Out of Time

Their Initiation

I woke up, cold and tired. I hadn't slept very well. Everyone was still asleep. I decided to leave the room and go to the bathroom. I needed to go to the toilet anyway. I walked silently and got into the toilets. I did my business and washed my hands. The instant I opened the door to leave, I was punched in the gut. It was Cardin and his team. I looked up at them and lay down on my back on the floor.

'G-get it over with...' I sighed. They stared at me. They didn't expect this... obviously. 'I-If y-you-your pl-plan was t-to pummel me un-until b-both my eyes w-wen-went b-black and blue, th-then get it over w-wi-with I-it. Mu-much easier
f-for all of u-us that way, no?'

'I... guess...?' Said the redhead. He was the brutish one at the front, and was likely the head of this team. 'But... never mind...' they then walked out. I'd most likely ruined their mood. Good... at least they won't bother me again...

I left the toilet and made my way back to my corner, but it had been occupied by somebody's bag. Wonderful... I contented myself by leaning against one of the big windows of the room and look out at the view. Bland. So bland. And empty. The view was rubbish to say the least. Before I knew it, the sun had risen and I was hit around the head with a shoe. It was Yang.

'Come on, you lazy little sh*t. It's initiation time.' She whisper-yelled.

'Y-y-Yes m-mi-miss.' I answered obediently. I didn't have to get dressed since I didn't have any pyjamas. All I did was follow them quietly. That was my 'getting up'. It didn't involve anything except the literal action of getting up. We walked to a cliff. I stared over the forest. There was a multitude of Grim. They came in various shapes and sizes. Some giant snakes, others big wolves. Quite intriguing really. Not enough to actually study about them though.

Ozpin gave a speech about how this initiation would be working, but here was no point in listening to it. I was not participating. I watched as people were launched into the air in the direction of the forest. Then, before I knew what happened, I was launched into the air along with everyone else. Great... I was standing on one of the launch pads. Meh. This was just a whole load of humbugery... I then hit a tree. I fell to the floor, coughing my lungs out. I won't lie. It was painful. It became worse when a beowolf stood over me, growling.

The beowolf bit down, and my vision went black. I screamed and flailed my arms at it. I dug my nails behind its skull and ripped away. The beowolf died. There was no 'deus ex machina', no last minute rescue. Simple as that. I scrambled away from the scene and went in the direction that felt uphill, due to the fact it was supposed to be a cliff. I then remembered it was a cliff and realised I wouldn't be able to climb it. I sighed and walked in the opposite direction.

I had lost my eyesight. Quite unfortunate, but no one cares. Not even me at this point. I walked with a straight back away from sounds of people or creatures. I didn't feel like interacting with anyone. I climbed a tree and sat there, resting my hands on my abdomen and laying down my head. I almost fell asleep when I heard a shout from underneath.

'Excuse me. Mr. Rose?' Said the familiar voice of Glenda Goodwitch. I waved a hand over the side to show I was listening. 'It seems you were accidentally launched into the forest. However, due to your quick reactions, the headmaster would like a word.' I made a thumbs up motion with my dangling hand. 'Alright. Meet him in his office after the initiation please.' I made another thumbs up before I heard her walk away.

This time I did go sleep. When I woke up, I still didn't know what time it was. It was colder, thus I assumed it was nighttime. I had the idea in my head that it would be more dangerous at night, but I then noticed that, since my sudden blindness, it was now equally dangerous night or day. I got out of the tree and walked uphill.

When I reached a particularly steep, cliff-like bit of ground, I clung on to indentations and protrusions on the landscape. After about half an hour of exhausting ascension, I moved towards te direction of the academy from memory. I walked, making sure to keep a nice, straight-backed posture. I relaxed my face, and walked with a certain stride. One might think I was not blind, if there were anyone to see me. I reached the academy.

I held my hand on the wall to walk. I may have been pretending to be at ease, but in all honesty, I was exhausted, disoriented, and worst of all, blind. I didn't even know if I was going in the correct direction. One could say I was 'wingin' it'. Then my hand fell upon a button. The button was round with an arrow pointing upwards. So I pressed it. The door opened and I got in. I felt for the top button aimlessly, seeing as Ozpin's office was the top floor, and when I found it, I pressed it. The lift whooshed upwards at extremely ordinary speeds.

Then the doors of the lift opened and I got out.

'Ah, Mr. Rose. You're finally here.' Said Ozpin's voice.

'And you're late. You're several hours late in fact.' Scolded Glynda's voice.

'S-sorry...' I said, feigning an expression of sadness.

"Oh... oh dear...' Said Ozpin. I then heard him whispering to Goodwitch, who gasped and went quiet. 'My condolences on your eyesight. However, I would like to ask you if you wanted to be a teacher.'

'Wh-wh-why? A-and of wh-wh-what?' I enquired.

'We've done our research on you, and it's come to our understanding that you are quite familiar in virology, medicine, and psychology. We would like you to be our new, and only, science teacher. As for why, we don't have a science teacher and you seem just as good as the next person.'

'Th-thank you. I-i ac-accept.' I nodded promptly. 'Umm... M-m-ms. G-g-good-w-witch?'

'Yes (Y/N)?' She acknowledged.

'Wh-where d-do I-I-I g-go now?'

'Well, since you came here with Ruby and Yang, it makes sense for you to stay with them.' I could even hear his smirking. He knew my relationship with Ruby and Yang, and yet he forced me in with them. He's a sadist!

'C-can y-yo-you h-help m-m-m-me g-get there, pl-please?' I asked Goodwitch.

'Oh, yes! Of course!' She then took me by the arm and walked me carefully with her.

I was on my way back to them... bugger...