Fortune Dice

Prologue

There is a pounding in her head. Aileen Ares can hear something ringing beside her, but she cannot move. Someone is talking... no... yelling, and she cannot respond. Mind fuzzy, Aileen's body can't budge no matter how hard she tries, and her eyes won't open. So, instead, she whines for the loud noises to finally stop so it can free her from the pounding ache in her head and let her fall back into slumber. And then, she moved. Not voluntarily, of course. Someone moved her. They sat her up and kept her up so Aileen couldn't fall back down onto the soft cushion behind her. The yelling is getting louder, and with her brain filled with pure cotton and tiny needles poking at her temple, Aileen can do nothing but whine as she attempts her escape. The yelling stops, and there is silence for a moment before a loud clap wakes her up completely from her sleeping state. A palm connects with the back of her head as a sharp pain shoots through her body. The fog is knocked out of her mind without a second to spare.

"Get your ass up right now, Aileen! Do you have any idea how late it is?" Right, it's already morning. Aileen's eyes finally opened, and in front of her stood her grandmother. Grandmother barely ever hit her, so for her to do it today, she must have really messed up. Tears prickle at her eyes, but Aileen forces herself out of bed. It's tiring, and if she has a choice, she will never get up. If she has a choice, she'll sleep on forever. But she doesn't, because she is a student, and this is life. She can hardly keep her eyes open when she moves to change as quickly as possible. The uniform fits uncomfortable on her skin, the fabric itches and the whole fit is way too hot for the season that she thought she could cry from just that.

Of course, there is no time for that. Why would there ever be? Grandmother throws the backpack onto her bag and rushes them out of the door. The school isn't far from Grandmother's apartment, only a five-minute walk, which is partially why Aileen lives with the elderly lady to begin with. Dragging her feet against the cement road, she can feel the familiar suffocating dread killing her from the inside as she inches closer to the school building. Is it improper of her to run away and never look back? Most definitely. Biting down on her lip, she arrives at the front door of Euda Elementary School, and she doesn't get a chance to say goodbye before Grandmother rushes her through the front gate. So, hands gripping tightly onto the straps of her backpack, she marches through the door with heavy steps.

The third-year classrooms are on the third floor, and Aileen considered taking the furthest stairs up to her classroom. She's already late. What would be just a few minutes later do? Body tensing up, Aileen mentally scolds herself for ever daring to think of such an improper thing, giving her hair a harsh tug. It's time. She can feel her brain fuzzing up again as she approaches the third floor. As a wave of overwhelming fear washes over her entire being, she reaches her classroom. Squeezing her fists tight, she mustered all her remaining courage as she stepped through the door. Then she saw it, and her blood ran cold.

Ms. Rhys' pupils dilate as she stares her dead in the eyes, and Aileen's breath catches in her throat. "Out. Now." Ms. Rhys commands, and Aileen obeys without a word. She backs out into the hallway, and the teacher walks out after her. There is a sharp pain on her wrist as the teacher grabs her harshly and pulls her further out into the hall, and she can't let out a single sound as she is thrown against the wall. "Five minutes," Ms. Rhys grits her teeth and furrows her brows, but her eyes are as wide as a tarsier's as she stands crossed arms in front of her. "You're late by five whole minutes, Ms. Ares. You do understand what this means, right?" Aileen cannot budge. The teacher shoves her shoulder forcefully, and Aileen forces a nod.

"Do not move until the end of the period." Ms. Rhys commands before returning to the students whose lecture was disrupted. The bag is heavy on her back, and the strap burns into her shoulders. Aileen bites down harshly on her lips in an attempt to stop the tremble. She isn't supposed to move, but it is a half-an-hour class, and she can't help but fidget. Thankfully, this time, Ms. Rhys doesn't come to check on her until the lecture is complete. "I wish you learned your lesson," Aileen forces a nod. "I truly hope there is no next time, Ms. Ares." Ms. Rhys gives her a warning glance, "The homework for this class is on your desk. Complete it by tomorrow's class." Aileen nods again, and she walks away.