Journey to Sanity

Chapter III: The Realization

        So here I am, sitting on the floor in our living room and pretending to be friends with these bimbos. Of all people, why would I program this assessment of mine with having them as friends? Maybe Silver screwed with my device again. He’s going to be dead as soon as I finish this course. I practically loathed these people! Did I forget to mention that they are also known to be the biggest bullies every nerd avoids? I would know, being one myself. I could easily kill them or at least beat them up but that would ruin our family’s cover and would put our family business in jeopardy. I couldn’t risk having to move to another home again, not when Starr and Silver are finally making friends of their own. This is just one of the sacrifices you need to do when you’re an assassin.

        The night passed by miraculously peaceful. I had the urge of stabbing them every few minutes or so but I behaved quite well. I’m currently preparing to go to school; preparing for what other weird changes are waiting for at school. I can’t wait to see Nina again. It feels like ages since we last saw each other. Apparently, this is just the first day of the semester. I’ll be entering the school like I always do and hope what I have always hoped for since this assessment started; that no one suspects anything strange about me. The first bell already rang, warning the students that they only have five minutes left before classes officially start, but I still haven’t seen Nina around. I was about to lose hope and just enter the classroom when I heard nothing. Everyone went silent. When I looked at the hallway, all of the students were like military men waiting for their commander to salute them; there wasn’t a single person that was in the middle of the hall. Maybe “military men” was an exaggeration; let’s just say that no one dared to block the hall.

        Curiosity got me again and it may give me a clue to how to finish this course so stayed outside and waited just like the others. A few moments later, I heard footsteps and heels at that. I took a glance at the direction of the sound and was horrified. The sight of it left me dumbfounded. I suddenly forgot how to speak. All I could utter was a small squeak. They’re walking towards my direction and only a few steps away from me. I just can’t digest what I’m seeing right now. I silently prayed that they wouldn’t notice me and just pass by but luck was not on my side.

        “Oh there you are! Are you trying to hide from us again, sweetie?” Why is she talking like this? What happened to her? It sounds so...so bitchy. “N-nina?” I stammered as if uttering that name was forbidden. She just laughed and her laugh, it was so sinister. “What are you going to cry again, dork? You really are pathetic. Ha ha!” Why? Why is she acting like this? This is not the Nina I know. My Nina is so conservative especially compared to the one in front of me now. She’s wearing something like she’s ready to go and party at a club or something.

        What kind of sick game is Silver playing that he messes up with my programmer and make everything opposite? I know he loves playing tricks but he wouldn’t do something this evil. He knows I cherish Nina too much. She is only friend that has never left me even after discovering our secret. Yes, that’s right. Nina knows that we are assassins but she still stayed by my side and supported my career. Maybe there is some kind of malfunction with my programmer. I’d need to check that after I get back.

        Maybe I was staring at nothing for a long time because when I looked around again, there was no one left in the hallway; they were all in their respective classrooms. After what just happened, I didn’t feel like attending class anymore so I just headed home, if that is what I can call home. I’m not in the mood to finish this course so I’ll just activate my emergency exit. I never really liked using it ‘cause it would look like I admitted defeat.

           As I walk my way home, I noticed that it’s a bit weird that this assessment is so detailed compared to the previous tests. “Looks like Silver is improving well even without dad’s guidance,” I smiled at the thought. He was the most affected with our parents’ sudden disappearance. Dad bonded with him most, not that I’m envious though. Mom always said that Dad always wanted a son, what kind of guy wouldn’t want anyways? I never saw Silver cry before well not after that incident, that is. I couldn’t blame him, I was devastated as well but I kept it to myself and stayed strong for my siblings.

       I assured myself that I have closed the door behind me before proceeding to activate my emergency exit device. I made it look like a watch and it can also function as if it is really a watch so it would be convenient to wear. I looked at the status of how long I’ve been in this assessment but I was surprised. The status said that I have no current activity. Nonetheless, I recalculated and programmed my device so I could exit this test but it kept saying no current activity. I checked for any malfunction but I found none. Damn! I really need to fix my stuff when I get back. But how do I even get back now that my device is broken?

        I sat down for a moment and let my mind think of a solution on how I can get out when suddenly, a thought came into the surface. I rushed to the kitchen and looked for the sharpest knife I could find. I was about to stab myself in the stomach when someone yelled and made me flinch a bit. “Allina!” It was Starr. “What the hell is wrong with you?” She said as she walked towards me. “You have been acting weird since yesterday morning,” she continued, gently taking the knife away from me. I was once again dumbfounded. It was my last possible way of getting out. The program would automatically end the test when the player is on the brink of dying. What is happening? I’m supposed to wake up now. What the hell? This isn’t possible. I can’t be stuck here; I need to find a way to get back to the real world.