Everything Starts

CH: 2, PACKING

I dreaded getting up the following morning. All I wanted to do was hug my mom and Henry until it was time to leave; unfortunately, I still had things I needed to get done before I left.

My flight wasn't for a few hours so I had time to do a few last-minute things; which included going to the post office, which is across town and I had to ship a couple of boxes to France that would not fit into the moving truck.

I made my way to the post office and then got breakfast. I headed back to the house and finished packing my travel luggage. It was still two hours until I had to leave for the airport so I took my last nap in my bed, at least for a couple of months. When I woke I put on clothing that was more suited for the airport. I took a last walk through the house and went to close my balcony door.

There was an old-looking piece of parchment on the edge of my terrace. I thought that was weird because we don't have any neighbors for at least a couple of miles, and we didn't have any paper like that to my knowledge. Then I started to get that feeling again like someone was watching me. I looked around but yet again, saw no one. I flipped the paper over and there was writing on it that reads You are the key. Good luck with your adventure. I had no idea what it meant nor where it came from, but I didn't have time to figure it out.

Probably just trash or a final prank from my friends.

I removed the case from my phone and carefully placed the parchment inside before putting the case back on my phone. There was a part of me that thought I should keep it, but I didn't know why.

Once I arrived at the airport, I checked in with Mom and then gathered my things as it was time to board. I had to take a seven-hour plane ride to London, then a three-hour train ride to Paris, where I would then pick up my rental car I would use until my car arrived.

The first plane ride felt much longer than it was because my anxiety was flaring up again, but I somehow managed to fall asleep. After a few hours, the plane finally touched down in London. I had forty-five minutes to get from the airport to the train station. I considered enough time to use the loo and get a bite to eat. By the time I got to the train station, I was supposed to start boarding in five minutes.

I fell asleep for the entire duration of the train ride and woke to the rustling sound of people getting their bearings around me. I taxied to the airport and got my rental car, and due to the time difference, it was now well into the following day. I needed to head straight to the university to arrive in time for the campus tour.

After a long two-hour drive I finally made it to the academy grounds. I quickly parked and shot Emaline and Henry a text that I had arrived. As I made my way to the bus stop that was being used as a meeting place for the tour I realized just how real everything felt. I was back in Paris, and would probably be seeing my old friends. I looked through the small crowd of people and was thrilled to see not a single person I once knew. I had taken a seat on a bench and started dozing off when a strong voice shocked me awake. The tour guide had arrived. He passed out a map and then led my group all around the campus in a large circle before we were set to tour the inside of the buildings. I was the last to enter the main hall and I couldn't help but feel a sudden sense of suspense as I was guided through the halls. I was not prepared for the fact that at any moment I might see a familiar face.

The university had four main sections: the main hall, which featured the dining hall, library, and offices; the girl's dormitory; the boy's dormitory; and perhaps the largest of all, the building that housed all the classrooms. Every time I passed a different room another memory from my past seemed to shove its way into the front of my brain. It felt as though I was getting the wind knocked out of me at every memory. They had switched the upper and lower years' classrooms while I was away. The buildings that my classes would be in were the same classrooms I sat in years ago. The tour guide led us back to the front of the building and gave us our next tasks which included; signing in at the front desk and picking up our dorm keys. We had to take an elevator to the fourth floor to get to the main office. I thanked the guide and set off to get my keys.