The First Awakening

CHAPTER 4: Turkey Leftovers - Zabrina

  "Students, we hope that you have enjoyed a wonderful day today. Please make your way to your designated dormitories and be sure to collect your suitcases in the hall," a voice boomed over the P.A. system as classes were being wrapped up. I glanced over at Mr. Tan expectantly as he rummaged through his folder.

  "Alright, class..." he began as he flipped through the stack of paper, "I will be placing your dorm arrangements on my desk. Please collect them before leaving the classroom."

  After relishing in various bonding activities, hours of the day had flown by. It was already five o'clock in the evening, nearing my favourite part of the day - dinnertime. 

  Cotidianus Academy always made sure to prepare the most delectable, scrumptious meals for all of its students. However, nothing could beat the food provided at dinnertime. The menu was filled with roasted chicken, sushi, and anything capable of making your mouth water uncontrollably. My mind wandered off into la-la-land, dreaming of the spectacular dishes...

  "Aren't you going to collect your dorm arrangements?"

  Tilting my head up, I was met with the face of Alyssa, my classmate. Speaking of her face, it seemed unusually pale, but I shoved that thought to the back of my mind.

  "Oh, yeah." I realised, "Thanks."

  Slipping my navy blue bag onto my back, I swiftly grabbed a piece of paper from Mr. Tan's desk and hurriedly made my way towards the elevator. As I stepped inside with the rest of my class, I scanned through the arrangements carefully, in search of my name.

  Aha! Under the category, "Section 1 - Dormitory room 3", was my name, along with Ember's and Jacey's. Strangely, the paper stated that the dormitory was situated in a building I have never encountered before in my life - Armedeus.

  "Err..." Loid, another one of my classmates, began. He was shorter than average, and looked like a regular Asian boy. "Does anyone know where 'Armedeus' is?"

  There were several murmurs of confusion as the elevator descended, and Zya took the initiative of checking with Mr. Tan through a short phone call. Mumbles of "yes" and "no" escaped her mouth as her conversation with Mr. Tan persisted.

  Soon, after the elevator had reached its destination, Zya slipped her phone back into her pocket. As everyone fled the "cage", she said, "Mr. Tan said that we should just stay in section 18 at block C. Apparently there has been some mix-up?" 

  Amber's face twisted into an even more puzzled look. "How was telling us to go to a nonexistent block a mix-up?" Everyone nodded in agreement, making their way together to the hall. Their footsteps trailed the vast hallways that were mostly empty since many students had already reached the canteen to devour their dinner.

  Zya solely stated that she didn't know. "That's just what Mr. Tan said," she explained. 

  Yvette, another one of my classmates, sighed, yearning to fill her empty stomach. "Why are you guys worrying 'bout that? I just want food..." I couldn't help but agree.

  The entire class had made the decision of setting off for the flavoursome dishes of the cafeteria with the exception of Alyssa, who reckoned that she should skip dinner and instead start unpacking her belongings. I watched her silhouette slowly fade into the distance after she broke off from the group and into a separate hallway. "A pity," I murmured, "I heard they were going to specially prepare turkey for the first day."

  The cafeteria was packed with students as usual, and my classmates and I made our way to our assigned table. Wiggling through the myriad of students, I caught chunks of their conversations, one striking me the most.

  Two almost identical boys that I had never seen before were conversing, the entire aura around them sucking out the light in the world. They had noticeable dark eye-bags and their hair was about to hinder their sight. Their slouching posture along with other features brought me a sense of unease, especially when one of them began to speak in a grouchy voice, "How long do we have to stay in these ridiculous human forms? I swear if I see the girl I'm going to-"

  The other boy immediately shoved his index figure in his face. "Someone could be listening you fool!"

  The two began bickering, going back and forth with remarks like "you're the fool" or "says the one that can't even obey the simplest of orders". It was with no regret that I scurried away almost instantly to rejoin the rest of my classmates.

  After dinner, I managed to get a hold of some leftover turkey scraps for Alyssa. Some of my classmates wanted to go to the toilet, grab their luggage, buy dessert etc. Everyone agreed on regrouping at the dormitories at 9.00p.m., an hour before the lights would go out.

  Soon, I was in my dormitory clutching my bulky luggage, the first to arrive out of the other two staying in the same room as me. As you reach the hefty mahogany doors to section 1, inside you would find a large common room decked with shelves, atop of of them a bunch of thick, wordy books. In the middle laid a ginormous couch that shone as if just polished. In front of it, there was a 55 inch television, perfect for future movie nights. The room had 2 doors on each side, each of them leading to a dormitory meant to house 3 to 4 students. 

  These dormitories provided a shared mini fridge, 1 huge desk for everyone to share, 3 queen-sized beds and that was barely scratching the surface. As I dragged my luggage into the room, I immediately got to work, unpacking my clothes and placing them into the built-in closet on the left. 

  Once done, I handed the turkey leftovers to Alyssa who looked starved to death. She thanked me furiously, repeating the two words "thank you" over and over again. 

  Ding, dong! My eyes widened. The giant bell tower! That could only mean one thing—lights out was approaching. I made my way back to my room to find Ember and Jacey unpacking their items. They were moving hastily, probably because the bell had just rung.

  With the opportunity to finally unwind, I however paid no mind to them and instead collapsed on my bed. I wouldn't get to stay on there for long, though, as a different sound was ringing in the air...