THE ROOT OF DARKNESS

CHAPTER THREE

When Kira steeped out of the horror house, she looked around to see if there was anyone on sight a d seeing there was none, she continued her movements heading to the restroom to wash up. 

She stilled when she saw Derrick pass by her with his headphone over his ears but luckily he didn’t take notice of her. It was then she’d realized that she was back at the museum. 

I need to wash up before more people see me. She thought.

“What are you covered in?”. A voice asked startling her as she cursed inwardly. She was so deep in thoughts that she hadn’t noticed Caleb, the geek had approached her. 

He was looking at her with wide eyes that showed he felt something off about her. Kate chuckled. “It’s ketchup”. 

She dipped her finger into the blood by the side of her cheeks as she shoved it in his face. “Would you like to taste it?”

Caleb scowled his face in disgust. “I’ll pass. Why are you covered in ketchup?”

Kate started to look offended. “Hey, are you my father? Why are you interrogating me?” She looked down at his book in his hands. “Just read your book if you don’t have anything better to do”. 

With that said, she stormed off fuming with rage as she made her way to the bathroom. When she’d gotten there, she washes up the traces of blood from her hands and cheeks before joining the rest inside the musuem. 

When Penelope saw her, she sighed in relief. “Kira, where have you been? I was worried sick”

Kira tried to look apologetic. “I’m sorry. There was just this really cool amusement park nearby that I couldn’t resist the urge to go to”

“There’s an amusement park around here?” Jackson the jock, who had overheard their conversation questioned with wide eyes as he turned to face Miss Penelope. “Can we go check it out?”

“We came here on a field trip not a vacation. You all can come back here later and check out the amusement park with your parents”. Penelope replied sounding apologetic. The crowd of students stilled as they heard trembling sounds and the splattering of rain drops. 

“Shit, is it fucking raining?!”. Liz questioned in disbelief as she sifted her hands through her hair angrily. 

Mr Alfred had run up to meet Penelope. “What do we do?. It’s raining”

“What do you mean,”what do we do?’ . It’s just rain not fire. You can still take us home when we are done here”. Daisy said curtly. 

“We can but we won’t”. Miss Penelope replied sternly. “Your parents entrusted you all with us. It would be wrong of us to take you back home in the rain”. She turned to face Alfred. “There’s a motel nearby. We can lodge there with the kids just until the rain subsides”

“Good idea”. Alfred replies rounding up the kids. “Okay guys, follow me”. In a single file, he led the kids to a nearby motel. 

On getting to the front desk, he inquired of the available rooms they had left. 

“How many are you guys?”. The lady at the front desk inquired. 

“14?”. Alfred guessed as he did a random headcount. “13”. He replied as he watched the lady scan through a big book Infront of her. 

“Well, we have 4 rooms available. If the kids can room in four’s, it would be enough”

“We’ll just take three rooms”. Miss Penelope chimed in as Alfred stared at her wide eyed.

“Just three?”. He questioned Penelope partly disappointed as he wanted them to share the extra room left. 

“Yes”. Penelope replied strongly. “You and I will be rooming in with the kids”

Caleb shrieked. “What? Five in a room can lead to congestion and…”

Jackson covered his mouth. “Shut up with all the book crap, nerd”. He turned to face Penelope. “No matter what happens, don’t put me in the same room with nerd here”

Caleb pushed Jackson’s hands off his mouth. “And I wouldn’t also want to share the same room with you”. He turned to face Miss Penelope. “Still get the extra room, okay?”

Miss Penelope nodded her head. “Okay so here’s the plan”. She said. “I’ll get the extra room as Caleb as said and for the sharing of the rooms, we’re going to do it by ruffle draw, okay?”

“No eww.”. Daisy says in disgust. “Suggest something else”

“Then would you guys like to pick who you would like to room in amongst yourselves?”. Penelope questioned as the students looked around themselves from one person to the other. 

“Well, I’m definitely rooming with my boyfriend and my bestfriend”. Desire spoke up first clinging to Vivan and Cassey’s arms. “And to make us four…” She glanced around thinking of any ‘slightly’ normal person amongst them. 

There’s none. She thought. How on earth did I get stucked up with this kids?. “I’ll take her”. She said pointing at Liz who stared at her back in shock. 

“Me? Why?”

Desire shrugged. “Because you look slightly normal”. 

Liz scoffed as she pointed at Kira. “Kira looks normal too”

“Kira has a boyfriend and wouldn’t want to room with us.” Desire said as a matter of fact “ Don’t you know the meaning of ‘privacy’?” 

“Where IS your boyfriend anyways?”. Jackson questioned Kira lightly not really curious though. 

“He’s in the restroom”. Kira replied awkwardly. 

“Did you tell him that we are here?”. Miss Penelope questioned. “Or do I need to go get him.”

“He knows, don’t worry”. Kira responded as Miss Penelope nodded her head, turning her attention back to the kids. “So, it’s settled. Liz, Desire, Vivan and Cassey. You have one room”. She handed them the keys. “And the rest of you?”

“I have a question”. Derrick says taking off his headphone from his ears. “Have you and Mr Alfred decided the room you’ll be staying In since you’ll be rooming with us?”

“Well, since the first room is off the list..”. Miss Penelope says with a smile.” Isn’t it obvious that we’ll be rooming with the rest of you?”.