5. THREATS/TENSION

“If y’all dare to come close……then I’m going to unleash my wrath.”His voice beamed out.

Icily.

The crowd froze for a second.

There was something clear in his voice….domination.

"Wait…..that badge. He’s an S6 member? A student gasped from the crowd, suddenly recognizing the golden badge on his T-shirt.

Lessa shivered in his embrace, trying to lookup, but he held her tighter. Nora stared wide-eyed, unable to believe the scene before her.

"Could he be…" she wondered in shock.

"What's the cause of all this unhealthy commotion?" a teacher's voice rang out as she walked into the midst of the students.

She wore eye glasses, with her hair neatly tucked behind her ears.

"Classes will soon commence, and you all are here constituting a nuisance, "she said softly yet firmly.

"You all should be ashamed of yourselves, is this how you're going to represent the school in the annual exhibition event?" She asked, turning gracefully toward the students. "You should disperse to your various classes right now! "she declared with an air of authority.

"Excuse me, who are….?"

"Keep quiet and walk to your class while I'm still lenient with you, "the teacher interjected, cutting Nora off mid-sentence.

The latter scoffed, not believing her ears. "Who does she think she is? "Nora said loudly asking no one in particular as she turned to go to the class grudgingly.

"I heard she's the new temporary teacher, "Shirley chipped in, walking very fast to match Nora's pace.

"A temporary teacher? She's got quite the audacity that even the permanent teachers don't, "Clara added cheekily.

"I mean, how dare she try to lecture an S6 member? That's going to be a hitch in our plans Clara added looking at Nora cautiously.

Hearing Clara, Nora clenched her fist. "She's going to regret this. I swear" she said to herself.

*RECESS**

**EXHIBITION HALL**

The students scattered all around the hall, each of them busily engrossed in their field of exhibit.

Lessa sat before the painting board, dipping her brush into paint before drawing colourful strokes on the canvas.

She paused momentarily, staring into space absentmindedly.

Her subconscious drifted back to her earlier encounter with the detective.

______An hour earlier_____

"Detective James, right?" she called, quickening her pace toward the older man who was already steps ahead.

He turned, halting in his tracks. "Yes. and you… how may I help you?" he asked, not beating around the bush.

Lessa looked up, staring at the detective head-on. "Lisa's not the culprit, "she blurted, not minding the weight of her tone.

"And…? "the detective asked, suddenly interested. "I know you know she isn't the one, "Lessa found herself saying. "I heard Riley's phone was not found at the scene of her death. Don't tell me you're judging based on an anonymous tip you received."

"Why do you think she isn't the culprit?" the detective questioned After what seems like a whole minute of hesitation from Lessa

"Because she was actively involved in the exhibition practice. She was there the whole time." She added.

"So?" the detective questioned further, "I've got something else…" Lessa said as she brought out her phone, showing him a video. "This whole thing doesn't add up, does it? Riley's phone is missing, and you got an anonymous tip.

"Don't you think this murder is bigger than you think? Maybe this anonymous person is just diverting your attention from the real culprit."

_______________________

"Lessa?"

a voice called suddenly jolting her awake back into reality.

The canvas was already a mess.

She had drawn layers over layers of paint while she had drifted off in thought making the painting look nothing less than the scribbles of a child struggling to write.

"How is the painting supposed to be ready before the exhibition day? Look at the mess you just made, "the teacher who had jolted her out of her reverie scolded.

“ohhh…I'm sorry, Mr. Lewis, "she mumbled dryly, discarding the already ruined painting.

"Miss Lessa, the principal has requested that you come to his office, "a junior student relayed saving Lessa from the awkward atmosphere with the teacher, taking his leave almost immediately.

Lessa heaved a sigh of relief as she exits the exhibition hall but then remembering the principal has summoned her she couldn’t help but wonder why she had been summoned out of the blue.

Just as she took the last turn to the principal’s office, her eyes met with that of the boy from earlier.

Her saviour.

Things had been too hazy then, and she didn't even get to thank him.

But she had never seen him before…

She quickly cut her stare off from him, shrugging the thought aside, yet she could still feel his lingering gaze. "Seriously…what's his deal?" she wondered not daring to gaze back at him.

_____________________"

"Didn't I warn you not to mention a thing to the cops? "The principal fired the moment she stepped into his office.

"Sir, actually….." she tried to defend herself

"Shut it! Do you know what you've just caused with your nosiness?" the principal fired back, cutting her off ,fuming.

"Lisa isn't the culprit to begin with. She was there during the exhibition practice and……" she tried to explain again not daring to look straight at the fuming principal

"Do you know what happens to nosy people who don't know how to keep their mouths shut? "he asked coldly shutting her up

she turned her gaze to look at him finally, her heart thumping so loud and hard. "They lose their heads…even when they're right." He added

"So if you want to keep yourself in one piece, it's better you stop whatever you're plotting before you lose your head."

"Get out of my office this instant!" he bellowed, breathing heavily.

Lessa gulped.

It was exactly as she had thought. This was becoming bigger than she had intended.

For some reason, she couldn't help but smile.

Her mind flashed to the day Riley died in the pool. She had been there too.Her steps halted for a moment.

"Let the dead be dead…"

Just as she got to the hallway, a crowd of students pushed past her, almost causing her to trip.

"Lisa's back! "they shrieked.

Like an unfolding drama Lisa emerged from the midst of the students like a princess from a fairy tale, walking towards Lessa with calculated strides.