Children gather! Children gather!

Let us play an exciting game

I'll close my eyes and choose randomly

The winner is decided by my finger's aim

The winner will receive anything of their choice

Like money, toys, or fame

Yes get excited, get excited children!

Let us start our exciting game!

Oh my, oh my, my finger chose me!

How exciting! I won! So lucky!

Now I get to choose my prize, oh my, woo-hoo!

And for the prize of my choice, I think I'll claim...you

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Jules was speechless when she walked into the cafeteria. The enormous place was filled with wooden tables of different sizes and hundreds of wooden chairs. There were gray archways around the middle of the room with lamps hanging elegantly on top of them. It was a room so large it seemed almost endless. It was hard to believe that one building was solely dedicated as a place for students to eat.

One thing immediately seemed peculiar. There were three locations in the room where students rushed to line up and receive their food. Everyone got the same thing. Today it was hamburgers. However, while everyone was scrambling to get in line, students in uniforms sat at the tables empty handed.

Abby saw Jules' confused expression and answered before she could ask.

"The academy students get to eat restaurant style. They get a menu and choose what they want to eat everyday. Not only that, but the food also gets delivered to them personally by waiters. Ridiculous? I know."

When Abby had informed her that they were treated like kings and queens, she did not know how literal the expression was. There was no exaggeration.

Even though they had went to the cafeteria straight after class, there were so many students that they had to wait 15 minutes before finally getting their food.

"Come on, follow me. I want you to meet Jonathan." Abby held her hand tightly. Both girls squished pass many tables until they reached one with a uniformed boy that sat patiently waiting. Jules was too focused on not accidentally bumping into anyone that she did not notice all the privileged heads that snapped in her direction as she walked across the room.

Although Jules did not have a good first impression of the academy students, it was wrong to judge people. If Abby was friends with this boy, he must have been a good person. He didn't seem intimidating. He had light brown hair that neatly stood up on his head and a face that made him seem intelligent but shy. Just by looking at his appearances, he seemed friendly. And she was right.

"Hello, I'm Jonathan. Nice to finally meet you Jules. Abby kept texting me about you today." He stuck out his hand politely and offered her a genuine smile.

"Good things I hope," Jules laughed before shaking his hand. His hand was surprisingly cold.

"Awww how sweet. You waited for us before eating," Abby gave him a quick hug before sitting down.

Jonathan had steak and mashed potatoes sitting deliciously in front of him. It made Jules' hamburger seem unappetizing. Though it did not bother her much. She was very thankful to have a meal and jealousy was sinful.

In the Bible, Thessalonians 5:16-18 states that one should be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances. With that thought in mind, Jules prayed before eating her meal. It did not go unnoticed.

"Oh, are you religious Jules?" Abby asked.

"Yes, I am. My mom and I are Catholic," she answered proudly.

"Ya, but are you like religious religious?" Jonathan added.

Jules tilted her head to the side. She had never heard such a question before. "I'm sorry. I don't know what you mean by that."

"You know, do you actually take your religion seriously or are you one of those people who identify as Catholic but don't actually follow all the protocol or believe everything in the Bible."

Jules tried not to feel offended.

"Oh no, my mother and I take our religion very seriously. My mother raised me to live my life with the guidance of the Bible," Jules answered with a slight defensive tone.

Abby and Jonathan looked at each other nervously. They seemed to be having a mental conversation. Jules hoped that they would not judge her by her religion.

"Cool, cool. Good for you," Jonathan finally responded with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. After that, the three ate in a tense silence.

Jules took that opportunity to look around the cafeteria. Most of the academy students sat at the center of the room with a few regular students sitting with them. Now that she got to see them up close, she realized how nice the uniforms actually were. Most of the guys wore a white button up shirt, grey slacks, a black and red blazer, and a tie that matched with it. The girls dressed in the same manner but had plaid skirts instead. The skirt lengths were questionable. If Jules' mother had seen her wearing one, she would faint at the spot. Personally, Jules didn't like to wear anything that went above her knees.

"Let's play a game," Abby slid her almost empty plate to the side, "Jonathan and I love to play it when meeting new people. It's called 10 questions. We get to ask each other any ten questions. That way, you get to know us better and we get to know you better."

"Alright new girl, you get the honors of starting. Ask us anything you're dying to know," Jonathan said in a playful tone.

Jules asked the first thing that came to mind. "Are y'all dating?"

Abby immediately laughed. "Me date someone like him? No no no, you got the wrong idea Jules. We're just friends."

Jonathan scowled. "Hey, you didn't have to make it seem like dating me is that bad. I'm a nice decent guy. I might not be the tallest but what I lack in height, I make up with my charms."

Abby rolled her eyes. "Anyway, it's our turn."

At first, the game was quite fun. They asked Jules typical things like where she was from and what she liked to eat. Jules discovered that Jonathan was diabetic and Abby was obsessed with a celebrity named Harry Styles. She had promised Abby she would try listening to his music after Abby freaked out when Jules told her she didn't know who he was. However, when they got to the ninth question, the atmosphere of the game began to change.

"What is the most sinful act you have ever done?" Jonathan asked, leaning in anticipation.

Jules thought that was a strange question to ask but answered anyway since it was an easy one. "Well, it happened when I was 9 years old. During a rainy day, I didn't notice there was a leak in the house so I slipped on a puddle and had accidentally dropped my Bible. I still shudder at my actions when I think about it to this day."

Abby playfully smacked Jules' shoulder. "Wow, you're so funny Jules. I didn't know you had so many jokes in you. No, seriously, what's the worse thing you have ever done?"

Jules didn't understand why Abby thought she was kidding. She was answering these questions very seriously. "I wasn't joking."

Jonathan scoffed. "What? There is no fu*king way you're--" Abby kicked his leg underneath the table before he could finish. Jules was too distracted by the fact that Jonathan had said a bad word that she did not notice the increasingly alerted looks Abby and Jonathan were sharing.

"Wow you really are an angel," Abby laughed nervously, "Alright, you get to ask us something now."

Jules prayed they wouldn't get upset or offended by her next question.

"Is it okay if you don't use profanity around me. I don't like curse words. Peter 3:10 reveals that whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech."

"Abby," Jonathan said while staring at Jules with a blank face.

"Yes, Jonathan?" Abby's reply was eerily calm. Her lips were held together tightly and she had a facial expression of one who was accepting a disappointing fact.

"Did she just quote the Bible?"

"Indeed Jonathan."

"There's no way we can protect her."

"Ill have to agree with you on that one Jonathan."

Jules was confused by the whole exchange. "Protect? What do you mean? Y'all are scaring me."

Abby laughed nervously once again. "Oh, it's nothing really. We're exaggerating. It's just you're so innocent and high school is known for making goodie two shoe kids go wild and rebel." Jules noticed that Abby kept playing with her earring but was unaware that that was something Abby did when she was lying.

"So back to the game!" Jonathan yelled before Jules could ask more questions. "To answer your last question, I'll try not to curse around you. I don't mind. I get it. It's against your religion. Now, we get to ask you one more question," he rubbed his chin and stared upwards to exaggerate that he was deep in thought. Abby rolled her eyes at that. Then, Jonathan snapped his fingers.

"Aha! I know. For the last question, I'll ask an easy yes or no question," Jonathan used his finger to signal Jules to come in closer. She cautiously leaned In. "Are you a virgin?"

Jonathan yelled in pain as Abby kicked his leg once again.

"I'm sorry Jules. Sometimes he's an idiot and forgets to have manners."

Jules thought it was strange that Jonathan was asking easy, obvious questions but answered anyway.

"It's fine, I don't mind. It's an easy question anyway. I'm not married yet so yes, I am."

"Sh*t--I mean shoot." Jonathan let out a deep sigh and began to say things that once again made Jules feel like there was a secret being hidden from her. "Yup. This girl is royally screwed. Sorry, Abby, you know just as much as I do that there's no way we can keep her away from them."

"Keep me away from who?" Jules immediately questioned. Her question was ignored.

"Jonathan, shut up. She can hear you. She's not deaf you know. You're gonna scare the living daylights out of her and it's only her first day. We're not giving up on her. She's our friend now," Abby shifted her gaze to Jules with very determined eyes, "Listen Jules, I'll explain everything later. For now, we need to get out of this cafeteria as soon as possible. Don't look suspicious. Just follow--" Abby was interrupted by Jonathan's sigh.

Both girls stared at him. He was staring at something behind Jules with an unamused expression. "It's too late. They already chose her."

Jules turned around and saw a group of uniformed students walking towards their table. Her heart dropped. One of them was the girl she saw kissing in the hallway.

"Sh*t."

That was first time Jules heard Abby curse.