Angel academy

Let the games begin

As dinner comes to an end, Cherub stands up and addresses the room; "my darling angels, please be advised that there is an assembly to be held in the amphitheater in half an hour" she turns her beady eyes towards me and continues, "attendance is mandatory." With that she swishes out of the room.

I open my gift from Indigo and begin to write, 'what do you think it's about?'

Indigo shrugs, "I have an idea or two, most likely about the challenges, they should be starting soon" I nod

"We should go get ready, uniforms aren't required after dinner, and I don't know about you, but this uniform is as stiff as Cherub's arse" I laugh and we make our way to our rooms.

"I'll come over when I'm dressed and we can head down together" indigo smiles and then vanishes down the hallway.

I sigh and unlock my door. I slip into a pair of ripped jeans and a plain, loose grey shirt. Putting my hair up into a messy bun, I walk into my bathroom and stare at my reflection, after my day in the Beautifier 3000, I hardly recognise myself. Washing all the makeup off of my face, I turn and go to put on my trusty chuck Taylor's.

As I'm doing up the laces, I hear a knock on my door, expecting Indigo to just let herself in, I continue to do my laces. When I finish and Indigo still hasn't entered, I go over and open the door.

I am greeted by nothing, I step out into the hallway to see if I can see anyone walking away, but it's empty. I go to walk back into my room in confusion when I almost slip on an envelope.

Curiously I pick it up. I turn it around and instantly drop the envelope in horror. On the front of the envelope is my last name written with what looks like blood. I feel faint, who would do that? Torn between opening the envelope or kicking it into the bin, I stand there staring before I hear footsteps. Quickly picking up the envelope, I shove it into my desk drawer. As I slam it shut, Indigo bursts into my room. "Let's get ready to ruuuuuuuuumble!" She shouts as she links our arms together and forces me to skip with her to the amphitheater.

We take our seats with the other ten girls. I look around and spot Caleb, I smile and wave but he doesn't return the gesture, instead turning to face the stage, he looks so strained and stressed. I frown, what's up with him?

As Cherub takes the stage, the quiet murmurs stop. Wasting no time, Cherub gets straight into it.

"Good evening angels, as previously informed, at the end of each month, you will all be required to participate in challenges that look to assess your strengths and weaknesses, also as mentioned, the lady who does not perform adequately will be sent away to the whore house." I look around, but nobody seemed to flinch at the thought of being sent to that doom.

"In previous years, we have had our girls attend the same classes, however, so as to give everyone a fair chance, classes will be stopping. Tomorrow you shall all attend an interview and sit a test where you will be judged by a panel and you will then be allocated a schedule that focuses on your weaknesses. You shall each be assigned a 'tutor', one who excels in your worst subject." It makes sense, but I'm still shocked by it, I glance at Indigo and notice she is glowing, she looks like a kid on Christmas Day.

"Angels, your first challenge is on the 31st of January, I wish you luck. I recommend you get a good nights sleep, your interview times will be posted up after breakfast tomorrow. Dismissed."

I sat for a while, I had only gone to like three classes and they were already cancelled. I didn't know what I felt.

Finally standing, I walked Indigo back to her room, she was ecstatic. She talked the whole way back non stop about how she hoped her tutor was the hot sports teacher or the dreamy science teacher. I stayed with her for a bit playing card games. I glanced at my watch and remembered Caleb should be coming to my room soon to take me to Xander, I stuttered my goodbyes then all but ran to my room.

When I finally got back to my room, I slumped onto my desk chair. Lost in thought, I suddenly remembered the letter in my drawer.

Slowly reaching out, I pulled out the letter and decided to open it. In the same blood writing was the words: 'I know who you are.'

My blood chilled and my breathing became heavy, I was so freaked out that I didn't hear Caleb walk in.

"What's that?" Surprised I quickly stuffed it into the drawer, grabbing the key from my desk and locking it away.

Puffing and trying to get my breathing regular, I looked to Caleb,

"It was nothing." I knew he didn't believe me. He went to grab the key from my hands. I ran to the other side of the room. "Wait" I pleaded, raising my hands. I quickly unclasped my necklace and slid the key onto the chain, letting it go, the key dropped safely beneath my shirt.

"Aria" Caleb used a commanding tone, one I hadn't expected. I just shook my head. "Are you taking me to Xander or not?" Caleb pursed his lips and stared at me before sighing, "here, put this on" he took off his black hoodie and handed it to me.

"I'm not cold" I said, refusing to take it. He ran his free hand through his hair.

"It's to blend in with the dark, hurry up or I'm leaving you behind." Embarrassed I quickly put on his jumper. It was huge on me and I knew I looked ridiculous. I looked up at Caleb and caught a small smile playing on his lips. I gave him a quizzical look and he quickly put on his serious face. "Let's go" he said gruffly.

I followed him in the dark. Not really taking notice of anything, instead my thoughts were plagued by thoughts of the bloody note in my room. Who sent it? What did they know?

So consumed in my own thoughts, I hadn't noticed that Caleb had turned left in the garden while I continued straight, as I looked up I tripped over a child sized statue, before I could hit the ground, an arm wrapped around my waist and a hand covered my mouth, blocking out the shocked scream that was about to burst out. Warm breath tickled my neck before Caleb whispered "be careful, if we get caught..." I turned to face him and noticed the pain on his face, "what happens if we get caught?" The pain on his face intensified. I gasped, he was made mute, what if whenever he tried to say something he wasn't allowed to, he went through pain. I placed my hands on his face. "Sorry, I'm so sorry. Umm..." I tried so hard to think of a new subject to take away the pain. "..Where did you learn to play piano like that?" Caleb chuckled but it was a pained one. After a moment, he opened his eyes and stared into my own eyes, "your hands are very calming" the way he said it made me pull away my hands, he said it as if it was the greatest discovery since sliced bread.

He turned away and continued his walk "we better hurry, we don't have long." our walk couldn't have been more than ten minutes, but I managed to trip over every rock, stick and even flower that crossed our path. Caleb kept giving me strange looks but said nothing, instead just grabbing my hand as we walked, I went to pull my hand away but he just held on tighter, "for balance, you'll wake everyone from here to china if you keep tripping".

Finally Caleb's place came into view and I let go of Caleb's hand and ran for the door. Bursting in, I ran into Xander's arms. It felt so good to hug him. Stroking my hair, Xander sat us down on one of the couches. "I've missed you Ari" I looked up at my brother and knew he meant it.

"I've missed you too, how's mum? Where is she? Isn't she freaking out?" Xander shook his head.

"I sent her on a cruise" Xander smiled shyly.

"How did you afford it!?" I exclaimed,

"I had savings, anyway that's not what's important. We are here for a reason." I nodded, "I'm about to tell you a secret Ari but you have to promise to not over react or scream or freak out, nothing like that?"

"Okaaaay?" I replied

"Ari, you know how Byron disappeared" I nodded, Byron was our dad, since he left, Xander refused to call him dad.

"Well turns out he's a vampire" I stare at Xander then at Caleb, waiting for one of them to burst out laughing at their joke. But laughter never came.

"Holy schnitzels."

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Sorry for publishing and unpublishing this chapter but my phone is screwing me over! Autocorrect keeps changing words and when I go to fix up the mistakes, they don't save.

Anyway, who wants to read a chapter in someone else point of view? Comment who and I promise to pick the one I think has the most potential!