What If He Didn't Die?

Chapter 53: The Game

"Oh. You." Jack smiles slyly at Robert. "Don't we ship this lovely couple?"

"Why, of course, you do Jack. Do bless us." Robert snakes his hand around my waist, sending alarms through my spine.

"Sure I will." He mutters and looks at me with a cunning smirk completely forgetting the coffee stain getting stronger and stronger on the fabric by the minute.

"Looks like you've finally moved on. I hope your pathetic little dead boyfriend is resting in peace up there, oops sorry!" He slaps his hand on his mouth and the look in his voice induces anger in me. "I mean down there."

My breaths start getting heavier as his words seep into my bones making the blood in my veins hotter in angst. Just in time, Robert slides his hand up my back and starts tracing circles with his fingers to calm me down.

"Yes Jack, I've moved on," I say coldly cocking my head. "But have you?"

The colour of his face dies at my words and with a straight face, I leave him standing there with his mess of a shirt. Bella from her table, saving two seats for us, sends me a questioning look. I smile at her warmly and shake my head.

Rest of the day, Jack behaves as nothing happened at all. Or at least that's what he tries to show. But his hard exterior does nothing to block the awkward looks being sent his way by all the gossip lovers of Drakeshire High. Pictures of his panic and even HD videos of him kicking benches like there's a rat in his pants are circulated to every last person in less than half the day.

Theories start to form when he doesn't answer any of the questions. The rat in the pants is also one of them. In the meantime, I prepare for the next message to be sent.

Afterschool, as I stand leaning on Bella's car waiting for Robert. She tells me about her prom outfit. Something like a violet velvet dress. My attention is hardly at her description, my eyes busy watching Jack's every movement closely. I like his alertness as he keeps his eyes on his phone and Airpods in his ears, ready to prove his point to everyone the moment he receives another message.

The presence of that little hint of tremble and reluctance in his body language acts as courage for me. He's getting exactly the right message and this is going to work.

As I watch him getting into his car, I get ready with my phone. His car comes to life and starts moving, I take it as my cue. A minute before he's about to turn out of the driveway, I hit send and just in half a second, his car screeches down to a halt.

The sudden violent sound grabs the attention of a few people around, but no so much for anyone to rush to him. And he's left alone in his car with that message from the dead.

Yo bro!
You don't seem happy at our reunion.

Your reaction really hurt me, but anyways.Another thing that hurt my feelings, is you bitching about our little Liaison to your best friend.What's done is done.But remember, no one else should know about this, or I'll have to speed up my plan.Got it?

It takes Jack a few more messages to realise that these are not his hallucinations and also that he's doomed. In just two days, his face turns pale and fear shows clearly in his eyes. He keeps telling Eric everything about it and Eric keeps me posted.

This little friendship between Eric and Jack comes of great help to me. Robert helps in crafting new messages and designing the pattern of sending them. Most of which are during school hours or in public places. Seeing the panic in his eyes every time he sees 'Dead' popping up on his phone screen gives me my daily dose of peace.