The Dragoso Series 1: Discovery in Hardship

Chapter 4

Beyond the gates, Trevor gaped at what he could see. What served as the Academy itself was a mansion compared to what he and his siblings knew. It certainly seemed like a safe place. The building was made of a darker more natural color. Neutral. It looked more like a home than a school.

"Come on you four, let us get you set up in your rooms. Your lessons begin in the morning," Sylark stated. They headed inside and up a few flights of stairs. Sereph went off on her own and Sylark pointed out two rooms across from each other. "Trevor and David take one, Aya and Brenda in the other. Students cannot bunk with the opposite gender."

"What about students that don't exactly identify as a single gender?" Brenda questioned, crossing her arms.

"Then students of the same gender identity are placed together." Sylark snorted and left the kids to themselves.

"Did I say something wrong?" Brenda asked. Trevor shook his head. Brenda had always been a supporter of the LGBT community since she learned about it her Freshman year of high school. Hopefully Sylark wasn't against her support.

"He's not exactly the nicest person we've met. Don't think about it too much. Let's just get some sleep, we've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow," Trevor stated. David tapped on his shoulder and held up a booklet.

"I found these by the entrance of the building. School booklets," David stated. He handed one to each of them.

"Schedule, map, activities. It's a small place but they're already got a lot of opportunities for students, it's almost like high school," Trevor mused. After looking through quickly, the four kids retired to their rooms.

Trevor looked around the room. It was complete with a bathroom, dressers, beds, and nightstands. A standard living arrangement for two students. Trevor dropped his duffel bag on the bed and started unpacking his things. David followed Trevor's lead and they were sitting on Trevor's bed in their pjs after clothes were unpacked. David held his dolphin toy while Trevor looked at the picture of their father.

"Do you remember much about Dad?" David asked. Trevor hung his head slightly and exhaled.

"Well, he was a free spirit. Likes to be free and do things that really give you a rush," Trevor stated. "I don't understand why he would leave though. He could've stayed, you know."

"Think we're ever see him again?"

"There's no telling, buddy." Trevor ran his fingers through David's hair before smiling. "Get some sleep, we have to be up early." David nodded and dropped from Trevor's bed, climbing into his own. Trevor flipped the light off and laid in his bed. He coughed lightly before looking at his brother curled up.

Don't worry, David. I'll keep you and the girls safe from anything that threatens our lives, even if it kills me.

~oOo~

Trevor woke to the pounding of a fist on the door to their room. He cracked his eyes open and had to take a moment to realize he wasn't at home. Trevor check his watch that sat on his night stand. It wasn't even time for breakfast yet.

"You boys awake?" A gruff voice called from the other side of the door. Trevor yawned before answering.

"One sec," he called. He threw the blanket off and stood. He wobbled to the door and opened it to find a man with darker skin, black hair, and sharp green eyes, but cloudy pupils.

"Where's your brother?" the man asked.

"Heavy sleeper. What's this about, it's not even breakfast time according to the schedule in the booklets," Trevor stated.