Seize A Lost Identity

Chapter 5: Shadows in the Classroom

Xio strolled through the long hallways, whitewashed and built on the lines of a very large studio, each step made against the clean, smooth floors by Xio's leather shoes so lightly. His dark black curtain hair framed his pale, androgynous face, drawing the attention of everyone he passed. The murmurs started almost immediately.

"Who's the new guy?"

"Look at his face. Is he a model?"

"He's gorgeous. I've never seen anyone like him."

Xio paid no attention to the whispers. His face was impassive, his baleful stare was directed at the figure inscribed on the classroom's painted door. As soon as he got to his assigned room, he tiptoed in, his large body paralyzing the room with attention without making a peep.

Inside the Classroom

Noise ceased when Xio appeared, his body calm and solid, but always present. Tight focused looks locked on each other as girls blushed, and gossiping filled the air between some in low tones. Even the boys seemed momentarily taken aback.

While looking around the room, a happy girl with a short blonde hairdo and a smiling face waved at him. Nadia, the girl he'd noticed approaching the school gate just the day before.

"Xio! Over here!" she called, patting the seat next to her.

He moved towards her and sat down beside her in the quiet, putting his bag on the ground at her side. Nadia eyed him, and her curious eyes scanned for a means to shatter the ice.

"Don't worry about them," she whispered, nodding toward the gossiping girls. "They're just... curious."

Xio glanced at her briefly, then nodded.

"Do you understand Russian?" she asked in English, her tone light.

He shook his head. "Not much," he said quietly. His was a voice, soft but not yielding which caused Nadia to pull a little closer to hear him.

"Don't worry. You'll pick it up soon. everyone here speaks English," she said assuring him

Xio gave her a faint smile, but his attention was already drifting. The classroom, the chatter, even Nadia—it all felt distant, like he was observing the world through a veil.

The Break

During the break the classroom emptied in part as a number of the students went to get a snack or do iron board or just chat in the corridor and the corridor in itself. Xio sat at his desk with his head supported by folded arms. He stared blankly out the window, the snowy Siberian landscape matching the cold stillness inside him.

The peace was interrupted when a group of older boys, seniors from another grade, barged into the classroom. Their aura was loud and invasive, immediately changing the mood.

"Hey, where's that little brat?!" one of them yelled, scanning the room.

On seeing the attention being focused on him, a shy boy sitting in the back end froze. Before he could react, they surrounded him.

Didn't think you could talk back to me last night, did you? the ringleader growled, grabbing the boy by his collar.

"I-I didn't mean to—"

SMACK! The sound of a slap echoed through the room.

The boy whimpered while the group laughed, and their laughter sounded cruel. A subsequent adult kicked the boy's chair, which caused the boy to fall.

Still, Xio stood frozen, with his head on his desk. His eyes stayed half-closed, his breathing steady.

"Hey, what's your problem, new kid?" one of the bullies said, noticing Xio's indifference. "You think you're too good to look at us?"