Leave the library, you are already due" this middle aged woman spoke in this British accent.
"Don't worry I'll be done in a sec"
"No more time for you, it's already been three hours" the librarian was persistent. "And who gave you that book, It's not on the collectable section"
"Wait, I'm not done" she tried to hold onto it but the librarian grabbed it with surprising strength.
"Don't let me write you up" Ayla let go of the book and the librarian walked away with a huff.
Ayla left the library and went to her class. Everyone was rowdy and Matthew was being his usual self. She desperately needed a quiet place, so she left and went to the garden, thankfully she walked passed smoothly without any teacher spotted her. The garden was off limits and you could be punished if caught but right now she didn't care, there were many questions racing through her mind right now.
This garden is a serene oasis! It's a lush, vibrant space filled with a variety of flowers, trees, and greenery. The air is sweet with the scent of blooming roses and lavender, and the sound of birds chirping fills the air.
A tranquil pond reflects the sky, with water lilies floating serenely on the surface, and a small fountain creates a soothing background hum.
She sat down on the grass behind the 'lovers nest' as it was called. She took her earbuds and played a song to keep her refreshed, phone in hand she immediately got into action. First she checked Google for the information about Queen Seraphina, no news. She asked about the necklace, still nothing. She got desperate and checked for anything about those years the Queen was alive. She scrolled through decades of nonsense meaningless junks with no hope about finding something on the Queen. Then a random vlog caught her eyes, it looked like it was from a sketchy website. She clicked the link to the website, it was a perfect photo of the necklace she saw,
"Queen Seraphina royal necklace,the first woman to sit the throne of ancient Dutch , a symbol of the ancient royal family passed down from generations. As she was assassinated the necklace disappeared leaving it a mystery. Some say the necklace has been found, some say she took it even to the afterlife. Estimated price 20 billion Euros."
"Wait, two billion euros!" She gasped in disbelief. Rich people really throw money anyhow.
She started reading the other parts of the vlog when her phone began overheating. She juggled it with both hands trying to soothe it but it just got worse, she quickly lay it on the grass, her hands red and hot. She let it cool down on the grass before picking it up.
Her screen had turned blank, she tried desperately to turn on her phone, she tapped the on button and searched round but nothing worked.
"Oh no, it was working just now" she sighed desperately. Another phone will cost a few hundred dollars which she didn't have plus her dad had constantly been stressing about money so that wasn't an option. She sat down too stunned to speak, too angry to cry.
"All because of that stupid necklace, my phone was fine before it" she threw her phone a few meters away in anger. She sat down there thinking and planning her next move, "I'll go to a repair shop after school and break my piggy bank" she assured herself half hoping everything will be fine.
Ayla got up to pick up her phone, regretting why she even threw it. She picked it up and was about to leave when she heard a voice from behind.
"Figured you'd be here"
"Alex!" She smiled as he popped but and sat beside her. "What are you doing here"
"I was looking for you"
"Hmmmmmm" she replied.
"I don't know if you heard about Cathy."
Ayla sat up straight "Is she alright?"
"She's getting everything she deserves"
"Can you let her go, I mean at least let her parents know she's alive and alright, they're worried sick" she twisted her finger tightly, a bad habit she had developed.
"It's not my decision to make" he responded
She let go of her hands "right, it's Kyle's. You know what, let's talk about something else" she shifted closer "Tell me more about the infamous bad-good boy, Alex Knight, tell me something that no one else knows."
"Well," he began. "As you know I'm Alex Knight
"Knight, that's a very funny name" then she started talking in a silly fake voice " look at me I am Alex Knight fear not I'm going to save you." Then the both of them burst out laughing.
"If you think that's funny wait till you hear my dad's name"
"Spill"
"His name is....." A dramatic pause in the middle "Knight! Knight Knight, but he just calls himself Mr Knight"
"Oh my God" Ayla said cacking out loud, "that's so funny"
"Can I continue?"
"Sorry, please" gesturing him to start
"As I was saying, I am a very handsome and gorgeous guy, also the son of the city's Mayor. I'm a brand ambassador and model for Hermes and my dad's campaign and I'm also the grandson of the Duke of Norway for my mom's side."
"Wait, you're serious. Come to think of it I haven't heard anything about your mom before, can you tell me about her"
His face turned grim.
"I'm sorry, for bringing it up" Ayla said and quickly changed the subject.
"No, it's alright, I think I'm ready to talk about her." He said and stayed quiet for a long time that she thought he had fallen asleep.
"My dad and mom were in an arranged marriage mainly for family gain." His voice got more sour. "My mom's family made some bad investments, and were facing bankruptcy. My dad at the time was in love with my mom and married her, took their debt and gave them stability. They got married and he spoiled her rotten, he believed if he lived with her enough she would finally leave him back" he let out a bitter laugh "he was so wrong, she was already in love with another man but that man was already married and didn't bat an eyelid. I was the product of a night of mistake"
"Alex we can stop now, we can continue another day." She felt the raw pain in his voice and wanted him to stop before it was too late.
"No, it's been on my chest and I have to let it all out." He continued the story
"She was drunk after a party and slept with my dad. During the entire time she left calling her love's name and my dad being the lovesick fool that when he didn't care,' as long as she's with me' his words not mine. Long story cut short she gave birth to me and stayed for sometime one morning I woke up she wasn't there, she left a short note and left with all her things"
"I'm so sorry, Alex"
"It's not your fault, besides it's been twelve years now I'm used to it by now"
"No, I judged you without knowing you, knowing your story. I'm such a jerk" she felt so guilty.
"You know what, tell me about you and Kyle and how you met and maybe we can call it even"
"Why all of a sudden?" she asked, a little suspicious. She was always suspicious of everything.
"Just plain curiosity"
"Hmmmm" she said trying to study him closely" Our mom were friends so I guess we became friends too"
"Just that, no best childhood memories between you to"
"I have a condition where I'll lose my memories with time so I don't remember much"
"And what do you remember?" He asked, prying deeper.
"Only that we used to play together as kids"
"And?"
"I don't feel comfortable, I'm going to class" he had started giving her the creeps, it was as if she had a secret and he was desperately trying to crack it.
"Wait" he held her hand making her whole body tense up.
"What's up with your phone?"
He relaxed just a tiny bit "overheated now it's not working but nothing to worry about, listen see you soon and thanks for your help"
"Which one?" he asked with a sly smile.
"All of them," she shouted as she ran off. There was just something about that smile, something sinister.