Veridis Quo

Chapter 22 - What a Zebra

As the tall zebra started walking away, I counted her steps till she was a few human leaps away before sneaking off-

"Where do you think you are going?" She suddenly stopped, barely flicking her head to the side, the oily mane waving. How the...

"Uh, uh- piss?" I cleared my throat, "I need to use the restroom."

"...Okay," she caught the bait, nice, "there is one behind you... what were you doing there, then?"

"Oh, you know..." I rolled my hand, a foot rapidly tapping the floor. I felt like a moron. I should've thought of a better excuse!

"Frankly, I do not know. Please, enlighten me," she presented an open hand to the side, her back to me all the while. A bit insulting, but that was shadowed by the fact she uncovered my schemes without looking! I swear, if animals had developed a pair of eyes in the back of their skulls without me, I'd be pissed, pun unintended.

"...I didn't wash my hands," returning to the restroom, I did clean my hands a second time albeit lazily. I really wanted to know what her trick was but I had a hunch today wasn't the day. Once I dried them off, I reunited with the strange lady.

Although we were off to a bad start, her suit was real sweet. Black was a color that never went wrong, the white undershirt was a given, the dark tie was odd but acceptable. I liked her suit. It had this... powerful vibe.

"Are you ready now?"

"Yes..."

"You won't try to run away?"

"...Nnnnyes? No, I'll follow," I replied, a tad thrown off.

"Good, come," she started, so I matched her rather brisk pace.

"Where are we going?" I asked on impulse, unsure of my opinion on her.

"To a private space."

"...Okay."

Pocketing my hands, I had to exert myself to keep up. We were met with no one on our journey through the halls which reminded me I was about to miss a crucial two hours of study.

„Fuck..." I mouthed without a sound, paranoid she somehow knew English.

I remembered there was a test due next week. Catching up to speed on my own was tough, so I wasn't too hyped for that. At least I had Juno, she'd be more than happy to assist. She had done so many times, a reliable safety net. Plus, it was fun.

„Juno..."

What would she think of me now? She was in the cafeteria, half the academy witnessed that... onslaught. There came the guilt, great. I just hoped...

I was growing antsy. The true weight of my actions was slowly crushing my shoulders. Besides the social troubles, what of Miya? And this damned zebra whose black stripes were glossier than the white ones. Gon, too. Could I try to slip away again? She wasn't looking- yes she was.

Stupid. That was me. Even though I knew she had some sort of hidden ability, I kept glancing at her when I thought she wasn't paying attention. Of course she'd notice right away, there were no other individuals but us out here.

"We have arrived," she blocked my path with an extended arm, the sleeve hiding none of the muscle beneath. Opening the door, she gestured for me to enter.

"Ladies first," I countered, bowing in mock.

She snorted like the equine she was, "Funny. In. Now." Something fierce struck my heart, the tone she used startled me. Thus, I reluctantly entered. Inside was...