Evergreen Academy

Chapter II

The door opened on the corridor of a dormitory.
The flow of students was already enough conspicuous to make the path to follow quite obvious, with no need to view the school map on the wall, but Noah glanced anyway.
A library, a greenhouse, an astronomical observatory...
His eyes widened in surprise, as he ran his fingers over the chart. The school seemed enormous and, from what he had seen so far, it was also extremely refined. The building recalled classical architectures and a rapid look around was enough to see the elegance of the decor. In the center of the structure, there was a circular, wide area indicated as "internal garden". He could bet it would have been such a beautiful place to read, if only he hadn't so many worries.
He followed the flow downstairs, up to a room that looked just like one of those ballrooms, that Noah had only seen visiting medieval castles with his family.
The Grand Salon was set up for the breakfast, with the tables for the students taking up the majority of the space. Along the wall on the left, it was displayed a buffet. On the opposite side from the door, on an elevated area, a group of older men and women were eating at the same table: "the teachers", deduced Noah.
Many students had already arrived, by the time he got there. Anyway, only a few of them were eating, while the majority was just standing in confusion, muttering grouped in small crowds at the sides of the room, with bewildered faces.
He didn't want to look like one of them, he hated to show fear.
Well conscious of the risk to appear cold hearted he decided to meticulously choose his breakfast and sit at an empty table.
He was taking the first bite of the most amazing brioche he had ever had when a voice interrupted him.
-Can you remember how you got here? In this school, i mean.-
It belonged to a red haired, short girl, who was walking quickly up to his table, while dragging with her an annoyed boy.
-No, not really. - He answered.
-We can't remember either.- Her tone lowered to a whisper
-None of us can. I've asked around. There is something shady going on, i swear.-
And as she said so, she proceeded to energetically pull a chair in frustration and sit right in front of Noah.
In the following moment of silence, all of her confidence faded.
-Oh god, I can sit here, right?- She asked concerned.
After a second of surprise, he collected himself.
-Yes, of course. It's good to know there's someone else who shares this feeling.-
He smiled politely. -I'm Noah-
-I'm Poppy- her eyes lighted up, as she shook his hand.
-And he is Adam, my boyfriend.- She added, pointing at the tall boy still standing arms crossed next to her, who hadn't shown yet any interest in joining them.
-Please, Adam, have a sit.- Noah held out his hand to him, too.
He didn't smile back at him, but he accepted the handshake and the invite.
-Did you find out something else?- Noah asked directly to Poppy.
She nodded.
-Anyone I've asked had not a single memory of this school existing at all before... Before we woke up this morning. It's like this whole thing came up overnight!-
Noah wasn't really surprised by that information, however he was pleased to have confirmation of his own hypothesis.
-It may be not entirely wrong. Well, I don't know much about the building timing... But i think we are the first students here. Not only it's the first year for all of us, but there hasn't been anyone before.-
-Why so?-
-The building, the furnishings. The style is antique, but everything seems just too new, too perfect, too taylor made, too impossibly clean... On top of that, the teachers look nervous.-
He nodded in their direction.
-It's more of a feeling, yet.-
He made up his mind about sharing his thoughts with Poppy, she seemed capable.
She took a more mindful look around, with growing concern.
-I went to public school until last year,- she confided, -there is no way my family could possibly afford this kind of school. I think, at least... I don't know. It all feels like a dream.-
-Memories fade the closer they get.- Noah concluded.
-The whole summer is foggy. - She admitted.
He nodded.
It was clear at that point that whatever happened to them, they were all in the same situation.
Unexpectedly, it was Adam to break the silence.
He pointed at Noah's croissant, nonchalantly.
-What's in it?-
Poppy stared at him in disbelief.
-Cream.- Answered Noah hesitant.
He assumed a thoughtful expression.
-What about the biscuits?-
-Coconut and chocolate.-
-Are they worth it?-
-You can try one, if you want. - Noah handed him a biscuit, that he gladly accepted.
-Have you already tried coffee?-
-Adam!- She reproached him, exasperated by his absolute lack of worries.
He shrugged his shoulders.
-Clearly starvation won't be of any help.-
And as he said so he left, only to come back a few minutes later with both his and Poppy's breakfasts.
Judging by her expression, she was more in the mood to throw up rather than to eat, but she reluctantly started to nibble it.
Finally, Adam decided to offer his contribution to the conversation.
-It's even more complicated than you make it. I went through my suitcase earlier. I could swear I packed it. Even if I have no memory of it. I've got a method and everything is exactly where it should be. There is no way someone else did it.-
They stared at each other in silence, while the revelation sank in.
-And it's not only that. Have you seen what we packed? I don't know about yours, but mine was... much more sentimental than functional.-
He laughed, but it sounded bitter.
Noah started to replay in his head all the things he remembered he had seen in his suitcase earlier.
-God.- He mumbled: now he could totally see it.
-What do you mean?- Asked Poppy
-I have what? Three jumpers? A single pajamas? Another pair of shoes. A couple of trousers at the very best... Well, anyway, not nearly enough to spend away the whole academic year. But instead I have the complete collection of the postcards of my father, a scarf of my mother, my favourite book, which i haven't read in years... Do I have to go on?-
-Maybe we knew we will not stay here for too long-
-No, Poppy, i fear it's straight up the opposite.- Noah intervened.
Adam smiled at him for the first time.
-Look at this place. They probably plan to provide us all the rest we need. Those suitcases seem like the shrines of memories of people who know they won't go back home for a long long time.-
The atmosphere at the table became oppressive.
-So...- started Poppy.
-Whether we were or not willing to leave, at least at the moment of the departure we knew we would have left.- Continued Adam
-And we knew we would have missed home.- Noah concluded.
He looked at Adam as if he was seeing him for the first time.
-What's the plan now?- Asked Poppy.
Noah broke the silence. -They promised us information, I guess something will come out.-