Sue"So, they're married." Reading the article, the tips of my lips stretched a grudge smirk. "She is mine and will be forever mine. No one deserved to possess him but me." My right hand wringed the newspaper in my palm to crumple. That girl, Maurie, successfully planted the seed of hate in my heart. After one year, it grew a tree of resentment. Maurie had ignited the fire of war. She would never be able to predict what I could do to maintain mine. If I could not be with Shane, then no one would be on his side.Yanking the telephone receiver, I dialed someone's number. One sentence from my mouth was enough to annihilate a person. "It's the time." I elegantly plopped on my seat upon putting the receiver back to its place. "You can now enjoy the show, Maurie. Your turn will come soon."***I was watching TV when Mike arrived with the news I'd been looking forward to. Shane died in a terrible accident last night. On TV, the news anchor broadcasted the incident that occurred to the youn
"She just passed out," Brad whispered. "She will regain consciousness in an hour. Lanzo will take you out of here." There was a gleam of happiness in my eyes if only Brad could read that. "You didn't even react. Wait! I will inject the antidote serum so that your senses will work normally." He needled the syringe onto my arm. Unlike the pink poison, the antidote was clear liquid. "Done." It was like he just stung my skin with something hot that burned the whole me. Gratefully, it only lasted five minutes. The rest, chill bathed over me. "Unfortunately, it took one hour for you to be fully conscious. I'll ask someone to carry you away from this place." I couldn't even blink my eyes yet. But, at least I could breathe in relief.Two men in hoodies hesitated duckling inside. Ensuring that the area was clear, they took off their hoodie. I glanced at them in surprise; Lanzo and the head of the academy were the ones who managed to slip inside the room. "Lanzo, carry her." An instruction
The same bed welded my body. The ceiling above scrutinized me in a pity. However this time, Sue didn't puncture my skin with that injection of the substance which I had no knowledge of. To make sure I was unable to go anywhere, she buckled me on the bed with the knots roping my wrists and ankles. Undergoing this moment, I willed to turn back the time to my childhood period where I only lived a happy life with my mother. Her beautiful voice when singing a song for me resounded in my ears like it was real. It was merely my imagination on the verge of my yearning and loneliness. My mother would never appear before me. Locking my sights, I surrendered to whatever fate was destined for me even though the hope of being able to survive still thrived."Anthony is surely the one I can rely on. I am proud of him because of his dedication and loyalty to the academy." Sue talked to herself; from the level of her voice, she was near me. But, I didn't hear the sound of her shoes knocking the ti
It was winter. The white snow rolled down from the sky. Like a kid, I caught it with my hands, the habit I used to do with my mother when I was a little girl. Ten years passed upon graduation day. I will be 28 years old this year. And for the last ten years, not even once, I was able to forget his face, Lanzo. If he were alive, he would be 33. I rose at my feet while wiping the tears on my cheeks.The snow fell on my head and scarf. Despite freezing me, I didn't intend to shift from my spot. It was only through its cold temperature, I could stir my yearning for Lanzo away. I faced up the sky with my eyes closed. Giggles that came from a child drew my chin to my chest. He just threw a ball at me. That round object glid near my feet. He innocently pointed to the ball. Smiling at him, I bent, picked the ball and tossed it to him. He happily snatched it. "Thank you," he said in a cute tone. I just responded with a slight nod and a small smile. That kid joined his parents and played
The driver dropped me off at the gate of an ancient sprawling edifice with white walls that expressed the void and pillars that supported the loftiness of its roofs. In a quiet atmosphere, the towering trees in lines and the weeds on the ground greeted me.The name "Academy of Haut" was boldly scribbled in capital black letters on a plank near the gateway.I dragged my belongings through the narrow path lined with shrubs on both sides toward the Academy of Haut's dorm. My gaze was drawn only to a middle-aged woman in a raven falling gown, with a sour face and a sharp gaze. Her dark lips moved, and the word "welcome" came out, but in a cold tone.She grabbed my suitcase in an instant. As a nice friendly gentleman saluted me, the desire to refuse faded. My gaze was drawn to the handsome man's face, which featured a strong jaw and a beard along his cheek, and then to his name tag, Brad Thompson. That man in a dark suit and pants led me to the reception desk, where I could register as a n
Sleepiness had taken over my consciousness, and I had slept for an extended period of time. Due to oversleeping, I was forced to skip breakfast.It was seven o'clock in the morning. I hurriedly put on my clothes while looking in the mirror. It made me think of the girl in the picture. We had the same appearance, orb colors, hair color, nose shape, and face shape. We even had similar hair and lips. Her only distinguishing feature was a mole on her brow.My hand gripped the cherry-red cloak, which grazed my thigh with its length; it was the uniform that many kids wished to wear. Only geniuses with flawless beauty were permitted to proudly wear this cloak.When I first read the brochure, I thought it sounded strange. One of the requirements for student admission was that the applicant be flawlessly beautiful; this applied to both girls and boys.For me, it was only luck that got me here; I wasn't a genius, despite having beauty that other women envied. Another factor that led to my accep
I trailed behind Lanzo, my mind racing with thoughts. The girl in the picture was only a small part of what this academy was hiding behind its closed doors. I was certain that they had more secrets.Lanzo escorted me to the library. As soon as we stepped inside, the towering bookshelves drew my attention. This fascinating enormous room contained a wide range of books that I had never seen before."How do you feel about this place?" Lanzo spoke to me in a normal tone."It's incredible." I took a look at the books on the shelves. As a voracious reader, it was the best place to quench my thirst for good books.My time in the library had been consumed by the books in my hands. I didn't realize we'd been in the room for an hour until Lanzo informed me."You can go to the library as often as you want later, but let's get back to the hall; the assembly starts in ten minutes."We rushed into the hall where the assembly was about to begin. The gathering served as Intelligentsia's welcome cerem
Everyone filed into the dining hall. We lumbered down the corridor, waiting in line to enter the lift that would take us to the lounge on the fourth floor.Hundreds of intelligentsia crowded the lift, and I was just one of them. There were plenty of lifts in the building to get us all to the top floor. Taking the stairs would deplete our energy reserves.I looked around, hoping to see Lanzo, but he wasn't there. He might choose to join the first group. He was now savoring the delectable fare."Hey, do you want to live there for the rest of your life?" I was jolted back to reality when a red-haired boy who had once argued with Marin admonished me. I boarded the lift with the other twenty intelligentsia. I didn't have to nudge other people's bodies because the lift was larger than usual.As the lift door slid open, we walked out in order. The crowd moved in unison down the corridor toward the lounge at the end.I gaped in awe; it resembled a palace hall rather than a dining room. Why di