Black Moon

1. The school of the vain

...Ten years later...

The engine purred in the background as I sat with the side of my face stuck to the window glass.

The trees flew by at the speed we were traveling.

Somewhere on the other side of the sky, I could hear the thunder rumbling as dark clouds gathered above us, promising a shower like no other.

The bruise on my cheek stung from the unintentional sigh I had let out grabbing Melanie's attention, away from the black and white papers she had been turning most of the ride.

A childcare worker badge pinned on her blazer.

Her short dark permed hair suited her dark skin, rather than the long straight hair that I had seen the last time she had come to check on me.

She sighed loudly before saying softly, "Evera, honey. I know you feel it to be unfair but you know very well what happened."

The flashes of glass breaking, blood pooling, fearful screams, and the black wind came back to me.

The accident changed everything for everyone. I no longer had a home. I no longer was wanted around anyone who already knew me.

"This is for the best," Melanie placed her hand over mine and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"You might even be lucky in fact. Ordinary children don't even get to see what this school is. You on the other hand get to learn there. Have a look," she handed me a brochure of a school that looked like rich and spoilt would attend. I didn't even bother opening it. The name alone made me feel untouchable.

'Elle Vista Castle School'

"Tons of opportunities will open its doors for you once you graduate from there," she added handing me another pamphlet.

"If I live through the time that is," I mumbled under my breath as I looked out of the window again.

"Evera," Melanie's voice softened as she continued, "you talked about this with your psychiatrist. It's all in your head, darling. There is no such thing as black wind or monster out there. Everything is made up by your brain trying to cope with the trauma you have lived through."

I turned my head slightly to glance at the page in the file that was open. My page, with my photo and details.

There, right in the middle was printed in bold and capital letters: 'DANGEROUS' and 'DIFFICULT TO HANDLE'.

I looked away again without responding to her. My only escape at the moment was the forest outside where my mind didn't have to deal with what others did not understand.

I resumed the music in my headphones, letting it drown the voice of Melanie that was trying to make me understand what I was suffering from her point of view. She wasn't the one to live through the nightmares I have had been living since the time my parents died.

Of course, she would rather believe in the words of some bookworm who wrote a thesis of what was running in someone else's mind. They did survive what I have.

As the forest cleared into the opening, the huge castle came into view. The lightning crackled above it giving it an eerie feeling.

By the time we reached the humongous gate, it started drizzling. The pitter-patter of the raindrops increased in frequency as the unending driveway led to more foliage.