"𝐰𝐡𝐲'𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤?
𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐦."
❝ ── We all know friends can betray you in a snap of a finger, but what happens when your own powers start turning against you, slowly driving you to insanity.
...
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CHAPTER ONE, RedWood
Exactly two years ago today, Astra Evagelyn faced her greatest fear, going to RedWood Boarding School.
It wasn't her parents who sent her. It was the lab.
She didn't know whether to mark this as the day she finally escaped or the day she lost her freedom yet again. The lines blur seamlessly against one another.
RedWood was what people would consider a prestigious boarding school. Like any other, it was strict; uniforms had to be at knee length, socks had to be visible at all times, and especially lights out at a specific time. Once the clock strikes ten PM, all the students must be in bed. The teachers do round checks now and then.
Those rules scared Astra half to death the first day she was left here to fend for herself. What would they do to the students who didn't follow them? Was it just like the lab?
The old, well-built school was located on the outskirts of who knows what city. There was one thing she did know, RedWood was built at a cliff edge. Not sure why. For a school full of kids it seemed like a safety hazard, but throughout her entire time living here, no one had ever questioned it.
Lots of questions were left unanswered here. Information was kept behind closed thick metal doors. The teacher didn't—or couldn't—say anything about it. Secrets roamed the narrow hallway, everybody whispering into their friend's ear.
When too many people whisper, it becomes something bigger than that. Some say; better to be an outcast than get involved with the students here. A girl advised her early on and Astra kept that information to heart.
For the first few days, she didn't speak to anyone. It wasn't until one of her roommates asked a question did she finally let a few words spill out. Even the simplest answers could turn into a horrific nightmare. People like to switch up the stories you tell and add their spins to the rumors they throw around.
Astra remembered, that a couple of months ago, there was a girl who had gone "missing". Her name was Leana. Students would often plaster missing person posters all over the hallways, cafeteria, classrooms, and even bathrooms.
It didn't last long at all, the school completely banned them from printing those posters, saying Leana hadn't actually gone missing but instead transferred to a new school.
Students hardly believed it. They believed that they'd be trapped here until the end of time. Parent's never called or sent letters as if enrolling them here was just giving them away like throwing out trash.
"Don't trust anyone." The school's motto repeated in her ear. So many, too many people have warned her. Was it a dumb or smart idea to believe it?
Astra's eyes darted back to the clock in the back of the classroom.
12:23 PM
Slowly, the time was inching closer to lunchtime. The person behind her shot her glance, signaling to pay attention to the teacher unless she wanted to get called on. Astra knew that look all too well, returning to her original position.
Arms crossed on the wooden table, eyes looking anywhere but the board in the front. From across the classroom, something caught her eye, a picture of a bridge. It didn't look to be taken around here. There were no bridges in RedWood, only the gloomy forest taunting you if you dared to step foot into it.
In the picture big words spelled out
NEW BRIDGE COLLAPSES?
Followed by other complicated bullshit.
It wasn't the intricate words that caught her eyes, it was the bridge itself. Something about it is captivating. Although there wasn't anything particularly special about this bridge.
The thing was, it was a new poster. Yesterday it was a random quote with a sunflower background. Today, it's different. She hoped it was a sign from the universe.
She laid her head down on the desk, careful not to accidentally scrape herself on the broken edges. She had gotten a splitter from it a while ago and it was not a delightful experience.
Between her fingers was a dark red pen—the colors resembled a crimson red—her hands flowed as the pen danced around the paper. Astra drew the images that haunt her mind, some good, some not as good.
It was a risky game to rest her head down. Soon enough, the teacher would catch on and call on her or maybe even something worse. She'd seen the troubles students go through for breaking pointless rules in the book.
Then the bell rang. A relieved sigh came from her mouth.
••●••
Lunchtime was a dreadful time. Not just for her but for other students too. Everyone regrouped at the tables they claimed as theirs, sitting next to their friends, chattering their time away while Astra sat on an empty table at the corner of the cafeteria. Picking her food with a fork but never actually touching it. The food barely looked edible and if it was, she didn't trust it. Whatever ingredient they put inside that food was a danger to everyone. Maybe she's paranoid but then again, it's better to be safe than sorry.
There were times in her life she went a few days without eating. It became a habit—a habit she couldn't easily let go of. Astra blamed it on the doctors back in the lab. Though, at times she couldn't help but blame herself. It wasn't her fault. She didn't ask for it.
Overthinking all the time wasn't her best trait. Did she have a good trait?
••●••
If there was anything she hated more than lunch was PE. Even after all this time, standing alone in the back or getting picked last was still not an ideal situation she'd liked to go through.
In truth, it made her feel more alone. She didn't know anyone and no one knew her. In the beginning, it was considered a good thing, but now it has turned bad. Everything has its pros and cons. This one had more cons than pros.
A/N: boring chapter I know but we're getting there. 🤭
