Chapter 2 SHE'S DEAD.
Nerissa's POV
“AAAAAAAH!”
A scream rips through my sleep, forcing my eyes to snap open. For a few seconds, I lie there, staring at the ceiling, as I try to understand what just happened.
“Somebody help!” another scream comes from outside.
I throw my blanket aside with my feet hitting the floor as I hurry towards the door, still half asleep. I pull it open, and the moment I step outside, I hear several people shouting at once.
“What happened?”
“Move!”
“Call the school security!”
“Don’t touch her!”
I push through the small crowd gathering in the hallway.
“What happened?” I ask, but no one answers me, then I look up.
Everything inside me stops as my eyes land on a girl that is hanging upside down right in front of my dorm room.
Her ankles are tied together with a rope attached to the ceiling with her hair hanging towards the floor, covering most of her face.
There is blood on her clothes, and more blood runs down her neck.
Her throat has been cut!.
I cover my mouth as I stumble back. “Oh my God.”
Someone besides me starts crying. “She’s dead.”
“No. No, she can't be.”
“She is. Look at her.”
“Who did this?”
“I don't know.”
“How did she get up there?”
“Stop asking questions and call the securities!”
I can't move; I just keep staring at the body.
I don't know the girl, but she is hanging directly outside my door…
My door!
A boy pushes through the crowd and stops besides me. “Don't go closer.”
“I wasn't going to.” My voice barely comes out.
More doors start to burst open with students stepping out one after the other, only to freeze when they see what is hanging above us.
“What the hell?”
“Oh my God!”
“Is that blood?”
“Someone killed her!”
"Let's get back inside!”
But nobody listens as everyone is still staring at the dead girl.
Someone takes out a phone. “I'm calling security.”
“I already did.”
“Call the police too.”
My eyes move from the girl to the rope, then to the ceiling; nothing makes sense.
How did someone hang her there without anybody seeing?
How long has she been there?
And why here?
Why was she hanged directly in front of my room?
A girl near the stairs suddenly points at my door. "Wait... isn't that …?”
Everyone looks at her. “What?”
She points again towards my door. “Look at that.”
My stomach drops as my eyes land on the two words that are written across my white dorm door.
The letters are thick, dark and still wet … with blood:
“MAYA BENNETT”
Nobody speaks for a moment. Then someone whispers, “That's a name.”
Another student takes a step closer. “Who is Maya Bennett?”
“I don't know.”
“Is that the dead girl's name?”
“I don't think so.”
“Then why is her name on the new girl's door?”
I stare at the words, lost for thoughts to think about.
I feel a boy’s gaze on me. “Did you do this?”
My head snaps towards him. “What do you mean?”
“I didn't mean…”
“You just asked if I did this!"
“I was just asking.”
“Well, no.” My voice cracks. “I didn't do anything; I don’t even know who she is.”
He looks away.
A security officer finally comes running down the hallway. “Everyone move back!”
Nobody moves fast enough.
“Back!” The officer pushes through us and looks up at the body; his face changes. “Don't touch anything.”
Another security officer arrives behind him. He looks at my door, then at the body before looking back at the door. “Get the headmaster.”
The first officer grabs his radio. “Security to East Residence. We have a serious incident.”
I hear the word “murder” somewhere behind me.
My stomach twists, but I don't turn to look at who said it, as I couldn't move my gaze away from the dead girl.
Her hair moves slightly with the air from the open corridor, forcing me to look away.
I don't want to see her anymore.
I don't want to be standing here.
I don't even understand why her name is on my door.
Then slow and measured footsteps sound from the end of the hallway, catching the attention of everyone.
I shift my gaze to see Headmaster Alastair Veyn walking towards us.
The noise dies almost immediately as he stops several feet away from the body. His eyes move over the scene, from the girl to the rope, to the blood, then to my door.
He says nothing for a few seconds. Then he looks at the students. “Everyone back into your rooms.”
Nobody moves.
His voice remains calm as he orders again. “Now.”
And that does it as everyone starts to disappear through their doors. Some keep looking back while others whisper as they go.
Within a minute, the hallway is almost empty, but I remain where I am.
I don't know what else to do.
The headmaster looks at me. “Nerissa Ivy?"
I swallow my dried throat. “That’s me.”
“Come with me.”
I glance at the body. “To where?”
“To my office.”
I hesitate before I manage to say, “Why?”
His eyes stay on mine. “We need to talk.”
“About what?” my heart beats harder.
He doesn't give me a reply; he simply turns around and starts walking.
