Page 154 - Literati Bytes

THREE STRIKES
“Wait! It’s just the two of us here. Where are the others?”
His eyes widened with realisation that two of our friends were
missing. We looked around and called them at the top of our voices in
vain. That’s when a shrill, blood-curdling cry echoed in the cemetery.
We froze. It was Amelia’s. We dashed towards the direction of the cry.
We found ourselves in front of a tomb. Two words were written
on the headstone of the tomb with blood. ’STRIKE ONE’. Besides the tomb
was an unconscious body with a slashed throat. Blood was gushing
through the wound. It was an awful sight. Leaning against the body was
Amelia, crying endlessly.
“Hey Amelia, stop crying. We are here. Will you stop crying? And where
is Tobias? Do you know where he is?” asked Sam.
With a shaking hand she pointed towards the body beside her. I
shared a confused look with Sam. And then realisation dawned on us.
We took another look at the body. It was none other’s but Tobias’s.
My hands startedtrembling as my eyes became watery. I sat next
to Tobias and shook him, screamed his name until my throat felt sore
but nothing happened. It felt surreal that thisgoofy boy who always put
a smile on my face was gone. I sat there dumbfounded as Sam started
asking questions to Amelia vainly.
“How did this happen? Who did it? Amelia, d-did…did you do this?”
She stopped crying abruptly at his last question. She looked at
Sam. She looked hurt as well as angry at his distrust in her.
“Sam, stop it.” I said before Amelia could. “We shouldn’t blame each
other in this situation. And I think it is better if we leave this place right
now.”
“I knew it was a bad idea to come here so late. We shouldn’t have come
here. Now look, Tobias has a cut throat and you are a crying mess.”
said Sam.
“It was your idea to come here so shut up. And stop being so heartless.
You make it look like Tobias’s death was just another stupid thing in
your life” Amelia said, getting a bit irritated.
“No, I-“
“Anyway-“I cut Sam in mid-sentence.“-I think we should leave this place
immediately. Sam, lead us as you know this place better.”
Both of them nodded and we started to make our way out of the
cemetery.The air between us was oddly tense due to the horrific scene
we had just seen. We walked through the misty cemetery for what
seemed like hours. I had a nagging feeling that someone was following
us all along so I stopped,followed by the others.
“What’s the matter, Hazel?” Amelia asked.
“I think somebody is following us” I said with a frown.
“No, I don’t think there will be anyone here this late. You must be
hallucinating or…” Sam said with a mischievous look.
“Or?” Amelia asked.
“Or there must a ghost following us. Oooooo” said Sam with
exaggerated hand movements.
“What!” Amelia shuddered.
Sam roared with laughter. “You must have seen your face, it was
priceless.”
“Guys shut up. I think someone is there.” I said uncertainly.
“If it makes you feel better I’ll go and check. And don’t worry I’ll be
fine.”