Lost Souls

Part 1

She had to get away, she just had to leave. She reached the curb, the tears blurring her vision.

'How could...?'

'Skye! Wait!'

Not bothering to look behind her, she bolted across the road, eager to escape that voice. She didn't hear the yell over the deafening sound of hooting. She looked to her left and froze. A truck was almost on top of her.

                                                                                      +++

Seracuse University was housed in the most modern buildings Skye had ever seen. The gates swung open to reveal large green grounds, rising gently, leading the eyes up the winding white driveway bordered with palm trees until it ended at a massive asymmetrical glass building. It looked nothing like the other ten schools she had attended in her short life.

Standing at the gates she hesitated, this was gong to be her life for the next few years. That first step would seal it.

'Hey, get out of the way!'

She leapt to the side just as a skateboarder flew past her, clipping her arm so that her bag fell, scattering all her belongings on the ground.

'Hey!' she yelled after the fleeing culprit, but he didn't look back. Awesome, just what she needed. She knelt to stuff everything into the bag as fast as she could, while students walked past her, no one paying her much attention, thank god.

That is until a group of girls walked by. Skye tried to block out their voices.

'What is she doing on the ground?'

'Would you look at those shoes!'

'No way!'

Skye kept her head bowed, grabbed the last pen off the ground and stood up as quickly as she could. And nearly tripped over her shoelaces. She could feel herself going over. 'Please,' she begged silently, 'not in front of those girls.' She closed her eyes, preparing for the humiliation.

Then she felt a sharp tug on her sweat shirt. She turned round to see the last thing she had expected. A tall girl stood behind her scowling.

'Are you trying to make a fool of yourself?' she asked, letting go of the shirt.

'Uh, no,' Skye mumbled apologetically, still staring at the girl. She was dressed completely in black, her dark hair cut short. She stared back for a second before side stepping her and walking through the gates.

Ok, Skye thought, hefting her bag and adjusting the strap.

'Hey!' She looked up in surprise. The dark haired girl was standing a few feet away looking back at her, 'Are you coming or not?'

Skye nodded quickly. 'Uh, yeah.'

She jogged forward to catch up to the girl. The girl's long strides forced her to keep jogging by her side as they started up the driveway.

Skye glanced at her companion curiously.

'Terry Kim,' she said suddenly.

'Uh...what?'

The girl looked down at her, 'My name,' she said, 'you can call me Terry.' She pointed at a smaller glass building to their right. 'That's the admin building. You need to go see the secretary there to register.'

'Oh, right,' Skye started up the narrow pathway branching away from the main driveway.

'Hey!'

She looked back.

The girl rolled her eyes, 'Do you have a name?'

'Yeah,' she swallowed, 'It's...Skye.'

'See you around Skye,' the girl said and walked away.

She pushed open the heavy glass door and walked in. Taking a quick look at the different signs, she turned left and followed a corridor until she came to an empty counter. A quick push on the small bell sent off a buzzer in the recesses of the office.

'How can I help?'

Skye looked round, but couldn't see anyone.

'Helloo!'

Skye frowned. 'Hello? Where are you?'

'Ah right.'

She was not prepared for the tiny figure that shot up from behind the counter. The eyes behind the large round glasses stared at Skye, before a small smile erupted on the lady's face. 'Sorry they made the counter higher than I wanted it.'

Skye smiled back and pulled out the registration papers. 'I'm a new student.'

'Welcome to Seracuse,' the lady said as she tapped on her keyboard. She disappeared for a few minutes and then popped up again with a sheaf of papers. 'You'll need to fill these in.'

Five minutes later, Skye was headed out the building, and was just reaching out to pull open the glass door when it flew into her, winding her.

'Oomph,' she gasped,staggering backward slightly. Slightly doubled over, she looked up to see afigure in a blue and white sports jacket walk through the door, barely glanceat her and walk down the corridor.

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