KETLIN

I watched how the paramedics carried the unconscious girl in their van. But something wasn't right here. As much as I understood, this girl was exactly in the same condition as Mari. Only, Kairi was still alive. But her skin was white, she had no injuries etc. And Kairi was very decent and exemplary student. She didn't do drugs. And even if she did, why did she scream before losing her consciousness? Now I was certain, that granny knew more about this. I was also a bit angry. If it's so dangerous, why can't she just say what's going on?

Suddenly I decided,what to do next. I took my bag and left school. I went home. But I didn't see granny anywhere. I asked mum.

"Granny left this morning, right after you left for school. But why are you back so soon again? Something happened?"

Then I told her, what had happened. Mum believed, that even if Kairi acted like a normal girl, she could easily have used drugs. But I didn't believe it. I think that mum didn't want to believe that something more dangerous was going on.

"Can I visit her?" I asked.

"Ketlin, you should get back to school. Ton't take it seriously what granny said. After grandad's death she has changed and became so-called psychic. But her visions aren't always clear. But if you want to talk to her so badly, you can visit her in the weekend. Or just call her."

"Okay, I'll stay home." I said. "But I don't want to go to school either. I can't think straight."

Mum thoughed about it. "Okay, you can stay home and rest. If Kairi wakes up, she can tell what happened."

I nodded and went to my room. I sat on my bed and thoughed about stuff. Then I stood up and turned on my computer. I found a chat room and went there.

What can kill a human, leaving them cold and white and with no injuries. Something that makes a person scream, like they get scared? I don't know why I asked it.

A ghost bear? someone said.

Real answers, plz.

A vampire. answered someone else. But I didn't believe in vampires. There's just too many films and stories about them lately. And I actually checked Kairi's neck in the woods. No bite marks.

Maybe a deemotay. someone said after a short break.

Who is that? I asked.

Some mythical creature who was believed to exist ages ago. My grandmother used to tell me stories about them. How they killed people by villages. They leave behind bodies with no symptoms. But it was so long ago when she told that. Granny's dead now.

But what to they do? I asked.

I don't remember exactly. But you had to avoid their touch. Clothes and hair doesn't count.

I've never heard of those creatures.

They didn't live everywhere. Even then, people who believed in them were mostly believed to be crazy.

Who ever those deemotays are, this was a bit weird. I've never believed in creatures like this. Maybe ghosts only. But I tried to google that name. I didn't find anything special. Some old people stories, where they talked about human-like creatures who had a deadly touch.

Then it all started to seem funny. This deemotay was just a really unlikely possibility. Maybe they both really did use drugs and before losing her consciousness, Kairi thought she saw something. Then she fell. But I was also interested in this new thing.

But how do you recognize a deemotay? I asked.

I don't know, they look like normal humans. Maybe a bit faster and stronger, and heal quickly. Just appear and vanish sometimes, act weird... I don't know. Never seen one.

Well, that wasn't much help. I turned off my computer and went back to bed. Maybe my granny knows about deemotays? Soon I fell asleep.

I woke up two hours later. Looked for something to eat and stayed inside. Soon I got bored and when school was over, I called Sara and asked if I could go to her place. She liked the idea and I could start going right away.

Sara of course knew already that we found Kairi unconscious, and why I left school. Then she started to question me about physics.

"You were lucky to be in the same group with him. He was pretty good at it, right? And did you left school together? There were rumors that you used Kairi to leave with Adam."

"Of course not! I didn't see him after physics."

"Anyway, after physics he wasn't at school either." Sara said. She seemed somehow disappointed in my answer.

"Why did he left school then?" I asked.

"How should I know. But girls were so sad when he left."

Then we changed our topic. TV was on and they showed our school there. They mentioned the death and that what happened this morning. There were no toxins found from the dead girl's body, as first suspected. That's what they said. They also mentioned, that Kairi was still in the hospital, unconscious.

But granny had been right. No drugs. It was actually a bit creepy.

I stayed at Sara's place pretty late. When I finally left, it was dark outside. I wanted to get home fast, which is why I chose a shortcut. It went through the forest. I was already in the forest, when I remembered granny's words. Try not to be alone.

Even this shortcut was actually pretty long way. Suddenly I heard something. It scared me and I turned around. Then I got scared again. Adam? Where did he come from?

But he looked as confused as I was.

"Why are you in the woods so late?" he asked.

At first I didn't know what to say. "I just thought the same about you." I said then.

"There might be some suspicious guys out so late."

He seemed the most suspicious to me right now. And he didn't answer my question. Actually I didn't say it out as a question... "Do you mean those two girls, who..." I didn't end that sentence.

"Them too. Can't be sure, what happened."

"Um... I should get going home now." I said and started to keep on going.

"I'm going the same way. I could send you." he said.

"Ididn't hear anyone following me."

"I walk fast." he answered.

Then we walked in the silence. He didn't keep really close to me, which was good. In the silent I started thinking. Even if I didn't believe in mythical creatures, someone's attack on Mari and Kairi seemed most convincing. They had no toxins, Kairi saw something, both happened in the woods. If they hit their head, the doctors would know it. Could they both have some kind of disease and the scream was caused by pain? Then the blood sample or autopsy should show something. At least when Kairi wakes up, she maybe can tell what happened.

But granny had sensed some kind of danger and warned about being alone. Can it be coincidence? And granny seemed to be sure. Then I remembered again, that I came in those woods alone.

And what did Adam do here? Wasn't he the one who just appears and vanishes sometimes? Have we ever accidentally touched each-other? For example, on those stairs? Have I ever seen him being in contact with someone? I'm not sure in any of those. And by the way, if his touch would kill, why would he be at school?

In my mind, I started to laugh at myself. I was thinking that Adam was a deemotay. Wouldn't he already have done something to me if he was? And he seemed worried about me. I wonder if he even knows about deemotays? But I'm not going to ask.

How long had we walked already? The silence was a bit discomfort. I felt like I should say something, but don't know what.

"Wait." said he suddenly. It frightened me for a moment. I looked at him and stopped. But he was looking up, somewhere ahead us. Then I heard a loud snap and a big branch fell in front of me. Where I would have stood.

I looked at the branch. This would have hurt. "How did you...?"

"I thought I saw something." he said. Then he stepped over it. I followed him. Then I saw streetlights and I understood that we're almost there.

"Ketlin."

I turned around and looked at Adam. I've never heard him say my name before.

"Maybe next time you will go through city, not woods. Just in case."

I nodded. "Okay." Silence. "I'll go now." I said and turned around. After few meters I looked back. Adam was gone.