Bleed Black: An Academy Novel

Chapter nine

"Okay everyone out. We gotta sleep of Athena will kick are arsis." Sam said opening her bedroom door, allowing the cold of night to blast into the room. Sams friends filed out of her room, as Katie started out the door Sam grabbed her shoulder. Her hand holding her in a stop but not in a painful or forceful way.

     "Katie, we need to talk." Sam said leading her back into her room. Katie walked with Sam to her bed and sat down on it while Sam stood. She towered over Katie looking down upon her.

      "About what?" Katie asked twirling her thumbs. It had been a habit she had done since she was a child. Though this time, out of wanting to be seen as brave, she stopped.

      "You don't want to be here." Sam said in a blunt voice. Not a question, a statement full of force and understanding but at the same time anger.

      "Who does?" Katie asked looking at her feet. She knew it would be bad to pick a fight with Sam, she was someone she had to talk to. Go to for help when needed.

      "Me, all of the people you've met here. Katie, I know it's hard, but it will get better." Sam said in an understanding voice. She had a smile on her face but it was obvious it was plastered on there as an act; an act that did not reach her eyes.

     "Better? It will get better knowing that my parents let me go to some strange so-called academy with some freak that cut my hand!" Katie yelled softly, letting her anger out. Katie stood up quickly trying to size Sam up, find any ground she had over the well trained girl who stood before her. Sams hand quickly came down onto Katies cheek.

       "Get out." Sam growled. Katie grabbed her burning cheek and rushed out of the room into the cold night. Katie heard the door slam behind her and she ran to her room, holding tears back. Running through the darkness Katie stumbled around until she was safe inside of her room. Neglecting to turn her light on Katie shut the door leaving herself in pitch black. Katie ran her hand over the wall until she flicked the light switch up turning her light on. Katie tried to slow her breathing down, as she dried her wet cheeks. Pacing around her room Katie glanced at her reflection in the mirror on her vanity. Her makeup had smeared down her cheeks causing her to look dead, her hair had frizzed from the helmet and running, and her eyes hallow. Katie took her dress and shoes off an put on a pair of yellow fuzzy shorts, and a white tank top. Sitting at her vanity Katie whipped her face clean of all makeup. Her cheek still red, she could almost make out the hand shape. Tears stung her eyes, threatening to fall again, but Katie blinked them back. Getting up Katie slipped into her bed and tried to sleep. Thoughts whipped through her head making sleep seem like a mer fantasy. Squeezing her eyes hard and trying to clear her mind, darkness took over and Katie fell into a restless sleep.

A hard knock at the door woke Katie up. Getting up she walked to the door. She almost instantly opened the door, but her hand froze upon the doorknob. She could see her hands shaking slightly out of memory from last night.

     "Who is it?" Katie asked scared to open it. Her voice cracked slightly and Katie swore as softly as she could at her weakness.

      "It's Hero, breakfast time, and then class." Said the sweet voice from the other side of the door. Katie let out of a sigh of relief and said okay. Walking over to her closet she looked for a shirt to wear. Grabbing a teal short sleeve shirt and a pair of light blue jeans Katie quickly got dressed. Memories of the night before flooded in as Katie did her hair and makeup. Putting on her vans Katie walked out of her room and down to the dinning hall. Watching her feet as she walked down the the cracked sidewalk Katie saw leaves roll down past her. Taking a deep breath Katie walked into the building and down the hall until she hit the dinning hall. Walking into the line Katie got scrambled eggs and toast with orange juice. Slowly walking over to the table, Katie readied herself for the awkwardness she would receive. To her surprise when she reached the table, Sam was no where to be found.