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
"What about their bodies?" I asked while wallowing toward the parked car."They will gain their consciousness in less than an hour. They won't meet the grim reaper that easily. Don't stress out.""How can you say that? Even they have bruises and wounds all over their face and body." I debated on him."They have a strong physique." Lanzo started the engine. Our conversation halted even though a desire to protest still seized me. The car carried us out of the academy area through a different gate. It was the shortcut he once divulged.The tricky road and the blackness slowed the car. It took longer than usual to get to the dorm. Lanzo opened the door for me as soon as the fence of the dorm emerged out of the light; I climbed down the vehicle. Weirdly, that boy ascended back to his car. Where was he going to go? "I have to park the car," he exclaimed. The remorse hit me for my prejudgment toward him. Hurriedly, I ran inside. Ms. Greyson and Brad had waited; Brad stood by Ms.Greyson's s