Trafford's Trading Club

Allie had been standing in her instructorʼs office restlessly for over 10 minutes, but he didnʼt tell any single word; he just gazed at a pad of A4 paper---that was the curriculum design she had done.

But she vaguely sensed that a slight dissatisfaction would be come from her instructor.

As expected, the professor adjusted his glasses on the nose bridge. ”Well, Allie, itʼs obviously that it must have taken you much time to finish it, right?”

”Yes, Professor, it took me almost five weeks to prepare it.” Allie quickly replied.

”Five weeks... well, itʼs really a long time.” The professor nodded, but he put down the text, regretfully looking at Allie, ”But why doesnʼt it look precise as the front section? Do you know it almost denies all your effort at most of the paper?”

”I…”

What she couldnʼt tell him was that she hurried to start the curriculum design since 4 oʼclock at dawn. And that some thoughts even had a bad influence to the idea she thought… likewise, when she reviewed the work, she also thought the final part was totally garbage.

”You went to play last night, right?” The professor shook his head, ”Your face doesnʼt look good. You changed clothes but your makeup has messed up, donʼt you know that? Plus the alcohol smell is everywhere.”

”Professor, can you give me a little time to edit the last part? I can do it well in only one day.” Allie implored.

The professor shook his head, ”Iʼm sorry, Allie, I thought to send your excellent works to showcase and Iʼm glad to give you the chance but you made me so disappointed.”

”Professor! I have worked hard for such a long time, couldnʼt you give me one more chance? Half a day! I just need half a day!”

The teaching shook his head the second time, ”I donʼt care why you donʼt have enough time, every student is equal, but others didnʼt ask for more time. Allie, I think you need to adjust your current state. Get out here, I have a class soon, and have to prepare for it.”

”Professor, wait a minute! I...”

”Allie, I appreciate you strive for the chance, but can you think about your actions before that? If you think the assignment is important to you, why did you choose to go play at the last night?”

The professor heaved a sigh and got up, ”Of course, I still have expectations of you, but I hope my students are all self-disciplined.”

Seeing her supervisor politely wave his hand and point at the door, Allie had to put her head down, collecting all the paper and leaving the room.

She felt lost all at once and walked alone through the corridor.

”Allie, A, Allie...”

Suddenly someone patted her shoulder; Allie looked up... It was him, Len.

He asked with concern, ”Whatʼs wrong with you? You look terrible. And…You didnʼt sleep?”

”Iʼm fine but can you leave me alone?” Allie said stonily.

”But Allie, we...” Len wanted to say something.

Allie whispered, ”Canʼt you mention the thing last night? We are both adults, just let it be.”

She must have lost her head last night, unexpectedly she agreed for Len to send her back---but not to her dormitory; instead, they went to the park around and had a drink.

When they woke up, the two were embracing each other… She felt that her privates were a little uncomfortable, so she realized what had happened after drinking.

Len couldnʼt help being disconsolate as watching Allie leave.

…

…

”Goodbye, my love.”

Gloria and Branham had had a treacly kiss; on the other hand, Allie and Len seemed to be much more insipid.

Then... see you tomorrow.”

”See you tomorrow.”

They just nodded---outside the dormitory.

After boys left, Gloria lay on Allieʼs shoulder, saying, ”Arenʼt you too much cold to Len? You two donʼt look like lovers even after one month passed. I thought you should be switched on.”

”Not everyone is as passionate as you.” Allie took it lightly, ”And Len is not as enthusiastic as Branham, is he?”

Gloria didnʼt refute this view, ”Yes, but... Len looks pitiful. Allie, my good friend, I want to tell you that your hard-won love will probably be broken due to your coldness.”

”Letʼs go upstairs, I want to take a shower.” Allie interrupted her and avoided continuing this topic.

”Oh, you go up first, I remember I forgot to buy something.”

Allie didnʼt care for her words; she just dragged her tired body back to the bedroom. She sat down, thinking that there was a rapid decline in her recent grades.

How could this be?

She scratched her hair and felt agitated... but she quickly took a deep breath to calm herself down, and told herself that she must stop this tendency.

”Study.”

Allie said silently, and quickly opened the textbook on the desk... but she felt something was missing.

”Notes... I lent Gloria the notes yesterday.” Allie shook her head; she laughed at her obliviousness while made a phone call to Gloria.

”Whatʼs the matter, my dear?”

”Whereʼs my notes I lent you yesterday? I need them now.”

”Oh ... I think it may be in the first drawer on the left… wait, no, itʼs still in my bag. Wait me, Iʼll be right back. Donʼt open it now…”

”I saw the notes, and...”

”What did you see?” Gloriaʼs voice suddenly turned nervous.

”Finalist notification of the last curriculum design competition. Why didnʼt you tell me that?”

”Allie, listen to me, I didnʼt know the professor will choose my work... and I didnʼt know before the course design that... besides, itʼs just finalized, I may not get the prize right…” Gloriaʼs voice was full of regret.

”Do you think I will be unhappy?” Allie said relaxedly, ”Foolish, Iʼm happy that you can enter the final! Come back soon!”

”Really? Oh! Allie, I know, you are my best friend! Wait, let me buy some beer, letʼs celebrate it.” Gloria let out a sigh of relief, ”I didnʼt sleep well these days, just for how to tell this issue to you! But now itʼs good! Wait me! Iʼll right back!”

”Alright... my dear.”

Beep--!

Allie smiled and hung up the phone, then put the envelope back into the drawer. She was still smiling, and sitting on her own stool.

Suddenly, she abruptly swept everything on the table down to the floor, with a scream; both her hands got in her hair with force, as the flood erupted.

She cried.

…

…

”Who am I ... Who am I ... Who am I?”

She suddenly bit her fingers very fast, moving back and forth quickly. Her eyes opened wide under the scattered hair.

Suddenly, she turned around to look at Luo Qiu, eyes still opened wide, ”Iʼm Gloria…Allie was trying to kill me! Just now! Kill me!”

She suddenly approached Luo Qiu, and firmly grasped his arm, ”She squeezed my neck! Look!”

She pulled open her collar, clear fingerprints could be seen on her neck.

”Seems she used all her strength.”

Not only Luo Qiu, but Arex, the little girl Lena and You Ye also witnessed her action. Arex even came close, as if he wanted to study it further.

She was scared of the approach of Arex, unwittingly retreated back with finger pointed at Arex, crying in horror, ”Itʼs him! He killed Mrs. Maggie! Len dropped into the pit, and when I tried to pull him out, I found the dead body of Mrs. Maggie! It just happened after Maggie and he suddenly appeared! Then… it must be him! Heʼs the murderer!”

”Are you Branham now?” Luo asked suddenly.

She was stunned, and shook head. ”No... I fell into the pit and found the dead body of Mrs. Maggie! Branham wanted to pull me out! He said I was an idiot! He was brave was but scared by me!”

Arex squinted his eyes, ”But you ... just ... said that youʼre Gloria?”

”Gloria... Gloria...” She suddenly screamed, both hands were tucked into her hair, and cried in a more terrified tone, ”Gloria! Gloria just wanted to kill me! She squeezed my neck! You see! You see! ”

”Didnʼt you just say itʼs Allie who wanted to kill you?”

”Allie...Allie... Yes, she wanted to kill me...” She said under a dazing statement; suddenly, her expression turned painful, and shouted in horror, ”Go away! Quickly! Allie! Go quickly! Gloria! Hurry up!!”

She waved her arm and shouted again, ”Jump down! Letʼs jump down here...quickly!!”

She suddenly shouted, ”No ... Iʼm afraid! I canʼt jump!”

She cried in fear, ”Ah--- Itʼs coming!!”

”What is it?”

”The big suitcase!! Hands! The hands stretch out of it! Monster! Eyes! I see its eyes! Arms! Two... no, three arms! It... it swallowed Lenʼs arm!”

”Isnʼt the suitcase placed right over? Miss?”

”Suitcase...”

She subconsciously looked toward the dining-room, and put down her hands holding her hair and said to herself, ”Why is it still here...why...”

She walked back step by step, Luo Qiu, Arex, You Ye and the little girl Lena were gazing at her, at this moment.

In her sight, they... suddenly grinned; white part of their eyes disappeared; they turned into mummies, they…

”Who are you?”

”Who are you?”

”Who are you?”

”Who are you?”

They asked her.