The Perilous Haven

Chapter 2

Welcome to Avercrombe High or Welcome to Hellhole? 

I didn't know what to say because I was still too stunned.

I passed the exam and interview last week via online. I didn't know why Avercrombe High didn't want to perform the assessment inside the school itself. I found it odd. On the other hand, it was favorable to me since I was not prepared to visit this place at that time. I'd rather take the exam inside the comforts of our mansion than be agitated all throughout the assessment period.

The woman ushered us to her office. Her hair was tied in a neat bun. She was wearing a floral jacquard sheath dress for a modern classic look. Madame Veronique Allard happens to be the School Directress. She is absolutely fine-looking, about 5'5" in height and has a fair complexion. She seems to be the epitome of elegance.

Everything happened fast. I took my schedule from her as she gave me a short orientation about the rules inside the school. I controlled myself from giving her an incredulous look. Rules? Is she kidding me?

Gusto kong matawa sa sinabi niya. Sa mga nababalitaan ko sa telebisyon at mga pahayagan, ang mga estudyante rito ay walang sinusunod na batas. Kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung para saan ang mga alituntunin na sinasabi niya. Baka naman nakaligtaan ni Madame na numero uno ang siyudad ng Avercrombe sa listahan ng pinakadelikadong lugar sa bansa at ang eskwelahan na ito ang pinakadelikadong eskwelahan sa bansa. They have guards inside and outside the school, but I doubt if those guys could do anything about the students. From what I heard and read, there were about a hundred unresolved death cases that happened inside this hellhole.

"I will go ahead, Sis." Amaury hugged me. "Behave," he whispered.

I patted his shoulder, hard. I laughed when I heard him cough.

"You vicious little sister," Amaury blurted.

I pushed him. "Go, Amaury. Late na ako sa History class ko." I grinned and kissed him on the cheek. Naglakad na ako palayo sa kanya.

"Try not to bitch anyone, all right?" I heard him say.

I sneered. Try not to bitch anyone?  That was amusing.

I am not socially inept. In fact, I have several friends. Some are my neighbors. Some are daughters and sons of my father's business partners. I am used to attending parties and talking to people. Social skills are necessary for our family business. Even though I was homeschooled for years, I have my ways with people. Kay Amaury lang talaga ako madalas magsungit dahil una, kapatid ko siya at pangalawa, kapatid ko pa rin siya, simple as that.

But right now, I wanted to kill Amaury. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ngayon niya lang naisipan akong ipasok sa eskwelahan kung ito rin naman ang una at huling taon ko sa sekundarya. I am a Senior student here. 

That Amaury, despite having an outstanding IQ, is dim-witted sometimes.

Napailing na lang ako habang naglalakad. Hindi ko alam kung saan patungo ang silid-aralan ko. Sinulyapan ko ang papel na hawak ko. Room 3-12.

"Great, just great. Where the heck is that?" I whispered. Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at tiningnan ang paligid. Nasa unang palapag ako ng gusali. Kung tama ang pagkakatanda ko, Room 1-1 ang nakalagay sa labas ng pinto ni Madame Veronique. If that's the case, the first number might refer to the building's floor, and the second might refer to the room number on that floor.

I shrugged. It's already 9 in the morning, and I was an hour late in my first class. Kahit labag sa loob ko ay lakad-takbo ang ginawa ko para hindi mahuli.