//------------------------------// // 6 ~ Haunted // Story: Well ... Je Ne Sais Pas ;~; // by Alwaysthatoneguy //------------------------------// During Friday evening Sunset enjoyed a modicum of solitude after being escorted from the school to her small abode. When she awoke Saturday thoughts of continued privacy delighted her. However, upon stepping outside holding coffee she lamented observing two rested people. Applejack and Rarity sat against the wall opposite her door also holding paper cups presumably of coffee, and Sunset hoped she was dreaming. She raised her brow and addressed the pair. "Have a good night?" Following the remark Rarity stood and stretched her arms upward. Relaxed blue eyes supported her indifferent expression as she replied. "Things weren't so bad," her statement founded instant interrogation. "Where were you off to?" Applejack lifted her head and mimicked Sunset's raised brow. Having a good night's rest, and not being obligated to be somewhere early, gave the leather clad slipper wearing girl more ease than she possessed the previous night. Every move, Sunset recognized, was being scouted by this group. Their dedication made her wish that she had in fact been working on some nefarious scheme which could gratify their effort, but in this instance she disappointed. "All I was going to do was stand outside with my coffee." Any hope she had, by this point, of isolation was gone, so she chose to play along that she might relish her drink without conflict. "Something tells me you're going to join me, so shall we?" Applejack spoke not but rose to her feet and gestured to the nearest staircase. Out of complete spite Sunset showed them to another stairwell in the opposite direction. They saw after descending that snow no longer fell, but fog permeated their locale. Looking around yielded no sight save for the stairs, the trio who chose to inhabit them, and snow dusted asphalt that stretched into the veil. One moment Sunset thought of escaping her parole, but that would be unwise with her watchers knowing the precise location she would return. Instead of continuing to concoct exit strategies she decided spending her morning with these two was acceptable considering alternatives. Had Rainbow been present, tension of possible conflict would have been impossible to ignore, and if it was Pinkie Pie then the eccentricity so early could be maddening. Sunset realized that she would most prefer if Fluttershy was in Applejack's place. Not because Applejack was, in any way, describable as obnoxious; Fluttershy was just certain to be taciturn. Although Sunset would more favor the two quieter girls' company; she could understand why the group forbade them from serving a shift as stakeout pair. It would be too easy for her to slip away. Whatever, she thought, I'll just bear with it like I did with Octavia. It turned out not to be so bad. From time to time they would exchange dull banter; Sunset even laughed at some idle humor. Part of her felt apprehensive with the laid-back atmosphere, as it reminded her how things were before Octavia reprimanded her. However, no time during the interaction was a voice raised with rage, and she soon set down an emptied mug. Unwitting, Sunset found her thoughts focused onto an unconsidered question from Rarity. "Have you considered doing something extra-curricular? It might help things become somewhat normal for you around school." Sunset took but a second to register the question and produce a flat response. "That's not allowed." Rarity tilted her head to express puzzlement, and Sunset elaborated. "Our student council banned me from anything of the sort. Basically all I can do is attend classes." Reeling back, Rarity began fiddling with her own empty paper cup; she was going to say something more but Sunset continued. "Why? Are you looking for ways to keep tabs on me easier?" When Rarity dropped the cup it became clear that Sunset's question struck the nail on the head. "Sorry, I didn't mean-" After hearing that Sunset couldn't help but chuckle and interrupt. "There's no need to apologize; I only asked because that's exactly what I'd be trying to do in your situation." Applejack chimed in, attempting to assist her discovered friend. "Really?" She spoke with skeptical intonation. "Are you just anticipating what we might be doing so it'll be easier for you to sneak off and do whatever heinous thing's on your mind?" For a moment Sunset wondered if that was her precise plan. However, even desiring revenge, she knew she had no real schemes or opportunities available, so she decided to make things relatively easy and speak truth. "Honestly, I admire your dedication to seeing this through." Surprise crossed the blonde's face. "I mean you defeated me, took away my power, but you're still unsure of what tricks I might still have left." Sunset stood as the cold, without her hot drink, began seeping into her stationary form. "If anything I think you and the council have thought it through pretty well; I can't even walk out my door with discretion." Thud went Rarity's boot as she stood; calling Sunset's attention. "How exactly does that make you feel, though?" Sunset whirled around to make eye contact. "Doesn't it tick you off?" How did that make her feel? Well, it was upsetting and inconvenient but she couldn't say that. Choosing the wrong words here would do nothing to alleviate suspicion. Rather than speaking her mind precisely she would give Rarity a half truth. Bringing her fist to her chin in a thoughtful gesture Sunset enunciated, "I suppose I feel somewhat lucky. Things could be much worse, but I'll refrain from giving you any ideas." Humming at this, Applejack joined the two on her feet, stepped forward, and spun to face the conversation. "Something tells me you'll just get used to it over time." After hearing this Sunset's eyes found the ground. That was an appalling idea to her, so she sighed, looked to Rarity, and met Applejack's eyes once more with intent to change the subject. "Uh huh," desultory, she agreed, "so are you all just going to keep changing shifts sitting outside my door over the next twenty-four hours if I stay inside?" Although Rarity hoped it would not come to that she agreed with Applejack's response. Jutting her index finger at Sunset the blonde convicted. "We'll do whatever it takes to be positive that you don't start to feel too lucky." Grimacing mentally, Sunset considered going back up to her room and locking the door in their faces. However, feeling uneasy with spending the day cooped up talking to herself, she decided to try something that might be some mental benefit. Stepping up two of the metal stairs toward her room inspired Sunset. "Looks like we're going for a walk, then." Rarity folded her arms across her chest and asked what first came to mind. "Where are we going for a walk, then?" Looking away from the stairwell displayed an unchanged quantity of fog, and Sunset's view of it yielded the precise answer to that question. "I have absolutely no idea." After dealing with their empty coffee containers Sunset led the trio on an excursion through haze. None knew where they were going, but each of them would take the journey one step at a time. Of course, at any time one of them could pull out a phone and navigate via map applications, but that was unnecessary since Sunset was only walking for the sake of movement. Near midday the group noticed that visibility was starting to increase. Sunset somewhat smiled thinking about discovering what foreign, or familiar, part of town she would see. Upon stepping onto a concrete path she thought perhaps they found a parking lot. What building is it? she mused. Excitement built as a stone pedestal began phasing through the white curtain. A statue? What statue, the only one I know is ... Her unfinished thought trailed off, the fog started lifting faster, and not long after the rearing stone horse upon the pedestal could be identified so too could Canterlot High. "I can't believe it." Rarity's voice was soft, and it only got softer as she continued. "School, of all places, is where you brought us. This is a genuine surprise." Sunset was quick, feeling a need to defend herself, to point out what she thought would be clear. "Hey, don't say that like this was my intention! This must have been some route my subconscious-" Spinning around to face her entourage ended up only perplexing her. Turning should have placed her gaze away from the school, but still her eyes found the statue. Repeating her turn changed nothing, and trying to look over her shoulder also produced the building's sight. Everywhere she looked was just school, school, and more school. Rapidly Sunset's heart started beating. This was not making sense. Was she going insane? If she was, what did this look like to anyone around? Freaking out did not seem pragmatic, so she closed her eyes, looked down, and started walking away from where she faced. After counting two hundred footsteps over flat ground she stopped, raised her head, and lifted her eyelids to see the glass front doors of the school. No, no, no! Staring back at her was a demonic reflection with lanceolate, fraying ears and a wicked expression. Goosebumps overtook Sunset's skin, her throat caught her breath, her stomach became a bottomless pit, and in that moment she believed she understood true terror. Panicking was her instinct, and she ran faster than ever before away from the view. However, her quick reaction turned out counter-productive, as the forceful speed of her fleeing somehow crashed her right into the terrifying door distressing her. Dashing through the school's hallway was not better. Eyes stared from every direction. They shunned, rolled, and narrowed. Purple irises resembling Octavia's or Trixie's surrounded her. The so-called magician's fleering snicker filled the corridors; getting louder and louder until it seemed to become a pounding rhythm. Please stop this! Sunset dropped to her knees and covered her ears; though it did nothing to muffle the noises. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and lockers continually slamming started sounding. Everything seemed said and done, and Sunset was certain her mind finally snapped. They're probably carting me off to some institute while I bawl my eyes out. Just having that thought embarrassed her, but she was ready to deal with anything that wasn't this. Some new noise distinguished itself in all the madness. What now? she lamented. Thud Thud Thud! "Sunset I will bust in there if you don't come to this door!" "What?" Jolting to an upright position Sunset realized she was hunched over her desk crying, shaking, and hyperventilating. She noticed that goosebumps truly adorned her arms, and hair on the back of her neck stood on end. While standing up she knocked her chair down and tripped over it. This sequence was by no means quiet, and she was not the only one to know that fact. "I heard that! Sunset, if you aren't here in three seconds I'm breaking this door, and I am not going to be happy when I get in there!" Rainbow's voice was sharp, and she seemed like the kind of person who wouldn't make empty threats regardless of the consequences. "One ...," she began counting, and Sunset decided fast to oblige. "Quiet down! I'm coming!" Collecting herself was somewhat challenging. Throwing her jacket over the goosebumps was easy enough, but the tear stains and general state of duress weren't going away in just a few seconds. No matter, she would just have to do her best to remain composed. Standing and opening the door revealed five, fancily dressed, girls with irate faces staring at her. All the eyes made her uncomfortable and apprehensive after recent lachrymal experiences, so she was not first to speak. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" Rainbow jabbed her index finger at the, still dressed from yesterday, girl's face. "Are you trying to make us late? Is that what you're stooping to; trying to inconvenience us in any small way possible?" Groggy still, snide Sunset let an uncontrolled remark pass between her teeth. "I hadn't considered it, actually, but it looks like I missed my chance." This was not the correct communication choice for deescalating the situation, and Rainbow seemed like she was going to throw a punch at hearing it. "Wait, that's not what I should have sai-" "You're damned right that's not what you should have said!" With grit teeth Rainbow lowered her hand and clenched it into a fist. Now Sunset recognized she needed to be more focused on her responses. "Fluttershy and Applejack have been standing here for almost two hours trying to get you out. What have you even been doing?" Choosing an immediate forthright reply seemed appropriate to Sunset at this. "Sleeping," she stated flatly. "Excuse me! After walking around town in near zero visibility, coming home at noon, and staying in all day?" Rainbow tilted her head. "It's four in the evening! What did you even do while we took turns making sure you ... Wait a ..." Without warning she got right into Sunset's face to get a good look at her eyes. "Were you crying? Your pupils are kinda ... Are you on something, Sunset?" Sclera became more apparent than pupils in Sunset's eyes, and she waved both hands in front of her. "Of course not, I swear!" Following the response to this allegation Applejack heaved a sigh and Rarity pinched the bridge of her nose. However, Fluttershy and Pinkie seemed oblivious as to what their friend had asked. Rainbow was not convinced, and spewed sarcasm "Because what you swear is supposed to be trustworthy, right?" She issued tests beginning by wiggling two fingers in the air. "How many of these do you see?" "Is this really necess-" Sunset tried to interject but was ignored. "How many?" Grimacing, the interrogated girl answered. "There are two." Rainbow gave an unexpected secondary test. "Wrong! There are three," she continued to wiggle her index and middle finger; pushing them toward and pulling them from her subject. "Do you see them now?" Sunset knew what to say to pass this, and decided she was done with Rainbow's games. "For fuck's sake, there, are, two fingers!" she paused between words, and almost yelled at the tedium of these antics. "Listen, I'm sorry I overslept, I seriously didn't mean to! Can we just stop playing twenty questions and go if you're so worried about being late?" Rainbow put her hand down and stepped back as Sunset walked out the door; locking it behind her with a key from her jacket pocket. She did not care about getting coffee, or about bathing. All she wanted in this moment was to be out of her room and surrounded by distractions.