After a while Frankie slips out of Aldo's office, still slightly horrified but at least she has a bit more colour in her cheeks. Honest to god, I didn't want to scare the woman. But considering that I look like I've been on a battlefield for years on end, hasn't helped my case.
Frankie clears her throat, rearranges her chair, and settles into it with her eyes down.
I rise, she flinches and I sigh, exasperated.
" Frankie," I say softly as I approach her desk, she looks up at me and regains her composure.
" It's still me, you know. I know I may not look like it right now but give it a few weeks, and I'll be good as new," A say with mild amusement when she gives me yet another once-over, to convince herself that I'm not a walking and talking dead person.
" I'm sorry," She stammers and proceeds to look through a drawer and fish out a key.
" This is the only room we have left. It's part of the old dormitory. It hasn't been refurbished, and it's a bit dusty but it has a bed, and you look like you desperately need one," She was right. I couldn't remember the last time I had a good night's sleep but that won't happen anytime soon. There is no point in fooling myself that I will be able to just blissfully go to sleep.
" Thank you, Frankie. And again I'm sorry," I try one more time to smile at her but it doesn't seem to go down well because she frowns at me.
" They said that you were killed in an accident," She begins, softly. My brows rise to my hairline," Mason held a memorial service for you a few months ago," When he lost all hope of finding me.
There was no point in apologising anymore. It wouldn't do anyone any good. It has been done.
" We all went," She takes a shuddering breath, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears," I've known Mason for almost ten years. I've never seen him cry, " That was a dead giveaway that there was more between us than just a ward-guardian relationship between us.
" Enid was distraught. Why would you do this to them?" Good question, with a very unsatisfactory answer, I'm afraid. To keep them safe. To protect them. But my attempt has failed.
Unable to answer her question, I settle for gazing at the gates that were beginning to draw to a close. It was five o'clock. Did Frankie live on the grounds of the academy?
" Where to?" I shake the key in front of me as Frankie stands and begins to tidy her desk.
" I'll show you the way," She steps from behind the desk, and grabs her coat and purse hanging on the side.
We walk out of the main building and turn left, continue past the grand entrance, and along the annexed wing.
I look up at the towering building and wonder how I never noticed how tall it stood or the span of it. When the mind goes a million miles per hour it is easy to walk around and miss everything and everyone around you.
At the time, the crazy was at all times high. I suppose that explains a lot of things.
When I finally reach the end of the building she pushes a small door open revealing a set of stairs, and begins to climb. I adjust my satchel on my shoulder and proceed after Frankie. I have no idea where I'm going so I better keep up with her swift feet.
The walls of the staircase are lined halfway up with wood panelling, then followed by bare red brick, decorated neatly with rather modern light fixtures. There are paintings of different landscapes, and of Morston at various stages, mainly. On the the other side of the wall, there are paintings of the academy in chronological order from its birth to date.
When we reached the top of the stairs, we were greeted by a long hallway lined with doors left and right pretty much in the same manner as Zareen was, but spaced farther apart. A stray recollection of Aldo saying that the room is equipped with everything one needs in order to be self-sufficient.
We walk to the end of the corridor and Frankie takes a sharp left turn and then climbs another set of stairs until we reach a dead end. She pulls on a string and a ladder descends. I look up and I see light streaming through what appears to be a window in the ceiling.
I climb up the steps and see that it is not a ceiling.In fact, it is the roof. I'll be lodging in the loft of the academy.
I sigh and follow after Frankie who stands in the middle of the dusty loft and looks around. My gaze falls on the stream of light where the dust particules engage in a joyful dance.
Wonderful.
" You might want to open a window," Frankie says with a grimace, " Remember that this is not permanent," No, I don't need a reminder it is perfectly seared into my brain that I'm on probation. Oh, joy.
Frankie hands me the key and begins her descent down the steps and points at the wall.
"It's the lock to your door, " She smiles for the first time since I returned, and I'm relieved that she has finally eased up.
I poke my head through the latch in the floor," Thank you, Frankie. I'll see you tomorrow," I say as I pull the on the ladder and the hatch comes up one inch at a time as Frankie disappears from sight, until it closes with a click.
I might be their dirty little secret, but as I look around the loft. I realise how awesome it is. I have a secluded corner all to myself, and I won't have to deal with noisy and nosey neighbours.
Glancing up at the window in the roof, I tug at the little stick attached to it and swivel it open. The fresh evening breeze invades my senses and I revel in it for just a second before everything comes crashing down on me. Mason, Enid, Kallah.
I'll just have to pick the pieces one at a time and slowly put them back together until they perfectly fit. I'm well aware that they won't fit as seamlessly as they did before but the jagged edges, and sharp corners are a reminder that nothing is everlasting, nor perfect.