FATHER ALWAYS SMILING

Chapter 38 ~~~~~

"Yes," I tell him. "It really, really, really is!"

"Does it have to do with your locker today?"

"Yes."
He was quiet. And as the silence grew, I frowned myself growing worried, that he was going to say no. "Alright," he said.

"Really?" I said unable to hide my surprise.

"Only you must have Miss Ortiz with you at all times, no matter what. Understood?"

"Yes, I understand!" then I heard something else in the background but it was too muffled to catch what it was. Where was he right now?

"Now," he spoke drawing my attention from the sound. "Please hand the phone back my dear. Oh, and one more thing."

"Yes?"

"Be careful."

I didn't respond, I just froze. By the sound of his voice I knew, because he knew. He knew what I was planning. How I wasn't sure, but it didn't matter right now. He was letting me go and I wasn't going to second guess anything for it. "I will."

"Good girl," I then handed the phone back to Elain. "I will come to collect you both when I'm finished here," he says to her. "I'll only be a few moments longer so I won't be dallying much further with this."

"So sorry for interrupting your night, Mr. Hilmarsson."

"No apologize needed, given the situation, these things tend to happen from time to time."

* * *

Alastor ended the call with a press of his gloved hand. Well, this was a rather interesting turn. And a worrying one at that.

Amalie was always so good at keeping track of her things, so for this to happen was a cause for concern, on top of which was that man.

Nick Green.

It made Alastor wonder just what it was that caused the tone of worry and concern in his sweet daughter's voice. He hadn't heard something like that from her in a long time. Whoever caused that from her, well, he'd have to take care of it. Especially if it was because of Green.

But first...

"I suppose I should finish with this first and foremost." He says with a smile as he tilted his head back slightly at the sight before him, the sounds of sobs and dripping of liquid could be heard as the thick smell of copper filled the air as he readjusted his medical mask.

* * *

Thankfully, Elain's older brother Nathan was nice enough to give us a ride to the school. Saying he needed a break from his studies to go by something to eat.

"Hey, do you want me to stay and wait for you guys?" Nathan asked.

"No, it's okay Nate, Mr. Hilmarsson will be coming to get us so you don't have to wait," Elain told her brother as I went to the front doors of the school.

"Still, you sure you don't want me to hang around just in case?" Nathan sounded concerned.

Elain was quiet, I noticed that she was looking at me before answering. "I think we'll be okay. It won't be that long of a wait anyhow."

"Alright," he said still sounding unsure. "Call if you change your mind."

"I will, thanks Nate," but he didn't drive away, not right away. He merely stayed watching us as Elain walked over to me. "It might not be open," she said, indicating the fact that there were no lights on inside, which was normal around this time.

I tried the door, and to my relief, and confusion, the door was unlocked. "It's open,"

Elain frowned. "Huh, how's that for some luck?" she said as we entered the school, she waved to her brother before he drove off. Elain then took her phone and put it in flashlight mode. Lighting our way in the dark hallways of the school.

There was always something about how scary the school was when it was nighttime. No, when it was dark. I don't think it had anything to do with the time of day or night. It would be scary even if it was sunny, I think. Even Elain seemed on edge.

"I always thought schools were creepy at night," Elain whispers to me as we walked through the hallway.

I stared up at her. "Then why did you agree to come?"

"There's no way I'd leave you to do this by yourself."

"Because I'm a kid?"

Elain shook her head. "No, not because you're a kid, well, there is an element of that, but that's not the full reason. No one should be in a place like this alone. Who knows what might be skulking around the corner?"

I looked back up to Elain, even though she was on edge she still came with me. "You're really brave," I tell her.

Elain gave a short laugh. "Yeah, save it for when we're out of here and you have what you need."

We picked up the pace and went to my classroom, where Elain stayed not far behind me, keeping an eye on the door as I went to my desk.

It was the same as I had seen it before going home. Elain commented how organized it looked as I removed the textbooks and notebooks to reveal the laptop I had hidden. And there, still attached to the computer was the USB. Removing it, I found myself breathing a sigh of ease. Thank goodness it was still here.

It was strange though, why was my locker broken into but nothing had changed with my desk? Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. What could that mean?

"You have what you need?" Elain asked me as I put the USB into my yellow dress's pocket that had a zipper in it so I wouldn't lose it along with my phone already set to dial my Dad if I needed to. Something he always told me to do if I felt unsafe.

I nodded at Elain but froze the moment I heard someone walking towards our classroom and everything inside me suddenly began to grow cold the moment I realized who it was.

Nick Green was here.