The Last Mission

Chapter 2: The Next Morning

I wake up, without having had enough rest. At least the nightmare didn't come back for the two hours that I managed to sleep. I slowly remember what happened during the night and check if it wasn't all a dream (it wasn't: I can feel the necklace beating steadily against my chest, like a second heartbeat). "Good morning, beautiful," I mumble with a low and sleepy voice, while covering my head with my blankets because the morning light is just too bright sometimes. The stone lights up a little and starts beating a little bit faster. It makes me smile. At least I'm not alone on my mission now.

Against my will I drag myself out of bed. Even back home I hated school. Kids there are told horror stories around the high schools of the mortal world. And I came here voluntarily? Crazy. I open the wardrobe of the family I was placed in and look inside. It's an old thing, antique, with wooden planks and way too little place to have enough clothes. I am not going to complain though, it is much more than I had in the military academy. I shake the memory off me. It gives me nostalgia and an uncomfortable tingling in my neck.

The wardrobe is full of clothes. I thínk those are clothes at least... When I first came here, I was perplexed by the strange clothes people here wear. I see very tight blue-ish pants that not even a child could fit in with holes, a shirt from which the bottom is cut away and a longer shirt that I think has to represent a tight dress? I choose the simplest thing I can find: a yellow shirt, combined with loose pants (because that's how you're supposed to wear them) and some cool red suspenders, which gave me a strange amount of confidence.

With a wide smile I open the door and go down to make myself breakfast. While I'm still on the stairs, a warm and delicious smell fills my nose and makes my mouth water. What is that? I come in the kitchen to find out that the mother was making something in the pan. I have already learned how to greet her in the morning.

"Morning, mom! This smells so good! How did you sleep?" I ask cheerfully while kissing her on the cheeks three times and see her eyes sparkle up when she notices me. "I always love it when you do that, sweetie," she laughs. I don't exactly understand what she means, but she means well. Margaret is the most innocent woman I have met so far here. She looks at me from head to toe. "Where is your uniform?" she asks. My uniform? I thought I would be going to a normal school, not military? "For school?" I ask to be sure. "Well yeah..." she frowns her eyebrows. "Go dress up decently," she tells me, "we don't want you to get suspended on your first day of school, young lady." Full of questions I return to my room, only to find a freshly washed and ironed uniform on the chair next to the desk. Of course, I did not see that when I woke up. The longer you'll stay with me in this story, the more you'll see how much of an idiot I can be sometimes.

I put the uniform on (which was way too big, by the way) and go back down to the kitchen. "What are you making?" I ask. Again, she throws a strange look at me. "An omelette? Sweetie are you feeling alright?" she looks worried at me and puts the back of her hand on my forehead. What is she doing? Maybe that is some kind of ritual humans invented to banish demons and sickness? I'll never know. I put my hand on hers to remove it gently and to let her know I'm alright. "I did not get much sleep at night," I confess. "Just eat a bit," Margaret reassures, "you'll feel better!" And so, I eat.

(...)

I walk to school. Walking on Earth still gives me the chills. The surroundings are grey. The streets are grey, the sky is grey and cries grey droplets on my glasses. The oversize uniform I'm wearing is grey. Everything around me looks the same, it blends in one grey colour and gives me an uneasy feeling. Everywhere I look, I see the same colourless environment and trees... But I am looking too deep in this again, aren't I?

After 15 minutes I arrived at the school. I see a group of loud giggling girls with leather pink bags running from the rain and holding their books above their head, to save their precious haircuts that cost them half of the money their parents give them every week. I see a group of goofy boys laughing and nudging each other. I see another group of girls, walking with big steps in a row, which forces a poor girl to walk on the street. I feel her. I've been there. I only realised I stood still and observed the high schoolers when a tall guy jogs my shoulder while passing me. "Watch out, bitch, you're in my way," he scolds me and gave me a would-be dangerous look. I raise an eyebrow. Poor guy doesn't know who he's insulting.

I walk through the main entrance and reach for the documents to prove I am signed up for this school. There are a lot of people around me, and I have trouble finding the papers. I get on the ground in squat-position to look better for them, feeling very unstable and uncomfortable. Where do all these people come from? It gets more loaded and louder and with the second I uneasier. Loud voices everywhere, who shouts like that? Why can't they stay still for a second, for me? Please? It's getting too much. I am not looking in my bag anymore, I close my eyes and try to stay calm. Breathe. Now is not the time. Just take a few deep breaths, you will be out of here soon, just take a breath and take the documents. Take it eas- My thoughts get broken off when a loud noise reaches me. I feel a sharp pain in my shoulder, lose balance and fall with my head next to someone's feet. My head bursts with a flashing pain. Oh God. Seriously?

I look up and see the guy who nudged me. He looks at me with a dead, unbothered glance and proceeds to his classroom, or group of friends, or wherever teen guys like him go. I sigh and get myself up. After some time I realise all the people disappeared. My head hurts like hell, I can't see sharply... Oh right. Glasses. I see them lying next to me, thank God not broken. I put them on and reach for the documents in my bag and go to the secretariat to finish up the paperwork. Of course, it takes longer than I expected and when I am finally free and officially part of this school, classes started already 10 minutes ago. Just great.

a/n: Hello again, glad you guys made it to the second chapter! Even tho I may or may not have forced you to read it (sorry not sorry Marla)
now I hope you guys liked this chapter, as you've realized our main character is struggling with anxiety. In this story that theme is going to get back, because it is also a thing I am struggling with from time to time and I want to spread awareness and stuff
again, please no hate on me if you experience anxiety different, this is only my perception of it. and i'm sorry if you do struggle, know that you're not alone, and if you want to talk about it i can be a great listener, just dm me here on wattpad and i'll drop my ig❤️
take care everyone!! love you all