Across A Bottomless Abyss

Chapter 19

I uncomfortably roamed my eyes around the whole place. Why does it seem like I've been here before? There were also students who were calling me by my name.

What is really happening? Why am I on earth? Why did this happen?

"Lia, it's our midterms. Did you study?" the girl earlier said.

What was her name again? Sandara? Or was it Kassandra? I don't know! Well, whatever. I just need to find the answers and go back home.

"Why do you look so grumpy?" she asked, trying to pinch my cheeks.

I pushed her hands away and rolled my eyes. Gosh, she's too noisy and talkative. I can't even understand why I'm here.

"Lia, you're really weird today," she said before  rolling her eyes.

A loud ring from the bell disturbed the whole place. I was alarmed for a moment and waved my hand to create some ice daggers, thinking that some intruders entered the place.

"What the hell, Lia. What are you doing?" the same girl said.

I was taken aback for a moment when I realized that I don't have powers anymore. I blinked twice and tried the same movement again but nothing happened. What the hell is happening?

"Why can't I use my powers?" I asked nonchalantly.

She looked at me like I'm out of my mind. She then pulled me towards the highest building of the whole place. When we entered a room, almost all of them looked at us.

"Good morning Amalia and Kassandra," someone greeted us.

"I'm sure Lia will ace the exam again," someone added.

I was dumbfounded by the whole thing. Did I just lose my powers? How about my rifle? I tried to close my eyes and call for it but nothing also happened.

I badly want to cry right now. I'm in an unfamiliar place with weird people and weird dress preferences.

"Okay, good morning everyone. Kindly prepare your pens. We'll start the exam after a few minutes," someone said after entering the room.

Kassandra was beside me, talking to one of the girls in the room. What exam is she talking about? Why did I suddenly become a student? I was about to see my dead cousin but why am I here?

"Lia, where's your pen? We'll start now," Kassandra whispered.

Without any further explanations, I just got my pen inside the bag that I'm holding. Despite the confusion, I tried to go with the flow.

When the person in front of me handed the paper to the teacher, I suddenly felt another spang of pain in my head.

"Are you okay?" the man in front said.

When I saw his face, I stopped from moving. Why is my cousin here? Talking to me and still alive?

"Xenon," I whispered.

"Why? Do you have any problem with the test papers?" he confusedly asked.

"Do you remember me? I'm Amalia," I tried so hard to introduce myself to him.

For a matter of seconds, I thought I'm dead. Why am I seeing him here?

His brows furrowed and touched his specs for a moment. Am I really dead? Is this the place for the dead?

"Of course, I know you," he said.

I felt a sudden joy within me. He remembers me! Maybe he can help me go back. I'm not yet ready to leave Neptune.

"You're my classmate," he added.

The joy I felt suddenly vanished. I'm his classmate? No, I'm his cousin.

"Xenon, it's me, your cousin," I pleaded.

"What are you talking about, Amalia? We're not blood related," he said before escaping my gaze.

"Lia, can you at least stop your amnesia prank? You're creepy," Kassandra said behind me.

I did not mind her and stayed my gaze to Xenon's back. If he can't remember me, then what the hell is happening?

"You may start now," the teacher in front said.

I was too lost for a moment and I got my senses back when Kassandra pinched my right shoulder. I looked at her for a moment and she pointed the papers in front of me.

When I realized that it was a pile of test questionnaires I languidly wrote my name on the upper right portion and started to answer.

When I read the questions, it seems very unfamiliar. History was written on the subject label and I really don't have any idea about this.

My hand suddenly moved on its own and wrote some unfamiliar words. My mind was full of confusion the whole time. How come my hands knew the answers?

After a few minutes, I felt my whole body move and stood up. What the freaking hell! Is someone controlling me?

"Yes, Miss Abrantes? Do you have any questions?" the teacher in front said.

I was lost for words. I don't even know why I'm standing! When I can already freely move, I scanned the pages of the test paper that I'm holding. The whole question was already answered!

"Ah, I'm already done," I said awkwardly and waived my papers lightly.

The whole room was filled with gasps. It's as if I'm unbelievably smart for finishing the exam in just about 20 minutes.

"As expected, please hand in your papers here in front and you can now leave the room," she said.

"Donate your brain cells, please," I heard Kassandra whisper before I could walk away.

When I handed in my papers, she looked at me with serious eyes. Her orbs turned green and turned back to brown after a few seconds. She then smiled like nothing happened. Did I just see her eyes turning into two different colors?

"You can go now," she said.

I hesitantly left the room and roamed around the whole school. I saw some familiar faces but I can't remember their names. Have we met before?

When I was walking to the hallway, someone passed through me. When he looked back, my eyes widened.

Xipher!

I was about to call him but the bell rang again. The whole area was now covered with students who were loudly ranting about the previous exam.

I ran towards him but I wasted most of my time because of the crowd. I suddenly wanted to shout, out of frustration.

When I reached the end corner of the hallway, he's already nowhere to be found. Xipher, where the hell are you now?

"Lia! Come on. Let's have our lunch," Kassandra shouted from behind.

I was hesitant if I should follow her or not. But at the end, I chose to walk towards her at the opposite side of the hallway.

When we finally reached the said cafeteria, she pulled me somewhere. She even pushed me lightly towards the chair just in front of hers.

"Since you're too smart and tired to get your food, I'll be the one to do that!" she giggled and left me there confused about what she said.

I don't even know how I answered those questions. My mind is too crowded with other things. I can't possibly think about the answers. My hand just moved on its own.

I watched her back from where I was when I noticed another familiar build. I blinked twice to make sure that I'm not hallucinating. When I'm already sure that it was Hadley, I quickly stood up and came closer.

She raised her brows when she noticed me. I was taken aback for a moment because Hadley would never do this. I was already trying to puzzle my thoughts and talk to her but Kassandra pulled me away.

"Lia, why are you acting so weird? The last time I checked, you're not on good terms with Hadley," she hissed.

When we reached our table again, she placed the tray in front of me. It was full of different food and two types of drinks. Do I look like I can eat all of these?

"Eat now. I'll be back, I'll just get mine, okay? And please don't go anywhere. You're scaring me," she added before leaving again.

I tried to look for Hadley again. She's with some girls and they're currently laughing out loud. How come that she also doesn't know me?

My mind was full of unanswered questions. I badly wanted to go back right now. This is not my home.

If I really saw some people that I know here, maybe we're on a mission? But how could I end up coming just before I saw my cousin?

"You're still not eating?" Kassandra said when she came back.

I sighed heavily and started to eat. If I want to survive, I need to get along with these people. The only thing that I can do right now, is to go with the flow, especially that I'm not sure what lies beneath these obstacles.

After a few minutes, after we had our lunch, we walked towards the right alley. Maybe we're going back to the room. I was quiet the whole time and I was just trying to think about the possible ways to go back home.

"Lia, are you really okay? Did something happen between you and your parents again?" Kassandra worriedly asked.

I looked at her for a while, trying to remember if we've shared some memories in the past because she's too familiar for me. But then, no matter how hard I try, I can't decipher what's really going on right now.

"I'm fine," I answered, giving her assurance.

I was confused when she mentioned my parents. Are we not on good terms? But as far as I can remember, my Dad was busy but he's still caring and gentle.

"Good to know. I'm quite scared because you're acting really weird. You look…..lost," she added.

I just tried to give her an assuring smile. I can somehow remember Alayah because of her. How I wish that I can finally go back right right now.

When we entered the room, the same atmosphere welcomed us. I walked towards the same seat just to observe Xenon. He's happily talking to some of our classmates as if he's really alive.

I smiled unconsciously when I thought that it's fine like this. Even if he can't remember me or he's not really my cousin, at least I can see his face, glowing and still alive.

"Do you like Xenon?" Kassandra suddenly whispered when she saw me intently looking at him.

"No," I sternly said.

She smirked and chuckled a little. How could I like my cousin? That's incest! My affection towards him was just full brotherly love. Just like what I've said before, he's the brother that I never had.

"Whatever you say, Amalia Desi," she teased me.

I chose not to mind her once again and just focused my gaze towards Xenon. It was interrupted because the same teacher entered the room and welcomed us with her bright smile.

"Your exam this afternoon will be moved tomorrow. You can go and leave early," she said which made the whole room a mess.

Some were shouting because of too much joy. I can't believe that they're happy because the exam was postponed.

"Goodbye, Miss," they said in chorus before rushing towards the door.

Kassandra also bid her goodbye and ran together with them. After a few seconds, I found myself alone with the teacher in front of me.

Gone was the gentle look on her face. She's now intently looking at me with her green orbs. The way she looks at me seems to be very uncomfortable. Because of the awkwardness, I looked away.

I stayed in my place while trying to hide the nervousness. The first time I saw her, I already knew that she's different. I can somehow feel that we're the same.

"Who are you?" she asked with a raging voice.

When I looked at her, she's already beside me. I can't think about any words to answer. Her way of talking to me seems to be very powerful and unavoidable.

"I'm---"

I couldn't answer her straight and before I could totally tell her my name, her vines were already encircled around my waist. It's starting to cover and tie my whole body, giving me a hard time breathing.

When she asked me again, my world started to crumple and all the unanswered questions came raging into my mind.

"Where's the real Amalia?" she asked before I could feel the thorns of her vines slowly entering my body.