The Diary Keeper ["The Dark Legacies" Series]

Chapter 39: A ghostly beauty

The holidays are finally over. They were pretty short this time but also difficult to forget - interesting things tend to pass quickly...

On the first school day, Caroline hadn't returned yet so I was alone in our dorm room. I thought she was ill or maybe had some other issues... We will see.

I was sitting in the classroom, trying my best to look attentive as Mrs. Peterson droned on about quadratic equations. But let's be real, who could blame me for drifting off in a sea of numbers and unknown variables?

In an attempt to keep myself entertained, I discreetly pulled out my phone from my bag and sneaked a quick peek at it. I mean, what harm could it do? I just needed a small distraction to prevent my brain from turning into a quadratic mush.

As I scrolled through my phone, my heart skipped a beat when I stumbled upon an adorable cat video. I couldn't resist. I silently chuckled as a cat hilariously tried to squeeze itself into a tiny box. This was pure gold, and it was my secret weapon against math-induced insanity.

Unbeknownst to me, Mrs. Fairfield, the headmistress herself, chose that precise moment to make a grand entrance. It was like the universe had conspired against my illicit phone usage. I swiftly shoved my phone back into my bag, but the damage was done. The entire class turned to face the headmistress, their eyes wide with anticipation.

With an arched eyebrow, Mrs. Fairfield fixed her gaze directly on me. I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my forehead. Was she about to expose my clandestine cat-watching activities? Would I be banished to a math-free exile?

But instead, Mrs. Fairfield surprised me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Ah, Liandra, I see you're fully engaged in our lesson," she declared, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I plastered a guilty smile on my face, doing my best to appear innocent. "Absolutely, Mrs. Fairfield. Quadratic equations are my passion," I replied, my voice oozing with mock enthusiasm.

The class erupted into stifled laughter, struggling to contain their amusement. Mrs. Peterson tried to hide her smile behind her hand, but her eyes sparkled with mirth. It seemed even the teacher were in on the joke.

Mrs. Fairfield shook her head in mock disapproval. "Well, Liandra, I hope your passion for quadratic equations extends to solving the problems on the board."

My heart sank as I glanced at the board, covered in an array of complex equations that resembled hieroglyphics to me. It was clear that Mrs. Fairfield had just unleashed the ultimate punishment for my digital transgressions.

With a theatrical sigh, I picked up my pen and braced myself for the mathematical battlefield. But as I stared at the numbers, my mind couldn't help but wander back to that hilarious cat video. I may not have been a math prodigy, but at least I knew how to find joy in the midst of quadratic chaos.

"Well, I understand, you may sit down," the headmistress declared, her voice carrying authority, "Actually, I have some thrilling news to share. Our very own talented photographer, Liandra Di Flores, has secured the first place in the highly competitive photo contest!"

A wave of shock and disbelief washed over me as I blinked in astonishment. Did she just say my name? Was this some sort of prank? I pinched myself discreetly, just to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

The class erupted into applause and cheers, my classmates patting me on the back and offering congratulations. I could hardly believe it. Me, the girl who had always been the resident class clown, was now the winner of a photo contest? It felt like the universe was playing a cosmic joke on me.

Mrs. Fairfield continued, her eyes sparkling with pride. "As a reward for her exceptional talent, Liandra will be receiving a brand-new, professional-grade photo camera!"

My jaw dropped, and I must have looked like a fish out of water. A professional camera? I had always dreamt of upgrading from my trusty old point-and-shoot, but this was beyond my wildest expectations. I couldn't help but let out a squeal of excitement, which earned me amused glances from my classmates.

As Mrs. Fairfield handed me the prize, I could hardly contain my joy. It was like holding a magical tool that could capture moments and weave them into stories. The possibilities seemed endless, and my imagination ran wild with visions of the incredible photographs I could create.

I've done it, I've really done it.

***
Caroline was still nowhere to be found. It was like she had vanished into thin air, leaving behind a perplexed group of friends and a whole lot of unanswered questions. The dormitory room felt strangely empty without her, although we paused our friendship.

This morning, as I entered the classroom and took my seat, the teacher called out the attendance. The roll call seemed to stretch on forever until she reached Caroline's name. There was silence, followed by a collective exchange of bewildered glances.

"Has anyone seen Caroline?" the teacher asked, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

We all shook our heads, exchanging concerned whispers. I found myself imagining wild scenarios to explain her absence. I heard that conversation, it may explain a lot. Nobody in the class knows it except me.

What if something bad had happened? What if Caroline was in trouble? She was obviously threatened. Would Caroline finally appear, bursting through the door with a grand entrance and a perfectly outrageous excuse for her disappearance? Or would she remain an enigma, leaving us to ponder her whereabouts and imagine countless improbable scenarios?

No, it was impossible. She just couldn't disappear. We just have to wait - some time is needed for her to come back.

***
Meanwhile, I am sitting in the dorm room and reading comments to my photos for the contest.

The words left by others were filled with positivity and praise, affirming the talent and creativity I had poured into my photographs. Words like "stunning," "breathtaking," and "captivating" painted a vivid picture of the effect my photos had on the viewers.

It was the right choice to include Mia as a heroine for my photo shoot - people considered her a real beauty. And she really was.

As I sat in my dorm room, engrossed in the comments on my photos, a sudden knock at the door jolted me out of my reverie.

As I swung open the door, a rush of emotions flooded over me when I saw Kaira standing there, her expression a mix of fear and concern. Something about her demeanor sent a chill down my spine, a sense of urgency hanging in the air.

Before I could even utter a word, Kaira spoke in a serious tone:

"You know what? Ethan got lost!"