The Secrets of Zodiac Academy ✔

14 - The Others

NOTE: If you look back to chapter 7, you'll see that Michael & Kylie are some of the jealous kids who talk to Aquarius & Taurus. They'll be in this chapter, so if you want a revision, you can go back to that chapter. Have fun reading!

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It looked like a cross between a funeral and an army marching.

If one was to look upon the orderly (or as orderly as 13 kids can seem) line crossing the hallway like all-too-perfect robots, they would think one of two things. Either A. the class had gotten in trouble, or B. they were mind controlled. It seemed likely like the kids were in big trouble, except then they saw the teachers. A huddle of teachers, all chattering casually, followed behind the kids. Four teachers rushed to the front, two taking each side of the line, almost like bodyguards protecting important people from screaming fans. The most odd sight was the principal, Mr. Stern, trailing behind the teachers, his already thin eyes squeezed to the extent where they should be closed, but they weren't. He seemed pissed, seriously mad about something that nobody knew.

Nobody except the GT kids.

Michael frowned. There was something wrong with this scene. All the teachers had mysteriously rushed out of all their classes earlier, and now, here they all were, walking like they had not a care in the world. Now, everyone flooded in the halls, not sure what to do without any teachers. All the teachers and even the principal simply walked past the mobs of kids obliviously.

Michael couldn't digest this. He turned away from the line, jostling his way through the crowds. He finally reached an empty hallway and walked mindlessly, trying to think. He heard footsteps behind him and turned around sharply. He saw Kylie, running to him. "Mike, wait!" she called. Michael simply turned and continued to walk.

Kylie caught up to Michael, heaving as she tried to catch her breath as quickly as she could. Suddenly, Michael felt strangely aware of his posture. He stood up a bit straighter and dug his hands in his pockets, trying to seem nonchalant. Kylie rushed to her friend and said, "Okay, spill. What's wrong?"

Michael shrugged. "Nothing's wrong. Why would you think something is?"

Kylie glanced at Michael suspiciously. "Your eyebrows are furrowed, your eyes are kinda glazed over, and you're walking. You hate walking." Michael spun to face Kylie, a shocked expression on his face. Kylie sighed, a chuckle escaping from her mouth. "I know you, Mike. We've kinda been friends since we were babies."

Michael sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I don't know, Ky." He dug a hand through his hair. "It doesn't make any sense. Why should these teachers act so oddly? They devote all their attention to the GT kids, never caring about us. Last week, I purposely got a 45 on my math test." Kylie spun around, alarm on her face. "Collins simply said, 'You did great Michael!' "

Kylie's dark eyes widened. "Dang. Compared to how they treat the GT kids, that's different."

Michael nodded. "I know right?!"

The two walked together in silence, heading for the gym without meaning to. Michael chuckled suddenly. "You know, this kinda reminds me of a book I read once. I don't really remember the name, but I know it was about these kids whose teachers go against them because they're aliens. The alien teachers try to end the world, but the kids end up stopping them by the end."

Kylie looked at Michael skeptically, her eyebrows raised, mouth twisted up into a smirk. "Sure sounds like your kind of book!" Michael rolled his eyes. Suddenly, the two stopped. They looked at each other. "What if...." Kylie trailed off.

Michael and Kylie simply looked at each other. "Nah," they hummed in unison. They laughed together for a second.

"Hey, look - we walked so far without even realizing it!" The pair looked around to see that they were in the middle of the Gym. Basketball hoops surrounded them, bleachers on either side of them, doors to the locker rooms on the right, the double doors to the gym behind them, and one door, shut tightly on the left wall. Wait - what?!

Michael frowned. "Hey, Ky," he called, not taking his eyes of the door.

"Yeah?" Kylie called back.

"What's that door?" He pointed to the lone door. He had never seen it or payed enough attention to notice a door on the left-hand side wall. By the looks of it, neither had Kylie.

Kylie shook her head. "What is that?!" The two looked at each other. "We have to go see." Kylie said, lunging toward the door.

Michael stood there, in a daze, but then he snapped up. "Wait, what?" He looked to see his friend, running toward the door. "Kylie! We can't go in there! We are gonna get in trouble - and really big trouble, at that!" He rushed to his friend.

Kylie scoffed. "Relax, M! You're the one who said none of the teachers are paying any attention to us, right?"

"Yeah, but-"

"Then what's the problem?" Kylie asked. Michael said nothing. "Exactly. Now let's see what this room is." She squeezed the doorknob and twisted. She frowned. She twisted again, shaking the knob as hard as she could. She abruptly let go off the doorknob, sighing. "Locked."

Michael let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Well, that's too bad. Oh well. Now let's go!" He pulled Kylie's hand and tugged, heading for the exit.

His friend shook her head. "No...." Suddenly, her face lit up. "Wait, that's it!" She reached into her dark hair and pulled out a Bobby pin. She slid it into a hole in the knob, twisting and turned like the pin was a key. The latch gave and the door swung open. "Yes!" Kylie exclaimed, pumping her fist. She slid the pin back into her hair and faced her friend. "Come on! Let's go, you scaredy-cat!" She pulled Michael's hand and ran into the doorway.

The two ran into the door, but stopped suddenly. "Whoa." Kylie gasped. "What is this place?"

A long hallway lit by a dim light lay in front of them. There were no doors, no windows, just squeaky clean floor and popcorn wall. Michael frowned. "Okay, now you've got me interested." He walked into the hall, sneakers squeaking as he walked through. He walked through, Kylie right behind him. The hall seemed to never end, going on and on in dirty yellow boredom. They finally saw a light in front of them, a little brighter than the hallway. Kylie ran into the room, Michael behind them. As they reached the room, they skidded to a halt, shoes screeching. Their eyes wide, they gaped at the sight before them. "Whoa."

"We've gotta get out of here."