Fearless

- Chapter One -

I sat in the music room, my fingers lying listlessly over the black and white keys. Even though I could play the instrument by mere thought, there was something about playing it the normal way. Feeling the contact of the keys against my skin. But on that day, the instrument remained silent. I wanted to play---there was scarcely a moment when I didn't---but on that particular day I felt especially preoccupied, my mind filled with all manner of thoughts. It could have been the extra assignments Miss Gooding had given us, or maybe it was the strange way Jenny had been acting. Or it could have simply been a lack of caffeine. Whatever it was, I didn't like it. When the music didn't flow, something was definitely off.
Sighing, I slid my fingers from the keys and crossed to the other end of the room, where a huge floor-to-ceiling window looked out into the forest. Forest. It was all I saw, all day every day. The Academy was nestled in some remote area of the world where trees were abundant and humans nonexistent. Honestly, I wasn't even sure where exactly we were. No one knew aside from Miss Gooding.

A creaking sound met my ears, the sound of rusty hinges in dire need of oiling, and I pulled my gaze from the window to find Avery slipping into the room. She closed the door behind her, then tiptoed toward the window, stopping beside me. She stared outside for a few moments before resting green eyes on me. "What are you looking at?"
I laughed. "Something that isn't there."
She glanced out again, biting her lower lip, her brow puckered in thought. Avery wasn't much for humour. "Lunch is ready. Miss Gooding sent me to get you."
I nodded, chewing my thumb nail. "Thanks. I'll be there soon." My gaze drifted back toward the window, to that blasted green forest. Why couldn't a skyscraper sprout from the ground? At least it would be something different.
Avery turned to leave, then paused, looking back at me. "Is everything okay, Malorie? I didn't hear any music today."
She'd noticed. I suppose everyone probably had. They had all grown accustomed to my music. To my playing in the afternoons.
I sighed again, dropping my hand to my side. "I'm fine. I'm just... there seems to be a lot on my mind today."
She studied me for a few silent moments, then turned and exited the room with another round of hinge creaking.

Leaving behind the creaky hinges and noiseless instruments, I slipped from the room and started down the long, polished hall toward the dining room. The academy was large but not overabundant. There were currently thirteen students under its roof and a dozen bedrooms, half of which sat unused. Miss Gooding believed companionship was the key to understanding oneself and so insisted on two students per room. Aside from the bedrooms, the academy boasted one huge library, a music room, a dining room and breakfast nook, a kitchen, one classroom and a large living area. It was all very 1800's, right down to the hand carved banisters on the stairs. And everything, all of the wood in the place, was kept polished to perfection. I wasn't even sure who kept it up. We didn't have a maid, and I never saw miss Gooding lift a finger.
The double doors leading to the dining room stood open, as they always did during the day, and I hurried into the room, taking my seat at the table.
I gave a quick glance around those already seated. "Where's Jenny?" Jenny was my best friend and roommate, and lately she'd been more absent during meals than not. I was really starting to worry about her.
Miss Gooding, who sat in her place at the head of the table, gave me a cursory glance. "She's your roommate, Malorie. I was hoping you could tell us that."
I shrugged, dropping my gaze to the empty plate in front of me.
Miss Gooding cleared her throat. "Let us say grace."
Hands were held, heads were bowed, and grace was said.
During the meal I ate in silence, listening to the fragmented bits of conversation that met my ears and throwing the occasional glance toward the gaping doorway.
About halfway through the meal, Jenny decided to make an appearance, dressed in her usual baggy black sweater and converse.
Miss Gooding gave her a disapproving look. "Jenny, you know the rules about dressing out of uniform during the day."
Jenny lowered into her seat. "I don't see why we even need uniforms. It's not like we ever see anyone."
Miss Gooding only glared at the remark. She and Jenny went over this same thing about once every other day.
I cleared my throat---loudly---exchanged a look with Jen, then glanced around the rest of the table. Cole winked at me, and I quickly dropped my gaze to my plate, a blush warming my cheeks. Cole was a year older than me and the oldest student at the academy. He was also extremely good looking. Not that that mattered.
"After lunch I'd like you all to spend some time outside." That was Miss Gooding's way of telling us she wanted peace and quiet the rest of the afternoon.