Mysterious girl in the night

The corridor was black from the darkness. It was supposed to be white with tinted glass windows all the way during the day. But it was long past evening. The moon soared high. It was the only few dependable sources of light beside the weak lamps. So, a creature, a figure of the night, was there. Using the shadow as her ally, she sneaked her way into the room. She was searching through the wall, gaps of cabinets, the monitor panels. Only to find nothing. None of what was supposed to be her goal. A flash of light highlighted her black hair. Only to be barely noticeable by the one who brought it. A couple of men with black and blue uniforms were patrolling to keep the area safe. She was there, blended in with the pale background matching her stealth suit. As the two security moved out the way, the shadowy figure followed secretly into the roof to exit the premises.

She finally went out on the top floor. Didn’t escape right away, instead she came into a halt. Looking around the area for any dangers until it was secure. She raised her hand, her palm opened wide. Some round balls, drones, with a blinking red light were attaching themselves into the security cameras like magnets. The light from the security camera was turning back on as soon as they detached away. They flew into her hands. The glitch on the security monitor footage returned to normal. But the void recording made her existence completely disappear. Vanished, as if she was never there in the first place. She took the drone into her pocket and jumped off the ledge.

She took a few leaps from one building to another, further into the safer zone. Until she arrived on one of the rooftop gardens where nobody, no cameras, no security around. She opened her device, a black clear glossy tabs. Holographic 3D map appeared blue before her. The blocks and shapes projecting the buildings of the academy. Half of them were blue, while some of them were red. She sighed at the picture and tapped at one of the blocks. It turned red. “Not here either.” She hissed. She then turned the holographic view off and stared into the moon.

She frowned, her red eyes shook with the reflection of the stars. She clenched her fist and dashed the tears away. The female shadow took a few steps back, blending with the darkness, and disappeared.

***

The white and grey classroom was great. A neat, clean room that could host 32 students and an instructor with generous space to breathe. A pleasant air to breathe, since they installed a citrus-jasmine air freshener on the wall. Each desk with a tech device installed for every student. We could use them as a computer, our key tools of learning. They also provided notebooks for those who prefer the old ways. The board was unlike the one we had at the elementary. It was a digital holographic glass instead of a whiteboard with markers. I could see it quite well from my seat. Second row from the back, right next to the window. I kind of cheated on the lottery, secretly using telekinetic to mark the number. Getting this comfortable section of the class was quite the luxury. I could have enjoyed it to the fullest only after 3 weeks had passed, though. Finally, I earned my peace!

In this peaceful situation however, there were still a few unsolved mysteries on the mad bull incident. Like, why the bull got mad in the first place? How did he escape the cage? Why it took so much time for the security force to arrive? And the behaviour on that day itself was a big question. Why did it go to such length to find his prey? The beast aimed at a bunny that was far away from his reach. The very thing Sarah predicted it would be. Those riddles were still under investigation, even after this long. But one mystery was on top of my head all the time. And that is the roundabout way of handling the event publicity. By announcing me as the hero of the academy.

The impact of that announcement was more than I expected. The first week of class, half of the class were surrounding me. They kept asking about the bull incident. I have turned into a popular pop song that people keep on playing in their tabs library. The more I told them about it, the more my memory blurred. Until I completely memorized and forgot it at the same time. What actually happened? Was it real? Didn’t matter anymore. Second week, the number dwindled. Only several people came. Those who wait for the things to calm down and leisurely ask me in person. Week three, only a few people came from another class, even another program from the next building. They were the last bit of curiosity. Before the hype got wiped by the flow of time on its own. Then there I was, three weeks after. Relaxing myself like a boss. Not!

The military program was stupendously intense. We were expected to wake up at 5.30 in the morning. The breakfast was ready at 6AM. You better eat them ASAP. Or else you would puke them out when we have basic physical training at 7. Starting with formation training, jogging, basic strength, agility and dexterity with weapon exercise. Swallow all that up until 8.30 where we got only an hour to take a break, a shower, or a meal for those who missed breakfast. Better use that time well since the first class session was at 9.30. Three periods of vast amounts of information crammed into our exhausted little brain. A lunch break at 12, then proceed with another two-hour class from 1PM-3PM.

Following the afternoon session, the class was practically over. But you were expected to join a specialized club. It was required for all students to at least join one of them. There was no limit on how long the activity could take, as long as you asked a curfew permit beforehand. Just make sure that you could wake up tomorrow to do it all over again. Thankfully, weekends were free. Or you could spend that precious time doing your club activity. Well, not me. I have telekinetic routine exercise every day after school. And training with aunt Penny on the weekends. Now, when do I have the time to relax? I wish I could skip some classes or pretend sickness. That, too, was impossible. Erran Volk Ozbrojeny, he schemed me a scholarship contract with the academy that I couldn’t refuse. Speak of the Satan, here he comes leaning forward to me with a wicked smile. He was sitting next to my right, probably cheated his seating lottery like me.

“Hey ya, hero. How do you like the military program so far?” He asked, masked with a fake grin. “Not that difficult to follow, is it? Especially for our legendary honor student, Armen G Dalton.”

“Uhm.” I just looked outside the window. There was a drone cleaning the windows.

“As the face, the visual representation of the new wave of this year freshmen. . .” The chirping birds slowly swallowed his voice.

“Uhuh.” I saw the drone fly higher, trying to cover a spot where a bird was nesting close by. Right on a beam support corner. Cozy under the shade of the roof.

“I know that you feel forced to do this. But this is the only way I could think of saving you. A way to benefit all parties involved.”

“Yes, right. No other way.” The conversation started to feel like a thorny dead branch prickling its way into my ear drums. Meanwhile, the owner of that bird nest came. A big black bird protecting its home. Attacking fiercely with her talons, the drone fought back with window wipers and soap sprayer.

“We want nothing bad to happen. If suddenly, the stars of the show were missing from the stage. That would be the worse ending of this heroic tale. Don’t you think so?”

The drone was struggling despite the fierce effort of fighting back lost to the power of mother nature. The bird clawed one rotor, causing it to lose lift, spinning ridiculously and fell. The black feathery creature seemed hurt a little from the rotor blade, but nothing to worry about. She continued to feed her chick in that nest.

I left a heavy sigh at that scene, “Dammit Erran. Stop playing puzzles and games. What do you want?” I spoke with a clipped tone and my two eyebrows furrowed.

He laughed a little, “A bit cranky, aren’t we? I was just saying that to remind you about our contract. Being a good student is not enough, you should also strive for the best.” He pointed his finger into the ceiling, he might have meant for the sky. “As the hero you have to be the best, the best person to be the role model of the whole academy.”

I bared my teeth and left him with a sarcastic chuckle. “Hero? you mean propaganda machine?”

Erran grinned wider. He found something amusing. “More like a public relation celebrity.” He combed his silvery blond hair with his hand like a drunk prince, then gave me a smug smirk. “Enjoy your popularity while you can.”

“Yeah, sure. Now shut up. The short period break is almost over.”

Erran gave an ok hand gesture and a wink at me. That gave me an urge to puke. But I had to hold my stomach content. I need every energy left for our last period before lunch.

This 10-15 minutes break between lessons was one of a few peaceful moments in the academy life. It was unfortunate for me that this rich boy ruined it for me. For I have no choice but to be in the same room with him. In this class A, where the top tier students gathered. And I was in the middle of it. A normie with an average grade, I was lucky to even get accepted into the supporting program. Then, I have to compete with the best of the best. Or else, one day I could be gone in the wind if I failed to uphold my image as the hero.

If that wasn’t enough, one more thing appeared out of the ordinary. I couldn’t shake the feeling off my mind. How could I? When the mysterious black-haired girl was there. Ellie Yuri, that’s what she introduced herself as. She’s sitting two rows ahead of me, acting like a normal student. Cheerfully giggling and having a normal conversation with other classmates. My bloody guts told me there was something off with her smile and laugh. Also, there was the fact that she was sneaking into one of the restricted areas for students. No way I could find true peace like this. No way until I got to the bottom of this mystery. For now, I could just investigate from a distance and try to smoke out the snake from the black hole, slowly.

Unfortunately, the investigation must come to a halt. A sudden heavy tap shocked me on my shoulder. A dark-skinned hand was there. It felt like weighing a ton.

“Armen the hero. That chair felt comfortable on your butt?” The greetings dripped with sarcasm. I glanced at the voice source. I saw a young man of a European-African mix. Tall as a horse, buffed as a rhino. Looking at me with those golden orange eyes, ornamented by a thick eyebrow.

“yeah.” I turned to the side to find him and two of his friends standing, crossing their hands. “It felt great. Like sitting in the clouds. What can I help you, Rocco?”

“Nuthin’. Just to come for a chat. From time to time. Getting to know of our honorable student. Since you were flocked with fanboys and girls for weeks. I finally got some chance to get to know you better.” A mocking, frightening smile. He made it smoothly.

“Right then, have a good day.” A fake smile countered with another fake smile. A closing statement with a hope to end the awkward conversation.

“Hey, hey. Come on, don’t cut us out. Tell us about-” He paused while glancing at one of his friends chuckling. “Your heroic tale-”

“Oh look, the teacher here!” I pointed with my thumbs towards the door. A genuine smirk shown on my face.

“Tch.” He hissed. Then he pressed his hand again into my shoulder. He came closer to give a whisper.

“You, I’ll show the world who you really are.” A slight pause of discomfort. A drop of sweat fell from my temple. “Hero Armen.” He then left and went back to his seat with his friends.

What the heck? That wasn’t freaking necessary!

His manners towards me was understandable though. He was the hero, the role model, the number one honor student before I screwed it up. He scored the highest in the entrance test on both theory and practical exam. I heard he’s the son of the military general in one of the corporate armies. He got the family name at stake and I ruined it in just one day. I’m really sorry, Rocco. it’s not like I wanted this to happen.

As the lesson started, I looked outside the window. I found a janitor droid picking up the damaged drone on the ground. He placed it into his trash cart and moved along. Straight into the dump, eh? Just like me if I messed up right here.

***

The smell of various spices mixed with meat and vegetables filled in the air. The ceiling was high, the space between tables of 6 seats were spacious. You could fit hundreds of students here. The meal was amazing. The menu changes daily. And I as a scholarship student got myself a lunch meal ticket for free. Alas, the time has come. For me to indulge myself in this high class cafeteria. With a nice premium meal in my hand, I’m ready to spend the next hour to the max. With my bum fixed in a soft chair and my tongue treated like royalty.

Two students from a distance, they were already seated, waving their hands to me. Their badge on their uniform were silver gears, while mine was a golden sword. “Archie, over here!” I grabbed my meal and took my seat with them.

“They finally leave you alone, huh?” He asked, waving his spoon.

“Uhuh, finally. As you can see, Kevin.” I grabbed my spoon and started to shove some meat stock. Then shifted my focus towards the girl next to him. “I see, you're doing well, Sarah. How’s Biely?”

“Thank you for asking. He’s fine. I asked the animal husbandry and research club supervisor to adopt it. But they forbid pets in the dorm.” She stopped her spoon and her meal to give a proper answer with a delicate manner. “He became way too attached to me after the incident. But don’t worry, the people at the club are taking care of him like before.”

“I see.” I grabbed a piece of potato and gave a nice juicy bite.

Kevin ate fast and choked on a chunk of meat, then got himself a gulp of water. “What about you, Archie? How’s the military program feel like?”

I stared into my soup, and a manly sweat came from my eyes. “Hell!” I hissed and slammed the table.

Kevin got shocked and choked again. This time on his water. Then laughed at my face. “Really? People, thousands of them, are lining up for your seat, you know?” He took a tissue to rub his messy lips. “You’re the most popular kid in the whole academy. People gathered around you all the time for the last few weeks. Only now we had the chance to have lunch together.”

I gave a long sigh that the horse would think I was one of them. “It isn’t like I wanted this to happen. We got spartan training in the morning, then they expected us to study properly after that.” I grabbed the fork and stabbed the innocent potato with killing intent. Putting it into my mouth and chewing it like race car pistons. “Popular? More like they kidnapped me, trying to get into my good side and connection! Having lunch surrounded with those kinds of foxes was taxing on energy and sanity.” I grabbed the water and gulped it clean. “Muscle this, weapon that, the hottest guns, and mech suit? These guys are nerds with a titanous body. I can’t get into their conversation at all.”

Two students, a girl and a boy with a golden badge approaching from my back. “Hey, Armen. Could we get a picture together? For our Instafame updates. Pretty please?” She giggled, with reddish sparks on her cheeks.

“Oh sure. Why not?” A sunny, wide smile coming out of my empty soul.

I stood and gave the best bullshit pose for them. A few camera snapping sounds was heard a few times from their tabs. “Now, just the two of us, please.” said the boy, the girl held his tabs and took a picture. “My turn!” A high pitch voice from the girl, like a toddler talking to her doll. Now the boy held the camera and snapped a few cute pictures. I gave V for victory.

“Thank you!” The boy gave a handshake. The girl lightly hugged me. We said goodbye. I waved at them generously.

I sat back in my seat and drank the rest of the soup stock with a loud slurp. Then gave a satisfying sound. “And the worst is, I couldn’t do anything about it. I have to keep up this hero farce or I’ll void the contract and they kick my ass out of the gate. Or worse, ‘honor student found floating at the river, possibly suicide due to pressure’ or something like that!”

“Whoa, that’s a lot of load coming out of you. Archie turned into Arch nemesis.” Kevin grinned ear to ear, while bringing in a reference from a zombie virtual game.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Archie. Maybe, is there something I could do to help?” Sarah shrunk, her face paled in guilt. Damn, how insensitive of me!

“No, I’m okay, Sarah. You, you don’t have to do anything. I’m good. For real. I’m just venting out my stress, that’s all!” Before I could say anything else Kevin saw the opportunity to start his scheme.

“Look at what you’ve done! Archie, bad Archie. Sit!” He pointed his finger up and down, ordering me like a pup. “Forget what he said, Sarah. He’s just got a star shock syndrome. A normal occurrence for a rising celebrity.” I could only hold my anger in silence. This golden durian head!

Kevin chuckled, but not for long. Sarah stared back into his very soul. Her eyes said “Stop kidding around, I’m serious.” Now his face shriveled like a mushroom growing in winter.

I sighed, and looked into Sarah right in her eyes. A glassy eyes shaking vividly, a drop of water was waiting right there to fall anytime. She was still blaming herself for what happened back then. I couldn’t do anything about it. It already happened.

“It’s okay, Sarah. I actually kind of enjoyed it. They gave me one of the few suite-class-dorm rooms. Meal tickets every day. The best service and access that a student can get.” I sat back and opened my hands wide, gesturing a sincere gratitude. “I might actually feel grateful that this happened.” The best smile came. “ So, thank you.”

“Gee, you don’t have to say it out loud. It’s embarrassing.”

“I’m not talking to you, Kevin. Go tripped on a gutter and drowned!” He scratches the back of his head and blushed like an idiot.

“Really?” Sarah looking at me like a puppy just did a bad thing.

“Yeah. Really really!”

“Thank goodness.” Kevin and I were stunned. A ray brighter than the sun had blinded both of our eyes. Her smile might be the most powerful peaceful weapon of all time.

But within the light, I saw the darkness. Ellie Yuri seated a few tables across behind Sarah. Giggling and having the best time of her life. Surrounded by a few girls from the class. Kevin was talking in the background, something about the class and his daily activity with Sarah. I couldn’t hear it clearly as I only focused on this mysterious being. She may actually be the one who caused the incident. The one who almost made our precious Sarah cried.

Kevin suddenly coughed and smirked at me. “Did you listen?” He then noticed my eyes were looking further away. “What were you looking at?” He scanned the horizon behind, Sarah followed.

“Ah! I see.”

“What? What do you see?” I confronted that ugly smirk. Bad feeling came with a shiver.

“Archie, our boy and only! Finally found his first love?” His jaw dropped in a mocking laugh.

“Whaa? What the heck are you talking about?” I knew this would be the start of endless nagging and bullying.

Sarah looked around and questioned the situation.”What did I miss?”

“Okay, look behind you. A girl with a black hair.” Kevin gestured his head pointing the direction. “Slowly! don’t make it too obvious.” She slowly turned her head around and glanced at the pointed direction. A light nod was a signal that she found her. Then a wide grin like I never saw before came from her. “Alright, I gave you my blessing.” She giggled and teased. What? Sarah, not you too!

“Come on, You know right? It’s definitely not something like that!” I made a lame evasion maneuver.

“Oh really? I saw you made that expression.” Keving open his hand and stared at the ceiling. “The eyes of a man. Full of emotions! Like a beast aiming for his prey.” Sarah held her mouth closed and tried not to laugh so hard.

Jokes aside, these two were really what I needed. I felt my pent up tension released. A simple and short boost of happiness. I hoped this could last for a little longer. But boy, I was wrong.

“Well, hey. What do we have here?” A deep voice came behind me. I turned my head and saw the big guy with his two friends. “Oh hey, Rocco. What’s up?” My face paled blue, but I tried to serve him my best smile. He laughed at my face. Kevin and Sarah froze in confusion.

“You can stop the act now.”

“I would, if I’m acting right now. Haha.”

He laughed even harder.

“listen to me, you little shit!” His face was just a few fingers close to mine. “I don’t know what kind of deal you made with that rich boy bastard. Or the academy, even the company.” A few spit splashes into my face, I tried to keep my poker smiley face on no matter what. “The time has finally come to reveal the truth. They will- I will find out who you truly are.” He stepped back and scanned my companions. “Enjoy your carefree life while it lasts, kid.”

Kevin raised from his seat, his eyes were dead serious, a burning flame was raging.

“I need to pee.” He dashed to book the first flight into the urinal, but Sarah caught his hand tightly. Mission failed. This bloody Ananas!

“Heh.” Rocco chuckled a little. What? Did he actually laugh at that? “Funny guy you got there. That’s all boys. We’re done here.” He walked out with his friends while giving his last message. A smirk came from a glance through his bulky shoulder, “I’ll see you at the sparring session, hero.”

“Huh? What? What sparring session?

Suddenly a notification came into my tabs. I opened it up and saw the pictures on the Instafame App. It was the picture from @jeane_de_love the girl whom I took a picture with earlier. The caption says, “Spend the day with the hero during lunch! So cute, he even gave me a hug. Aaaw! :cathugsemoji.” A vein popped in my forehead. Jeane, you lying bitch!

I almost cracked my tabs.