Chapter 45: CH 045: Tasha and the strange man (MR 9)

Chapter 45: CH 045: Tasha and the strange man (MR 9)The warm sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows over the barren landscape as Dave’s group slowly made their way down the road. Their figures grew smaller as they moved farther away, the sound of their footsteps gradually fading. The atmosphere around the remaining group was thick with the silence of waiting. And while the others had already split off to head in their respective directions, Chris’s group was still remaining. Gunther had already left, heading off with Kim and Silas, it will be after two days before everyone could gather up to meet again. And by then, it was expected that everyone should have completed their expedition. Everyone else had gone their way, leaving only Chris’s group as the only group left behind. Chris had excused himself earlier, muttering something about nature calling, and the three boys were left alone, standing in a loose circle, their eyes following after Dave’s group as they disappeared slowly from view. They hadn’t said much since the others had left, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Fin was the first to break the silence. His dark curly hair, already matted with sweat from the day’s heat, bounced slightly as he shook his head in frustration. He clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing as they lingered on Dave’s retreating figure. "I told you Eric was just trying to get on Dave’s good side," he muttered, voice dripping with venom. His gaze never left the group ahead, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "He must think of him like some sort of hero or something. That crazy jerk." Gab, the blonde teenager who had been humiliated by Eric early ago this morning, crossed his arms over his chest and let out a snort of derision. His eyes were still fixed on the horizon, though the frown on his face deepened as he thought back to their recent interactions with Eric. "Yeah, it’s expected," Gab said with a roll of his eyes. "He’s always clinging to the hotshot. That’s how he became class rep in the first place. Now look at him, trying to get some kind of validation from Dave this time around." He shrugged, a careless motion that seemed to dismiss the issue entirely. "But honestly, I couldn’t care less about that class rep stuff anymore. Who needs a stupid position like that anyway?" His voice was laced with bitterness, as though the idea of a position of power no longer held any allure for him. At least not in the current state of the world. Felix, the quietest of the trio, stood apart from the others, his arms loosely at his sides, a slight frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Well, did you guys see when Ella hugged Dave?" he finally spoke, his voice low but edged with resentment. "What?!" Both Gab and Fin had said at once. Felix then went on to explain what he had seen at the time Ella had hugged Dave. How her arms were tight around him for just a moment longer than necessary. And how Simbi had seen them but hadn’t reacted or said anything. "Mehn, this dude is practically stealing all the girls. I swear, every time we turn around, he’s got someone else wrapped around his finger. He’s got that ’I’m the hero’ vibe going, and it’s pissing me off." Gab’s words hung in the air for a moment, the venom in his tone obvious even to the others. He clenched his jaw, trying to keep his emotions in check. Fin and Felix shared a look, their expressions mirroring Gab’s frustration. They knew Dave and Simbi have a thing for each other, but when did Ella also joined them? Fin’s eyes darted to the others, his brow furrowing in frustration. "Don’t you think Chris is taking forever," he said, his voice rising slightly. "We’ve been waiting for so long, but it doesn’t seem like he’s done, or he’ll be done anytime. I think it’s best we act whatever we plan on doing now." He glanced over at Gab and Felix, his resolve growing stronger with every second. Felix hesitated, the doubt creeping into his mind. "But what if Chris comes back and asks where we went? What are we supposed to tell him?" He wasn’t usually one to question the others, but something about this plan felt off. Gab, who had been quiet until now, spoke up again, a sly grin spreading across his face. "We’ll just tell him we went to your house," he said casually. "Right here in the area. Simple." Felix frowned in confusion. "But my house isn’t anywhere near here," he protested. "It’s miles away." Gab waved off his concern with a nonchalant flick of his wrist. "Yeah, I know," he said, his grin widening. "But it’s just a lie to cover our tracks. No one’s going to question it. Just say it with confidence, and it’ll work." Felix and Fin exchanged a glance, their hesitations melting away. Gab was right, as always. They didn’t have time to waste. With Chris still occupied, it was the perfect opportunity to make their move. "Fine," Fin said, his voice low but resolute. "Let’s do it. We’ll catch up to Dave’s group before they get too far. We can’t let him keep taking everything from us." Instantly, the trio had nodded in unison, their decision made as they set off toward the direction Dave’s group had taken, the air seemed to hum with anticipation. And as they walked, the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the road ahead, a symbol of the uncertainty that lay ahead. A few minutes after the three boys had left, Chris finally emerged from the restroom, feeling much lighter after taking care of business. He stretched and scanned the area, expecting to find his group members gathered nearby. But to his confusion, there was no sign of them. His eyes darted around, searching for any trace of his companions. The spot where they had been waiting just moments ago was empty, they were no where to be found. Chris’ brows furrowed as the realization sank in: the three boys were gone. ***