Battle Of The Valkyrie

Chapter 1

1

Everything changed when the Midnight Ravens came. It happened slowly at first, barely noticeable, but by the end of it, the Afterlife Academy was barely recognisable. And we… Well… What happened to us is a story that needs telling.

I won’t ever forget how the Ravens took over the Academy. Guards took station next to the entrance of the school, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving. The teachers were stripped from their authority, and even though they were still allowed to teach, newly appointed Class Leaders were given the power over the class. The Headmistress was replaced by Commander Folk and he made one thing very clear. His will was law.

The overnight changes turned the whole school on their head and everything I thought I knew was about to be challenged.

“Why do we have to be graded like livestock?” Astrid remarked, patting her stomach as we marched through the halls. “I’m hungry. I hope this weird evaluation is over quickly.”

“I’m sure it will be,” I replied, wishing for just the same. “Although lunch isn’t what it used to be.”

“Be quiet,” Aellyn hissed from behind us. Nervously, she brushed a strand of pink hair behind her pointy ear. “You’ll get us into trouble.”

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Astrid countered, rude as always. “Mind your own business.”

“Guys—“ I tried, but it was too late.

“Silence in the back!” the Raven at the front shouted.

“Grumpy,” my friend-nemesis whispered under her breath. “I miss the times we could just walk through the halls freely instead of having to go everywhere with a Class Leader. Especially Peterson. He’s a pain in—”

The people in front of us came to a halt and we almost bumped into them. Some of my classmates glared back at the two of us, but that didn’t shut Astrid up.

Stomping boots announced the arrival of Raven Peterson as he broke the strict formation to shout at us. “I said, silence!”

Ever since the Midnight Ravens arrived a week ago, they’d been spreading through the school like a disease, infiltrating and meddling in all kinds of things they weren’t qualified to.

“Woah, big boy.” Astrid shot him a very fake, innocent smile. “I wasn’t saying anything.”

“I heard you!”

“Maybe you imagined it,” she tried sweetly.

I didn’t know what had gotten into her, since she used to love following rules, but I wasn’t going to butt in. If she wanted to get in trouble with the scary Commander Folk, that was her problem.

Raven Peterson grimaced, his teeth grinding audibly together. “This is your last warning, you hear me?”

Astrid thudded her shoes together and completed her mockery with a salute. “Aye, Sir, aye!”

The Class Leader was fuming when he resumed his post at the front of the line, but he seemed at a loss on how to handle Astrid. I didn’t blame him. I didn’t even know how to deal with her and I’d known her for years. She was a nuisance and we hadn’t always seen eye to eye, but right now, I admired her bravery.

At least she was doing what she could to rebel against the imposed regime of Commander Folk.

I wasn’t.

I couldn’t. I had to stay under the radar and hide my Shadow Walker powers. I didn’t know these men, I didn’t know what they wanted, but I knew nothing good could come from being outed for what I was. Master Ryuga’s dying words were not lost on me. Whatever it was, whoever it was, the Midnight Ravens could not be trusted.

With my head down, I marched along with my classmates. I didn’t like obeying, but it was for the best before I got myself and my friends in trouble.

A loud shriek echoed through the hall and on my left, a Raven scattered a group of Guardian girls with the thud of his baton.

“Move on!” he yelled.

The students hastily got back in formation and joined up with another passing group of Guardians. The girl covered her bleeding nose, a futile attempt to stop the blood from staining her pristine uniform.

My gut twisted as I watched her trying to hold onto her dignity. She’d done nothing wrong, but that no longer meant anything.

She sniffled, droplets of blood staining the marble floor of the Academy.

I wished someone would comfort her. Wishing I could… But that would only result in more punishment and grief.

With a heavy heart, my class turned the corner, the Guardian students gone. As much as I felt for them, I had other things to worry about.

“Halt!” Raven Peterson yelled, stopping us in our tracks at the entrance of what used to be the dining hall. The comforting and familiar buzz had gone and the smell of food was a faint memory etched into the walls.

Our Class Leader saluted the two guards at the entrance. “Evaluation.”

The two guards nodded and stepped aside, inviting us into the space. The tables that we used to eat on were now geared with maps, weapons, and all kinds of military equipment.

“There are even more Ravens than in the beginning,” Astrid muttered.

She was right and while it had only been a week since Commander Folk took over the school, it was becoming a familiar sight. Instead of students in white shirts and dark ties, the grounds were teeming with Ravens in blue uniforms, marching up and down as they prepared for… Whatever it was they were planning.

“Line-up, everybody!” the Class Leader shouted.

I hurried to my designated spot and exchanged a quick look with Aellyn. She nodded and we smoothed our shirts and ties. I didn’t want to get whipped for looking unkempt. I’d learned that lesson early on when Aellyn showed up with a wrongly-buttoned shirt.

“Commander Folk!” The Class Leader announced, sending a shiver down my spine.

Just his name was enough to get me all nervous and worried. I’d seen what he was capable of. He was not someone to mess with.

The man strode in, his heavy boots thudding on the floor, only adding to the anticipation and stress. A terrifying sound. His keen eyes travelled along the line-up, briefly lingering on me.

Every time he did that, my heart stopped. His piercing gaze was unrivalled and while I knew it was impossible, I always feared he could see me for who I was. For what powers I possessed.

I held my breath until Commander Folk moved on and clapped his hands. “Very good. Let’s get started. Dagwood! Start the evaluation.”