Deathrow Academy

I stare in awe at the emerging structure before me. In the distance, a stately building seemingly arises from the ground. My jaw dropped at the refined edifice that stretched greatly along the vast clearing of the forest.

'What the heck?! This huge jack of building had been standing in the middle of the forest this whole time?! I mean, where is this place anyway?!'

"Mr. Black, is this it? Is that huge castle the academy?" I asked in pure curiosity.

I couldn't help but feel excited, it was so huge that it was amazing and oh-so new to me. I was always the curious one of the bunch. It can't be helped.

This is my first time seeing and going to an actual school.

This was much better than those I've seen on pamphlets and brochures. I never imagined that a school could be this big. I felt all giddy inside that I'm actually cringing at my own actions.

I didn't receive any verbal response from Mr. Black as he remains to be mute again, but I noticed that he gave me a very small nod that you could mistake it for a natural shake of the head.

A smile crept up my lips as I continue to look at the imposing academy. From this distance, I could only make out the color of it still. But it was painted in a light shade of cream and it had gold accents that added more sophistication.

'Did my mom enroll me here? It looks so expensive.'

I was happily looking at the building when I noticed something.

As if I just realized, my head snapped on all sides of the car. The rain had suddenly stopped.

'I could've sworn it was still raining quite harshly not too long ago.'

I quickly checked my side of the window, the windowsill was still streaked with fresh raindrops, but it was cloudless as I looked up above. A hue of red, orange, and yellow illuminated the sky.

I trained my eyes around and saw not a single trace of clouds on the heavens. I found that eerily confounding and a twitch of some sort pinched my nerves. I grew wary of my situation.

'Something's not right.'

My eyes then instinct looked at Mr. Black, whom I felt was staring at me. He averted his gaze and craned his neck ahead, his eyes focusing back on the road. I smelled something fishy and it just fueled my suspicion when I noticed the sudden weird change of weather.

It was a bit further than I thought, because Mr. Black kept on driving for another 20 minutes before we actually got closer to the gates of the building. As we got closer, I just then noticed how tall the gates were. If I wasn't mistaken, It could've been as tall as the building ahead.

It looked very thick.

'Could they be solid and not just hallow?'

The car suddenly slows to a stop, now in front of the main gates. A thin pole with a tiny box attached to it, stood beside the thick pillar that divided the main entrance of the gate from the iron barred fences. It was an intercom.

I watched as Mr. Black roles down his window and pushing a button on the intercom. Since the car was closed in, I could barely hear what Mr. Black was saying. He glanced at me and I averted my gaze to pretend to look at the large vegetation that was facing my part of the windowsill.

I propped my head on my palms staring outside of my window, but my full attention was solely directed at Mr. Black and the intercom's conversation.

I could only make up Mr. Black's side of the discourse.

"...3065... Collectors Department... Yeah..."

His full answers were uncertain to me as he continues to answer some questions from the intercom. I could not clearly understand what the person on the other side was saying but I could only classify that it was a female's voice. Considering how high pitched her voice sounded from my end.

I felt Mr. Black shoot me a gaze before he spoke an answer again, "Class Z, according to the records..."

He mumbles, I knew well enough that he was trying to keep his voice down so I wouldn't hear too much. He was a good job about it. I could barely imagine what they are talking about. But I was sure enough that some of it had something to do with me.

I remained to act ignorant, amazed even after Mr. Black rolled his window back up, and ended the discourse.

I was about to ask something when I heard a buzz resonate from the outside of the car.

Then sounds of metal grinding against metal followed as I saw the gates slowly part and open for us.

It was so slow that it confirmed my theory. The bars were solid and not just hallow so it didn't put me at ease at all. If anything, I found it even more suspicious.

'Why are these fences so tall?'

I wondered skeptically. A soon as the gates were wide open, the car roared back to life and sped past the gates. The car drove about five minutes more to reach the driveway of the academy.

This school was surprising me more and more. It had such a huge lot to cover. But as soon as we pulled to a stop, my eyes wondered in awe at the details of the structure. It looked aged up close. But it was well kept if I could say so myself.

The gold linings and decor diverted the cracks and aged areas of the building from the observing eyes. The building had a mix of Avant-guard and Victorian design applied to some parts of it.

It dripped of class and elegance that it almost distracted me from my speculations.

"We're here... You can now get off," Mr. Black's voice almost startled me again. Good thing I was a bit more aware that he would soon tell me to exit the car.

I opened the car door and climbed out.

To say that I wasn't more amazed by the structure once outside would be a lie. The school was a freakin' real life castle.

I stared up at it, probably like a lost kitten on the streets.

I heard Mr. Black climb out too and head to the trunk. Probably getting my stuff.

Then I heard a loud creaking sound come from the huge doors of the academy.

A smaller, life sized door opened and out came a woman with brown hair that was pulled up into a tight bun. She was dressed in a neat maroon coat and a red wine pencil skirt. Her makeup was done in a sophisticated look that would immediately tell you 'I'm the boss here.'

She strutted at the edge of the few flights of stairs.

She had a void expression on as she stares at our direction.

Then her eyes met mine. Her gaze sent uncomfortable shivers down my spine.

She solely looked my way and I could say that it creep me out. However, she looked like she was in her mid-thirties. Her face looked a bit more aged and mature than you would see on a 30 year old. She was certainly not my favorite so far.

She folded her arms and seemed to be waiting for us.

She looked me in the eyes again and we seemed to have this mini-staring contest, neither of us looking away. I was so amerced by the woman that I literally jolted when Mr. Black tapped my shoulder.

He already had my bags in hand.

I flushed red in embarrassment.

He gruffly apologized to me.

"No no no, Mr. Black it wasn't your fault. I was just—distracted, that's all," my eyes instinctually look back at the mysterious woman.

Mr. Black must have followed my line of sight since he talked suddenly, "Ah, Miss Pilgrim..."

He trails as he murmured more, "That's the academy's head mistress. Not the friendly kind, so watch out for her."

He says as he fixes his hold on my things.

"Oh, let me get that, Mr. Black," I said trying to snatch my things off his hands.

He avoids my hands and says, "No, I insist Miss Levi. I'll be carrying your bags for you till you get to your dorm room."

I tried to politely refuse but he stubbornly insists. So, I had no choice but to agree.

I pursed my lips as I stared ahead.

The woman hadn't budged from her position and continues to stare our way.

Her gaze was hard on me that my stomach began to feel queasy.

I felt tingles on the tips of my fingers as we made our way up the stairs.

In just five small steps, we arrived in front of the head mistress, Miss Pilgrim.

As she watched us, her brow raised, as she openly looks me up and down. This made me bite the insides of my cheeks. Somehow, I already didn't trust her.

Her face suddenly shifts from blank to an obviously forced delight.

She offers her hand to me that I looked at it suspiciously. I hesitated to take it, but did anyway.

It must've been just me, but I swear that I saw the forced smile she had on earlier suddenly became an evil grin as she says, "Welcome to DR Academy."

Quote of the Chapter!!

"Fear is wisdom in the face of danger; it is nothing to be ashamed of."

-Sherlock Holmes-