The Assassin

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A/N:

Chapter 10 (Shutting the Doors)

There were at least four more months until graduation, and thus far Hollywood Arts was not reaping its yearly benefit. Since opening their doors in the mid-2000s, they had great success rates with graduates in high numbers, outing the competing schools despite their unorthodox method of focusing mainly on the arts.

They had core curriculum in order to at least be accredited, but students didn't go to Hollywood Arts to learn math or science. Therefore the school was often seen as a loophole, or a way around most of those core courses, but funding from donors helped them to remain in business and the most basic of core classes helped them retain the minimum required standard for accreditation.

As for Trina, she loathed how the place seemed to cheat the system. Before her own graduation, she had taken advanced classes offered online from other high schools in the area, but attended Hollywood Arts due to their martial arts.

Tori likewise considered the school a corrupt alternative method to giving students the easy way into college, despite most colleges not feeling too agreeable with their standards. They still had to accept students with a high school diploma from Hollywood Arts, but those students were required to take certain elementary coursework in their first semester.

Tori mulled over this while sitting in Mr. Sikowitz's classroom. The room seemed rather empty now, with half the class either dropping out or simply too afraid to attend.

Sikowitz stood in front of those that remained, leaning back against his desk and grasping the edges firmly with his fingers. "I am glad for those of you brave enough to continue attending class," he marveled. His eyes were shadowed by his low, bushy eyebrows. "Even those of you not afraid of failing my course."

"Give us a break," Robbie insisted, "We're trying. We're going through hell right now, too. There's a killer out there, Jade's father's dead and Andre's grandmother was just murdered-"

"I guarantee that killer will be caught too." Sikowitz leaned forward, his dark eyes glistened with hate as venom seeped from his teeth. "You lot probably will never be held responsible for the shit you've done."

"We caused a car accident, okay, but you don't have to hate us for it."

Sikowitz threw back his head with a laugh and raised his hand, flexing his fingers in the air. "If only that were the only thing I've seen from you." Robbie flinched as the teacher approached him, growling low under his breath. "I've seen some pretty messed up things from you that you've all gotten away with." His eyes darted from Robbie to Jade, and his tone became husky and dark. "Whether it's medically sabotaging your fellow performer to steal her part, or dropping someone from the rafters, thinking it's funny."

"We didn't get away with that…"

"No? Because Lane said every one of you spun stories and pointed at someone else." Sikowitz crossed his arms, shaking his head disapprovingly. "All you lot do is spin stories and hope someone else takes the fall. I'll laugh when karma finally catches up with you."

"That is a very hateful thing to say."

"Right now, I don't feel much else." He shrugged simply and returned to the desk. It was interesting, and somewhat entertaining how vocal he was with the blatant dislike he felt towards the group now. Tori figured it would pass eventually, and she hoped that it would soon.

"Did you guys know my sister was pregnant?"

"What?!" Jade cried out first and a wave of horror passed over the group. Sikowitz turned merely and narrowed his eyes as Tori looked up at him with a blank and stoic expression.

"She was pregnant with a baby girl." Sikowitz moved with an eerie calm behind his chair. His right hand folded over the top, denting into the leather. Tori watched his nostrils spread open and his lips parted half an inch. "When the accident happened, she lost the baby."

The hush that fell over the room hung in place like a dark and sinister could. Sikowitz was frozen in place, staring into Tori's eyes with a smoldering glare while each of her friends held their breath.

The other students buried their noses in their textbooks and journals, clearly doing whatever they could to ignore the situation. Tori's lips spread up innocently and she turned her head to the side. "I'm sorry," she said finally, "That wasn't the appropriate time to bring that up."

"I'm going to be sick," Cat muttered. The girl brought her hands to her heads as the others looked to her. "I hate you. I hate all of you. I can't believe I ever called any of you my friends. Nothing but bullies, pricks, assholes."

Sikowitz emitted a gruff, guttural noise before walking with a slow step towards the door. "If you students will excuse me." He stepped out, slamming the door behind him. All those in the room flinched and watched the door closely, half expecting him to return.

Beck turned fully towards Trina, beads of sweat flicked from around his eyebrows. "Tori, are you fucking with us?" She glanced at him. Her hands slid in across her thigh and she looked with earnest at him. "Trina was pregnant? Seriously?"

She nodded solemnly, watching as a rush of air left his body and he slumped into the chair. "She was. Your girlfriend's stupid prank killed Jason and my sister's baby." Tori breathed in sharp and shook her head at the group. "Then again, I'm thinking out loud. Trina just told me, I don't think she would have wanted me to tell you guys, so I honestly shouldn't have said anything."

"Jesus Tori, I…" Beck's head bowed and he looked to Jade, but the girl had no answers while the others had little to say. "This is all just one big mess." Though it was hardly appropriate to describe such a situation as a mess, there wasn't any other way to describe it besides tragic, and she knew it.

"Don't worry about it." She moved from her chair and looked up to the speaker on the wall as a static noise played over it, signaling that Mrs. Belknap was likely going to speak soon. "Just accept that my sister's fiancé is dead, I've lost a niece that I'll never get a chance to meet, and all because you just wanted to cement to my sister that she was worthless." She glanced over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes. "Well job well done, you've gotten what you wanted. I'm glad you feel proud of yourselves now."

As predicted, the assistant principal spoke out, calling for another last minute assembly. Tori was the first to leave the room, walking fast to make her way to the large auditorium.

Mrs. Belknap was up at the podium, watching as the students filed in. Tori noted the forlorn expression on the woman's face, and upon closer inspection she could see flecks of tears beginning to form in her eyes.

Behind the woman were a line of men and women, one of which was an old familiar face. He was tall and dressed in a brown suit, his arms were locked behind his back and his hair was trimmed into a neat and professional cut.

This man was Richard Brighton, the principal of Sherwood High. "What's he doing here?" She took a seat in the third row and studied the man carefully. He was unflinching and had a warm, subtle smile just like the rest of the principals and administrators standing on the stage.

"Students." Mrs. Belknap pushed her hands along the podium and a long exhale was drawn from her lips. "As I am sure some of you are aware, two of our biggest donors have recently been murdered by the Shadow Slayer. Along with them we mourn the loss of our own Mr. Lane Alexander and Principal John Eikner."

Tori bowed her head, staring down at her hands as she tapped the tips of her fingers together. She wasn't entirely heartbroken over the losses, at least not since she didn't know them personally, but she had been curious how these deaths may affect the school.

Now it seemed the answer might present itself. With Los Angeles's biggest high schools here at Hollywood Arts, it could only mean one thing in her mind; Hollywood Arts was shutting down. The Shadow Slayer had won.

Tori balled her hands into fists and clenched her teeth as a grievous sensation pulsed through her.

"Hollywood Arts began as a wonderful school dedicated to performance art, we wanted students to grow in talent and discover the joys and passion of the stage." The woman's tears framed her lips, and her eyes twinkled in the light. "For many years that is what we achieved, that is the goal that we've accomplished. It was no easy task, we've relied upon donations to keep us afloat, and we have come a long way. It's been an incredible journey, and one which I hope many of you cherish for as long as I will."

The woman wiped her nose with a tissue, sniffing into it. "It is our belief now that our students, our faculty and staff may very well be in danger, and we have never wanted the community to feel like their lives are being put at risk should they attend or work at this school." She gasped aloud and closed her eyes. "So it is with great sadness that I announce, until further notice, our doors will be closed to the public."

A great clamor erupted amongst the students present but Tori remained silent, staring down at her hands as veins began to bulge from the surface. "What will we do?" Someone asked. Another inquired about graduation while some questioned if the school would ever open again.

Mrs. Belknap raised and waved her hands forward in the air. "I will answer all your questions, but one at a time please." The clamor began to settle and the woman carefully gripped the edges of her podium. "As for continuing your education, any one of these ladies and gentlemen standing behind me are ready to discuss and help you enroll in their schools for the remainder of the year. That includes graduating seniors…"

"Good to know," Tori thought. She would love to go back to Sherwood to finish out the remainder of her term, if they would have her, but it wasn't as though she'd be able to talk to her old friends.

Behind her, she could already hear her friends talking amongst themselves about going to the same school as one another. Cat was saying nothing at all, and Andre was tapping Tori on the shoulder, asking what school she was thinking of finishing at.

As if he didn't know.

"She'd probably go to Sherwood," she heard Robbie say with a chuckle. Her eyebrow rose as the others murmured their agreements. Among those murmurs was a statement that caught her attention and held it, rendering all else as background.

"Sherwood's a school for nerds and geeks, she wouldn't want to go back there."

Her lips pressed tightly together and her hands viciously tugged at the bottom of her shirt. A tear started to appear the harder she pulled. Her teeth ground together and a new ember burned in her eyes.

Before she could respond to them, Mrs. Belknap shushed all students once again and spoke over the clamor. "Hollywood Arts will remain closed until further notice. Once the Shadow Slayer has been arrested, we will begin a transformation process-looking for employees and rehashing a new audition plan. It is not yet known when we will reopen, but you have the next three weeks to enroll in the many high schools here in our district. Take advantage of that opportunity now. Thank you and…I wish you all the best of luck…"

The other principals introduced themselves, each speaking a little about their schools before passing the microphone. By the time the assembly was over, Tori remained in her seat, listening to her fellow students discuss the matter. "This is what the killer wanted? To close down Hollywood Arts?"

"Does this mean the killings will stop?

"I hope so."

Tori raised her head, pulling her eyes away from her hands while staring up at the principal of Sherwood. "I hope so too," she said to no one at all, "Let it all be over now."

So Hollywood Arts has closed it's door for the safety of the community, but what are your thoughts? Was this the true plan of the Assassin and Caller, or was it a part of the plan? Do you think it was a distraction? Also, do you think the Caller is really the one in charge? A lot of tension in this chapter, so there's much to talk about. Let me know w