I'm not sure how long I sat there, staring blankly at Hessian. Too long, apparently.
"Hey. You come to see me?" Osoro's voice came from behind me, echoing off the cement walls. His voice had that half cocked grin in it, but it changed drastically when he saw me sitting on the ground. "Fuck. You okay?"
Hessian growled, lowering his body in aggression. Not that Osoro noticed. I was just aware enough to put a dissuading hand on Hessian's snout.
"Hey, Mika, you hear me?" Osoro came closer, stopping just behind me. "Ya look… shell shocked, or something."
I opened my mouth, but the only thing that came out was a strangled noise. I tried again, and came out with a similar result.
Osoro crouched down next to me with a look of concern that looked weird on him.
"Mika? The hell happened to you?"
I swallowed hard. Hessian let loose another low growl. This time, Osoro looked up and around, shifting uncomfortably.
"Sit." I muttered under my breath. I felt a little relief as Hessian obeyed.
"What was that?" Osoro asked.
"Not you. Sorry, I…" I shook my head, pushing myself to my feet. A hair-brained idea was starting to form. I needed Oko, though. What time was it?
"Mika." Osoro said, a little loudly and impatiently.
"No, no, sorry, I-" I ran a hand through my hair, trying very hard to pull myself together. "I'm… no, I'm not okay. My friend's gone missing." What did I go and say that for? Osoro and I were not on a 'let's be private investigator buddies' level of friendship. Besides-
"Your friend? Anyone I know?" he asked.
Yeah, there it was. The line of questions I didn't want to deal with.
"Well, it's Osano." I explained. I sounded remarkably calm, even to me. "The redhead, you know?" The laugh I let out sounded just a tad unhinged. Hessian's ears pricked up. Yeah, I was definitely about to lose it.
"I'm sorry, I can't… I can't deal right now." I said, bolting up. "I have to go."
I scurried away as Osoro half-heartedly called after me. Hessian trailed behind me, but I had no idea where I was going. Somewhere I could hide until lunch, until I could meet with Oko.
I guess the locker room? P.E. classes didn't take place until the afternoon, so it should be empty in the meantime. I changed my direction, pulling out my phone and shooting a text to Oko.
Meet me at the cherry tree behind the school. Bring anything you need to talk to a ghost.
