Last week I got out of the infirmary. The fresh air of the outside brought a refreshing feeling to my nostrils.
As soon as I stepped out, I breathed in and out several times. I moved forward after I washed out of my system the distinct stench of chorine. My sense of smell went numb after inhaling those fumes day in and day out.
The day before my discharge, the Principal paid me a visit. He invited me to his office to discuss the lessons I missed.
I walked around for a few hours. I dawdled, mostly. Part of me didn't want to go into another room or stay inside one more than I had to. This newfound sense of freedom unshackled me.
It was almost dusk when I finished my stroll around campus. Hues of orange and red fused and covered most of the sky, right before the dark veil took over.
I knew it's late but being confined in bed for all this time took away my sense of urgency.
I took my time and followed the paved path towards the principal's office. The gravel of different colors reflected light randomly as if it was a pool of an artist's palette.
After reaching the office, I knocked twice before I heard an answer. From his rough voice, I understood that his temperament wasn't at its best. "Enter!"
I peaked in and saw him staring daggers in my direction. In a hesitant and reserved manner, entered his office without uttering a word. I walked in silence and sat in front of him.
His stoic posture rendered me speechless. He simply sat in his chair, but even that is domineering coming from someone like him.
"You are late!"
His sudden hoarse voice startled me. It shook my bones to the point I could hear them crackle.
He didn't let me excuse myself. Instead, he continued with a softer voice that placed the bones back to their joints. "How are you feeling?"
I waited for a few seconds before I replied. "Much better. Thank you!"
The last time I was here, I didn't have the chance to look around. Besides the fact that the lights were out, that night the long drape hung down. Now it's pulled to the side for sunlight to enter unobstructed.
The drape has a burgundy color that changed from lighter to darker hues depending on how it's folded. The high-quality material it's made of looked too heavy for the hook that held it.
He turned on the lights as soon as the sun went to its slumber. Silver stars painted the night sky and their dim light barely reached the ground. From where I sat, I witnessed their struggle in the distance.
The Principal coughed once to get my attention. "During your stay in the infirmary, you missed a lot of classes."
He's hiding something! He averted his eyes. Let's see what he wants to say first. "It's not my fault. Someone stabbed me!"
That got his attention. He directed his gaze close to my abdomen. "We understand here at the Academy that it wasn't your fault. Which is why we changed your class!"
Sounds fishy! "What kind of class is that?"
His stiff face revealed a smile. I think he knew what I was thinking. "It's not exactly a class per se. It's more like a group of people who missed the first few months for reasons I can't mention!"
Sounds fishier. Out with it, quit stalling. "Can't or won't?"
He thought about it, got up from his chair, and paced back and forth! He stood in front of the window and gazed outside for several minutes. "Well, there are some rotten apples with a shady background, but the Academy wanted to recruit and nurture them!"
I'm just gonna come out and say it. "Villain Class?"
His eyebrow twitched, and he voiced in protest. "Preposterous!"
Right! Well, it suits me just fine. They handed me my very own squad! But, try not to let the laughs out. Why don't I oppose it instead? I'll end up in there, anyway. "I got stabbed and now… It feels like you are kicking me out..."
He fixed his collar. I did a good job at playing the victim. Well, I was one, but I'm over it.
He gulped and changed his demeanor to a more serious one. "As I mentioned, you missed the basics, and with this, you get another chance to catch up with the others."
Oh, right. The heroes of tomorrow. Ugh, disgusting. Get me, my villain class.
"We will move you back when you have sufficient points"
Move me back? Are you kidding me? No! I want my villain squad. "Very well!"
He handed me a piece of paper with the schedule of the new class. I grabbed it but he didn't release it. "Remember! No fights!"
That's still in effect? I almost got killed. I gritted my teeth and forced a smile. "Fine!"
I turned around to leave as I held in my happiness. The Academy, unbeknownst to them, provided me, people, I can most likely work with and take on those abusive heroes. I secretly rejoiced.
Even though Lamina brought me homework and I kept up with their teachings, I held back from telling him. This new class he mentioned piqued my curiosity. He described them as rotten apples.
The last super-villain that was mentioned in the news died a few years ago. Some surfaced from time to time, but my dad and my annoying family took care of them.
I also got that letter from 'The Center'. When I get the time I'll have them researched. And going back into the library isn't exactly something I want to do at the moment.
I returned to my room and lied in my own bed after so many weeks of being cooped up in the infirmary. I finally detoxicated my nostrils.
Being back in my own room, relaxed my nerves. I haven't felt safe in a while. Even during those weeks, my alert peaked from the time I woke up until I went back to sleep. In the night, jitters woke me up to check my surroundings.
I may have lied down and slept, but I never rested.