Dark Masters

1

Monday

It was a cold and dreary night. The sky was cloudy; the clouds dark and heavy, as in the beginnings of a thunderstorm. I can't believe he did that, Alyssa thought. She smoked outside on the balcony, her long dark hair blew in the wind. She had one arm across her chest and tucked underneath one elbow, her large blue eyes peered out into the gloom. She thought about what happened at school that afternoon.


I’m so bored, and Ms. Dell is going on and on. Calculus sucks, Alyssa thought. She yawned. Her seat is on the left side of the room and she’s leaning her head on her hand which was propped on her armchair. Two seats behind her sat Steven Pierre who looked at Ms. Dell with a blank expression on his face.

The class was a little noisy yet Alyssa felt sleepy. She was about to doze off when someone poked on her shoulder. She turned around. Cassie had her arm outstretched and she held a note in her hand. Alyssa took it. She looked at it.

You are invited to join the Dark Masters meeting this February 6 at 4:00 pm.

Dark Masters? Alyssa remembered Amy mention it to her. She thinks its “so cool” and wanted to join. Although Alyssa had an interest in goth she’s not exactly "goth". She didn’t think much about it. She slipped the note in her pocket and after that, heard someone clear his throat. Alyssa didn’t bother to look around. Ms. Dell turned from the blackboard. She looked and said, “Steven, you have something to say?”

“Um, I need to go to the bathroom.” He stood up and passed by Alyssa. He handed her a note as well. Steven continued to walk out the door.

Come to Art Room with me. I have something to show you, it read.

What does he want? Alyssa thought. And what makes him think I will go out and meet him? Alyssa crumpled the paper and was about to throw it in the wastebasket near her. Then she looked at the door. Alyssa saw Steven’s face peering at her from outside the door. He held up a pink fluffy rabbit stuffed toy and smiled at her, evilly, it seemed to her. She suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. Alyssa remembered that rabbit. It was a gift to her for her eighth birthday. She put it in her locker a few weeks ago. How did he get it? Alyssa asked herself. There’s only one way to find out.

She raised her hand and Ms. Dell looked at her questioningly. “I have to get my dad’s note from my locker. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Ms. Dell nodded. Alyssa walked out the room. The hall was quiet and she heard the faint sounds of the teachers going through their lessons. She passed the principal’s office and the stairs and saw the Art Room a couple of doors ahead. Alyssa opened the door and saw the dusty old room filled with artwork and looked around for a sign of Steven. She thought he abandoned her then heard him come out behind two large boxes.

He approached her and Alyssa felt the chill again.

He smiled. "Thinking about this?" he asked, holding up the stuffed bunny before Alyssa.

"What the hell do you want? You took that from my locker. Why?" she asked.

"Oh, it's just that you owe me an explanation."

What is he talking about? Alyssa thought. She looked at him and his pale green eyes, wondering what was going through his head.

"I'm leaving." She said. She walked and turned the doorknob.

"Alyssa," his voice was a hiss in the dark room. Alyssa turned around. And when she did, her eyes grew large but she stopped herself from panicking. She looked at Steven with scorn in her eyes, then at his hand that was short of one finger. In its place was a bloody knuckle. "That's fake," she said, looking at the fingers. "You think I'd fall easily for that lame prank?"

Steven's eyebrows drew together and he said, "No."

He stepped aside. Alyssa gasped in shock. She could see what looked to be a finger on the ground, and three rats nibbling on it.

“Alyssa?” Her dad called her as he peeked through her door.

He groaned. “No, you’re not smoking again. I could ground you for that,” he said.

He always says that but he never does it, Alyssa thought. Alyssa’s mom died when she was three. Ever since then, her dad had become lenient on her.

“What do you want, Dad?” Alyssa asked.

“Someone called on the phone for you. I thought you were asleep so I said you couldn’t come. Someone named Jeff." His dad went out the door.

Who's this Jeff, thought Alyssa. She continued floating in her reverie.

. Alyssa’s thoughts ran and she still couldn’t understand Steven’s behavior. She thought of telling her Dad but didn’t want him to worry. But, Alyssa didn’t want to go to school and see Steven.

Alyssa is lacking in friends that she could go to school with. She could ask her dad to drop her off to school tomorrow. And if ‘he’ bothers her again she’s going to report him to the principal.

That sounds like a good plan, Alyssa thought.

After smoking her last cigarette she went back to her room. She put her hands in the pockets of her blouse and jeans that she wore today to remove anything before she puts them in the laundry basket. Her hand caught the note Cassie gave her this morning.

Dark Masters.

Alyssa thought. She knew loneliness more than the ordinary person. And after Steven's actions today she constantly thought of her own safety. Alyssa tried to convince herself to think about joining the group. They have an air of mystery about them. What she knows about the Dark Masters is that they’re a secret organization; you don’t know the members unless you're given their secret signal.

Alyssa is a quiet person, and loved mystery. She found herself a perfect subject for them.

Their meetings are also held in secret. That's why she wondered why she got that note, and thought it was a prank.

This is the perfect opportunity to find friends who act the same with her.

She put the note in her diary for safekeeping. And readied herself for bed after eating dinner. She wrote in her diary. Feeling a little better, she went to sleep.