Chapter 26: The Death of Alex

Alex Moran's death shook Tuskenvale Town. And the news spread like a virus from one person to the next, through homes and villages. Rakiza was also summoned to the Tuskenvale Police Station for questioning. She was identified as the last individual to have communicated with Alex Moran. She was the only witness to his final words and testimony.
"We didn't converse much," Rakiza admitted. "He felt bad about what his ex-girlfriend did to me."
Outside the police station, Theo waited for Rakiza to be freed from custody.
Rakiza was released from the police station and returned home with Theo after a few hours. She sobbed a lot on the walk home because she couldn't believe Alex had died. She requested that the cops drop them off at the crossroads leading into Saint Ann Dormiroty. The wind blew cold on them, as though allowing them to mourn Alex's passing.
"It was my entire fault," Rakiza said, as they came to a halt a few meters away from the dormitory.
"No, it isn't," Theo reassured her.
"If I hadn't begged him to send me home, this would not have happened to him." Rakiza sniffed in between, "Perhaps he is still alive right now."
"Perhaps you should put a stop to that, Rakiza," Theo remarked, firmly.
Rakiza gazed at Theo, "You were following us, right?"
"And now you suspect me of murdering Alex?" was the point of slashing his throat and almost dissecting his body?" He gritted, "I also wanted to know who did it, Rakiza." He clenched his jaw. "Alex's death was some kind of animalistic form of killing."
"But you followed us, right?" Rakiza stared blankly at him.
"It was you I followed. You are my concern and not Alex. After you close the door I went home."

They arrived at the dorm in silence, but before Rakiza entered, Theo took her hand in his and urged, "Don't leave the dorm without me."
Rakiza sighed and nodded, and entered the dorm silently. Her friends were gathered on her bed, asking in different ways but with the same meaning, "What did the cops do to you?" Did you tell them you are not the suspect? How come they picked you up? Some of our classmates witnessed Alex's corpse and puked. "
"I should have taken Theo's advice," Rakiza sobbed bitterly.
"What?" Muriel raised eyebrows.
"Theo urged me not to accept Alex's invitation, but I didn't listen, and now look what happened; if it hadn't been for my stubbornness, this wouldn't have happened to Alex."
"What compelled Theo to stop you?" Chin inquired.
"Are you becoming interested in each other?" Susan asked.
"Please don't look down on Theo's support for me," Rakiza pleaded.
"And why did he advise you not to date Alex? Did he have a notion of what would happen to Alex? " Muriel, who had been deafeningly quiet, spoke up.
"Are you suspecting Theo of killing Alex?" Rakiza asked Muriel.
"Jealousy may drive a person insane and unreasonable," Muriel shrugged.
"Stop that nonsense, Muriel. This is a police case. Don't spread stories that could lead to your detention like a boomerang, "Rakiza advised.
They waited for her to continue, but she didn't. She was silent for a few moments, immersed in thought.
"Rakiza? "Are you all right? "Muriel asked, breaking the silence.
Rakiza then turned to each of her friends and asked, "I'm exhausted. Would you kindly let me sleep for a few minutes? I have this headache plaguing me. "

It was already seven o'clock in the evening when she awoke. The room was very cold due to the open window.
She was alone in the room, and the chilly breeze was unbearable. She stood up and walked over to the window.She was about to shut it when she noticed a man standing outside. "Nikolas?"
"How are you, Rakiza?" Nikolas asked, his face concerned.
"I'm fine, it's so cold out there; come inside."
"Are you welcoming me in?"
"Yes, come in," Rakiza said as she assisted Nikolas and closed the window.
Rakiza saw Nikolas' ivory face tightening, "You're so cold." She then drew her blanket over Nikolas and covered him. And she was taken aback when she came to touch his icy skin.
"You have ice-cold skin, Nikolas." Rakiza sought a match and lit the lantern on her table. "Put your hand closer to the lantern; the heat from the candle can help your blood circulation return to normal."
Nikolas was staring at Rakiza and walked closer to the lit lantern, touching it with his palm.
Rakiza smiled at him, "What brought you here?"
"You brought me here," Nikolas replied, still warming his palm on the lantern. Nikolas's black eyes have a magical impact.
She could feel the physical warmth from it, and her back ears had this delightful sensation that she could only feel when Nikolas was nearby.
"How come I brought you here?"
"I was worried about you," Nikolas said. "There's some horrible news going around that a wild animal killed a man."
"Did you hear the news about Alex?" Rakiza asked Nikolas.
"Yes, that is the headline of all news publications, and it disturbed me a lot to learn that he was one of your school's students; I'm here to learn more about it," Nikolas stated sadly.
"Alex is a friend of mine, and I was the last one to speak with him." Rakiza said anxiously.
"How did that happen?" Nikolas inquired.
"He invited me to stroll through the carnival, and then he sent me home." Rakiza was silent.
"I'm sorry about what happened to your friend," Nikolas said worriedly.
Rakiza recognized the distinction between Theo and Nikolas. Theo offended her with his brutality, whilst Nikolas was the polar opposite. He was so delicate that he was terrified to touch her.
"I'm concerned about you, Rakiza," he added, "Never trust anyone at any moment; sometimes a monster will display their monstrous qualities to make you feel like it's natural for them and accept it as normal."
"What exactly do you mean, Nikolas?" Rakiza inquired. She was curious as to what Nikolas was hiding behind those dark eyes of his. Something inside her screamed at her to inquire about Nikolas's secret.
"Simply be watchful until the appropriate time arrives for the fantasy to become real and normal; sometimes a dream is more real than reality."
Rakiza's heart skipped a beat as she heard Nikolas mention a dream. "I had this dream."
Nikolas fixed his gaze on him.
"In my dreams, I imagined myself as a lady warrior, complete with combat armor. And shadows were following me, shadows of werewolves and vampire warriors. And they fought. We werewolves versus vampires, and I was right in the middle of it, watching them slash, bite, and kill each other. " She paused and took a deep breath. "And there's the pool of blood, Nikolas; I was drowning in the pool of blood; do you have any idea why I had such a strange dream like that?"
"Do you believe in werewolves and vampires, Rakiza?" Nikolas inquired.
"There's no such thing as a vampire or werewolf nowadays, Nikolas," Rakiza remarked. "It's just a myth, a fable to frighten children away from nighttime strolls, similar to what my grandfather used to tell me as a child. "
"Believe, to be saved," Nikolas' eyes grieved.
"How come you say that?" Rakiza inquired. "Do you believe in werewolves and vampires?"
"Yes," Nikolas said.
Rakiza looked at Nikolas and chuckled. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am," Nikolas said, nodding.
Rakiza continued to giggle while Nikolas stared at her in a serious manner, which caused Rakiza to abruptly stop, "I'm sorry, I didn't intend to... but honestly, vampires and werewolves are only in the book; they don't exist, Nikolas."
Nikolas remained mute.
"But I did believe Alex was attacked by a beast that was still out there, but vampires and werewolves? No, I don't believe they existed. "
Nikolas' eyes darkened, he changed the subject, and he asked, "Do you have work tomorrow?"
"Have I told you about the employment offer from the Reign-Bridge Company?"
"Yes, you mentioned it to me."
Rakiza was perplexed, "Did I?"
"You did, but could I invite you tomorrow?"Nikolas's eyes begged.
"Of course, I'll be waiting for you."
"Thank you, and can you keep our meeting secret?" He smiled and quipped, "I don't enjoy using my power to make you forget about me."
Rakiza laughed. "Now I see," she said, "you are a devotee of vampirism, right?"
"Sort of." "Go back to sleep," Nikolas said, opening the window and jumping outside like Theo. And Nikolas vanished into the dark woods.
Rakiza smiled as she looked out the window, the cool wind brushing against her skin. Then she felt a strong need to sleep.

When she awoke, it was already eight o'clock in the morning, and Chin had woken her up. "Rakiza, wake up! "Charm is dead!" she screamed.
Rakiza awoke from her slumber, wide-eyed. "What exactly did you say?"
"Look at the jar," Chin said, motioning to the ground.
Rakiza screamed, but nothing came out of her mouth. The jar had been broken, and her chameleon was dead on the floor.