The Academy (Arc II)

I slowly headed toward the nearest tree and leaned against it for a moment. My head throbbed. I closed my eyes, pressing my fingers to my temples. Their voices began to blur.

What's happening to me?

I shook my head and stood back up, intending to head back to my teammates when something glinted from the side of my eyes.

I glanced back to my teammates. They were still occupied.

Without another thought, I followed the glint, the sound of pebbles crushing against each other under the weight of my boots.

Just before a tree, I saw it.

A trail of... blood? I'm not certain what it is. A trail of brilliant red was shimmering under the sunlight that slipped through the shifting leaves above as the wind blew.

I swallowed hard.

Something in me whispered to go back. But my feet were already moving.

Behind another tree.

The trail disappeared under a closed door.

My fingers hovered over the knob. Should I open it?

Probably not.

But I did.

I opened it.

The room was empty, another storage room. I expected darkness, but the sun was pouring from the windows that were wide open, revealing the trail again.

It ended in the center of the room.

I expected worse, but all I found was a small red puddle.

Is it really blood?

Then I saw something else. A piece of paper, soaked in the red.

I knelt down and picked it up, careful not to tear the fragile edges. Something was written on it.

When my eyes saw the whole of the paper, my jaw slackened. My fingertips turned cold. Something screamed inside me.

I slipped the paper into my pocket and sprinted back.

There was a message.

And I'm certain it was meant for me.

"We're coming to get you."