Hamerton - Final episode

Hallow new readers & all viewers!
This is a story about Hamerton, a large school that has a lot of things going on, most of them being illegal and terrorizing. Natalie Bradley, an intelligent and talented girl from Brooklyn joins this school after her friend Caitlin who was allegedly murdered in Hamerton. She is agonized by the news of her friend's tragic death and she has to face up with Hamerton's bloody governance in order to secure the President's badge that has the power to decode a bomb that could cause a large massacre, soon.

She teams up with Trevor Tommy, the ex and most renowned president of Hamerton, Ingrid, and other Class D students against Nicky and her fellow evil seniors.

Previously on Hamerton; Natalie is ready to face Corny Howls and tell him the truth about Trevor's kidnapping and Hamerton. 

Kenneth asked Natalie to retrieve his diamond watch from Trevor.

Continue in the final episode of this part of HAMERTON 

“Hallow?”

“Son?”

“Yes father?”
“Your brother is missing.”

“What!” Kenneth exclaimed at his father’s report.

He was getting ready for rest when his dad called. Kenneth sat up on the bed staring worriedly at the atmosphere.

“Yes.”

“Please father? Explain to me what happened. How can you say that Trevor is missing? How is that even possible?”

“I told you that he should not go back to that school. But, you denied my opinion on the matter and claimed that you will perform a heroic act of saving the damn place.” Father complained in grief.

“Dad, dad. Please calm down. Let me know what happened. Everything was working perfectly. His girlfriend already agreed to be President. We only needed the watch that I gave him so that we can save the school.”

“Stop with all that nonsense of saving the lives of people who I don’t even know! Your crazy service has cost my son’s comfort. God! I don’t even know where he is.” Father cried.

Kenneth sighed deeply. He felt sorry for his father more than he worried about Trevor. Trevor was the apple of dad’s eye and if anything ever happened to him, Dad was very affected.

“For your own sake Kenneth, take care that nothing wrong happens to my boy. If all but a fly falls on him, I will never forgive you, Kenneth. You heard me? Never!”

Kenneth gulped with fright.

He did not expect that his father would remain on the line after the threats but, father did.

“Dad. Please don’t say that. Have you talked to Howls?”

Dad sighed. “Yes. And it has already been a while since I did.”

“I trust him. But, I’ll also make some contacts or go to Hamerton.”

“Do absolutely everything.”

“Yes father.”

“Good bye Kenneth.”

“Good bye father.” Kenneth bid and hang up.

He drew a deep sigh afterward and darted his gaze around the hotel room.

He scratched his head, resolving the situation. He did not understand how Trevor could go missing. Was he kidnapped? Oh was he fine?

Kenneth never had much ‘affinity’ for his brother or anyone but, lately his life had changed. Having a wife and a son taught him something called affection; an ethereal thing that Kenneth never possessed.

He took his phone again and dialed some numbers.

Natalie buried her head between her legs crying under the blue blanket of the 9:00pm sky. The commotion was similar throughout the school compound.

With recovery of Nicky’s body, the whole school turned to chaos. Everyone insisted on going home and on their own, they phoned their parents who came to pick them up.

The Minister of Home affairs came to visit their school and soon the shootings in Hamerton became a national issue.

Natalie was crying because of Trevor. Ingrid mentioned that he had a few hours to live and Natalie was almost sure that it was late for him.

She had told Cowls everything she knew about Hamerton and Corny Howls went out in search for Steven. He did not allow her to accompany the police and that, made Natalie very devastated.

She knew that the police were gathering informants on the sect and because of Nicky’s murder, most of them were pressurized to tell the truth.

However, uncovering the sect was the least of her concern. She worried about Trevor. She had not seen or heard from him after they parted at John F. Kennedy airport when he brought her back from Vegas.

While in Las Vegas, Trevor shared many things with her. She was ever so in love and could do anything for him. She was very frustrated when she could not return to Hamerton because of her parents’ economic situation. Now she was back but in a very terrible moment and perhaps could not have been able to save his life.

“Trevor…” she sobbed, calling his name.

There was no response. There was the void feeling of his emptiness. He was gone.

Trevor was dead.

Watch out for the next part of Hamerton, after this break;

©All rights reserved

#Hamerton 

Chapter 14- episode 15

              HAMERTON

Hallow new readers!
This is a story about Hamerton, a large school that has a lot of things going on, most of them being illegal and terrorizing. Natalie Bradley, an intelligent and talented girl from Brooklyn joins this school after her friend Caitlin who was allegedly murdered in Hamerton. She is agonized by the news of her friend's tragic death and she has to face up with Hamerton's bloody governance in order to secure the President's badge that has the power to decode a bomb that could cause a large massacre, soon.

She teams up with Trevor Tommy, the ex and most renowned president of Hamerton, Ingrid, and other Class D students against Nicky and her fellow evil seniors.

Previously on Hamerton;

The day before yesterday.

“Hello?”

“Hi.”

“Natalie, right?”

“Yes. Amh, Trevor?”

There was a short laugh. “No, no dear. I wish that I could hear from him as well. It’s Kenneth.”

“Oh… Hi.”

“I have been trying to reach my brother. Have you gotten hold of him lately?”

“No Kenneth. His cellphone’s not picking up.”

“Mmh. Okay. How about his girlfriends? Ingrid, Erin?”

“I talked to Ingrid earlier. She told me that he was resting.”

“That’s great. Are you going back to Hamerton?”

“Yeah, yeah. I am.” She replied excitedly.

“Great. Tell me what you know about Erin.”

“Well… she’s Trevor and Ingrid’s friend. Mine too.” Natalie said and paused.

“What’s her connection to the sect in your school?”

Natalie took some time, thinking. “I can say deep but, she’s on our side.”

“What about the president’s badge?”

“Are you asking what I know about it?”

“Yes please.”

“Well… as I was told, it can decode the bomb that the sect are going to explode in Hamerton.”

“Anyone gave you the combination?”

Natalie furrowed her eyebrows. “No. Is there’s supposed to be a combination?”

“Yes.” Kenneth said and paused. “Listen, if you get hold of my brother, request him to send me the Tick-Tock.”

“Tick tock?”

“Yeah. He’ll understand.”

“Wait amh…” Natalie asked for some time to resolve. She drew in a deep breath. “Does that by any chance mean Trevor’s wrist watch?”

“Yea. The one my mom gave me before she died. Trevor has already told you about it right?”

Natalie gulped.

Wait… what????

“So, Trevor’s diamond wrist watch… it’s yours. You gave it to him?” she asked.

“Not exactly gave him but, my mom gave it to me. C’mon Natalie, I don’t have to narrate to you the history. Just, request Trevor to send it to me.”

“Wait… amh, Trevor doesn't have your wrist watch.”

“Don’t tell me he lost it. It’s my heirloom. We don’t usually share things and I didn't give it to him willingly.” He paused, getting sentimental. “Well, he was going to the operating room then and I let him have it. That’s all. The kid kept it since then.”

Natalie was silent, still worried.

“Okay. Just tell him to send it to me. I have my own combinations there that might match your badge. Goodbye.”

Natalie was silent.

Today

Flashes of various and similar incidents came to her mind. She turned to Natalie. “Let’s go to the bathroom.”

Natalie rose. “Okay. Where do you keep your tissue?”

“No. Not that. If it is occurring to me well, Erin was quite fond of one particular bathtub in our bathing hall.”

“Oh… yeah!” Natalie said, just realizing it.

Ingrid took her hand and strode with her to the bathroom at the end of the corridor.

The hall was large and white-tiled. There were at least 20 cubicles on each side which had built-in toilets and showers. An empty space remained at the center that the girls usually used to shower if all the bathroom cubicles were filled.

The floor was wet when the girls entered. The sound of an open shower filled the hall.

“One,” Ingrid began, taking her right hand direction across the bathroom hall.

Natalie escorted her, counting the bathrooms.

“Two, three.” Ingrid called and stopped at one cubicle with a loosely closed door.

The sound of the opened shower came from this cube.

Natalie looked down. She stepped on a larger paddle of water here.

Ingrid pushed the door open softly to reveal Erin’s favorite bathing cubicle in its destroyed form.

The toilet tank was broken and the over flow tube let out water in a violent turbulence.

“What happened here?” Natalie asked carelessly. 

Ingrid looked around searching for the possible answer. She spotted a folded piece of paper lying on the water paddle beside the toilet sink.

She walked forward to pick it up. “I have a lot of reason to believe that, someone else was here before us.”

Natalie glanced at her and the paper that Ingrid was holding. “What is that?”

“Let me read it.” Ingrid said after unfolding the paper. She begun and as she went on, tears tingled her eyes. “I wrote this as I intended to talk with Morningstar, I expected that I would not survive and so… I am not.” She paused, sighing deeply.

Natalie covered her mouth, gasping and releasing her own tears.

Ingrid swallowed and went on. “I hope that you are Ingrid or Natalie or both of you.” she smiled a little at that. It was both of them. “Turn the other page.” Ingrid furrowed her eyebrows and did so.

The other page had the ink spattered because of the water.

Natalie paid attention, waiting.

“I don’t understand.” Ingrid confessed, spreading the paper in the air. “It’s some kind of blue print but, highly distorted because of getting wet.” She narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing it. Natalie had joined her hands anxiously. “Wait… wait. I know these. They are boxes but, these boxes… they stand for something.” She said and hurriedly took out the President’s badge. She took Natalie’s hand and placed the badge in her palm. “Open it. It has a loose end somewhere.”

Natalie looked at it. She tried cracking it with her nails. “What do the codes as you say, mean?” she managed to pull the lid out of the back of the badge.

It looked like the inside of a digital watch.

Ingrid traced the boxes on the print. “There are pack of resistors and, and min-capacitors… right?” she said and lowered the print to hear Natalie’s response.

“Yeah.” Natalie replied. “Is this supposed to be a device to decode a bomb?”

“Yes.” Ingrid replied and took up the paper again. “There are words here… amh,” she squinted her eyes. “Fill the gap.”

Natalie glanced at her. “What gap?”

Ingrid strode forward to Natalie, looking at the badge. “Check for any gap.”

Natalie did.

“Wait, this does look like a watch.” Ingrid said, just realizing it.

Natalie blinked quickly, staring at the atmosphere, Kenneth did mention a connection between Trevor’s watch and the President’s badge.

“There.” Ingrid said, placing her fingertip on an empty space between red wiring.

Natalie looked at the badge again. “Yeah. I see it.” She dismissed the thought of Kenneth in her mind for another time.

Ingrid drew back and raised the blueprint in front of herself. “It goes on here… Fill the gap with the chip, amh…” she narrowed her eyes. “OMG this sheet is all messed up.”

“The water ey?”

“Yeah. Amh… fill the gap with the chip…. In the… watch?” she read and ended up in a queer.

Natalie’s eyes glowed with an enlightening. That must have been Trevor’s watch!

“Watch?”

Natalie almost jumped back with a new voice that came behind her, asking.

She spanned around quickly to incur Nicky’s sight.

She had made her way unnoticed as the girls were focused on Erin’s message and distracted by the leaking toilet tank.

Nicky held a barrel gun, tapping it on her palm.

Natalie stared at her dreadfully. Fear traveled in her blood.

“I was kinda expecting, calculator or… I dunno. But, a watch?” Nicky went on.

Natalie turned to Ingrid but, she was also holding a gun and pointing it at her.

Natalie’s eyes widened with shock. What?

Who was Ingrid pointing the gun at? stay tuned to find out.....

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kindly don't forget to drop your comments on the story Hamerton, wherever on the net with the hashtag #creativewritingHamerton . 

                                  HAMERTON


For new readers; Natalie joins Hamerton, a large school that has a lot of things going on, most of it being illegal and terrorizing. She is agonized by the news of her friend's tragic death and she has to face up with the Hamerton's bloody governance in order to secure the President's badge that has the power to decode a bomb that could cause a large massacre. She teams up with Trevor, the ex and most renowned president of Hamerton and Class D students against Nicky and her fellow evil seniors.

Previously on Hamerton. Natalie is up to do something to recover Trevor's diamond watch. She walks the familiar paths to Brimstone to an apartment building and meets Mr. Pixel. She informs him of Caitlin's death and they wait as the young master of the building. 

Natalie turned around to face Ivan. He was tall with an athletic body and short blond hair. He wore a black coat over a shirt and a Grey scarf around his neck. He also had on dark trousers and black leather shoes.

“Natalie.” He called shortly.

She offered a smile. “Ivan.”

He chuckled a little. He was happy to see his old friend again. “What brings you here?” he asked, smiling.

“You.”

He nodded. “I can imagine.” He waved his hand toward the large building entrance. “Come in, please.”

“Thank you.” Natalie said and bid Mr. Pixel then joined Ivan into the building.

She looked around the large and busy vestibule it was just like the chief building’s lobby back in Hamerton.

“I see that nothing’s changed.” She said to Ivan, walking alongside with him.

“No.” he agreed. “There weren't any major reformations.”

She remained silent.

He led her to an elevator across the hall in which they boarded with a handful of staff wearing orange uniforms.

“Is there any electrical problem upstairs?” Ivan asked one of the men.

“Yes.” The man replied and checked a small notepad that he was holding. “Level 15.” He added.

Ivan nodded.

The elevator paused at the fifteenth level of the building and the electricians left Ivan and Natalie to continue their journey to the twentieth floor.

Ivan exited first, emerging into another hallway with white paneled walls and glass doors to various rooms in the floor.

The hallway was quiet and Natalie only saw one person, a staff as she assumed, carrying some files from a desk at one end of the hallway and heading to the elevator.

The staff greeted them and resumed with her journey.

“Where are your parents?” she asked when they paused at a door and he was opening it.

“Dad is in his office. Mom went to Spain for a business convection.”

He opened it.

“Oh. I miss them.”

He walked in to a large sophisticated living room. It was colored in black and white.

There were white sofa sets surrounding a glass coffee table. A black carpet was covered the floor while a crystal chandelier hanged on the roof of the room.

Ivan walked to a bar counter at one end of the room and took two glasses from a glass cupboard. “What can I serve you?”

“Maybe water.”

“Alright.” He agreed and went to a fridge beside the cupboard. He took a jug of water and his own bottle of wine.

He poured the drinks. “Maybe before you leave, you can visit my dad in his office.” He walked to her and gave her her drink.

“Thank you.” she said.

“Where are my manners? Please, have a seat Natalie.” He said realizing that she was still standing.

She thanked again and they sat opposite each other.

He sipped his drink. “I haven’t asked, how is Caitlin? I never heard from her after she left Brimstone.”

Natalie sighed and relinquished her glass on the coffee table. “Ivan, a lot has happened since Caitlin’s mother died. That’s why I am here. I need your help.”

He studied her face for a few seconds with his inquisitive gaze. “Tell me.”

She took in a deep breath to break the news. “Caitlin… She died.”

“What!” he exclaimed with unbelief.

Natalie swallowed. “Yes. About a year ago in a school that she shifted to.” She added in agony. “There was a bomb explosion and Ivan, it claimed her life.”

Ivan rose, relinquishing his glass on the carpet. “Oh my God.” He cried, rubbing his head with his hands.

Natalie could now fathom how much he loved Caitlin.

Ivan was the only boyfriend that Caitlin had in her life in Brimstone. When her mother died, she disconnected herself from him and Brimstone completely. Moving to England cut the ties utterly. Ivan felt mistreated and though he tried to understand her. He could not.

He became close friends with Natalie who went on going to Brimstone until she shifted too, to study in England.

“Caitlin…” he cried. “But, how? Why?”

Natalie could not help but release tears herself. “That’s what I asked when they told me. But, we have a problem in our school Ivan. And now, I need you to help me. Please?”

“I don’t want to accept it Natalie. I will go to England. I don’t want to accept that she’s gone.” He said, pacing in front of the couch.

She rose too. “Ivan, I do not want to accept that either.” She said and looked away. “Recently, I had a dream and I saw her.” She drooped back on the seat. “She told me that she was tortured. She warned me not to go back to Hamerton.” she paused, crying.

Ivan glanced at her and drew a deep sigh. He joined her on the love seat.

“Tell me what happened to her. Please?” He asked. “Tell me about the school. Please tell me everything.”

She sniffed once and he offered her a handkerchief. Thereafter beginning from when Ingrid informed her of Caitlin’s death, Natalie told Ivan everything about Hamerton.

He was puzzled and intrigued by the whole story. When she concluded, he had a lot of questions. “I don’t understand.” He confessed. “How could anyone plan anything as cruel as that?”

“I don’t understand either. It’s so inhumane.”

“And you believe everything that your friends told you?”

“It sounds insane but, it’s true.”

“But, if it is as you say then why don’t you tell the police or any one?” he asked.

“None of them can be trusted.”

“No. Who told you that?”                                                                                             “Well, if it were not true then, Ingrid or Trevor would have done that a long time ago.” She paused and recalled something. “I have seen so myself as our water was poisoned by mercury. We had to stop the risk of getting infected with hydrargyria ourselves.”

He was silent, digesting her story.

“Ivan you have to believe me. All I’m telling you is the truth.”

He seemed not entirely convinced but, he asked anyway. “So, how do you want me to help you?”

She smiled first then said. “I know that your father works for the police department of Brooklyn. I need you to help me get a lead on Simon.”

He furrowed his eyebrows. “Simon who?”

“My… boyfriend or, you can say ex-boyfriend because we are not seeing each other anymore.”

“It was about time.” He said with gladness.

She frowned. “Why are you happy for that?”

“Natalie, the guy is a thief and a gangster. He has a pile of files in my father’s office.”

“Oh…I realized that late enough.” She said looking down.

He took her hand trying to cheer her up. “So, why should I track down Simon Stone?”

She glanced at him. “He stole my watch. Trevor’s diamond watch which is also a key to unlock the bomb that is going to explode in our school.”

He was silent, staring bluntly at her.

She frowned. “What is the problem?”

He took away his hand that he held her. “It’s just that everything that you say seems so unreal. I mean, a bomb, in school. And y’all won’t tell anyone.”

She opened her mouth to answer him but, her phone buzzed in her coat pocket. “Excuse me.” She said and picked it up, rising.

“Hallow?” she greeted.

“Oh hi?” Erin’s voice came so charmingly.

Natalie furrowed her eyebrows. She thought that she recognized Trevor’s number before picking it up. “Erin. What’s up?”

“No dear. Let’s start with you, are you fine?”

Natalie grimaced at Erin’s tone and her question. She glanced at Ivan behind her and back to her front. “Yeah. I’m okay. I’m coming this-”

“It’s great to hear that you are fine dear.” Erin replied politely before her voice turned cynic. “Because, the owner of this phone is not.”

Natalie folded her face with confusion. “What? Where is Trevor?”

“The evil people took him.”

Now Natalie was mad. “What are you talking about Erin? What happened to him?”

Erin sighed, getting soft. “Nicole and Steve kidnapped him. He was unconscious or maybe in coma, I don’t know. I don’t know what exactly they are plotting but, if you don’t show up quickly, you might not hear from him again.”

At Erin’s last sentence, Natalie felt her heart shutter to pieces. She could not imagine what that betrayal Steven and the evil Nicole might have done to Trevor. She was so far… Trevor needed him.

She felt her legs weaken and wanted to hold on to something. Ivan sensed that and came behind her, taking her hand.

“Erin. Please, tell me what exactly is going on. Where is Trevor? Where have they taken him?”

“I don’t know Natalie!” Erin rasped. “And don’t tell Ingrid because she will freak out. I only informed you because you are his girlfriend and… you should expect what’s coming because,” she paused to add sentimentally. “Some thugs beat up Michael Morningstar. He is in the school clinic as we speak and in a very bad shape.”

Natalie gasped. Nothing looked good.

“Make haste to come here okay?” Erin said and hang up.

Natalie broke into a cry afterward making Ivan puzzled.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Those people. They hurt Trevor… and I can’t do anything.” She cried.

“Hey hey. Calm down.” He said trying to coax her. “Those people you were telling me about. They hurt your guy?”

She nodded vainly wiping her tears. “We have to do something Ivan. I have to get that watch.”

He sighed feeling sorry for her then, gave her another handkerchief from his coat pocket.

She thanked again and wiped her face with it. “I don’t know what to do… if he gets into coma he could die.”

“Don’t say that.” He warned then took her hands. “Listen, you take care of going back to Hamerton. I will take care of finding Simon.”

“You… you will do that for me?” she asked feeling a bit elated.

He nodded and she hugged him. “Thank you thank you Ivan. Oh thank you.” she said with gratitude.

“What are friends for?” he replied and she drew back.

“It’s a diamond watch.”

“Okay.”

“It has a circular head and roman numerals.”

“You will send me the details via email.”

She nodded, smiling and hugged him again. “I knew that I could count on you.”

What happened next? stay tuned to find out

©All rights reserved

Chapter 13

                                     HAMERTON


For new readers; Natalie joins Hamerton, a large school that has a lot of things going on, most of it being illegal and terrorizing. She is agonized by the news of her friend's tragic death and she has to face up with the Hamerton's bloody governance in order to secure the President's badge that has the power to decode a bomb that could cause a large massacre. She teams up with Trevor, the ex and most renowned president of Hamerton and Class D students against Nicky and her fellow evil seniors.

Previously in Hamerton. 

Three months ago.

“It’s one ‘O’ clock.” Natalie said glancing at a diamond wrist watch around her hand. Trevor left it to her the other night. She requested to see it and she had no time to give it back.

At the time, she turned to Steve who was undoing a small metal case that Robert brought. They were only two in the room, other members had scattered for lunch.

“He must be hungry.” She added.

Steven did not look at her. “Only a few more minutes.”

“Steven, what if he had to go to the bathroom first?”

“It’s a risk we had to take.” He opened the box. “To save Ingrid, you and him. Done.”

She marched up to him and looked into the box. “What is that?”

“I’m not so sure.” He replied taking out a glass encasing a silver like liquid.

“Wait.” She snapped and snatched it from him. “This…It’s metal.”

“Mercury?”

“Primarily yes.” She replied nodding. “Where did you get it?”

“I was looking for the calculator where Erin instructed me. I took interest in this. But, why would Erin keep,” he scanned the glass container, estimating its size, “averagely 60 mm of Hydrargyrum in her locker?”

“Good question. Considering just how dangerous it is.” Natalie supported.

He extended the box to her and she placed back the glass container.

He closed the box.

“Are you going to give it back to her?” she asked.

“I will ask her first.” He said.

“Okay. Steven, let him out.”

“Sure.” He said beginning to leave the room. “But, one tiny thing that we didn't mention to you Natalie when we had Trevor stuck in the elevator.” He continued as she escorted him out.

They took some stairs going down a few stories below where they were.

“What?” she asked.

Before he replied, Brendan appeared in front of them at the end of the staircase.

“Steve. I can’t see Trevor or Nicky anywhere.” He informed.

Natalie was confused. Wait… probably, no it’s not that. She thought inwardly.

They came down the stairs and met with Brendan. “The power is out and someone just told me that he was going to Class D.” Steve told.

“Oh. Jesus. Nicky was also going to see Jacob. Do you think that they got stuck in the elevator?” Brendan asked.

Now Natalie was troubled. What!

Steve looked at her and read the expression on her face. It was very reproachful. He turned back to Brendan. “I want to check that out. I was going to level 7.”

Brendan nodded. He went ahead and Natalie grabbed Steven’s shirt. “Why didn't you tell me?” she whispered angrily.

“I knew that you would prevent us from continuing with our plan.” He replied with slight regret.

“Call Robert. Have him put back the power now.” She raised her voice once Brendan was out of earshot.

He fetched his phone from his pocket but, there was something in his face that Natalie could not fathom instantly. He pressed some buttons and placed the receiver against his right ear. “Hey, Fred? ... Yeah. Amh, did you have the stretcher ready? … Okay.” He hang up.

“Wait… a stretcher?”

Steven sighed. He knew that she could never forgive him if he told her.

“Steven. What’s going on? A stretcher? For what?” she asked, panicking.

He swallowed about to break the news. “I’m sorry Natalie.” He begged first. “Just know that, whatever we did, we’re doing, we also took Trevor into consideration.” He paused. “Ingrid… she wanted us to get Trevor into an unpainful coma until she gets back.”

Natalie’s lips parted, her eyebrows furrowing with queer. She did not understand anything.

He took her arms involuntarily. He tried speaking as calm as possible. “Keeping Trevor in a, quite unsubstantial ventilated room like the elevator was our best chance.” He paused and she freed her hands forcefully.

“What are you saying?” she whispered tears stinging her eyes. “We’re, we’re hurting-” she sighed unable to continue with the words out of her mouth. “I've got to get to him.” She cried running down the stairs.

He followed her calling, “Natalie! Natalie wait!”

 Natalie did not reply. In her mind she imagined Trevor suffocating and probably dying. And to think that she sided with these people…

Trevor. She called inwardly making her way in the seventh floor of the building.

When she arrived the hallway of the floor she halted. The scene that greeted her was so overwhelming.

A bunch of students stood around the elevator while a few nurses pushed a stretcher to a special disability transfer hoist at the end of the hallway.

Natalie run to them just when Steven had arrived behind her.

“Trevor?” she cried to him lying on the stretcher naked from the waist up.

“Miss, please.” One of the nurses said holding her away from him.

Trevor was motionless, helpless. Natalie was devastated.

…………………………………………………………………………

Present Day 

“Erin!” Ingrid burst into Erin’s room calling.

Erin, who was trying to get sleep and covered with her blanket, frowned.

“Erin, Erin.” Ingrid went on calling, walking to her bed.

Erin lowered her blanket. “I was trying to get some sleep.” She whined, greeting Ingrid’s elated face.

“Guess what?” Ingrid asked excitedly.

“Nicky is gone.” Erin replied sarcastically.

“No. You wish. But, will be soon.” Ingrid said wagging her head. “I was just on the phone with Natalie. She told me that she will be on her way soon.”

Erin raised her eyebrows. “Really? It was about time.”

Ingrid nodded then sighed. “She told me that her parents were short of cash to bring her back here. Of course, apart from what happened in Berlin. Now, Madam Sue has offered her a scholarship to continue with school and not only that, the chief director will also support her campaign.”

“Great. We have more people on our side.” Erin replied. Ingrid saw hope replacing Erin's defeated gaze.

Erin sat up leaning her back against the wall and Ingrid sat at the edge of the bed at Erin’s feet.

“Ingrid, I was thinking.” Erin begun, very seriously.

“Yes?”

“Why don’t we tell Madam Sue the truth so that she can close the school? Archibald and his crew will get discouraged. They will have no reason to destroy everything.”

“Erin. You know that we don’t have proof to anything. Madam Sue will confront the principal and it will be his word against ours.”

“What if we get the proof?”

“And how will we be able to achieve that?”

“I can do it.”

Ingrid shook her head. “I already lost Caitlin. I don’t want to lose you too.”

“Look at it, Ingrid. If we are not successful, we will lose everyone.”

Ingrid glanced away, thinking. She looked at Erin again. “If it’s proof that we need then we still have to stick to the plan to make Natalie President. We can use the President badge as proof to back up our story.”

Erin sighed. “Maybe.”

Ingrid narrowed her eyes trying to fathom what was on her friend’s mind. “But, hey, what were you thinking?” she asked eventually.

“Well, maybe if I secured the mercury cans or the calculator bombs, I could prove to the Hamertons that Archibald has his army of seniors that want to destroy their school.”

Ingrid looked down. “If only Caitlin were here, she would have proven everything.”

Erin opened her mouth to tell Ingrid the truth but then, refrained. It was still too dangerous to bring to light that Caitlin did not die in the bomb blast that took place the year before.

“Yes. If only.”

**************************************************8

“Hello?”

“Hi.”

“Natalie. Right?”

“Yes. Amh, Trevor?”

There was a short laugh. “No, no dear. I wish that I could hear from him as well. It’s Kenneth.”

“Oh… Hi.”

“I have been trying to reach my brother. Have you gotten hold of him lately?”

“No Kenneth. His cellphone’s not picking up.”

“Mmh. Okay. How about his girlfriends? Ingrid, Erin?”

“I talked to Ingrid earlier. She told me that he was resting.”

“That’s great. Are you going back to Hamerton?”

“Yeah, yeah. I am.” She replied excitedly.

“Great. Tell me what you know about Erin.”

“Well… she’s Trevor and Ingrid’s friend. Mine too.” Natalie said and paused.

“What’s her connection to the sect in your school?”

Natalie took some time, thinking. “I can say deep but, she’s on our side.”

“What about the President’s badge?”

“Are you asking me to tell you what I know about it?”

“Yes please.”

“Well… as I was told, it can decode the bomb that the sect are planning to explode in Hamerton.”

“Has anyone given you the combination?”

Natalie furrowed her eyebrows. “No. Is there supposed to be a combination?”

“Yes.” Kenneth said and paused. “Listen, if you get hold of my brother, request him to send me the Tick-Tock.”

“Tick tock?”

“Yeah. He’ll understand.”

“Wait amh…” Natalie asked for some time to resolve. She drew in a deep breath. “Does that by any chance mean Trevor’s wrist watch?”

“Yea. The one my mom gave me before she died. Trevor has already told you about it, right?”

Natalie gulped.

Wait… what????

“So, Trevor’s diamond wrist watch… it’s yours. You gave it to him?” she asked.

“Not exactly gave him but, my mom gave it to me. C’mon Natalie, I don’t have to narrate to you the history. Just, request Trevor to send it to me.”

“Wait… amh, Trevor doesn't have your wrist watch.”

“Don’t tell me he lost it. It’s my heirloom. We don’t usually share things and I didn't give it to him willingly.” He paused, getting sentimental. “Well, he was going to the operating room then and I let him have it. That’s all. The kid kept it since then.”

Natalie was silent, still worried.

“Okay. Just tell him to send it to me. I have my own combinations there that might match your badge. Goodbye.”

Natalie was silent.

what happened next? stay tuned to find out. 

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