Phoenix (Disconnected)

Chapter 5

Nicole

I hear voices, it's loud but distant. I slowly open my eyes, seeing an unfamiliar chandelier hanging above me.

I must be really tired to dream such things. I must have slept on the couch again...I didn't recall we have this large chandelier in our living room. Did dad buy this again?

"I didn't say that. Your brother is proud of you when you joined the council. He couldn't even stop talking about it, even when our class starts." I hear a soft laugh. Dad's voice is different.

"It runs in the blood." Another voice spoke. "Ah, that reminds me about the meeting later." That voice is familiar.

I jerked my head to the source of the voice. There stands a tall guy with dark hair. I flinched when it dawned on me. I look around the area. This is not my house's living room!

"It's Carter." I turned my attention back at them. Am I still dreaming? This must be a dream!

"The other council and I talked about what we're going to do with the human." Human? I'm a human. Are they talking about me? Aren't they humans too?

"What?" I adjust myself carefully, whilst resting my body on the couch, I saw a familiar shade of red hair. I look at both of them. There's an uncomfortable feeling in my gut.

"Bring her to the chamber 004 and erase her memories." My memories? Erase? Ohohohononono one will tamper with my brain! Let alone my memories! Even if this is a dream!

I immediately grab the couch pillow at the left side of my head and quietly climb to my feet.

" I feel bad for erasing her memories." Said the redhead. Nope, not on my watch. Swish and whack. I hit the dark-haired guy with all my might. I know it's not going to hurt but at least he'll be baffled to act. After I hit him, I throw the pillow away so I can move faster.

The red head's sight followed where I threw the couch pillow, so I rushed in front of him, and when he looked back, he saw my face to face.

"You're-" His sentence was cut when I kicked him in the shin. I am so so sorry! But you left me no choice!

I rush outside the room. The other one is down, but the other one should be in his right state now.

I don't know the exit! Think Nicole Think! There was bulleting kind of board, but made in glass, it has a paper on it.

I sprint to look at it and it turns out that it is a map of the building, it has labels in it and a moving little red dot. I noticed that there's a blue dot on the map says, 'You're here.'

"This is a cool dream." Well except the cult part. I'll just wake up and be done with it anyway.

I followed the way, of course, while running, and finally, I'm out.

I heard a door open, somewhere inside the house enough for me to hear it close. I'm not safe yet!

I ran in random directions. Right the map! I look at the map, to my surprise, it changes itself to another kind of map, I think it's the whole map of this place. Wow. Now now I should be focusing on my survival, even it's a dre-oof.

"Watch it." I bumped someone while I was reading, oogling, the map. More and more people appeared but didn't mind me. They have books, so I assumed they're students... Wait did that student earlier I just bumped with. My shoulder stings under my touch.

This is a dream, right? Then why can I feel pain?! I pinch myself again and felt a sting lingering on my cheeks. This is bad, this is bad.

I scan the crowd again to compose myself. In a distance, I saw familiar figures. When I noticed who they were I started to move forward again. Come on!

I followed where these students come from. This place never failed to surprise me. There was a huge entrance to the castle-like building. I looked at the map and it turns out that this building is in the very middle of the map and it looks like it is also the biggest structure in this place.

Without a doubt, I scurried inside and saw another field, kind of field inside a field thing, this time it is filled with busy students. I'm guessing this is where the students learn. I walk around to see the parts of the school. Turns out it's too big for me to explore thi-they even have a lake inside?!

I walk towards the man-made lake. Wow, they even have ducks on it! Moreover, beyond the lake is full of trees, it's like a forest from here!

People who past by gave me a weird glance but didn't say a word. I should move on. I move inside the school. I noticed how wide and long the hallways and a lot of stairs. Because I'm giddy and hiding, I climbed up to the fourth floor.

"Phew...good thing my school has tons of stairs." I catch my breath and walk towards one of the massive windows in the corridor.

"Whoa...this is the fourth floor right?" I mumbled to myself. Why is it so high?

"It's actually the seventh floor." A voice behind me spoke.

I froze on my spot. The voice is not familiar, should I be happy? It took me a lot of courage not to jump and scream.

A guy with short black hair looks like he'd been combing it with his hands, but it suits him though, walked up to me. There's a noticeable white streak on his hair. He has these calm eyes yet there's a cold air around him. Like literally cold.

He's like them, isn't he? He isn't human, is he? I unconsciously step back. "I didn't mean to scare you." He then takes another step towards me.

"I-I need to go...somewhere." I reasoned out and start to brisk moonwalking. I looked over to the other side of the corridor, there are doors, classroom perhaps.

" You sure? You look lost." He asked, it wasn't creepy but in a friendly. No, do not fall for this beautiful boy here!

"A-ah...I'm fine...got to go!" I ran away, again, the second time this day. "Miss! Wait! don't go there!" I hear him call, but I'm too focused on how to getaway. I opened a random door. Why did I go here?! They could trap me! I put both of my hands on my knees to catch my breath.

I lift my head to see a familiar person. How? Shock filled me once again, I muttered one word before it was all black again, like square one.

"Noire?"