teach me how to not care about these tiny feelings
─ in which, an illness breaks out
in a school, and everyone inside
the building is forced to isolate.
the thing is, though. no one knows
who...
CHAPTER ONE. LET THE TRIALS BEGIN MENTIONS. SUICIDAL THOUGHTS 🦴
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It was supposed to be a normal day. At least, that's what the students of Hailsmith Academy thought. Nobody thought anything bad was going to happen. Certainly, not like this. Winter break was just around the corner. Most people were looking forward to spending time with their loved ones, showing off their Christmas presents, and just having a break from the expectations they're so desperately trying to achieve. But, that break seemed so far away now. Nobody could think about going home now. The only thought on everyone's mind was; what the actual fuck?
Nothing like this had ever happened at the academy before. At least, to any of their students' knowledge. Nothing ever happened at Hailsmith. With cameras everywhere, it was practically impossible to break any of the academy's endless rules without being caught. Fights rarely ever happened, either. The point is, there was a very watch eye in the academy. Everyone knew it. So as to how something as extreme as this could happen on their watch was still a mystery to be unfolded and solved.
Staff and students were gathered in the gymnasium. Chatter filled the place, endless discussion about what could've possibly happened. The school with maximum security, almost like prison, and somehow a student conveniently ends up dead with a mysterious illness. Everyone was on the edge, desperate for clarity. It was just a sick dream, that's all. They would be woken up at any moment and laugh it off like nothing happened. But deep down each of them knew it wasn't a dream, and none of them would be waking up. Because they were already awake.
Rosamund Liao was starting to regret her decision transferring to this school. She had only spent two weeks in this school, and still everything was still new. Everything felt so foreign. She felt like the odd one out. At her last school she felt like that too. Rose was always the outsider. That's just how it was. But, she had to admit, Hailsmith Academy had its perks. Nobody payed enough attention for her to be picked on. Which was a good thing in Rose's eyes.
She nervously fiddled with her fingers, glancing at everyone else that was in the bleachers. She only knew a few people there. Julia Hawthorne, who, in Rose's opinion was a nice person. In fact, Julia was one of the first people who greeted her when she first arrived. They sometimes wave to each other in the hallway. Though, Rose can't tell if they're just friends or if they're just two people who see each other and wave. Either way, she's happy to at least have someone she's familiar with.
Then there was Lucinda Buckley. The two girls shared some classes together, and based on their previous interactions Rose felt at ease with her. Their personalities just matched instantly, like they had known each other in another life, or fate had a way of making people meet each other for some reason for another. And finally, there was Misha Kim. Rose and Misha only shared one class together. They never talked, but if Rose had to described him in a few words, she would say he was loud, eccentric...and kind of rude. Hell, Rose even felt bad just saying that about Misha. How could she call someone rude without having spoke to them first? Her mother had always told her to never judge a book by it's cover. But, here she was, judging.
