© All Rights Reserved'wake up honey, you are getting late'
'Ashley' Mrs Joe yelled again
'Yes mum coming' Ashley replied from upstairs. She tossed her eyes and yawned.Ashley Sedately went inside the loo.

The phone rang and Mrs joe picked up the call while she was preparing the pancakes.
"Hello, Joe's here"
"Hey joe, its me Jenny"
"Sorry but who"
"Jenny Francis"
"Oh! Jenny! How are you? "
"Pretty well and what about you"
"Yeah doing great"
"Sounds good, well Joe you didn't tell me that you got a transfer in derby branch, since I'm the Chief manager boss showed me the list of new employees who got transfer here" Jenny's voice sounded ironically to Joe. All those memories of childhood flashes back again.

Joe's and jenny's family accustomed to be the neighbors. Life was going smoothly for Joe hirsh until the day arrives when jenny's family shifted beside the hirsh villa. Jenny being the bright student among her classmates made her haughty and proud. She was mischievous and stubborn girl always looking down people and judging them. Where else Joe was a average student and not so popular in school. Jenny had always made life miserable for joe since their childhood. Joe and Jenny's family became friends. Their mums used to visit each other simultaneously with pancakes and apple pies.
Jenny's voice brought Mrs joe back to reality.
"Are you there? "
"Yeah I am there"
"So joe when you are shifting"
"Next weekend, ah.. Hmm.. Jenny I gotta go" Without even saying goodbye to Jenny she disconnected the call.
'Bitch she hung up without saying bye ' Jenny thought to herself.

'Alright mum, I'm here" Ashley said
' oh honey you are ready'
'Yeah! What's the breakfast today'
' not interesting,Pancakes' Mrs joe said and giggled
' that's so boring mum ' Ashley's face was dismayed.

Still she ate her breakfast hurriedly. And she didn't even noticed the time she thought she was late but it was too early for her to the school.
'Bye mum'
Love you
'Love you too honey'

*THE STREET *
It was a bright morning, with the tacit steps. Ashley blithely walking through the street. The carol street is centre of the town because one can find every type of daily need amenities here.well in this street there used to be lot of movement and great hustle bustle. Ashley thought to herself how peaceful it looks now.she wonders the same peaceful street is filled with the throng of people in the evening. As she treaded the foot path, she saw a boy coming opposite to her. His blazing eyes caught the attention of Ashley. The boy was attired in a black hoodie with a sneakers. His hands were inside his hoodie's pocket. His brown hair fell over his forehead. Ashley could not remove her eyes from him.she found him very cute as well as enigmatic. Ashley gazed at him for a minute and soon she found that she was standing in front of a elevated building. She turned back but the boy vanished in Street. And she turned again and saw the huge board in front of the building which spelled' SUNSHINE SCHOOL OF DERBY'
Ashley realised that she was too early for the school. She could not see anyone else.
She mumbled 'oh! I knew it, mum woke me up with the sun'
As she entered the school through the huge silver gate she faced the beautiful trees and treaded the velvet green grasses. The first block of building is where all all the curriculum activities takes place including music, karate, singing, dance, cooking, drawing etc . An infirmary is also located here.
The first block is followed by the second block where all the academic classes are taken according to the level of class. There is a massive auditorium in the corner of the school campus, a garden in the backyard. A park is also located in the vicinity of garden. All of a sudden Ashley stopped and gazed at the park pensively.
"I must admit that this park is so elegant and magnificent in the morning, the sun rays hit the laurels and wow! No would believe the rumors that this park is haunted.Someone told me that the swings used to swing by itself but it can happen due the howling of wind but I must also admit that this park emit some negative vibes in the noon "

'Ah! Who the hell' Ashley shouted and turned back
' what's wrong ash? Are you okay'
'Oh! Its you serah' Ashley sighed
' what happened dude'
' yeah.. Iam fine.. It was so sudden that I was scared to death'
' no problem, it happens, let's hit the class'
' okay let's go'

Ashley and serah Cullen were the two best friends like soul sisters. They became besties since they were in elementary school. Serah Cullen daughter of Henry Cullen,the renowned entrepreneur of the town and one of most influential persons. Her mother Alisha Cullen is a excutive manager of "THE NEWS BEGIN"channel.
Serah is a dauntless girl with benovelence. She never show off, she never wear any fancy clothes in school. She never vaunt about her father or mother. Many people tried to befriend with her in order to spend her money lavishly. But serah is a kinda person who always find simplicity. Ashley never tried to befriend with her, she treated her as a normal ordinary girl which impressed serah. Soon with the passage of time they became very close to each other. They even joined the same belle class together. Serah seldomly visit Ashley's home for sleep over so did Ashley.

                      THE SCHOOL CLASSES
It was a day of terror,fright and anticipation for the students of the 9th grade. The result of English test were to be announced that morning in the first period by Mrs Catherine, the one who wears the round spectacles on the edge of her raised nose. She is a obnoxious person who is always insatiable about the performance of the students.
                      The classroom was shivering nevertheless Ashley and serah looked very calm. They both were the toppers of the class.
'What about you Ash? "Serah asked
'Perhaps I will cross 90'
'Sounds good, lemme see,mine is not confirm. I messed up with hyperbole and oxymoron'
                And suddenly Mrs Catherine paced into the class with a bundle of sheets.
'Good morning students'
'Good morning Miss Catherine'
'I know all of you are are worried about your result. This time the performance is good .

'Serah please stand'
'Yes Mrs Catherine' with a bemused face she stood up
" She is older than the hills,could you please tell me which figure of speech I used here"
"Hyperbole"
'Very good serah, what happened in the exam then you have written the answer booklet'
' my apologies Mrs Catherine, I was perplexed about the question'
' well you again topped in the class, congratulations'
          Mrs Catherine distributed the answer sheets among the students. She announced the name"Ashley"to be the second topper. The bell rang and it was the class of gardening.
'Thank you students. Good day'
'Same to mrs Catherine'

'Pile up your stuffs Ash'
'Yup'

Ashley and serah left for their gardening classes.

'Hey Ash'  out of blue Rick called Ashley
' hey Rick'
' I heard that you are shifting next week'
'You heard right. Mum's transfer has been issued last week'
'Actually I wanted to tell you this but never got a chance, Ash.." Rick stammered
" I love you ash "
Ashley was like "what".she never expected this from Rick. Ashley and Rick knew each other since from the childhood friend. When they were in second grade Ashley proposed Rick but he refused because he had some crush on Amelia, the swashbuckler.
'I'm sorry Rick but I have a boyfriend. I respect your feelings towards me but I can't help'
'What! I thought you are you not committed and just never saw you with someone'
' hey dumbo she even didn't told me. What the hell' serah yelled and Ashley signaled her to be quiet.
Rick with the dismal news and being broken inside silently went from there.
'Why did you lied to him? He's a nice guy'
'Come on. I don't believe in this love and feelings, love is an illusion. This fellow should love himself more than me'

'Enough my dear orator. You and your belief system, let's go we are getting late'

              **THE SILENT WHISPER**
It was a rainy day and it was pitch dark outside. Ashley's mom had gone out for some work. Ashley was all alone in the home with her pet dog labby. She was lying in her bed scrolling the phone and desperately waiting to hear the door bell. All of a sudden someone knocked at the door with a loud thud. She thought it might be Mrs joe and hurriedly paced downstairs to open the door and then suddenly the loud knocking stopped. Ashley just checked outside. She opened the door however no one was there. Then she realized that it was the sound of rain drops drumming on the roof of car shed. She just smiled at her foolishness. She headed back to her room and that's when her phone rang.
'Hey mum! Where are you? Can you please make it fast'
'Oh! Honey, I'm strucked. Its raining heavily. The news report updated that a strong tornado is approaching. I will try to reach earlier. Take care'
' what but today morning the weather was pleasant? Okay mum take care'

Ashley was really dismayed and disconnected the call. She felt jaded. The internet was damn slow due to the bad weather. Then she received a message notification in her phone she swiped up and read the message from her friend shenelle.

Shenelle:hy ash! How are you?
Ashley: pretty good and you?
Shenelle:yeah nice
Ashley: well I am not feeling well.
Shenelle : what happened? All well
Ashley: headache
Shenelle: take some advils or something
Ashley:yeah sure
Shenelle: okay then just sleep now take rest.
Ashley: no please talk with me. I'm all alone in the home.
Shenelle:okay then go on

And suddenly Ashley heard something from the washroom and Sedately headed towards the door. She slowly opened the door . It was the water tap that she left unnoticed and the water was dripping. She sighed and closed the tap and went back to her bed. She saw the unread message in her phone from shenelle.
Shenelle: Ashley are you there?
Ashley replied her message
Ashley: hey I'm sorry I went to washroom. Okay then good night I think I'm fine now. Sweet dreams
Shenelle: okay then bye good night

Ashley thought not to disturb her friend . She then whistled and called out her dog" Labby ". Her dog was hiding under the bed due to the thunder sound when Ashley called his name he came out wagging his tail. She patted his head and labby licked her hand lovingly. Ashley tried hard to sleep but she couldn't. The cold breeze coming through the window touched her warm feets. She badly wanted to drink a cup of coffee. She went downstairs and her feets leading her to the kitchen. She took the cauldron and added some milk in it. While preparing the coffee the lights went off but she was brave enough to lit a candle.
'ASHLEY ARE YOU THERE'
Ashley felt someone's breathe at her back and a faint whisper. She immediately turned back and but to her surprise no one was there. She dialled Mrs Joe's number. But every time the call hang off due to monsoon condition and at last Mrs Joe picked up the call.
' um.. Mum did you forget to pay energy bill for'
'The what..? '
" Lights mom" she yelled at her mother
' you mean electricity bill'.
' whatever mom, did you or not'
' of course I did. What happened? '
' lights just went off'
'Perhaps due to the weather lights might be gone'.
'Fine mom'
Ashley tried hard to sleep. She could hear the sound of windows due to the howling wind. She stood up to close it. And again she could hear sounds from the washroom. She reached the door and  opened it. The door creaked . She could not see anything and turned on her flash light and what she saw was horrible. She was dumbstruck and petrified. She could not believe her eyes. It was labby. He was hanged up in the shower . His neck was bleeding and the blood was dripping down and making sound. Then she noticed something was written on the wall with blood.
' NOW ITS YOUR TURN HONEY'
Ashley' s legs were trembling. She ran hurriedly when someone pulled her leg. She fell on the floor and her eyes closed slowly. She was fainted.
         The sun rays touched Ashley's face when she woke up. She saw Mrs joe coming with a tray.
'Good morning honey, here have some coffee and loafs of bread'
Ashley was bemused and she was surprised when labby came wagging his tail.
'Labby is alive' Ashley exclaimed
'What are you saying ash? '
' nothing mum, just a bad dream' Ashley was relieved and then she noticed a scratch in her legs. She was scared to death . She then went downstairs and turned on the television to keep herself distracted from the thoughts.
There was a breaking news flashing in the corner of the screen. It goes like this
" A girl aged 14 from Harlow was Enigmaticly died yesterday in her washroom. Ashley 's eyes widened when she saw the victim's name SHENELLE GRACE.

What's happening with Ashley?
Was it a dream?
how shenelle died.

by sandhya