Twisted Wonderland: A New Dawn

Chapter 4

Rhyme shuttered as she saw the outside of Ramshackle dorm. It looked like a strong breeze would blow it over into a pile of matchsticks.
  "We plan on cleaning the yard later," the Prefect said, breaking her thoughts. "Clean the gravestones and pull the weeds. But with everything else going on, we haven't had time yet."
  Rhyme kept her mouth shut, then followed Prefect into the dorm. The inside was much more orderly than the yard and was surprisingly cozy. But Rhyme shoved her feelings down. She didn't want to be in a crappy dorm with a non-magic user and an untrained familiar. Even if the Mirror of Darkness had said she belonged in a different dorm, a different one than Heartslabyul, she would have accepted it and done her best to live up to that dorm.
  But this? There was nothing to raise her higher. There was nothing to live up to.
  "Rhyme?" Prefect asked, making her look over. He was standing on the stairs heading up. "Your room's upstairs."
  "Is it clean?" Rhyme asked, following the young man up the stairs.
  "Of course it's clean!" Grim exclaimed. "We didn't know a new student would be joining us, but it's still good manners to keep all the rooms clean!"
  "Coming from a fur-ball, I'm surprised the walls aren't covered in scratches."
Rhyme shot at him.
  "What'cha call me?!" Grim yowled, poised to jump.
  Prefect grabbed Grim by the scruff of his neck, stopping him before he could claw Rhyme's face. "Grim. Leave it," Prefect said. "You wanna fight someone, go find Ace and tick him off."
  Grim thrashed for a moment in the Prefect's hand then broke free, landing on the wooden floorboards, bipedal. "Naw," he said, crossing his front paws over his chest. "Besides, he'll probably come knocking soon."
  "If he does, let him in," Prefect said. "I'm gonna finish showing Rhyme around."
  "You got it!" Grim said, saluting.
  Rhyme watched the exchange with a confused frown. The two of them were like night and day, fighting one moment then somewhat cooperating the next.
  Then a ghost floated out of a wall, holding a broom, and Rhyme dismissed her thoughts. This dorm was definitely weird. And she felt like she stuck out like a sore thumb.
~~~~~
  The room was nothing special, furnished properly and definitely clean, but Rhyme didn't want to give Prefect any leeway over her so she sniffed distastefully.
  "It'll work," she said airily. "That'll be all."
  The Prefect had lapsed back into silence on their way down the hall, but he spoke again. "Leave the Ceremonial Robe on a hanger," he said. "The ghosts will bring it down so it can get washed."
  With that, he left the room, leaving the door open a crack behind him.
   Rhyme walked over and closed the door fully, turning the lock. Then as an added measure, she called out; "If any ghosts decide to peek in, you'll be fried to a crisp."
  There was no reply, so Rhyme quickly changed from the black and purple robe into a pair of plain but soft pajamas.
  Soon she could hear voices coming from the main floor, but didn't feel like going down.
  Sitting on her bed, Rhyme pulled her knees to her chest and tried to hide the tears filling her eyes.
  She had been this close to having a perfect time at Night Raven College, only to be cast in with the losers.
  A knock came at the door and the doorknob moved down for a fraction before the lock prevented it from going any farther.
  "Rhyme?" Riddle asked. "I know you're in there. Open the door."
  Rhyme stood up and whipped the tears away from her eyes before unlocking the door, opening it a crack so she could just see Riddle's eye.
  "Rhyme. I said to open the door, not open it a crack." Riddle reprimand.
  "Why didn't you speak up in the Mirror Chamber?" Rhyme asked softly, leaving the door the way it was. "You could have offered to take me as part of Heartslabyul, regardless of what that stupid mirror said."
  "You're part of an elite group, Rhyme," Riddle said gently. "Very few girls get chosen. How would that have looked if I had offered to take you when Heartslabyul was full? You'd have to sleep in the same room as some of the other freshmen."
  "Or with you," Rhyme replied, opening the door now and facing her brother. "It would have been different if it was with you."
  Riddle folded his arms. "The answer is no. I couldn't have spoken up. The other housewardens couldn't either, despite them having many openings. It's the same issue. If there were more girls, then maybe."
  It took Rhyme a moment to realize Riddle hadn't mentioned a rule that she might have violated. "Are...are you feeling okay?" She asked.
  Riddle tilted his head. "Why?"
  "You haven't shouted out a rule yet and that's not like you," Rhyme said. "Did something happen last semester?"
  Riddle was quiet for a moment. "I'll tell you when I'm ready," he finally said, then noticed something Rhyme had forgotten. He pointed behind her. "You shouldn't leave your Ceremonial Robe on the floor. Rule #482: "All formal wear must be washed and dried within 12 hours of wearing" ."
  Rhyme let a small smile slide onto her face. That's the Riddle she remembered, if not a bit quieter.
  "I'll see you in class tomorrow," Riddle said. "Goodnight Rhyme."
  "Night." Rhyme said, then closed the door, listening as Riddle's footsteps drew farther away. Then she picked up the robe and hung it up on a hanger then placed it on the closet door before crawling under the blankets to get some sleep.