I heard my cellphone ring. I check on my phone and see that Judy's calling me. Before I can answer, the call already dropped, and I immediately wonder what happened. Suddenly, it hit me, the time. I was late for school and I wasn't even done with breakfast. I rush upstairs and get dressed, slipping my blouse and skirt on.
I grab my backpack but forget to put in the proper books for today’s classes. I take out most of the things I don't need from my bag and run upstairs while clutching the things I discarded from the bag. I throw the books and notebooks I had in my arms to my bed. I grab some of my books on the cluttered desk and rush downstairs.
I put the books in my bag and close the zipper, making sure everything is secure. I grab the brand-new guitar by its case and on the side, I see the small square box that came with the guitar. I grabbed it and ran to the train terminal at top speed. I passed by the 5th gate and hear the Gate Arbiters talking about what happened last night,
“I heard that Gate Arbiter Xiao hasn't returned yet,” one Gate Arbiter said.
“Probably got too much fun last night, you know the man likes to play with young Sevenites after curfew,” another Gate Arbiter said with a snicker.
“I heard the Mr. Xiao got in trouble with the demon. Security Team Alpha, in their morning rounds, found a red spot by the grass in the deepest part of the southern side of the wall. The place was a mess and they say that they had to clean it up with gallons of water and cleaning chemicals,” a nosy gate security personnel added.
“And so, they think it was the Demon's doing?” The first Gate Arbiter curiously said.
“Yeah, you know that the Demon soaks in blood, it needs it to live,” the nosy gate security added.
“Probably true, I saw the articles when he first appeared, the crime scene was filled with gore there as well. So that’s why the body's missing?” The second Gate Arbiter said.
“But what happened to the girl?” The first Gate Arbiter said.
“Who knows? No one saw a clear visual of the girl last night, Mr. Xiao was in such a hurry to get his nightly fill, so I think that no one ever bothered,” the nosy gate security said.
“But wasn't that girl with Commander Reign? Could her eminence be the one to have Gate Arbiter Xiao killed?’ The second Gate Arbiter said.
“That is true, but isn't it also illegal to have other Royal Servants killed? I mean she has the power to do so, but I think that would be unheard of,” the nosy security man replied.
I sneakily pass them, trying my best to hide my face as to not get recognized. I get past the gate and continue running towards the train platforms. Surprisingly, no one noticed me, but my heart hasn't stopped racing.
I reach the terminal platforms and to my surprise, there are no lines. This is the first time I saw the clean and calm platform unlike the jungle that it is when the rush hour starts. I waited by the platform making sure I was inside the boundary line. I tucked my blazer inside the guitar case along with the small box wrapped inside it. I leveled the guitar case lower by my pelvis to hide my skirt. I fear that the line guard on my right would see me and notice I was a student and mistakenly report me as a delinquent and send me to The Forgery. I wouldn't want to cause any more trouble to my mother like what I did last night, and I fear for my own safety as well.
The train arrives and I quickly board it, I held tightly on to the hand rails beside the door to quickly exit once we reach Fifth Avenue, not that it would make a difference, but the anxiety was constantly rising with each passing minute I wasn't at school. I take deep breaths and try to calm myself down while trying my best to avoid looking at my cellphone’s clock.
I ride the train line from the settlements to Fifth Avenue and walk for about 15 minutes to reach the academy gates. Then the day at school just goes on and on and on. If every day was an adventure just like last night, maybe I'd find more inspiration and excitement, new material to help write better lyrics.
I remember what those gate security and Gate Arbiters said earlier. I’m not sure if they’re real but oner one this is for certain; the Demon is a walking question mark. Who he is, what he is, I may never know. Why would a being like him be kept a secret? If he was so dangerous, why would the local officials keep him hidden from the public eye?
I feel the train stop. I look outside and see that it was the Fifth Avenue platforms. I run out and rush straight down the stairs while holding on to the handrails. The weight of my backpack propels me forward and I hop off the stairs and skip the last three steps, I kept running and running, dashing through the street not minding anyone in my way.
I reach the academy, but the gates are already closed. I look around and check if the security guards are roaming around the outside of the academy and make sure the coast is clear. I run to the left side of the school walls where we hold our summer camping activities.
The academy's surrounded by a vast forest of trees, oddly enough, Ironhart kept some parts of the city rural as to counteract the possible smoke pollution that would eventually happen as like in other cities. The lay of land the academy's on is a massive 21.5 hectares, filled with trees and a park on its right side.
I find a tall tree near the wall with a large branch sticking out and see it as an opportunity to get in. I throw my backpack to the inside of the wall. I use the strap of my guitar case and firmly secure the guitar to my back. I climb the tree and sit on its branches to position myself properly and maintain balance. Slowly, I crawl towards the wall, trying my best not to fall. As I reach the tip of the branch, I extended my arms toward the wall and clutched it tightly. I hopped off the branch and secured my place on top of the wall. Slowly, I descended the wall making sure I don't break any bones in the process.
I dusted myself off and sent a text message to Katherine and Imori, telling them that I'm inside. I ask if they can lend me an extra blouse and I sneakily make my way to the lockers and wait for one of them to meet me. After a few minutes I hear someone call out to me,
“Hey, get in the restroom, you dunce!” a female voice said to me while suppressing the volume of her high pitched voice.
I look around and see Katherine hiding behind the restroom door, her left hand holding a fresh new white blouse. I rush over to her and we both quickly hide inside a cubicle. As I take my shirt off, I look at Katherine's expression. She was scratching her head with a disappointed look on her face.
“Hey, come on, I'm sorry. I already had a rough night, you can at least give me a hug or something,” I said to her with a smile.
“I know you had an unworldly experience last night, but that doesn't justify you being late at school,” she said with concern.
“I'm sorry, I really am,” I pleadingly replied.
This might be the only time I've apologized so much in a span of a few hours. I wipe the sweat off my face and my body. Katherine suddenly sprays me with her perfume, I close my eyes and shake my head, wincing at the intoxicating aroma. I cough a bit as the fumes dry my throat. She laughs at me while covering her mouth, barely keeping her voice to a minimum.
“You think that's funny now, huh?” I said to her with a smirk.
“Wait a second—” she replied with concern.
I reach her head and start messing up her medium length hair, I rubbed so fast that she didn't have time to react. Her hair looks like a mop, all twisted and curled, we were both giggling and laughing but then we hear someone knock at the door.
“Hey, you two in there? I can hear you giggling as soon as I entered the restroom,” a voice said.
We open the door and see Imori looking flustered. We feel a sense of irritation coming from her as her face changes from concerned to a very angry expression.
“Both of you are dumb apples!” She exclaims.
“You, you're late and you aren't even dressed yet, you little troublemaker,” she adds as she points at me.
“We’re just having a little fun, sorry about that,” I replied to her.
“Get dressed, you're an hour late already. We already had to break the rules earlier and both of you shouldn’t be doing these things in the academy grounds as well!” she replied to me with an irritated tone.
“Well, we did lie to Master about you having to go to the nurse's station because you had such bad stomach cramps. And plus, she’s right, we’re out of decorum,” Katherine added.
I immediately put the blouse on and tried to close the buttons, but I couldn't close the last remaining ones by the chest. I try to force it, but I fear that the buttons might not hold for the whole day. We all look at each other and laugh. Then Imori and I look towards Katherine as she looks at both of us with an eyebrow raised.
“Oh, all right, it's a knack on me now, is it?” she said.
“No, no, it’s just that, you know,” Imori said, while nodding her head pointing in the direction of Katherine's chest.
“If we weren’t obliged to follow the basic rules of our academy, I’d hit both of you in the head right away, “ She replied with a sense of irritation.
“Don't you have an extra blouse, Imori?” I asked while snickering.
“No, not today, we don't have gym class so, I didn't think of bringing an extra,” she said.
“So, it’s either this or your sweaty blouse so, get moving or we’ll be late!” Katherine added.
“Well, the buttons—” I replied before Katherine grabs the blouse by the buttons.
“Why not wear it like this then?” Katherine said.
She opens the buttons up once again and starts closing the blouse from top to the midsection. It's a tight fit but she left five buttons on the lower part of the blouse open. She helped me wear my blazer and closed the blazer buttons.
“Oh, I see now. That's very creative of you,” I said with a surprised tone.
“I’m great, right? Now you must make sure to not move around awkwardly too much so no one would notice,” Katherine said.
“Yeah, it's still a tight fit but you wouldn't notice it if you don't stare too much,” Imori proudly added.
“Right, anyway, let's go!” Katherine said with gusto.
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