Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Eldritch High
It was the middle of September, and the cloudy skies and cool breeze made it known that fall was present. It was still the beginning of the school year, so I hadn’t missed much.
I didn’t dress to impress. I decided it was best to wear what I was most comfortable in. I wore my favorite pair of faded skinny jeans, a white baseball tee shirt with black stripes on the sleeves, and my solid black Vans that my dad bought me at the beginning of the school year.
My hair was twisted into a messy bun with a few strands of wavy blonde hair framing my face and my makeup was elegantly completed with traditional black eyeliner, mascara, and natural brown shades of eye shadow. I always wore the same diamond stud earrings that my parents got me for my birthday last year, and I never left the house without my sterling silver necklace that had a softball with my jersey number engraved into it. Lucky number seven. It was a gift from daddy when I made varsity my freshman year. I was the first ever starting freshman pitcher that Seattle High ever had. Scouts came from all over the United States to watch me play. I had full-ride scholarships waiting for me for when I graduated.
Now, it was all gone.
My future was destroyed and replaced with this disgusting town and repulsive building that they called a high school. I couldn’t help but to chuckle as we pulled up to the front entrance.
Mom furrowed a brow, “Is everything alright, dear?”
I inhaled a deep breath to contain myself. “Yes, mother. I’m fine.” I tossed my black backpack onto my shoulder as I leaped out of the car.
“Have a great day, Katie Anne. I’ll be here to pick you up later. I love you.”
“Love you too.” I didn’t mean to constantly have an attitude with her, but it just naturally kept slipping out.
I stared at my new school as my feet stayed frozen on the concrete. The building was made from bricks and painted a bright lime green with hot pink trimmings and edges. Rainbow colored rose gardens scattered throughout the property.
What was with this town and bright colors?
“Oh, my! There you are!” A high-pitched voice shrieked from the distance, snapping me out of my dreadful daze. “Katie Anne Willows, right?” I nodded as this rosy cheeked girl with bright purple hair rushed me. “My name is Rachel Flynn, and I am part of the welcoming committee. I will be your first day tour guide and assistant to help you with any questions about our school as well as helping you locate your classes, the cafeteria, and all of that good stuff!” She was talking so fast; I could barely keep up. My ears were ringing from how loud and high pitched her voice was. It was like a training whistle for a dog.
“You actually have a welcoming committee for this place?” I said sarcastically as I furrowed my brows.
Her blue eyes beamed. “Oh, yes! We believe in making sure all new students feel accepted here at Eldritch High! We are a family here!” Rachel giggled as she waves her hands around to intensify her statements. “We haven’t had to use it since our parents created the committee almost thirty years ago, though. The other students on the council were so scared and unsure of how to handle the situation, but not me! I was ready to accept the challenge!” She was smiling from ear to ear as her bright purple hair bounced with each gleeful leap she took.
“So, I’m a situation and a challenge?”
“Oh, no! No! I’m so sorry! That is not what I meant at all! I just meant we haven’t had anyone new move into town since…” She paused as her smile suddenly faded and she gazed off into the distance behind me.
“Since what?”
She leaned into me to whisper, “Nova Dark moved to town when she was in high school.”
“Dark? As in the Dark Family that lives on that creepy house on the hill?”
“Shhhhhh!” She waved her hands around to silence me. “It’s bad luck to talk about them. If they hear you mention their name, evil things happen to you. I’ve seen it with my own eyes! If we avoid them, they will leave us alone.”
“Oh, come on.” I nudged her shoulder as I released a nervous laugh. “They can’t be THAT bad.”
“Trust me. They are. You can tell just by looking at them.” Rachel scanned her surroundings as she nervously rubbed her palms together.
“So, you mean to tell me,” I hesitated as I felt rage boil within my veins, “that since they look different, everybody in this town doesn’t associate with them and thinks their evil?”
“Well,” she smacked her lips, “yes.”
“Wow. This place really makes me sick. I got to get to homeroom.” I shoved my way passed her as she sighed with disbelief.
“I’m supposed to walk you to homeroom!” She shouted as she chased after me.
“I’m a big girl. I can follow room numbers. I can find my own homeroom.” I held my class schedule tightly in my hand as I tried to calm myself down, but her following me was just making it worse.
“You have Mr. Dunn for homeroom?” She was perched over my shoulder and invading my personal space. “So, do I! I can walk with you, but first we have to get your locker situated!” She was so persistent.
“Fine,” I gave up, “just quit hovering over me, okay?”
“Okay, I’m sorry.” She paused as she twisted her lips. “I know I can be a lot sometimes. I don’t mean to.”
“It’s fine.” We stood at the front entrance for a moment in awkward silence.
“So,” she clasped her hands together, “which locker number do you have?”
“Number 237.”
“Get out! I’m 238! It’s like we are meant to be best friends! Isn’t that wonderful!?” Rachel was leaping up and down like some hyper cheerleader.
“It’s a scream.” I rolled my eyes.
Literally, I needed to get out of this cheap horror film.
Thankfully, she walked me towards my locker in silence. The hallways were just as ugly as the outside. The walls were hot pink while the lockers and classroom doors were painted that disgusting lime green. Rachel pulled me down hallway number four, which was the senior hall. She raced towards our lockers as she saw another girl nearby. I didn’t really care to keep up. I was hoping she was ditching me, but I was wrong.
“Katie Anne! Come meet my friend!” I sighed as I dragged my feet towards them. A petite girl with long, perfectly straight blue hair leaned against the lockers. She was laughing and smiling as Rachel and her talked. She was very pretty. She was shorter than me and had way better curves than I did. Her eyes matched her hair, and she wore a blue and white plaid skirt that stopped at her knees with a loose-fitting blue blouse to match. I assumed blue was her favorite color and something in my gut told me that her house was probably blue too. I chuckled at my sarcastic thought.
“Hi! I’m Hannah Trout.” Her painted blue lips flashed me a genuine smile as she extended her hand to me.
I accepted to be polite, “Katie Anne Willows.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, and how exciting that we are all locker neighbors. I’m number 236.”
“Awesome.” This day couldn’t get any worse. I don’t want to like it here, and now, I’ve been accepted into a girly click that doesn’t match my personality.
“Who do you guys have for homeroom?” Hannah asked as she started to put her books and school supplies into her locker.
“Mr. Dunn.” Rachel and I said simultaneously.
“Get out! Me too!”
I groaned as I unloaded my books into my locker. I was officially locking my life here alongside biology and algebra. I grabbed the magnetic mirror mom bought me and placed it on the inside of the locker door. Beside it, I placed a picture of my father and me. We took that picture right after we had won the state championship in spring, earlier this year. I’m wrapped in daddy’s arms as I’m holding the golden trophy high in the sky. It was the best day of my life. Then, my life changed once the school year came to an end.
“That’s a nice picture.” Hannah said from over my shoulder.
“Thanks.” I was snapped out of my memory as I quickly wiped the corners of my eyes.
“State championship, huh? What position did you play?” She asked as the three of us started making our way towards homeroom.
“Pitcher.” I hesitated as I clenched tightly to my bag. “I was ranked in the top ten in the United States.”
“Wow! You should try out for our varsity team!” Hannah shrieked as she pulled on my arm.
I sighed with relief. “Thank goodness there is a softball team here.”
“Of course! We go to playoffs every year. We haven’t won state yet, but maybe it’s because we are missing a great player like you!” She nudged me in my rib as we walked through the entrance of homeroom.
“You play?”
“Shortstop.” She winked as we took a seat in the middle of the classroom beside each other, and Rachel placed herself in the desk in front of me.
“You should definitely tryout, Katie! It would be awesome! You two will be the star players and I get to cheer you guys on!” Rachel proclaimed as she clapped with pure joy.
“Let me guess,” I pinched my chin as if I were thinking, “varsity cheerleader?”
“That’s right! Cheer captain to be exact.” She flipped her curly purple hair with pride.
At that moment, the final bell rang, and Mr. Dunn walked in with his briefcase. He looked so plain compared to all the bright-colored hair students. He wore grey polo shirt tucked into his black slacks with a black belt and black dress shoes to match. His hair was peppered grey and trimmed neatly on the side with long hair on the top to create a comb over.
“Good morning, class,” he began as he adjusted his thick framed glasses, “I’m Mr. Dunn and I’ll be your homeroom teacher for this year.” He wrote his name on the chalk board as he spoke in a low monotone pitch. “I’ll begin with attendance while we wait for the morning announcements.” He was the least cheerful person I had witness thus far which surprisingly, relaxed me a little bit. Maybe this place wasn’t as psychotic as it seemed.
“When are tryouts?” I whispered to Hannah as Mr. Dunn robotically called names.
“This Thursday, I believe. You’re in eighth period athletics, right?”
I nodded.
“Okay, good. They should announce the tryout date in class today.”
“Flynn.” Mr. Dunn paused. “Rachel Flynn.”
“Oh, that’s me! Present!” Rachel squealed as she raised her hand frantically in the air. I couldn’t help but to giggle. Even though her peppy spirit was annoying, I was starting to like her.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone