I Became A Bat

33: Suspicions

Bright orange light from the afternoon sky lighting up the long cemented hallways of the school. Such a sight always takes my breath away which is why I liked staying here late even after classes has passed hours ago.

Wait a minute! Why am I here? I remember I was about to be killed by that Obsidian Beetle King yet I'm actually back on Earth. Strangely though, although the light from the sun is hitting me, I'm unable to feel any sort of heat.

"It's hot," A familiar voice sounds out in the empty hallways.

The voice is mine. However, I didn't open my mouth so how did that happen?

I try raising my hand but it doesn't move the way I want it to. It goes to one of my pocket to pick up my phone  and finally I can see it. I'm back to my human body. On my right hand is my phone which I just took out. The clock is indicating that there's only thirty minutes left till six in the evening.

T-this scene. It's so familiar as if I've seen this happen before. Right! It's the time when that event happened! But why am I seeing this? Is it because I'm about to die so I'm seeing my memories flash back in my eyes? This feels more like a dream though. A lucid dream. I'm conscious of what's happening but it's like I'm just occupying someone else's body without any form of control over it. Well, it doesn't really matter what it is though.

Without my permission, my body, rather, Mikhail's body starts moving to a specific direction. Even while a distance away from that place, I can still see the words 'Principal's Office' hanging by the side of an elegant wooden door. I remember I was about to go here to have my regional scholarship papers signed by the principal. I also remember I ended up back then.

The sight is somewhat open so I can see the contents of the office. A man who everybody in town know is sitting at a chair next to a table. Mr. Clinton Perry, a rich businessman as well as the head of the Perry Clan. Also, he's the father of my classmate named Regina Perry. He's talking to someone and although I can't see who that person is, I'm able to identify that person as Principal Welsh.

"I wonder what they're talking about?" Mikhail murmurs under his breath.

Just as what I did back then, my body stops just a meter away from the door. Like any student meeting with one of the school's higher-ups, I got really nervous back then and so is my Mikhail right now. I can guess what's going inside his head right now. Wait till the conversation inside switches to something unimportant then go knock on the door.

"By the way, thanks for the help last time with my daughter's grades last time. Regina's been slacking off a lot lately. It wouldn't be good if Barnard University rejects her with her grades being like that," Clinton Perry says with a lighthearted tone.

"No problem. What are friends for? But that kid Mikhail has to bear being second place right now." Principal Welsh's voice which shows some worry leaks out from the door as he responds to Clinton.

"That kid doesn't matter. It's not like this is the first time you've done this anyway." Clinton lets out a boisterous laughter after that.

Mikhail's body stiffens while listening to the exchange between the two. Slowly, he starts walking away from the place with heavy footsteps. Seeing him like this, I can't help but sigh internally. When I experienced this, emotions raged inside me nonstop. I didn't know what to do. Cry, scream, or attack that despicable guy named Clinton Perry?

Before I got summoned, I was still pretty bitter about this incident. I was never really good at sports and I have average talents in all areas. Good performance in academics is all I was proud of about myself. For all my hardwork to be played around by some people I barely know felt really frustrating. Right now though, I felt none of that. Just pity for my old self.