Nufus has an extensive dormitory on campus, and any and all students are advised to stay there. You hardly see anyone, aside from the select few, who even society’s elite envy, who are exempted due to a privilege or two. My dorm, the Obituan, was on the other side – if I rushed now, I could make it on time. Not that it matters since the administration there is quite lenient, and probably wouldn’t mind someone who came from the infirm– I mean, the biology lab. 

“Stupid Franc.”, I think to myself and chuckle at the thought of his dry humor. It was overdone, yes, far from well-done, but I always found it endearing. 

Weirdly enough, my body feels lighter after that rest. I can feel myself soaring, running at speeds I could never before. Did they experiment on me? (chuckle) Who cares. I’m loving this. Just a little more, a turn around a corner here, and then it’s straight to my room. 

As if things could ever go that easily. Before I knew it, I was on the ground, struggling to get up, and as I did, I saw the face of the person I had bumped into. Had it been anyone else, I would’ve gaslighted them into thinking it was their fault, yet as fate would have it, it was Professor Montgomery. I’ve never been this up close to him, have I? At this distance, I could see the unkemptness of his grayish-white beard, which somehow always seemed perfect from the third row. It split into two at the end, almost as if rebelling from the order. Never quite noticed that.

“S-sorry, sir. My bad. I didn’t see where I was going and-” Why was he looking at me like that? Why is his face pale and his eyes open wide? Have I done something wrong? Did I mess up so badly? Oh man, oh man, oh man! 

Suddenly, his bony finger, in all its dry, scaly glory, rose and pointed towards my chest. It was shivering, unable to stay fixed at that point. Was he so mad that he became speechless? Oh God, why did this have to be the first time anyone sees emotion and speechlessness out of him? Couldn’t have this happened on some other day? 

Mustering up the courage, I decided to look down where his finger was pointing, and– Red. 

(change) Yes, yes, yes! Finally, the light. No longer am I to be bound, no longer am I to be restrained. I see it, I see it now, this is freedom, this is the light! 

I’m out, I’m finally out. I showed him, I showed the world. No longer will I be bound in a cage. Gehe. Gehe. Gehehehe. Gahahaha! Look at my life, ye fool, and despair. 

And now for the first time, I stand face to face with him. What look must his face have, oh, what fear must he be drowned in! All I need do is look up and see. For. They. Used. To. Say.