time. The sad thing was they were not cute owls from the witch school, they were—
”Aaa!”
A thousand CROWS cried in unison.
I am NOT going to any demon school!
”Aaa!” They called again as if greeting me.
It took me about five minutes to think what to do with these crows. I could not think of anything in the end but chasing the black birds away like I did to Dylan last night. ”Go! Go! Shoo!” I flailed my arms and bags like a lunatic. The crow took shelter on the roof where I could not reach them. I morosely pelted balls of hardened soil with my aching arms.
I was already very tired by the time I arrived school. Walking like a zombie, I went to Dale and Sonnia who were talking to each other excitedly about the heart attack news. But something with evil auras was coming from the opposite direction.
”Hey Leigh! I heard your mum's—”
Dale was left mid-sentence while Dylan dragged me away in the midst of everybody's eyes. They all watched me while I looked back at them for help imploringly.
Dylan pushed me into a cleaning room. I quickly ran for the door. He closed it and cornered me as I tried to look away from his beautiful eyes.
”Why did you chase all my friends away?” Dylan said in a slight angry tone.
”Friends?”
”I sent them to watch over you!” He said. ”So you can be safe when I'm not around!”
”You mean—” I said and tried to think hard what he was talking about. Wait,— ”Those are CROWS!”
”Ravens!”
”There were hundreds and hundreds of them!” It was my turn to get irritated. ”Are you crazy? People will think I have evil spirit following me with that many c—ravens!” Actually, that is quite true, I have this evil demon following around. ”And I didn't ask for anything to look after me!”
”It's my duty. And it's raven not craven.”
”Oh, come on!” I was about to reach my limit and I really needed some sleep. ”Just leave me alone okay?”
I shoved Dylan aside and walked out of the room. People were gathering around listening to our conversation. I hoped they heard nothing.
”Leigh!” Sonnia called out. She was with Dale and Michelle. They were one of those in the front row. ”What happened?”
I pressed my lips not daring to meet the eyes of the audiences who were waiting enthusiastically for my answer. It was going to be hard to explain. ”Nothing.” I decided to say and quickly walked away to art room where people were less concerned about those that happened around them.
”Leigh.” Jaden, our class rep, called out. ”We are painting on large canvas today. You can get one in the store room.” I nodded and saw Conner, carrying his, was walking this way. He stared at me piteously that I had to avert my eyes not to feel anymore guilt. Hey, I didn't do anything wrong!
”Leigh.” Conner called and it felt like I was getting caught at doing something evil—like—summoning a demon.
”Y—yes?” —sir.
He put a small piece of paper in my hand, ”If you need any help, you can come see me here,” and settled into his seat. I looked after those blond hair with confusion and surprise. I thought he was going to—I don't know, something not nice! But then suddenly I remembered, Conner might actually be a nice person because he used to compliment my paintings (Okay, enough lame reason!). I looked briefly at the paper. It was a rough map to some place.
I put it away. For now.
The canvas was about six feet high. It blocked all my vision and I had a hard time holding it with the height of five feet five. The cumbersome wood frame got in my way and it jerked forward.
”Careful!” Someone got hold of the canvas saving my fall.
”Thanks—” err—
—Dylan was giving me a friendly smile.
Fastening my clasp on the canvas frame, fastening my mind, I tugged the frame over to my side. ”It's okay, I can carry this. I don't need your help.”