The lane should not exist in the building plan.
Arissa realized it was lost in search of a toilet in a long administrative building after the end of the class. The plan that is affixed at the end of the stairs shows only three main lanes. But by accident, he stepped into a small lane, sliced with obsolete stone walls and no windows.
Lonely. Too lonely.
The lane was not lined, only the light from the colored glass window behind it poured marble floors with red and blue shadows. The dust is in the air. The smell of decaying wood and the old book filled the nasal cavity.
He was supposed to turn around.
But there is something ... a delicate voice, like a whisper in his heart, calling.
The steps are slowing down. He touched the wall filled with old wood carving. There is a wooden door with a gold handle, almost hidden behind the obsolete closet. Above the door is written one name:
Estelle Archive.
Arissa swallowed her saliva. The name appears again.
Estelle.
Suddenly, his head was beating. Vision blurred for a moment. He was slightly stunned, his hands on the wall.
"Nayla ... Estelle." The name slides off his lips without realizing it.
And the door in front of him opens himself.
Krreeekkkk…
Behind the door, there is a small room. Like a mini library left. High bookshelves fill the walls, but most are dusty and covered with spider nests. In the middle, there is a dark wooden table and old chairs. On the table, a blood -wrapped diary is located.
Arissa's heart was pounding.
He stepped slowly and sat down. His hands were shaking as he touched the diary.
Diary belongs to N.E.
With a slow finger, he opened the first page.
If I die, it's not because I'm weak. But because I know too many secrets.
Arissa is glued. The writing is ... he knows. It was just like the writing that appeared unknowingly in his daily notes yesterday.
He flipped out other pages, all filled with short poems, roses, and such snippets.
Ash ... If I'm gone, don't look for me. But don't forget me.
They don't know. This lane keeps everything. Including the real reason why I can't live.
Arissa's tears flowed without her understanding why.
She doesn't know Nayla. Never met. But the sadness that absorbs into him feels too personal, too painful.
Suddenly, the wooden door behind him was closed by himself. Bam!
Arissa jumped. The light begins to ease. Book shelves make a sound like a slice. The atmosphere of the room became cold.
And from one of the shelves ... a thick book fell to the floor.
Arissa approached the book, turning her skin on the classic font.
"Orion Record-Elite Club Heads"
He opened the backyard. The old photos of the students were posted neatly.
And there .... in the middle of the 7th sheet ... Nayla Estelle's face, smiling holding the trophy. Below it is written.
The youngest chief of the Orion. 2018. Status: Dies. The cause of death: unknown.
Arissa holds her breath. Nayla's face in the picture is like ... herself.
And as soon as he closed the book, a small mirror on the wall reflected something. There was a shadow of a girl behind her, long hair and white dress, smiling.
Arissa turned quickly. But the room is empty.
And on the table, the red skin diary is open on its own. On the last page, a newly written verse appears ... as if it were just written now.
"We will meet again. In the specified time."
Arissa left the room with a sigh. But before he left, he saw an old carving next to the entrance of the hallway ... like a shabby iron stamp.
N + a
His heart stopped for a moment.
"Who are you, Nayla ... and why do I feel like I'm part of your story?"
~~~~~
Out of the secret room, Arissa closed the door slowly. But the lane felt cooler, like something was watching it from the dark wall. His breathing was thin. He tried to calm himself down and walked out of the old lane.
But before arriving at the main door of the old building, he saw an antique long mirror on the wall.
She stopped.
And what is reflected in the mirror is not himself.
The girl in the reflection, her face was the same, but she was long hair and wearing a school uniform that had not been used since 2018. Her clothes button sparkles with the silver badge of "Orion Head".
Arissa is shocked. The hands in the reflection were lifted and touched their own chest. Right above the heart. His mouth moves, as if to say something.
"Find me ..."
And for a moment, the reflection disappeared. Arissa just saw her real. Pale faces, eyes fluttered, and sweat dripping on the skin.
He turned quickly and ran out of the quiet alley.
The next day was weird. Arissa sits in the classroom with a long mind. Teacher's eyes are like blurred. The words that go in and out of the ear cannot be processed. He was only able to look at the table in front of him, which still kept the carved 'N. Estelle '.
"Arissa?" tell someone on the side.
He raised his head.
Ash Zayn sat leaning, staring at him with a strange reflection.
"Are you okay?" the question.
Arissa swallowed her saliva. "Just tired ..."
Ash stared at him longer than necessary.
"You know ... you are sitting in the most memorable place in this school," he said slowly, as if testing.
Arissa turned away. "Who?"
Ash didn't answer.
He just bowed and continued drawing. But this time, Arissa can see her sketch clear. It wasn't his face ... but his face was very loud, with the name under the painting.
Nayla Estelle.
During the break, Arissa was looking for a quiet place and sitting alone in the backyard of the school. The evening breeze blows softly, bringing the smell of jokes that bloom early. But his head is still heavy with questions.
Why is her face like a girl who died seven years ago?
Why did the name 'Estelle' appear everywhere he went?
And who is Nayla really?
He opened the bag and removed the diary taken from the secret room. A book that should not be in his storage. The book seems to be alive, as if breathing in silence.
Arissa flipped the last page that she had not read.
"If I die, not because of fate. But because I was removed from the world I protected myself. When I returned ... everything would change."
Someone stands behind him.
"Where did you get that book?" Ask a cold voice.
Arissa was shocked. She turned away.
A female student stands behind her. High, the exclusive and sharp face. Hair tied neatly, dark brown eyes stared sharply.
Sierra Amani. Orion's vice -president is now.
"I ... I see you," Arissa replied slowly.
Sierra took a seat in front of her, without waiting for the pick up. Her eyes didn't break from the diary in Arissa's hands.
"The diary belongs to someone who has been away for a long time. And not everyone likes the old story to reopen."
Arissa grabbed the book strong. "I just ... want to know."
Sierra leaned on. "Sometimes, you know it's more dangerous than not knowing, Arissa Elina."
And before he left, Sierra whispered.
"If you are not anyone, why is your face ... like a shadow that should have been buried seven years ago?"
~~~~~
That night, Arissa couldn't sleep.
His eyes were closed, but the shadow from the school lane - the face in the mirror, the voice of whisper, and the carved name on the table continued to disturb his mind.
And when he finally fell asleep ... the dream came
He stood in the middle of the school field, at night. The stars glisten in the sky. The wind blows her hair slowly.
But he's not Arissa.
He dressed like a dark blue blazer student with a silver symbol in the chest: Orion.
In front of him stands five other students in a round formation. Their faces are vague, but they feel too close.
One of them, a dark -eyed man holding the girl's hand tightly. The man's voice shook.
"Don't leave us, Nayla."
And in that dream, he smiled.
"If I'm gone ... find me. I'll go back. In a way that no one thought."
Arissa wakes up with a sigh of relief. Sweat wet your forehead. His breathing was crowded.
He saw a small mirror on the side of the bed, and for a moment, the face in the reflection was not his.
That's Nayla's face.
The next morning, Arissa decided to return to the quiet alley. But this time, he's not alone.
Ash Zayn appeared somewhere and followed him secretly, his steps calm but vigilant.
"Why are you with me?" asked Arissa when she realized her presence.
Ash didn't answer. He just stood in front of the secret room door that Arissa met.
"When I was in grade one ... I've been here too," he said. "Someone brought me ... and he lost two weeks later."
Arissa looks at her.
"Nayla?"
Ash just nodded slowly.
They came in. The space now looks darker, lonely. The dust flying like dancing in a dim light from the small window above the wall.
"This place ... like a frozen memory," whispered Arissa.
Ash walked to the worn -out shelf and pulled a red -skinned book. From the inside, he took out an old picture. A portrait of six students wearing dark blue blazers.
One of them is ... Nayla Estelle. In the middle.
Ash handed the picture to Arissa.
"This is an orion member. Including me."
Arissa was shocked. "You ...?"
"Me and him," Ash looked straight into his eyes, "We're more than just a club friend."
He bowed, his voice slowly. "But when he dies ... all blames me. I lose everything."
Arissa grabbed the picture. His hands are shivering.
"Ash ... Have you ever thought about it, if Nayla didn't really disappear?"
Ash looked back. His gaze slowly changed. It's like seeing something too impossible to acknowledge ... but it's too true to deny it.
And for the first time ... Ash Zayn called that name.
"Nayla?"
Arissa turned slowly. Her heart is beating fast. His breathing was crowded.
She doesn't know who she really is.
But the name ... it feels like something embedded in the blood.
~ connected ~