Shadow of Death (SOD)

Chapter 55

Asher was already done taking his bath.

Since he was almost late, he simply grabbed two apples and three bananas, stuffing them into his backpack before hurrying out with his dad.

They hopped into the car and were now on their way to Asher’s school.

Dipping his hand into his backpack, he pulled out his phone.

The same one that got sma—

’Huh? What was that again? Did it get destroyed? Ho—’

Before he could try to recall what had occurred, the screen lit up with a text from Rick.

Asher grabbed a banana, peeled it open, and began silently munching on it while simultaneously reading his friend’s text.

{Yo. Where you at? The exam would be starting in twenty minutes.}

Asher swallowed the last bite of the banana before replying.

"On my way. I woke up late due to going through a Nightmare."

He was about to close the screen when another message from Rick came in.

{Nightmare? What? Don’t tell me you got scared.}

A laughing emoji was added at the end of the message.

Asher clicked his tongue silently.

"Fuck off. I can never get scared."

{Sure you can’t. Just hurry up already.}

"Sure."

Asher grabbed another banana and began eating while enjoying the view outside the car.

Billboards flashed past his face, advertising several products ranging from soda drinks to even detergents.

’Crazy how I didn’t see any billboard in Ves— Uh... what was I thinking about?’

He blinked confusedly.

But nothing came to mind.

The thought had gone blank almost instantly, as though whatever he had been trying to remember had been wiped from his mind before he could grasp it.

Asher simply sighed, giving up on the thought and focusing instead on trying to recall what he had studied the previous night.

Some minutes later, the car could be seen rolling to a stop in front of the school.

Hurriedly stepping out, Asher waved at his dad.

"Bye."

Jack smiled softly, nodded, and then began driving off.

Asher stared at the car as it disappeared down the road for a few seconds before turning back toward the school.

His eyes settled on the signboard in front of him.

**Victorious High School; Where hard work meets excellence.**

Rubbing his face, he was about to move inside when—

"Ohoy! There you are. Been waiting here since."

Asher paused.

A small smile crossed his face as he turned toward the voice calling out to him.

A boy who stood at 5.6 with brown, wavy hair and deep green eyes could be seen walking toward him.

He was lean.

Not the malnourished type of lean.

He wore the school’s uniform, as expected.

Dark blue pants.

A white, long-sleeved shirt with a blue jacket worn over it.

A red tie hung loosely around the boy’s neck, while a sleek pair of black leather shoes snugly covered his feet.

He approached calmly and steadily.

Asher’s smile widened.

"Rick."

"Mehn... when did you become a late comer like me? Ha! For the first time in history, I came to school before you. Crazy."

Rick chuckled as he patted his friend on the back.

Asher clicked his tongue and lifted his hand to look at his watch.

"We have ten minutes before we are called in. Let’s go."

Asher didn’t waste time as he began walking away.

"Wait up."

Rick called out and hurried after him.

Soon, they began walking side by side.

Their footsteps hurried as they reached the school’s hall.

Rushing toward their lockers, they pulled them open and tossed their bags into their respective lockers.

Pen and ID card in hand, they turned around—

Only to see a beautiful light-skinned girl walking toward a locker and stuffing her bag inside.

Rick’s head immediately turned toward the girl.

Invisible heart shapes practically seemed to dance in his eyes.

"She’s gorgeous. I tell you, bro, she’s the mother of my kids."

Asher and Rick echoed in unison.

"She’s gorgeous. I tell you, bro, she’s the mother of my kids."

"....?!"

Rick blinked in confusion.

It took a few seconds for the red hearts in his eyes to vanish as he finally came to his senses and turned to look at his friend.

Asher, too, had a shocked look on his face as he replayed his own words in his mind.

"How did you know what I was about to say?" Rick questioned, his brows knitting together.

Asher rubbed his face, sinking into deep thought.

"I-I-I don’t know. It-It just came out."

Even though he said that, he wasn’t convinced himself.

’That was weird. I have never found myself fantasising over a girl before, so definitely, those weren’t my words. They were Rick’s. So how come I knew them?’

The thought made Asher’s expression grow increasingly uneasy.

Rick stared at his friend for a few moments.

His mouth opened as though he wanted to say something, but before he could—

The speakers in the hall suddenly blared loudly with an announcement.

"Chemistry exams for the seniors are beginning in two minutes. Hurry to your hall!"

"Come on, let’s go."

Rick urged as he grabbed his friend’s hand and hurried away.

....

It didn’t take long before they reached a queue leading into an examination hall.

Male and female students stood in separate lines.

Asher and Rick quickly joined the line.

Two teachers stood in front of the hall, checking the identification cards everyone had brought with them.

"If you don’t have your ID, you aren’t writing this exam. Know this and know peace. And keep the noise down already."

Asher muttered silently under his breath.

But the moment the words left his mouth, his expression changed.

His eyes darted around in confusion.

Why had he just said that?

And then—

Almost immediately, one of the teachers shouted.

"If you don’t have your ID, you aren’t writing this exam. Know this and know peace. AND KEEP THE NOISE DOWN ALREADY!"

Asher’s heart skipped a beat.

His eyes stretched wide.

’Wh-What was that?’

His breathing became slightly heavier.

’Once could be called a coincidence. But twice? Wh-What is happening to me?’

His mind raced for an explanation, but nothing came.

He kept his head hung low, staring at the ground beneath his feet as though it could somehow provide the answer he desperately sought.

Why had he known exactly what the teacher was going to say?

Why had the words come to his mind before the teacher spoke them?

And why did it feel like he had heard them somewhere before?

Asher’s fingers slowly tightened.

Unbeknownst to him, the teacher who had spoken was staring in his direction.

For the briefest moment, a cold glint flashed through the teacher’s eyes.

It was there for only a second.

Then it vanished.

His expression returned to normal as he resumed his duties, searching the students thoroughly for any form of cheating material they might attempt to bring inside.

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