Birdy was taken with Mertle by Edward to an unknown place.

“I am scared”. She clung on to her best friend in the process.

“Calm down, my father has taken me here many times already. You just survived an eagle ride on my father’s eagle. This is nothing”.

“But it’s dark on here”. The younger version of Mads complained.

“Just hold on to me as you always did. I would never harm my own best friend”.

“I really miss Nathan”,

“Forget that loser. His brother, Johnson is much cooler and braver. He is now with us and where is that coward Nathan, he is back at the School of Paradeisos. Let’s embrace our new life”. Mertle proudly walking beside her father looking like a younger female version of him.

Birdy saw the resemblance between the two and while holding the left hand of her best friend with her right hand, she began to doubt she had made the right choice. She looked around and noticed everything was dark and spooky. While she could see where she was going, the darkness in this huge building contrary it’s beautiful colour and structure on the outside brought shivers down Birdy’s spine. They finally reach the auditorium which had chairs placed in a circular form decided in sections as it was in an arena and in the middle of it was a circular stage.

“Greetings. You are all here as you have decided to join the University of Thanatos. You who are 13 have the right to choose to join the red or purple class in the School of the Beast”. Aiden Red who wawaiting for them in a dark hall spoke up. “I will be your personal teacher in the Red Class and the Purple Class will be run by “

“Where are we“, Birdy asked her best friend.

“We are in the University of Thanatos”, Mertle answered.

“I just want to go to the School of the Beast. You promised me!”Birdy screamed interrupting Aiden as he was speaking out on the stage in the auditorium.

“If you are afraid of the dark, I can turn on the lights for see”. Aiden took out a control and pressed a button and pale green lights came on. “I can makes them rainbow if you like to cheer you up. Now calm down and let me finish speaking young lady”.

“I just want to go to the School of the Beast and be in the Green Class like dad and mom used to”, Birdy screamed out loud.

“Who is she?” asked Aiden Red. “This is the first time anyone made a complain”.

“She is the daughter of Eagle and Mads”. Edward looked embarrassed as did his daughter Mertle.

“So you are the daughter of a weirdo and a popular girl. Very well, Birdy, you can go to the School of the Beast but it is going to cost you very dearly”. Aiden spoke calmly but anyone looking at him closely can see anger in his eyes.

“Think about it carefully”, Mertle who was sitting between her father and Birdy growled. “Make the wrong move and our friendship is over. We are getting the best deal ever”. These words from the red head came as a surprise to Birdy. Never did she believe that her best friend from childhood will be willing to break off their friendship over something which seems so small. She had always followed Mertle around ever since the red head had come to the School of Paradeisos with her mother

She did not want to lose her friends but the warning from her parents kept ringing in her head. Making the hard choice, Birdy spoke up, “I want to be a normal teenager like everyone else”.

“Fine. She has made her choice. 39, I know you are in a relationship with Principal King, please help us take the whinny daughter of Eagle and Tomi to the School of the Beast before she disrupts this meeting any further. She is beginning to annoy everyone”.

39 turned into a female lappet faced vulture and flew up to Birdy whose chair was at the corner of a semi circle role in the arena before turning back to her human form and taking Birdy out by the hand.

“Our friendship as of today is over. The next time we meet, it will be as enemies”, Mertle spoke out as Birdy got off her chair and followed 39 who was taking her by the hand to the door with a green exit sign glowing in the arena which has become dark again above it.

Birdy was sent to the Green Class and Accomodation after commanding a giant panda, a green darning dragonfly, and a chickcharney. She made a friends with her two flat mates but the environment was not the same as it was in the friendly and hospitable School of Paradeisos.

A year later, she called her mother on her birthday, “Happy 35th birthday mom”.

“Birdy? How are you doing?”

“I am good thank you mom. I was thinking of calling dad but I decided to call you first as it is your birthday. His is next month”.

“You have such a good memory. How is school doing?”

“We will talk about it later. Can we catch up tomorrow?”

“Sure. I will bring Lawrence and your little sister, Marrisa along. She will be please to see you and so would Lawrence”.

“Of course. See you tomorrow”.

“Take care honey. See you”. Mads hung up.

The day didn’t come as news on television broke out a few hours later that the School of Paradeisos’ northern branch had been attacked by a dark entity who only calls herself ‘Ann’. Birdy remembered the exact words that were spoken to her word for word by Aiden Res before granting her the request to live a normal life.

“What have I done?” Birdy wondered as she sat down in front of the television with her friends before walking off to her room not wanting anyone to see her cry.