the death of a bachelor

nine | exit

Reiju had worked fast after hearing of the new professor's arrival. She grabbed a black cape from Ursa's storage and rushed towards the pier as the sun went down.

An escape plan that she didn't think through was bound to fail. But if she could manage to sneak in the boat, her freedom was guaranteed. She would worry about the other things later.

Reiju exited through the arch, passing the wobbly hanging bridge before reaching the forest with black and red leaves. When she and Yami had arrived, the latter had hired a naval ship. Everywhere she turned, military men surrounded her that the only she could escape was through the water.

Too bad she wasn't that crazy yet.

After that, the ship had anchored a mile away from the island that she and Yami had to take a motorboat.

If the new professor had taken the same route, then the boat would be free the minute she got off.

Reiju stopped before she could exit the red gate as she heard voices. She climbed up a tree near the gate, perching on a sturdy branch to see the view below.

The voices came from  Headmaster Leroux and Professor Shah. They walked over seagrasses and white sand, going straight for the flat narrow pathway that was revealed by the low tide.

Reiju bit her lip, knowing the two men were here to welcome the newcomer. She didn't know how to get past them.

Her eyes scanned her surroundings, seeing a mangrove forest to her right. If she could hide there and run to the boat... it's possible she didn't need to engage the men.

Reiju made up her mind. She jumped down and headed left to where the rock was. She climbed another tree before hopping to the wall. The men were now focused on the horizon.

She dropped on the sand and rushed straight to the trees. Dead corals crunched under her boots, wincing as they dug into her feet. She crouched near the mangrove's prop roots, ignoring her soaked skirt and boots. The smell of rotten eggs wafted in the air from time to time, making sweat roll down her forehead as her knees complained. God, this is why she hated islands.

Finally, a light lit up from afar.

Reiju waited and waited and fuck...

Was that a raft?

A rubber one at that.

Reiju resisted the urge to cuss as three people trudged back to the shore. She took a deep breath, eyeing the floating device that was beginning to be swept away by the currents.

She had to get it now.

Reiju ran.

The dark sky hid her movements for a while before the splashing water gave her away.

"Did you hear that?"

Shit. Reiju dove deep, swimming towards the boat. She gasped as her hand enclosed on the raft. Thank god it didn't drift too far.

"You serious?" Professor Shah looked down on her from the stone path.

Reiju smirked and climbed on the raft but her heart hammered as she heard a safety lever clicked. Fuck.

She turned to him, her fingers clenched the oar. "Are you gonna shoot me?"

"I will count to three," he declared, brown eyes turning darker. He continued to speak with a deep voice laced with threat and warning. "Make sure you're up here by the time I finish."

She returned his glare with the same blazing intensity. "No!"

He shot the raft twice. The rubber boat deflated, losing air within seconds.