Instincts ✔️ [COMPLETED]

Chapter 4

I yawn and follow Chelsie, who in my opinion walks a little too slow and flips her blond ponytail too much. We walks past Alkrok's regal halls and Chelsie rounds a corner and goes up a flight of stairs.

"Wait, how do you know where the cafeteria is? Most freshman don't even know where their classrooms are," I ask, focusing on her moving ponytail.

"My brother attended here, but apparently he learned something here that really freaked him out. Something about Jalstie's curse, so he refused to be the heir, but it's all a bunch of nonsense. While he was here, I learned where every single room was," she says, a few steps behind me.

"Hmm... Jalstie's curse, it sounds cool. I might check it out later," I decide.

"Let's go in and eat. It's going to be a loooong day."

We walk in, and I see that the cafeteria has yellow wallpaper and baby blue tiles. The tables and seats are a light red, and arranged like a cafe's would. To the left is the salad bar, in the center a hot lunch line, and to the right is refreshments and drinks. I decide to go to the salad bar and make myself a simple salad, and get hot cocoa from the table full of refreshments and drinks.

Chelsie comes out of the hot lunch line with some mac and cheese, along with some apple juice.

"Look who's the health freak!" she laughs.

"I don't eat much and prefer vegetables," I say.

"You're very skinny, don't tell me you're dieting!"

"No, I'm not. I'll explain later, let's just snag a table before we have to eat outside."

"Good thinking," she says and spots a table ahead.

We sit down and I take a sip of my hot cocoa. Chelsie hungrily devours her mac and cheese, all the while two shapes walk towards us. I recognize them: Vera Nightingale and Jasper Woods.

"Sup' Kate?" Jasper asks, and Vera just quietly nods. They both sit down, on the opposite side of the table from where me and Chelsie sit.

"Chelsie, this is Vera Nightingale and this is Jasper Woods. Vera and Jasper, this is Chelsie Swift," I introduce each of them, and Chelsie politely says "hi."

"So, how'd ya meet them?" Chelsie asks.

"Umm... they were in front of me in the line to check you into Alkrok, and Vera sorta said 'hi' and the conversation continued."

"Cool, so which dorms are you guys in?" Chelsie asks.

"I'm in the bird dorm, in the night section," Vera says.

"I'm in the canine dorm, also in the night section," Jasper says.

"Wait, the dorms have night and day sections?" I ask.

"Yeah, but I don't get why," Chelsie answers.

"Hurry up and eat your food," Jasper mumbles between mouth fulls of mac and cheese.

I nod, and finish the rest of my salad. Part of the reason I enjoy salad is because of the plentiful water lettuce holds in it. Vera eats chicken salad, and she seems to be enjoying it as well.

I sigh, feeling selfish for being here. My mom and dad are back home, working as slaves for the high-classes, earning barely a copper penny a day, worth no more than a loaf of bread. While I enjoy fresh salads and hot cocoa in a nice, sheltered place, they are doing that. Tiffy too, scrawny as ever, always trying to find herself food, or getting just enough leftovers to ebb a little of her hunger away, although not all of it.

"Something wrong, Kate?" Chelsie asks, a look of concern in her blue eyes.

"No, not at all, just thinking about my family," at the word 'family' she immediately pulls back, her own eyes filling with distant pain.

"My brother was called crazy, and sent to an asylum," she chokes out, tears forming at the edge of her perfect eyes.

"H-he, was locked in a r-room, completely isolated from everyone. Even mother and father w-won't look at him, they say he b-b-brings shame to the... to the..." Chelsie couldn't finish her sentence, because the word family now reminds her of things she does not want to remember.

"Let's change the subject, um... so, what was it like before you came to Alkrok?" Vera asks, clearly seeing that Chelsie needed a change of conversation.

"I lived in the forest, chopping wood with my family and selling it to places that needed it. It's how we made a living," Jasper answers, looking at nothing, remembering his past family life.

"My dad works for pest control, and my mom is a teacher, but she also liked to go hunting at night with my dad. I usually helped my dad spot pests, and went out hunting along with my family at night. It's weird, I feel much more active and comfortable at night than in the day. That sun just doesn't agree with me," Vera sighs, playing with her fork.

"I'm from a middle-class family who work as engineers that build small village houses," Chelsie lies, clearly having practiced that exact same line in case someone happened to ask about her background. She clearly had thought-out her disguise identity.

Vera and Jasper nod, obviously buying it. Then... it's my turn. All eyes on me, especially Chelsie's.

"Umm... okay. I'm from a low-class family. I live in Golden Mountains on Shadow Street, in a small village house. Besides my parents, I also have a cat named Tiffy. My mom and dad work as farmers, usually, but sometimes they do dirty work for the high-class families. To answer your question, Chelsie, I don't eat much because my family doesn't get enough money for meals," I finish, and Vera, Jasper, and Chelsie nod.

"I understand," Jasper says, quickly relating to my situation.

"Oh, I had no idea. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings," Chelsie apologizes.

Suddenly, the room goes dark and a bunch of students gasp. Melody walks in and stands in front of everyone.

"Attention! After you finish your meal, please report to the auditorium. We will have a special welcoming ceremony, and afterwards you may go to your homerooms. Continue eating," she addresses, and leaves.

Vera touches my shoulder lighty and looks at Jasper and Chelsie.

"We're done eating. Let's go,"

We all agree and follow her out of the cafeteria. I was excited and nervous at the same time, all the while Chelsie's annoying ponytail kept flipping side to side in an incessant rhythm.

I just hoped to get this ceremony over with so I could focus on my grades, just as my mother and father wanted for me. My thoughts were interrupted when I saw a boy with light brown hair, narrow cat eyes, and green eyes surrounded with a hint of yellow.

My brain hurt, and I felt as if I've seen him before. Rain...thunder...black. I hit my head with my hand, trying to clear my head.

"Hello there, I'm Jax. You should stop hitting your head, it's kinda weird," is what he said.