Auroras Academy

Chapter 5

“I barely got to eat my lunch…” I mumble smiling sadly at my food. Taking one last bite of the red pasta main course Lauren ordered for me, I stood up. Only to sit right back down, gasping. “Hot! Hot! Hot!”

Grabbing as many napkins as I can, I dab my tongue. Lauren giggles next to me, handing me a glass of water.

“I told you you couldn't handle my food.”

“How can you eat that?! It’s literally poison.” I chug the water, my eyes and nose beginning to run.

“I can’t taste it without the spice. Bye, Lyn.” She gets up and I watch her fluffy brown ponytail bounce away. She probably can’t taste because she scorched her tastebuds to a crisp! I get up to leave as well, knowing I’ll need at least ten minutes to find my next class.

I don’t think I’ll ever figure out the layout of this ancient school. Each corridor is incredibly long and winding, sometimes leading to nothing at all. Then the classroom order doesn't make sense. It doesn’t help that the class numbers are in Roman numerals.

I throw the rest of my tray making my way down the hallway, dodging elbows and clots of students. I feel a yank on my backpack, then I yelp as I’m entirely flung to the side. I fall into a dark room as I whip around searching for my kidnapper.

“Who’s there?” There is a soft click, then I am blinded by light. I cover my eyes, allowing me to just make out a figure leaning on a shelf full of supplies.

“What are you doing here!” His voice confirms my suspicions.

“You’re the one that pulled me into the closest Max. What do you want?” I cross my arms glaring at his smug face. However, his face looked anything but smug. It looked scared, his fingers nervously flexing on the rank of toilet paper he was leaning on.

“You shouldn’t be at this school. Agh, I thought I finally got away from you.” He lets out an exasperated sigh, his hands ranking through his hair causing it to stick in every direction.

“Got away from me! You tormented me everyday! After what you did to me I never came back.” I paused letting that set in but he seemed unfazed too wrapped up in his episode. The sheer lack of remorse has my teeth grinding. “I stopped going to school. I stopped doing anything.” I scoff, waving my hands furiously but my point went unnoticed.

“You don’t understand. Do you know what your kind does to us? How your blood drive us wild?” He asked, taking a step forward, his tone unwavering. His words were cryptic and confusing. As I struggled to understand, his frustration grew.

“What are you talking about? S-stay over there.” My voice cracking, pointing back to his shelf as my back bumps the door. Suddenly the room felt like it was constricting on me. Max’s anger drops a bit, understanding dawning on him.

“Do you even know what you are?” Max asks patiently, staring intently for my response.

“What the hell do you mean? Is this some kind of joke?” I wanted to escape even more now. I knew that Max would find another way to torment me. I just didn’t expect it to be gaslighting me about my blood??

“You aren’t normal.” He repeats, holding his hands out. I flinch away causing Max’s brows to furrow. “Lynnon, listen to me,” He grabs my arm causing me to scream.

Then the full blown panic sets in.

I fling myself back trying to get out of his grasp but he only holds on tighter with both hands now. He begs me to calm down, still not letting me go. Desperately, I yank the dangling light switch, putting us in the dark. I sweep my leg out landing a hard kick and wrench my arms free. I stubble back, slamming into the door, the handle digging into my spine. The wind is knocked out of me as I fall to the ground. Blindly, I sling out my hands, tracing the wall for the door handle.

“Lynnon, you're going to regret this.” Max growls, his hand captures my ankle, heaving me back just as I found the door handle, flinging me and the door back. The door crashes into a large piping shelf, causing it to teeter, lean, then tip over. I scramble toward the door, diving into the hallway as I hear a thundering crash. I don’t pause to look back.

I managed to make it to class on time, my ankle throbbing. I found a seat near the front of the auditorium shaped classroom hoping if I’m in the view of the teacher my classmates won’t try anything. I’ve had enough close calls for the day. Thankfully, something I understood; English. A small slumped man walked to the center of the stage, a blanket resting on his shoulders, as he relied heavily on his cane.

The second he opened his mouth I felt my eyes droop. It was almost like he was willing me asleep with his words. Around me I already heard snores and it wasn’t long before my chin was resting on my palm, my eyes fluttering shut.

A sharp poke jolted me awake. I spin my head around to see a brunette giving me a knowing smile. She tossed me a piece of candy and I struggled to catch it against myself.

“It's the only way for me to stay awake.” She whispers with a wink. I hesitantly tear the package open, sending a questioning look as I plop it into my mouth. A second later an overwhelming lemon juice flavor spreads across my tongue, pinching my face. She giggles, pointing to the teacher with her pencil. “His tests are open notes and pretty easy. The real struggle is staying awake during his lectures.”

I laugh, studying the girl. Straight brown hair, large gray eyes, flushed freckled cheeks. She was the most normal girl I’ve seen at this school besides myself. Maybe I had a chance of a normal life after all. I could have friends and still get good grades. Just because this school is weird I didn’t have to let it completely ruin my plans.

After a moment the sour taste lessened to a sweeter lemon as I sucked on the hard candy and she was right. It did work! My eyes were no longer heavy and I could actually pay attention to the professor's words long enough to not lose my train of thought before I wrote it down. At least this girl actually gave me something edible without tricking me. I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.

“I’m Lynn.” I say, waiting earnestly for her answer. She gives a small smile, setting down her pencil and reaching across her desk.

“I’m Emily,” We both shake hands before giggling. I turn back to my notes with a renewed interest.

However, a few minutes later I felt my stomach gurgle. Lauren’s lunch from hell was coming back to bite me. I cautiously raise my hand, hoping the professor lets students leave while he’s talking. He’s so engrossed in his topic he doesn’t even notice me even as I give my hand a little wave.

“Professor!” His head whips up and he squints before putting on his glasses.

“Yes, miss?” He asks, taking a few steps closer to get a better look at me. He had to be well past retirement age.

“Can I go to the bathroom?”

“I suppose…” He drew out the end of ‘suppose’ with a disdainful ‘ose’ but I didn’t wait for him to finish. I quickly escaped the classroom. It feels nice to stretch my legs after that boring lecture even with my ankle aching. Searching left and right I don’t see any bathrooms near so I pick a direction hoping one’s near.

Finally, I pass by a door. I remember seeing a ton of students coming out during passing periods, the door flipping open long enough to reveal stalls. My stomach gurgles and I heave the door open with a creeeaaak.

I freeze. The wooden door gapes open, my small frame barely filling the doorway.

Mouths…

Teeth…

Blood…

I scream, stumbling backwards.