The sun stretched out one of its arms through the opened window of her room and then caressed her face with it. Only that she didn't seem to like the idea that the night was gone and too quickly replaced.
She had spent all the previous hours wishing that she could awaken back to normalcy but every four hours she did, it was the same view she got.
She had given up and only needed rest. Perhaps with all the strength she could muster, she would eventually make sense of her dilemma, this was her thought but the darkness was gone with its light and now she learned today was the day she would begin to accept reality.
Awake but deliberately refusing to open her eyes, she had someone else do it for her.
"Up, up." Madam Claris barged into the room and headed for the window, spreading the curtains farther apart for the sun rays to have more space to rest on.
Blue had sat up from the shock and heaved a sigh of frustration while holding on to the left side of her head with her left hand's fingertips.
"I do not want to go." She stressed her words to make the message more clearly.
"And I—" Madam Claris said, taking a swift turn towards her and then walking over to the edge of the bed to be her front view.
—"do not want to force you." She added,
Today Madam Claris wore a black hat and a black long dress that was very fit around the waist and free down to her ankles.
"Why do you have an umbrella? Afraid of the sun?" Blue said spitefully.
"Wrong guess, I am not a vampire." Madam Claris said, snapping her fingers.
At the sound of the snap, a uniform which was exactly the type the twins wore appeared just beside her on the bed, and then a pair of shoes as well as stockings.
"You have gotta be kidding me. You really are carrying out his orders. You fear him that much." Blue said,
"Respect. I respect him that much and he has earned it. You should be careful. You were lucky yesterday, do not take his calmness for weakness, you might not live to tell the tale." Madam Claris told her in an assertive tone and then turned to take leave.
"What, you are just going to leave? Like I normally am from around here? Is it not your duty to take me around or something?" Blue inquired.
Madam Claris paused and turned towards her.
"I do not serve you. Although it goes against our code, he sees hope in you being here. The hope that humans and special humans can coexist.
If I were you, I would focus more on getting on his good side. He doesn't have a reason to not kill you for insubordination.
And I have run my checks on you, you are a sweet one. Don't turn bitter because of life's unfairness." She told her and then left.
———
With her lovely features hidden behind the uniform, she walked down the passage in search of anywhere that looked like it had a gathering of people.
She didn't know what to expect. Was it a school setup? Something she could relate with?
She was so uneasy, having resolved to win the trust of every person necessary for her escape plan to work, she had to put in her best.
She came before a large double door after a few turns and pushed the right one open.
It led to a large hall.
Everyone paused their steps and had their heads veered around towards her. They were all dressed in similar uniforms and indeed it felt like she was in school.
She heard them whisper.
"The strange one", "The newbie", "The captured"
She didn't quite know which title would best describe her presence and didn't mind. She realised the guys looked at her with lustful eyes and some of the girls already gave her jealous eyes.
"Oh, hi…welcome." Rockie appeared out of nowhere with a bright smile on his baby face.
Everyone got back to their business.
"I remember you." She said,
"Of course," Rockie responded excitedly.
"Oh. She looks even better in the uniform, how can someone be so perfect?" Nova said,
She was next to her sister holding onto some books close to her chest. They were standing next to a statue of a man coated in black and white, it also had a replica at the other end. Above was a higher ground covered by a red carpet.
Noella rolled her eyes away from the view.
"I am going to say hello. You should come. Perfect time to apologise to Rockie." Nova said, walking ahead of her.
"Hello, I am Nova." She said, stretching her hand forward for a handshake.
"Oh. I— am Blue, Blue Aiva." She responded, stretching her hand to receive the handshake.
"Oh, I was only kidding, come here," Nova said, pulling her closer to herself and warmly embracing her.
Rockie smiled and then saw Noella approaching, this caused him to heave a sigh while turning away so they didn't get to meet eye to eye.
Blue saw her too and had to ask,
"Twins?"
"Hi, Blue. " She greeted her.
"How did you—" Blue was confused.
—"Oh, Noella and I are telepathic. We are always in each other's heads." Nova responded with a smile.
"Always?" Blue inquired.
"Yes, Always. Is that—wrong?" Nova asked, flickering her eyes with a confused look on her face.
"Okay?" Blue responded, turning towards Noella.
"Hi, nice to meet you." Blue stretched her hand for a handshake.
Nova quickly held her hand patting it with hers gently.
"Noe doesn't really like handshakes." She said,
"Oh, sorry," Blue said to Noelle.
"Don't apologise," Noelle said to her. "So — what are you? Your name is Blue, do you— turn— blue?" She asked,
"That would be colourful," Nova said,
"Not really, i—" Blue responded but was unable to complete her words as everyone's attention became drawn to the ringing of the mini bell Madam Claris held.
"Attention everyone! Your attention please." She began,
Standing on her left was Edric and two other women on Madam Claris' right side.
"Thank you. We called for this assembly because of a matter we expect you all to be fully aware of.
As seen, we have a new student" Madam Claris pointed her right hand towards Blue who was behind the gathering causing everyone to glance at her once more before resuming their positions.
"Many of you would wonder why things aren't following due process but because we need you all to be assured that we the authorities are responsible for her being here. To further explain, I will now allow Master Edric to continue." She said, stepping backwards.
Edric walked forward and there was a grave silence. He stood with his hands crossed behind his back and maintained a serious look.
His silver wavy hair rested on the sides of his face and he just kept looking almost like he was counting on everyone to take clear notice of who flaunted the orders of being present at the assembly.
"come up." He ordered.
"Uhm. That's you. He is referring to you." Rockie said to Blue.
"Oh." She breathed and began walking towards the higher ground and climbing the stairs that would take her there.
In no time she was standing beside Edric.
"Introduce yourself." He ordered, not looking at her.
"Okay." Blue voiced, unsure of what she was expected to say or do.
"Uhmm. I am— Blue Aiva Jameson and—" She said,
—"is a human." Edric completed.
"What!!!" The students chorused in shock and spite.
"Silence! Silence!" Madam Claris rang the bell again.
"How can we be quiet? I thought this school was supposed to protect us from things like her!" A female student with short hair spoke angrily.
"They kill our kind for sports! Why bring her here at all?" Another female spoke.
"There is no way we are living under the same roof with a monster like her!" A young man spoke from another end.
"She must go!" A female spoke from the left end in a Scottish accent.
Blue stood there frightened by the words she heard and the speakers of those words. So much hate and despair emitted from their words and she could very well tell that she wasn't safe.
She didn't know when she had paced backwards seeing how they all looked scary as they partially transformed into their various beast forms while expressing their anger.
Couldn't they see they were the real monsters here? Didn't they have some mirrors? She thought to herself.
"Are you done?" Edric asked in a rather upset tone and suddenly silence enveloped the hall again.
His voice caused fear and commanded respect, it made Blue wonder what his beast was.
"We will all accommodate her here, I say so and if any of you have a problem with her presence, I believe the door is large enough.
Being what you all are, you didn't face discrimination of any sort despite some of you being more dangerous than others, you were accommodated and you will repay our kindness by being kind yourselves.
She has a purpose for being here and it must come to be, is that understood?" He asked,
"Was I talking to myself?" He asked again,
"No sir!" Everyone chorused with their heads tilted up like soldiers on the line being addressed by their superiors.
"Dismissed," Edric said,
Everyone scattered about, murmuring and heading to their destinations. Rockie, Nova and Noella stayed behind looking up at Blue who was about to break down.
She had done so well holding back for that long but now she rushed down the stairs and away to who knows where.
"Should we— go after her?" Nova said, looking sad.
"She's human, you heard it," Noella said,
"We all are partly human too," Rockie said,
"We aren't the same," Noella responded to him.
"Her kind killed our parents and yours." She added, walking away afterwards.
—----------
"I can't believe you went ahead with this." Guin followed behind Edric till they were both in his office.
"I do not need this right now, Guin." He told her while approaching his desk.
"What else could you possibly need? Do you have any idea what you are getting involved in?" She questioned him.
"I am no fool." He responded, taking his seat.
"Well, this isn't wise!" She fired back.
"And what is? Your way? Guin, you are out to cause a divide. That is not the purpose of what we are doing here.
We train them academically and physically to be able to protect themselves. We are not grooming them to hate the humans so someday they could revolt and wipe out the entire human race." He told her in a calm and unbothered tone.
"Don't they deserve it? Don't they!" She asked,
"Pain consumes faster than fire when hate is the fuel. Everyone has a story, even these humans." He told her.
"What— what is all of this about? The girl? What's so special about her? You have come across many other humans, but you have never done this." She told him.
"Because I was once like you. I only recently realised that I didn't have to be.
Guin, the faster you heal, the clearer your mind will be to make decisions. Proper decisions." He told her.
"What—" Guin was going to reply but then knocks on the door cut her words short.
"Enter." Edric approved.
"Good day Guin, Master Edric." Madam Claris greeted them once she shut the door behind her.
"Is everything in order?" He asked her.
"I am afraid not, sir. The new girl is currently trying to break the shield." She replied.
"Oh foolish girl, she can never succeed with that," Guin said, stepping away and trying to calm her nerves down.
"She can't but every trial will leave a spark on the other side causing attraction from enemies.
Permission to restrain her, sir." Madam Claris said,
Edric heaved a sigh.
"Permission granted, " He responded.