Chapter Four : Lab Rats II
1069 Words
Oh that's the Principal of The Academy. Ethan Scavenger. "
"Is he human?"
Hari stared at me with incredulity "We will figure that out soon."
I was introduced to Peach Thubman, from Moria. She had pink hair and large foxy eyes and was chewing her bubblegum noisily while glaring at us for interrupting her t****k Live.
Then there was Cassidy Cox, from Ajit . A short, wiry brunette who was tearfully promising fidelity to her hometown boyfriend in a very emotional video call.
Hari and I settled back in our seats in silence. I watched him light up a cigarette.
"Put out that cigar, young man", A boomerang voice addressed itself to Hari. "No smoking. Christ, y'all can barely wipe your asses very well and yet you smoke."
It was the mustached man in a tuxedo. Ethan Scavenger. Principal of The Academy.
Hari cursed beneath his breath and hesitantly stubbed out the cigarette.
The train jolted into life and soon we were on our way, four people from four different towns exiled to a place whose name alone brought a sickening dread. The White Colony.
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I must have slept for a very long time because when I woke up, it was already evening and my head was slumped on someone's shoulder. I sat up immediately and yawned. The train was still moving.
"You up?" Hari Spence said beside me. He was still smoking .
I nodded, stretching my limbs and turning to face him. His eyes were crystal clear.
"You didn't sleep a wink?" It sounded more like an accusation.
"Nah ." He shook his head and stared out of the window.
"Any idea where we at ?" I wondered loudly, extracting my phone from my coat pocket. "Does this place have a f*****g GPS?"
11 missed calls from Barbie Mullen stared me at the face and two text messages.
"We are close to The Tishian Train Station" Hari said calmly. "I think we will halt very soon."
"And you know this how?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Instinct" He shrugged with a wry smile.
I looked at the other compartments. Peach was still heavily engrossed with her phone. Cassidy had buried her face inside a big book. I wondered where the mustached Scavenger had drifted to.
My eyes turned to my phone again and I opened the text messages.
Barbie Mullen had texted :
"Don't tell me you are dead already".
Norma Jean sent :
"Moon Sol, sisi. Say hi for me."
I rolled my eyes. Moon Sol my foot. My sister's obsession for this werewolf rockband was becoming infuriating. I smirked with irritation. Typical of her to say "say hi for me" as if there was anything worth saying hi to. Lil bunch of fanged idiots.
I replied Barbie:
"Alive. Why would I be dead on day 1?"
And to Norma Jean, I sent :
"Say hi to your Chemistry books for me. The SATs are coming up soon."
Feeling very much satisfied with this retort, I was about to plug in my headphones and drown in the music when the train coughed to a sudden halt. Hari turned to me with an "I told you so" smirk.
"Yeah, right" I muttered flatly while watching Hari hurriedly stub out his cigarette and for once Peach had put her phone down.
Ethan Scavenger hurried over from whatever hole he might have been.
"My dears ," His voice sounded gratingly annoying to my ears "We are at The Tishian Train Station. Cars are waiting to take you straight to The Academy. I can't begin to imagine how tired you must be but a little patience, pray thee, this long ride will soon be over."
When the compartment doors opened, I trudged sluggishly behind Hari.
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Ethan Scavenger had not warned us about the paparazzi. The minute we stepped down, we were nearly blinded by camera lights and a dozen reporters desperately trying to put their mouths in our throats and suck up our thoughts. It was way worse than the ones at home. I staggered blindly, catching glimpses of words like... "foreigners..".. "The scholarship students from the Black Colony"... "The emblems of the new world peace"...
There were four sleek cars waiting for us and chaffeurs who hastily brought in our luggages past the overzealous throng of reporters. Hari Spence held my hands and led me to one of the cars.
We opened the doors and sat in, exhaling in relief.
"Scavenger is giving a speech." Hari said, staring out of the window.
"He should" I said listlessly cupping my face in my hands and wondering what the hell I was doing here. I should be discussing boring novels with Barbie Mullen. I should be glaring at my infuriating sister Norma Jean. I should be watching Francine and Gillian throttle each other. I should be in my boring room counting the boring ceiling.
Why am I sitting in a fancy car, taking me on a fancy ride to a fancy school in a place crawling with Supernaturals that may rip my throat out in a second . How do I fit into a world that is not my world. What on earth are we doing in The White Colony.
I have no idea that I am crying. I mean there's something wet on my face and when it slips to my mouth it tastes like salt. But it is not until Hari slips a hand on my shoulders and I am wondering why he's squeezing so gently and offering me a handkerchief.
"It is going to be alright" He says quietly "You are not alone. We are in this together."
I want to hug him. To bury my face on his shoulders and tell him we are doomed together. But when I raise my face, the tears just come in torrents and I press the handkerchief closer to my face.
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