Raiden was an expert at hiding her emotions.
Her parents were very much excited the day her admission letter had arrived from Schatten Academy.
'Oh my God, Zia, you'll be attending one of the best schools in the world!' Her mother squealed in excitement.
Raiden however couldn't care less - her parents weren't filthy rich, and she didn't possess any special talent- how had she been admitted to such a school?
The only emotion that filled her was doubt as she read her letter. They had got her name wrong.
Dear Ms. Raven Storm,
We would like to inform you of the fact that your application at Schatten Academy has been accepted. Our hearty congratulations on being the first applicant that has ever been admitted to Schatten Academy, that also on full scholarship. We look forward to see what you have to contribute to this prestigious academy.
Yours sincerely,
Sebastian F. Gardien,
Principal of Schatten Academy.
'It's Raiden not Raven.' She muttered under her breath as she read the letter over and over again, still not being able to decipher the reason behind her admission. Schatten Academy, as far as she had known, was a lot like, Ellingham Academy in Maureen Johnson's book 'Truly Devious' , situated in the mountains, secluded from the hustle and bustle of common life, and included only the elites and geniuses. Schatten Academy received millions of normal student applications from all over the world, rejecting all of them throughout the years. Then why had all of a sudden, Schatten Academy had accepted hers? It all seemed highly suspicious to her. However, she chose not to show her concerns and kept quiet as her parents buzzed around with excitement.
'Listen Zia,' her mother told her before she boarded the plane, 'Schatten Academy has been this family's dream ever since it had been established. It's a respectable school, Zia; people like us never get in there. It is an absolute honour to be admitted there that too on full scholarship. Promise me, Zia, you will be good. You will not go looking for trouble, you hear me?'
I do not go looking for trouble. Raiden thought bitterly. But she chose not to say it.
It was true, however, that Raiden had, let's say "talent for trouble" at her old schools. Yeah, schools. Raiden had never stayed in the same school for more than two years. She never liked to. Wherever she went, Raiden's name always appeared among the hands behind the worst of pranks- whether it is breaking into the boys' locker room and vandalizing it or TP-ing the principal's house. No matter what, Raiden always made sure she had provided enough trouble to the school to get herself expelled. So yeah, in short, Raiden did go looking for trouble. She didn't have plans for staying at Schatten Academy as well- she had only applied to Schatten Academy for fun-knowing her letter wouldn't even be opened.
Little did she know that her application would be actually accepted.
But as she looked at her mother, who she had never seen, actually happier in her entire life, didn't have the heart to turn down the application and give her trouble again.
Raiden sighed. There was no other option anyway. As if any other school would accept me now.
'Yes mama, I hear you. I will not go looking for trouble this year.'
'Promise me, Zia.'
'I promise mama.'
Raiden's mother smiled. She wiped away the moisture from the corner of her eyes and hugged her daughter.
'I love you my Oralee, my Zia, please take care of yourself. And don't forget to make friends.'
***
At the airport, Raiden found that a car was ready to take her to the Academy. A man dressed in a black suit was standing by the car, holding a placard in her name, getting the name wrong, again.
'Ms. Raven Storm?' he asked as Raiden approached the car.
Raiden took in a deep breath. Calm down, nothing to get angry over. The school authorities got the name wrong; it's highly natural for him to get the name wrong as well.
'My name's Raiden Storm, not Raven.' She replied after a long pause.
'My name is Alejandro Sanchez, one of the security officials of Schatten Academy. Pleased to meet you.'
'Likewise.' She replied.
'You shall be going to the Academy with another student. He's already in the car. His plane arrived ten minutes earlier. Please get in the car. I'll take your bags.'
'Thank you.' She replied as she got in the car.
As Alejandro had mentioned, someone else was there in the car. It was a tall boy with long brown, almost black hair which fell in curls up to his shoulder. His skin was a glowing olive tan and his eyes were a light contrasting shade of amber. There was a light spray of freckles on his nose, though not much noticeable. He was busy doing something on his phone but he turned when Raiden sat down beside him.
'Hey there,' he said as he extended his hand, 'I'm Aaron. Aaron Stevenson. You're the new person- something Storm?' He spoke with a British accent.
'Raiden. Raiden Storm. And yeah, I'm the new kid.' She replied as she shook his arm.
Aaron eased back into the seat. 'Jandro was saying that I'll have to travel with the new kid.'
'Jandro?' Raiden asked confused.
'Alejandro.' Aaron replied. 'He's one of the security officers at Schatten. He's quite friendly though, but a royal pain in the arse if you try to break curfew.'
'And the rules too, Stevenson.' Alejandro said as he got in the car. 'You better not get into trouble this year, Stevenson. I'm gonna keep a close watch.'
'Come on mate, I had to teach Travis a lesson. And I only shaved off his hair. It looked cute on him.'
'He was a senior, Stevenson.'
'Guy kept bragging about his money.'
Okay. He's a troublemaker.
'You've got the gifts, he's got the money. It's a win-win.'
Ooh a gifted troublemaker. Not bad.
'So Raiden, God that's a mouthful name, Ray-I-den, don't you have any other name. If you don't I'll give you one.'
'Stevenson.' Alejandro warned.
'It's okay, Mr. Sanchez.' She turned to Aaron, 'Well my mother does call me weird names like Zia, Oralee, Sunny, phoebe, you know, whichever she has the mood for. Anything that relates to light or brightness.'
'What does Raiden mean?'
Raiden thought hard. What had mama said about my name?
'I don't remember exactly, but I think Raiden means a storm with extensive thunder and lightning.' She replied.
If Raiden was an expert at hiding emotions, Aaron seemed pro at it. His face neither showed a look of approval nor of disappointment. After a few moments of silence he just shrugged and said,
'Nah, let's stick to Raiden. It's better than those. Right, Jandro?'
No response from Alejandro.
'He's like that sometimes. Git.'
'I heard that, Stevenson.'
'And you didn't have the energy to respond before?'
'I'm not answerable to stupid things.'
'It's not stupid its-'
As she heard this crazy banter between the two, a feeling of uncertainty and insecurity settled in her gut. She was not going to Schatten Academy? She couldn't have gone to Schatten Academy. What if the letter wasn't meant for her? What if someone actually named Raven Storm had applied and her letter had gone to Raiden's house by mistake? What if it was just a joke? Like someone had sent a fake letter to her house? And what if that person had come only to realize someone else had come in her place. It all seemed so unreal. Like it wasn't happening.
But it was too late. It was happening. She was sitting in the car with another student to go to the prestigious Schatten Academy.
Only heavens knew what was in store for her.
And perhaps the shadows too.