The white butterfly tango

Chapter IV

"Dear passengers we are closing in on the Fortressmain. Please don't forget your luggage and be polite to people around you as you leave the train." The voice came from a speaker and Esma felt how the train started stopping bit by bit. She opened the window and rushed outside in quite a panic.

The girl was heading straight to the old academy, practically running in a hurry until suddenly felt really tired and sleepy. Two sleepless nights for her were just too much. The girl tried to catch a breath and started moving again. She remembered precisely how won few medals for running, could it be that her muscles forgot that completely?

"Stupid legs! Move!" Esma clenched her fist and hit herself on the thigh. The pain brought her some energy and she soon stood in front of the academy gates. She was too close to give up.

She entered the grounds, noticing some students in uniforms, chitchatting and so headed directly there.

"Hi, sorry." The girl waved to them and tried to catch a breath. "Where can I find your dean?"

"Mr. Hoover? What do you need from him?" A boy with a mask on his face spoke up. Had dark brown eyes, a really short haircut, and bronze-like skin. He was hiding his hands in his pockets and looked kind of like a bully. The tall boy with the short black haircut and various tattoos all around his neck looked at the girl with a bit of disgust. He had hazel eyes with a bit of yellow in them and a fawn complexion that showed his tattoos very well.

"I have an important matter to discuss with him." Esma frowned in disbelief. The boy didn't even know her yet. Who permitted him to judge her?

"Ey, Hannes! Can you bring my dress?" They all heard a sudden female voice somewhere beside them and the girl noticeably shrugged as she didn't see anyone following her.

"What am l? a slave?" -The boy with tattoos glanced at her with a bit of irritation and then squatted. Esma took a glance there and noticed that he was actually referring to a black cat.

"Ruth, it's serious. They have been looking everywhere for you." The boy with a mask stated calmly but hid even more into his hoody under the blazer, noticing the other guy, grabbing the cat into his hands. "Don't touch her! We don't know where she was.."

"I was just achieving the task for Mr. Hubert. Hannes, get me to Mike, I'll lick his face." The cat started speaking again, making the one boy take a big step away and the one who held her chuckled a bit. Esma tried to see some kind of voice box or anything but it was just a regular black cat.

"Dare to do this and I'll make you watch the history of your second-hand clothing instead of dreams again." He then scrunched his whole body and took another step away.

"Don't worry; our kitty is harmless after so much time in this body." -The tall boy with tattoos spoke up again, smiling, and then glanced at the other girl. Esma stood white like the ceiling in her room. She felt like her body could faint at any second. "You are Esma, then?" He asked curiously, giving her the same irritated look.

"H- how d- do you know?" Esma was practically sobbing already. She wanted to run away but was too powerless, so just stood still, without moving a muscle.

"Esma! Nice to see you, kid! Took you longer than we predicted." A tall man appeared near them and snapped his fingers. He then patted the cat in the boy's hands and threw a piece of fabric on the floor. "Nice job, Ruth."

"Are you Mr. Hoover?" Esma didn't know how the current dean looked like but was sure he was the only person able to help her clear things out. She noticed a cat jumping to the ground and hiding in the fabric.

"Nope. I'm the teacher here. The dean will come back in about an hour." The elegant man spoke up and fixed his black blazer a bit. He smiled sincerely at the girl, trying not to look too intimidating but even the brave and bold guys behind him stood down after he appeared.