I woke up freezing and quickly donned my red hoodie and a thick blanket before heading back to bed, but I couldn't sleep after that nightmare, so I pulled out my pad and drew Oskar, hugging his (my) dead friend for warmth. I still had that weird taste in my mouth. What Oskar did was wrong, but he (I) was desperate. Should him (I) be forgiven?

I placed my drawing pad on the nightstand unfinished and lay motionless on my bed. Sweat dripped down my face as I snuggled on the heavy blanket. There's no way I'm taking the blanket or my hoodie off. I would rather be hot than cold after that dream. His (my) fear of death in the cold winter snow and the sorrow Oskar felt as he (I) watched his (my) friend die slowly from hypothermia. How could I sleep after tasting that horrible lemon taste?

After hours of staring at the white ceiling in the quiescent night, I drifted back to sleep, knowing it would be a dreamless one this time.

My fingers were still numb when I woke up, and I had to put on some black gloves I found in an unpacked box, but mom told me to take them off and shower when she saw me sweating under my clothing. A hot bath might help ease my nerves and warm me up, yet something about getting wet scared me, but I pushed back my thoughts and took a hot shower, a boiling shower. The type of hot water that would make anyone's skin peel off.

It was nice.

I put on my academy uniform with the golden ash tree pin visible on my blazer. It was a great comfort to know that I still have it. I have no idea how it saved me, but I had Mariel to thank. If it weren't for her, I would have lost my eyes and soul.

My weird eyes were more yellow than green. None of my parents have green eyes, only me. Dad said I got it from my late grandmother, so I guess it skips a generation. However, knowing that a monster liked my eyes, I wished it skipped further down the line.

I climbed into the front seat of my mom's car. My head felt light as I entered the passenger's side. Even when I took a hot shower and wore my hoodie, I was still cold, but it shouldn't be long before I stopped shivering.

~~~~~

Meyer and Ross went to Wineman's office before class started. The clouds covered the sun, creating comforting darkness outside. The weather said there would be no rain, but there was a feeling of a storm in the air. Something was brewing soon. Ross could feel it.

He didn't see Ms.Crawford after she "apologized" to him again in the teacher lounge yesterday. No one believed Crawford the first time. The gossip spread about how two-faced she was, and the "apology" proves it. Ross wouldn't be surprised if she called a substitute for a few weeks.

He opened the headmaster's office door and saw Wineman sitting at the metal desk, reading documents. Wineman placed the paper in front of him before looking up at the two agents.

"Back so soon?" Wineman raised an eyebrow.

"I was hoping that you let Mr. Ranger join the IDS, sir," Ross asked.

"What changed your mind?"

"I underestimated him," Ross paused, "Mr. Ranger is immune to magic."

"Immune? So not only is he capable of eating emotions, but he's also immune to magic? Are you sure he's not supernatural?" 

"If he were a threat, I would assure you that we would have handled it," Ross nodded to Meyer.

"You already made the mistake of underestimating him. What makes you think this idea is any better?" 

"It's better than hiding in the shadows. Other personnel can study Mr.Ranger, and he might be useful on the field."

"If he agrees to work with us," Wineman said.

"Trust me. Ranger will. After all, who doesn't want to join a secret organization? It makes them feel special," Ross smiled, hiding his clenched teeth. 

"Very well," Wineman rubbed his chin," I have to ask the higher up before you bring him in. In the meantime, why don't you and Meyer investigate this area."

Wineman handed Ross a brown folder. The agency favored paper when discussing unnatural matters as they would never know who was listening. Anyone could gather information with a single click on a computer in this age.

Ross took some of the pictures out and analyzed them. Meyer laid her head on his shoulder to see them, her hazel grey eyes squinting. It was a photo of an abandoned two-story brick building surrounded by overgrown plants, with a metal gate indicating the modern era. 

"A few days ago, a group of teens decided to play with an Ouija board in that building. A girl named Sarah Nelson died during the game. The police are investigating her friends. You two are to go into the building at night and report any suspicious activity," Wineman said, "You can even bring the boy if you wish."

"Yes, sir," Ross said, not even looking at him.

"Ouija boards don't contact the dead," Meyer whispered to Ross, "Unless a medium was using it."

"It might not even be paranormal."

"You don't think a kid is capable of murder?"

"You'll be surprised what humans can do," Ross answered coldly.

~~~~~

I decided to sit with Mariel and her friends again. I had been avoiding them during lunch after I ran off. Everything still tasted salty, but it was bearable. Caral and Lorrie don't seem like bad people. Their words were a mix of joy, anger, and fear as they talked about their grades. They still don't acknowledge me, yet I felt accepted into their little group. Mariel could have spoken to them, or maybe I exaggerated back then. Properly both.

I listened carefully to their complaints. The sweet taste flooded my mouth, making me drool. I swiftly covered my mouth before they noticed, and my hand became wet with spit. Gross. I wiped my slobbery palm on my pants before they saw. Thank goodness they weren't looking.

"You're still cold?" Mariel asked when she saw me shivering.

I had to take off my hoodie when I entered the academy. Uniforms are a pain. How the Hell was a blazer going to keep me warm?

I shook my head, "Nah, I'm fine."

"It is cold today," Lorrie said, rubbing her hands.

"Yes, it is," Caral said flatly.

Caral never looked at me or acknowledged my presence. She nudged Lorrie, to which Lorrie responded with a shrug as if scolding her for talking to me. I was beginning to hate Caral's guts.

I may not know much about body language, but I know Caral had a grudge against me by the saltiness of her voice. She could hate me all she wanted. It does not bother me, well, maybe a little, but that fear of the witch hunt would change soon, and my fate would finally be in my hands.

I told Mariel I wanted to be alone for study time and I'd meet her next period. I have plans that she might judge me on. Lunch was only fifteen minutes, so naturally, the next forty-five was considered the "study period." When you think about it, free time was not an hour. It was an illusion. 

Fantastic.

I went to the library, searching for Ms. Meyer. It wasn't crowded like it usually was. I wanted to speak with her before talking to Mr. Ross as I would never get any information if he were around. He was always in the way.

Luckily for me, she was alone.