School was over for the day. Lucas sat at the back seat of the school bus with his headset on. He was listening to an old school rap music Philip had recommended for him after the basketball practice and was moving his head to the beat. He seemed happy and calm. In less than twenty minutes, the school bus was filled with students, each discussing and engaging in one other activity or the other. Lucas looked at his younger sister, who was seated at the front row of the bus, discussing with her friends. He smirked. Then, the driver ignited the engine and zoomed off.
Lucas leaned on the window and fixed his gaze on the moving buildings in the streets. His music was still playing through the headset while he mouthed the lyrics of the song. In no time, Lucas realised that outside West Virginia blurred into greens and grays. He tapped his finger to the bassline but his mind wasn't entirely in the music he was listening to anymore. Something in his chest buzzed, not fear, but entirely like he was being watched. He shook the thought off and let the beat of the music drown it.
Then, his mind wandered to the green eyes he saw at the males' bathroom at school. He adjusted himself on the seat and heaved a sigh. Then, he looked at his palms and finger and they were humane and not demonic. He sighed again. Then, his mind wandered to how suspicious Philip had become of him, his anger issues and proud self. He felt like his brain was about to explode. He didn't know what to do. He clenched his jaw and changed the song to something faster. His heart was beginning to beat fast. He rubbed his chest and adjusted his sitting posture as he wrapped his palms in a fist. He sighed.
He continued fixing his gaze out of the window and sighted an old man who was standing outside the mall. The man looked at him even when the bus was driving past the mall. Lucas kept his eyes fixed on the man. Just then, a sharp thud made him glance up. The bus had hit a pot hole and came to a halt. The students began to grumble. Lucas took off the headset and switched off the music as he turned his face away from the old man. He looked at the bus driver who was coming out of the bus and complaining. He rubbed his forehead and noticed that he was sweating. Then, he took out his handkerchief from his pocket and cleaned his forehead with it.
"Everyone stay calm, I'll get us out of here in no time!" The bus driver shouted from outside the bus.
"You better!" Mariam retorted as her friends burst into laughter.
Lucas sighed as he leaned back on the window. He looked outside trying to find the old man but he wasn't there again. Lucas heaved a sigh of relief. He wore his headset again and continued playing the music. Then, he clenched lower to his seat, letting his shoulders relax, as he closed his eyes.
He began to hear lots of voices in his head and no longer the music. He tried opening his eyes but couldn't.
"...your son is going to be one of...", he heard a voice say in his head. It was that of an old woman.
"No, don't take him away! " Someone cried.
"Please have mercy on us". Another person said.
He began to see many images in his head and began to breathe heavily and shake.
"Burn them, feed their bodies to the vampires and make sure no one finds out about any of this!" Someone said in his head. He continued shaking and was already sweating profusely with his eyes still shut. Then, he began to see images of some people being set ablaze...
"Lucas!" He heard someone call out to him but he couldn't say anything. "Lucas! Lucas!! Lucas!!!" The person called. Then, his eyes were wide opened. He looked at the person who had been calling him. It was Mariam, she was wearing a look full of confusion. She was quiet.
Lucas looked at everyone. He was still in the bus. They were discussing happily. The bus was moving, he was still in West Virginia. Then, he fixed his gaze on his sister who still had the confused look on her face.
"What is wrong with you?" Mariam managed to ask.
"Huh?" Lucas asked as he cleaned his face with his already drenched handkerchief.
"What is wrong with you?!" Mariam asked again.
"Nothing, I'm fine. Go back to your seat!" He said in a harsh tone. Mariam flinched, then, she walked back to her seat.
Lucas picked his headset which Mariam had placed on the chair and switched it off. Then, he put it in his bag and went to join some nerds in their conversation....