I managed to get to this place finally after a long walk. Located outside of the academy area, this building was out of people's reach. None would notice that it existed. The waist-high fence surrounded this ancient-looking structure. The foliage of the big trees canopied its roof and its surroundings while the vines layered its wall. The darkness stole its real hues.The sun had sunk to its position. The dusk walled the area. The eerie circumstance raided me with its serene ambiance. It was like in a horror movie when you confronted your fear, being dumped in a dark place alone.I trekked through the kink path so mindfully and gradually as if counting my steps. If I made a mistake, the pebbles and rocks would slide off my feet and it would result in an accident. No one would come to rescue me in this remote location. I made this decision and went this far by my consent. It was my secret mission I never intended to tell anyone including Marin. Could I call it a mission? The assignme
An ache from skidding into the hole accidentally crashed over my body. Nevertheless, the distance to my classroom forced me to step the harsh tiles along the isles with a speculation in my brain. My suspicion of Lanzo's sudden existence in the area where I was trapped inside the pit still occupied my mind. His free access to the academy at night made me wonder; there would probably be certain people provided with such a privilege. Lanzo and the one I caught sneaking inside the Academy last night were possibly some of them. Shaking my head, I attempted to get rid of that thought. The fact that Lanzo had saved my life shouldn't have allowed me to have bad prejudice about him. Without his help, I might have been buried in the hole or become a wild animal's prey. I was grateful to God for His blessing sending him for me. Whether or not the academy treated him in a different way wasn't of my concern. My pace halted at the doorway. Pushing the door, I slipped inside the noisy room where m
I stared out of the window whose glass only reflected my sorrow and worry. The dusk outside of the dorm worsened and darkened my emotions. I felt like destiny towed me and even other intelligentsia to jeopardy day by day. Today, another piece of bad news bulged. If the rumor were the truth, I wondered how people easily lost their lives in this Academy. If it weren't, where did they all disappear?My eyes flickered in tears. The raindrop on the window flowed more sadness into my soul. I could wipe the tears with my fist but I couldn't remove the woes from my heart with it.Amid my agony, my mother's face flashed like a shadow in the light. Her advice soothed me. "I believe you can make it through no matter how precipitous the road you will take or how heinous the life is ahead of you."It was only my mother's words that strengthened and empowered me with spirit. I had to endure till the end until I could stand on my own feet and bid goodbye from this academy with pride.Swiping the c
The frenzy had filled the classroom when my head peeked through the door. The flocks of the intelligentsia were discussing something on one side, and on the other corners, some were enjoying their free time together by chatting and joking around. The whiteboards along with the empty chairs watched them in stillness. The wall protected the outside from their huge voices. I walked in the middle of their laughter, ceasing in my seat.I came wearing gloom on my face as I failed to capture any good pictures for my photography class. Catching up with those unwanted men was the cause of my failure. I randomly rested my half-broken camera on the desk and observed it with sympathy. This was the only thing my mother had inherited for me. And now I ruined it. A devastating feeling jabbed my heart. Failing in photography class was nothing if it was compared to losing this precious thing. The knocks on the floor brought all the fuss to normal, muted the mouth, and set all the seats to their arr
The colorless ceiling stared at me. The white border had surrounded me when I scanned around. My stomach was nauseated because of the medicine odor. It felt like my belly would puke its contents in a minute. My head twirled every time my brain tried to recall what just occurred to me. With my frail hand, I massaged my temple to heal the intense headache. "Where am I?" I whispered in a desperate rhythm. My voice might be so weak that no one gave a response to it. "Where is it?" I repeated a question. "Dylanesa...Thank God, you're awake." Marin's face loomed above me. Joy was imprinted on it. "You are in the infirmary. You fainted in the storeroom."The images immediately rose in my remembrance. Before the world turned black, I squealed seeing the piles of objects in the coffin, the pictures of girls with the same complexion as my face. Ensuring only Marin was in the room with me, I heaved my shoulder up, attempting to sit with Marin's help. My lips trembled."I saw them," I muttere
I played the camera in my hand, pressed the power button on, and then turned it off in a split second. Piles of speculation scrawled my brain and almost wrecked it that hurt my head. Their interaction didn't intrigue me at all. But, why did Lanzo conceal it from me that he acknowledged someone whose face just imitated mine?The crowds of intelligentsia dispersed as soon as footsteps entered the room. Our mentor in a dark coat and pants addressed us with a friendly smile on his face as always. His coming faded all my assumptions. Now, his mouth opened showing his bare white teeth. "I want you to display your pieces on the screen before we continue the lesson." His instruction jolted me with uneasiness. I missed the assignment after failing to take the picture of that old abandoned building."Excuse me," someone interrupted. Lanzo's torso popped up at the door. His height almost attained the top of the door. The corner of my eyes followed him to his seat. "Who wants to be the first?"
Lanzo confronted me no more; I left him dumbfounded with my question about the girl in the hodie and Yura. He chose to part and went to the opposite path. That boy's fishy deed exposed too much of his dark sides. Could it be he was the culprit behind all mysteries in this academy? A shake of refusal from my head ceased me from speculating. The assumption shouldn't have distracted me. He had saved my life twice, after all. I resumed my journey.The towering pillars along the corridor watched me shuffling toward the library in the next building. Only the noise of my footsteps accompanied me. No intelligentsia I came across at this hour. The classes were still ongoing. My next class would be in a half-hour so I had free time. Reading in the library was the best option to kill the time before History class began.Rush steps at my rear fluttered my heart with shock ; driven by my inquisitiveness to know who it was, I peered through my shoulder. Kaiv moved toward me feverishly. His appearan
I woke up to the downpour outside the dorm. My eyelid blinked to the light above my bed. Getting up, I rubbed my eyes which peered at the twilight through the bare window. The trickle from the raindrop stuck on its glass.I was unable to recall for how long I'd dozed off. Standing among other intelligentsia in the auditorium listening to the head of the academy's announcement was the last thing that prevailed in my remembrance.The headache struck me again. Kaiv's numb body sent a shiver down my spine. Struggling with shortness of breath, I fought against the anxiety. My heart refused the fact of Kaiv's suicide. "It can't be…, " I argued to myself.The sweat had gathered on my temple; it saturated my skin. In a panic, I couldn't bear the yell which threw out of me. The door was slammed open. "Are you ok, Miss?" Ms. Grayson barged inside with Brad slipping from her back. I twitched my head signaling that I wasn't in a bad state."But, you look pale. Are you sick?" Brad drew himself
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 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
"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
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
SueHis face danced in my head. Shane made my days. His presence had brought another level of happiness to my life since our first meeting. I could not deny that I smiled more often these days. Mike finally noticed the change in me. That made him wonder what I'd been through that I acted differently. I thought of sharing with him about how I felt. However, considering that my father would find out, I decided to keep it for myself. As a stringent person who wanted me to dedicate my life to education only, he wouldn't agree that I had affairs with any men in the academy during my study even if it was just a friend. It was only Mike, the one he supported, to have a relationship with me as a companion. "You don't have any class today?" I was startled with Mike's abrupt coming. "Do you have free time?" The last few days, I was so busy with my study and photography class that I had no time for my friend."I have one more class but I am free now.""What about having lunch together?" Hone
SueThe door intimidated me through its silent stare. I was supposed to be in my class ten minutes ago but the trouble on the way to school impeded me from coming on time. The professor must have been inside, giving the lecture. I could sense the quietness in the room; no one had intrepidity to make a noise in his class. Lateness was the worst of all mistakes. I dropped my gaze to the floor in front of the door, hesitating whether to stay or leave. Compelling to bark into the classroom meant that I had to take the risk of being punished and scolded; the professor wouldn't easily let me free of the punishment. On the other hand, my father would label me as a loser if I missed this class. He was so strict that I couldn't even breathe under his surveillance. Doing anything as he required was compulsory. That weighed me down like putting piles of stones on my shoulders. However, as his daughter, obeying him was a must. There was no time for me to complain as the time was running. I had t
That psycho woman's sneer clouded her striking red lips which mumbled her name in a cold tone. "My name is Sue." It was as though even her name could summon the evil to confine me in the darkness. Completing her introduction, she didn't take her eyes off me. Her glare bewitched me. The horror reflected from her pupils shot me with a shiver that coursed through my spine. That lasted for a few minutes before she fished something out of her robe's pocket, a needle with pink liquid inside it. I could imagine the syringe flanked between her fingers needled my whole being, impeded the oxygen from my lungs, and left me lifeless. Even imagining it, I felt like throwing up with a severe headache. The effect of the substance she previously injected even still immersed my body into numbness. What prevailed was only my despair. Death flashed in front of me, hunting me like a shadow. The rhythm of my heart beat irregularly as a response to the hazard I might encounter in a second as now Sue
The megaphone no longer bombarded me with that woman's huge voice; I removed my palms from my ears and subconsciously flopped on the freezing floor. Who brought and detained me here actually? Who was that woman and what was her intention? If it was the head of the academy's idea to trap me in this remote place, why could he do this to me? Imagining how cruel he was, kidnapping and imprisoning me in this remote place churned my abdomen with terror and loathe at the same time. No matter what, I wouldn't let this situation suck all my hope; there had to be a door to flee as there was a way to take me into this room. Having this thought, my motivation to look for a clue of getting out of this room boosted. With my right hand propping my shivering body, I kneeled to stand on my feet. I did it in my third attempt. Feeling mentally exhausted, I wobbled close to the wall so that my hand could grope on it to help me keep stable. I carefully followed my feet ' lead with my palms sticking on
"Is it you, Mom?" With my palm on my mouth, I walked toward that woman whose body kept moving forward. "Mom…" I called her again but no response I heard from her. Nevertheless, her smile hadn't gone even until our distance was only one meter away."I am not your mother, darling." Her smirk frightened me even though she did nothing which could harm me. "You must be yearning to meet your mother so much that you hallucinated.""No, your face….""My face? Sometimes, someone's face can outwit people, darling. I may look like your mother. But, I am not her." I stuck where I was in silence, enchanted by her words. Then, her hand gradually groped jer face, peeling something from it. She wore a mask. In less than a minute, that mask unsealed and revealed her real face. A woman with purple orbs popped up. I moved backward. "Who are you?" "Does it matter for you to know who I am?" Her eyes dilated while her head leaned toward me. It was as if her mouth wanted to gulp me whole alive. This woma