Chapter 2

I stood in front a vending machine with all the money I had left in my hand, which was 32 cents. It wasn't even enough for a pack of gum. The only thing I could afford was a bag of peanuts but I was allergic to them.

I walked away trying to forget the gnawing pain in my stomach. It's been three days since I've last eaten. My pockets were more full than my stomach.

It started to snow as I walked down the street. It wasn't bad, it was just a few flurries. I walked down an alley and leaned against a wall.

In the distance I heard a clock stick two. It was two in the morning and I was freezing my ass off. The snow started to come down thicker I needed to find shelter. There was a metal awning at the end of the block and I rushed under it and sat.

My body started to shake. This was inevitable. My jeans were ripped, my coat worn, and my shoes were not shoes anymore.

I don't know how long I was sitting there before I heard footsteps coming down the alley. My heart stopped when I heard that. I slipped my hand into my back pocket and grabbed my switch blade.

The footsteps stopped a few feet directly in front of me. I tightened my grip on the knife. The guy is probably drunk and is looking for something that I didn't want to do. I kept my head down as I sensed the guy crouch down.

"Are you alright, child?" The voice asked. The voice sounded like a young man. His voice was smooth like silk.

I looked up and saw a man in a brown suit. He look like he was in his twenties. He looked at me straight in the eyes and it started to freak me out.

"I'm fine. Now leave me alone" I say with a forceful tone.

"You are lying" he sound as if he was in disbelief.

"Leave me alone or I'll cut your eyes out" I said as I tried to scare him off.

The man chuckled. "Come with me."

"No. I'm not a prostitute" I said with a offended tone.

"You are a strange child" he smirked. "I know you are not a...prostitute. I just what to talk to you."

I panicked. "What agency are you with? Child Services? Protective Custody?"

"I am with no agency" he tells me. "I'm from Tenebris Academy."

Tenebris Academy? Was that Latin? "Never heard of it" I say.

"I know" the man frowned. "And the Academy wants you attend."

"Fuck off" I say as I quickly stood and tried to get away but the man caught my hand. "Let go."

"I know this place" he said and I went wide eyed. He laughed. "Its a restaurant in the middle of town. We can talk there and there will be people around" he tried to convince me. "And you look like you need something to eat."

I stood there and thought about my options. I could either eat and deny what the guy offers me or starve. The problem was that I love food.

"If I go with you will you leave me alone?"

"Yes" the man smirked. "Come."

We walk side by side. The streets were deserted. Probably because it was two in the morning and it was snowing. Under the street light glow I got a better look at the man.

He was tall. Probably six foot, maybe taller. On top of his head was a top hat that matched his brown suit. He had dark hair that went down half of his back. And for some odd reason he had a cane.

"What's you name" he asked out of the blue.

"Dawn" I said and he nodded.

"I'm Sebastian" he said.

It stopped snowing when we entered a 24 hour diner. Sebastian led me to a booth that was that was in the middle of the restaurant. He took his hat off and sat it next to him on the table.

The moment my butt made contact with the bench a tired looking waitress walked up to us with two menus. "What can I get you two drink?"

"Coffee" I said and she scribbled it down. She looked at Sebastian.

"Same" he said and the waitress left. He turned and looked at me. "How old are you?"

"Seventeen" was all I said when I saw our coffee coming our way. When the woman let them with our drinks I took a sip of mine.

"You're so young" he said.

"So what?" I shrugged. "You're pretty young yourself. What are you? Twenty five ?"

He smiled and brought his cup to his lips. "Nineteen."

I almost spat out my drink. "Are you sure?"

"I look older" was all he said as he started to look through the menu. Sebastian looked up and the waitress came over. "I'll have the ham omelet."

"Okay, and you?" She asked me.

"Same" I said and she nodded and left. "So you were talking some academy?"

"Yes. Tenebris Academy to be exact" he began. "Its a prestigious school for powerful people."

"That's where you lost me. I'm don't belong in a school like that" I tell him.

"You were chosen" he said.

"What does that mean? 'I was chosen.'"

"I can't explain that to you since it is not my place to" he told me. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few pieces of paper.

"What's this" I asked as he hands me the papers. I flipped through the packet.

"Things that the school offers" he continued. "The school has many classes that one can take ranging from computers, to the arts, and different kinds of fighting."

"Fighting?" I laughed. "What kind of school is this?"

"A fine one that would love to have you" he said as he laid his head in his hands.

"What's your role at the academy, Sebastian?" I asked. "Are you a teacher? Or are you the one who talks to people about attending a school?"

"A little bit of both" he laughed.

"And where is this mystical school of yours?" I asked as I rearranged the sugar packets.

"Nebraska" he said with a straight face.

I dropped the packets on the table. "Nebraska? We're in Minnesota right now."

"Correct" he said.

"And when does this school start?" I asked.

"Tomorrow" he said nonchalantly as he sipped some more of his coffee.

"So you want me to drop everything I have here to move to a 'Academy' that might be a cult?" I ask.

"What do you have here?" He asked with a serious tone.

I didn't say anything. There was nothing for me here and there never will be. I was about to speak but the waitress came over with our food. We both said thanks and Sebastian started to eat but I just sat there and poked my eggs with my fork.

"Aren't you going to eat?" He asked.

I nodded and took a bit of my eggs. "I'll go."

"I knew you would" he said as he as he handed me a pen. "Sign your name on the last page."

I did so and handed him back the paper and pen. "I feel as if I just sold my soul to the Devil."

Sebastian grinned. "Don't worry, he doesn't work at the school."

"When are we leaving?" I asked as I take another bit of my eggs.

"After your done" he said as he laid his fork on his empty plate. "It's a long drive."