"And they lived happily ever after," Professor Pyches concluded the novel she had been addicted to while tearing up.
The class exchanged sly glances while silently snickering. They were all enduring her storytelling session the whole class hour but it was fine as it offered a break from the dull history lessons they were supposed to receive.
And why was she wasting their time with this nonsense instead of teaching them something useful? They were labeled the worst section for a reason. No one here cared about the lessons as the teachers didn't seem to care about them either. It was a transaction: the school wanted their money, and the students just needed their diplomas.
Most teachers didn't bother much with them, but this new teacher was different. She presented herself with a cheerful demeanor, which didn't sit well with some of them... She appeared suspicious, but with the school year coming to a close and no issues arising yet, the thought were pushed aside.
The class itself was a chaotic mix of personalities, divided into distinct cliques.. The class is divided into 5 groups: the party addicts led by Khleei, who lived for late-night hangouts and stolen booze. The fighting maniacs led by Rien, always itching for a brawl. The devil twins - the money chasers. Hydra's group of slackers occupied the back row, too indifferent to care about anything. And lastly, the nerds led by Misha. They barely tolerated one another, but unwritten rules kept the classroom in balance.
Time passed quickly, each instructor's lecture feeling like a blur, and everyone in the class seemed to drift off into sleep. "That's all for today, class dismissed," came the announcement, and suddenly, everyone snapped awake, gathering their things and already preparing to leave.
They let everyone go ahead of them. When it was just the four of them - Kleei, Rien, Misha, and Hydra - they exchanged knowing grins, except for Misha. They planned to tail Professor Pyches tonight. Kleei held onto Misha's collar to prevent her from leaving the room. "Come on, Misha, you're coming with us," Kleei insisted. Misha sighed and slapped Kleei's hand away. She straightened her blouse and glanced at them. "What now?"
"We'll be tailing Ms. Pyches," Hydra said. Misha remained silent for a moment before turning her head away.
"Tch," they just laughed at her reaction. Hydra knew it, she was also curious.
Ms. Pyches always stopped by the library before heading home. They waited for three hours behind the guardhouse until they saw her leave the school building. It took them several tries to keep Misha from falling asleep. Luckily, they didn't take any longer, as Ms. Pyches usually lingered longer at the library most of the time.
The night air was cold and silent, save for the rustling of leaves beneath their feet.They moved stealthily through the bushes to follow Ms. Pyches. However, Rien accidentally kicked a can, creating a loud noise. They all froze as Ms. Pyches looked in their direction.
But then their attention shifted to the road where she stood, a truck rapidly approaching. They sprinted towards her, managing to push her out of harm's way just in time. But in their act of selflessness, they couldn't save themselves—they were all struck by the oncoming truck.
"F-fuck…" they heard Kleei swear and Professor Pyches gasp before everything went black.
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They all woke simultaneously, as if drawn from a collective slumber by some unseen force. Gasping for breath, Misha opened her eyes to find herself lying on a soft bed, the faint smell of herbs in the air. Confusion swirled in her mind as she tried to recall how she got there, but memories slipped through her fingers like sand.
Meanwhile, Hydra whose also gasping for breath found herself seated at a long dining table, surrounded by unfamiliar faces clad in clothes of rich fabrics and strange designs. The flicker of candlelight danced across their expressions, revealing emotion of annoyance. An elderly man at the head of the table fixed her with a stern glare. "Mind your manners, girl," he grumbled, his voice rough with age.
In another part of this unfamiliar world, Kleei's eyes snapped open to find herself lying on a cold tile floor, her arm throbbing with pain. Blood seeped from a gash on her wrist, staining the pristine white tiles crimson. Panic surged through her veins as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings.
And Rien, last to awaken, found herself sprawled on the hard floor of what appeared to be a basement. Before her stood an elderly man, his eyes piercing her with irritation. "What are you doing? Get up!" he demanded, his voice laced with authority.
Each of them carried the marks of the death of their strange and unfamiliar new lives...
Mauie /Misha/, had succumbed to an untreated high fever, her frail body unable to fight the illness.
Hydra /Heziria/, had met her end at the hands of poison, a treacherous act orchestrated by her own step-sister.
Kasianna /Khleei/, had tragically taken her own life, her wrists bearing the scars of her final moments.
And Rish /Rien/, had fallen victim to the brutal beatings inflicted by her own father, her body unable to withstand the abuse any longer.
As they struggled to make sense of their new reality, the realization slowly dawned upon them: they had been reborn into a world unknown, their souls transmigrated into new vessels and their past lives forever left behind. And thus, their journey in this mysterious realm began.