The Gray Women Trilogy: The Great Escape

—Laura—

Nocturn Academy. The name itself sounded scary. What more to the actual school?

I stared at the large building before me. It was old looking with moss against the bricks and stood out like a sore thumb among most modern designs of the century. I searched for any automatic doors or even a sign of an elevator.

There was none.

I closed my eyes, knowing that this was where I would live and study for three whole years. My heart started thumping and my breathing tightened, something that always happens when I get nervous.

"Stop being so flaky," my mother, who was parking the vehicle, chided.

I swallowed. "But I can't, mom! I'm nervous as hell!" She did not say anything and continued to drive. One of the most things I hated was being ignored. What did I do? I frowned as I rested my head against the car's cold window. "Fine, then."

She sighed."Just go get your things from the trunk," she said, not bothering to look at me. I groaned, opened the door, then went outside. The gravel crunched underneathe my boot-clad feet.

I lifted my large heavy suitcase from the trunk. After this, I was panting hard as I bid my mother goodbye.

"So, I guess I'll just message you every weekend?" I asked, even though I wasn't sure if the school allowed it.

Mom chuckled then kissed my forehead. "Not that much. Maybe at least once every two weeks," she said. I felt tears stung behind my eyes. Would the school let me home for the Holidays? or maybe Summer?

"Bye, mom. I love you." I hugged her tightly.

She lovingly stroked my cheek then tucked a stray lock of red hair behind my ear. "I love you too darling," she whispered, "Sshh. Don't cry."

I released mom from our tight embrace then wiped my face. My cheeks were undoubtedly flushing, making my freckles look more visible. I hugged her one last time then entered Nocturn Academy with my suitcase in tow.

This was it. I was imprisoned.

*~*~*

I continued to walk the empty hallway with nothing but the sound of my hollow footsteps.

I thought I was lost along the long maze of corridors when I saw the sign I had long awaited: Principal's Office.

I knocked on the wooden door. Instead of opening automatically like any other door nowadays, its knob turned and it swung open, revealing a woman in her early forties inside. "Greetings, Ms. Milson. Welcome to Nocturn Academy," she said, her legs crossed and her hands rested on a table. "Please take a seat." She gestured to a chair.

I took a seat, carefully smoothing any creases on my blouse. I wanted to look neat and presentable just like the woman before me. "Are you the principal?" I asked, a bit hesitant.

She looked at me with disinterest, her face reflecting boredom. Well, that was rude!

"Yes. Yes, I am," she drawled. She opened a drawer at the corner of the room, then pulled out different pieces of paper. "These is a map to guide you in the chance that you might get lost. These will be your class schedule, and the school handbook," she explained. "I also hope you wouldn't be trouble." At that, she stared at me.

I suppressed a gasp. Her left eye was a normal icy blue; her right eye however, was a deep shade of red. 

Great. Our principal was part Cyborg.