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ARK The Bane Of Spectres
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ARK Bearer Of Curse
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***
A few days had gone with no paranormal incident happening. The week passed quickly and class semester started. Students had also returned to the manor for their classes. There were seven guys and two girls and Mang Raul briefly introduced Irina to them. She didn't really have a chance to interact with them.
Like usual, the Night Rangers dealt with the paranormal, but even their nights were peacefully quiet. As for Irina, she was advised to remain indoors before night time, not to leave the protection of the manor.
She didn't have to oblige but knowing Lucian would have to detail her when she did, she just chose not to be a bother. They haven't really spoken since she shouted at him. She'd been meaning to apologize but he seemed to avoid her. It didn't help that he was so skillful to be able to do his duty from 20 meters away, which erased all her chance and excuses to be near him and apologize.
After fixing her things, she took a quick look at herself in the mirror. She seemed like a normal student. Perhaps she should start living like one and stop meddling with the paranormal. She smiled bitterly, just when she thought she started making real friends. But she didn't have to stop being friends with Eve, did she? They had exchanged texts but Eve didn't mention anything about "being like them", even after Eve implied that she should be enlisted in ARK.
She fiddled with her locket and took one last look to the mirror, remembering her purpose. "I just need to finish this semester, mom. Then I can come and see you.", she said out loud. Upon learning her mother's whereabouts, she hired private eyes to look for her mom.
One turned out to be fruitful and located the asylum her mother's in. The only problem was it's a maximum security asylum for rich and important people. The relatives of the patient were basically waiving all rights to visit, in exchange of wiping all traces and connections of the patient to the family. Only doctors, nurses, and security could come in. They only accepted interns studying in Central City University. A mental institution as convenient as this to protect one's reputation could only be thought of someone who had a insatiable greed for power. "My father", she instantly thought after hearing about this.
It was just Irina's second year in the college of psychology where she planned to take her field study in the said asylum after this semester, which was the only and soonest way to get in. Ironically, she lagged a year because she needed to stop her schooling when she fell under depression. That happened when her childhood friend, which was literally her only friend, left her to work and study, and hadn't contacted her since. What started as mere sadness, became a sense of loneliness, eventually breaking down to depression.
"Maybe I shouldn't wait for him to contact me.", she thought as she opened her drawer. Inside was an average box that stored in a simple bracelet. The only remembrance she had of this friend of hers. She resisted opening the box. "Maybe I should contact him."
She grabbed her phone, searching for her friend's name from her inbox. The last text was sent on July 2052. Was her sense of pride really high that she couldn't bother to reach out for the past three years?
She was lost in that thought before noticing she typed "Hey. I miss you.." and hit send. "OMG! What did I just do?" She meant to just ask how her friend was doing but her true feelings betrayed her. She threw her phone to her bed and decided to leave it, as if she could leave her embarrassment with it, bringing only her digital pad to school.
Irina was long gone on her way to school when her phone lit up, displaying:
"Hey! I miss you too. Heard from Sir Alexander you're in Central. I have a day off and I'm coming this Sunday, see ya. :)", Message from Arthur.
***
Irina came in her first class a few minutes early. Class was 9:00AM to 12:00PM. The university was only a kilometer away from the manor that's why she decided to take a walk. She might have walked too fast because of the adrenaline from the awkward text she sent.
There were students in the classroom already. They seemed to know each other, it's a major subject after all. She sat on the vacant seat in front. "This must be a block class, great, I'm the only person who doesn't know anyone", she sighed at the thought.
Some students, especially the guys were giving her an awestruck look. After all, with a European bloodline, she got blue eyes, long brown hair, a height of a model, and a gorgeous fit body from sports. Truly an eye catcher beauty. But no one dared talk to her except for one real cocky guy who catcalled her which she politely brushed off. That actually made them like her more, but she didn't know.
It's because intentional or not, people were always intimidated by how she looked. Sometimes, being too beautiful could be scary too, making other people insecure of their own looks and despise you. And if people were not intimidated by her beauty, she had her intelligence that made people feel inferior. Then her family's wealth that could make them feel worthless. The list could go on and that's just human nature, but still, she oftentimes felt it was her fault.
Add the fact that she was never great at making friends. Her father had her escorted to and from school since childhood. She's acquainted to her classmates, but that's that. "If only Arthur was here..", she thought, but took it back. Why did she keep on thinking of him?
"Hi!"
That should be normal though, she had been with him since preschool. The guy was not just a friend, he was practically a bodyguard as far as his father was concerned, which was why he trusted him.
"Hi!!", the voice was louder this time.
"Oh! Hi! Were you talking to me?", she asked.
"Right, I am. Name's Maria but you can call me Mary. You're new here, aren't you?"
"I'm Irina. Yes, I just transferred. Sorry about earlier, I was just deep in thoughts."
"Thought so! I'm sure I would have noticed your beauty if you're originally from here. Guy problem?", Mary teased.
"How did- No!"
"I'm kidding. One minute you're smiling, then the next you frowned. Only a guy can make a woman's mood swing like that."
"I mean, yeah, it's a guy but it's not like that."
"Really? Then that's a good place to start. There are lots of cute guys in the university, you don't want to miss your chance by being committed. Though with how beautiful you are, they'll be lining up to you for sure. But don't date a guy here in Psychology, because they're all nuts!"
They both laughed. She just made an acquaintance. Maybe she could really pull off living a normal life. "You can just call me, Rin. Pleased to make your acquaintance." she extended her hand. "What are you, a guy? So formal", Mary playfully slapped her hand and bring her cheeks close to hers, a kiss called beso-beso. "Glad to meet you too, amiga."
Everything seemed to fall into place. A normal life, at least. But she had a slight feeling of discontent.
"Listen, Rin. There's this hot young professor in Psych department. He's on lend to the university but he's actually a consultant in the National Bureau. I'm praying he'll be our prof in this subject. Oh, please please please!" Mary said with excitement.
Irina smiled. Would she be as blissful if she spent more time with Mary? She hoped so.
The professors weren't known until the day of classes due to last minute changes. She swiped through her scheduler.
9:00AM ROOM 305, Behavioral Science.
Her brows twitched instinctively after reading the schedule. Her gut was giving her a sense of familiarity but what was it?
"I'm part of Behavioral Science", she thought. Just what was that memory, she wondered restlessly and as if on queue, the professor stepped into the classroom.
"You can start to throw your books. They will not help you in this class. Everything you think you know is wrong. This is not Behavioral Science.", said the professor in an intimidating tone, but Irina was still lost deep in her thoughts, not noticing the professor.
"Rin! It was him!", Mary said, trying to contain herself from screaming.
Irina's jaw dropped open when she looked up and saw a very familiar face that had been avoiding her.
"This is", the professor paused and wrote on the board then read it, "How To Lock Away A Serial Killer."
It's Lucian Vigil!