Seeking for Answers 0.5

"Deathrow? Deathrow Academy...?" I asked, though my voice was low and out of focus.

My brain wasn't grasping the thought just yet. I was still in the middle of processing what Vivian had just recently said.

My eyes blinked slowly as I try to understand the idea of what Vivian just said.

"Death… row..." I repeated more to myself.

I had to admit, it was a moment where my head was up at the clouds, completely out of it.

As soon as I wrapped my head around the words, I felt even more confused.

"Excuse me, what?" I said in between nervous chuckles.

"D. R, stands for death row, you're in Deathrow Academy," she blatantly repeats.

"Look, I know it's weird... probably unsettling too—but beside the point—"she was blurting but I decided to cut her off.

"Unsettling? What an understatement, is this some kind of joke? Are you doing some kind of prank on me, like those pranking shows shown on TV?" I said as I glanced on all corners of the room, trying to find any hidden cameras or some people hiding in closets or closed doors.

However, as my sights landed on Vivian, she had a straight face that showed seriousness.

It made me look down and frustrated me.

'This was nothing; it's just a school name, nothing more. Focus on the task at hand,' I thought, trying to divert myself from the unsettling topic.

"Never mind, I don't care," I said.

Vivian looked a bit surprised at my reaction before she goes back to being straight faced. Seeing this expression on her, it somewhat weird me out. I feel a bit intimidated by her presence in some way. Though she was sitting in front of me, it felt like she had more control of the atmosphere and I felt agitated beneath her gaze.

I tsked in my head and continued to think about my next question.

I had to be careful, I feel like if I asked the wrong questions i wash so sure that I'd get my head bitten off.

"This, school, what's its purpose anyway? I mean, why is it so secluded that it's literally within the middle of nowhere at the center of a forest no doubt," I asked.

"It's more efficient," she says bluntly.

My hands gripped the bed sheets in frustration when Vivian said that with empty eyes, not hinting any signs of dishonesty or mystery even. But her answer somehow felt lacking.

"Efficient? How--?" I asked, threading lightly.

For a moment, I saw a sparkle of emotion glint in her eyes, but it was gone before I could identify what it was.

"I am not certain of what else to answer. Just like you, I also received the same answer," she says.

Her tone seemed honest but it was not enough to convince me.

"Do you know why?" I asked.

She just shook her head 'no' and was back to being straight faced.

I was growing more and more irritated by the second and I did not like the answers that I was receiving. Vivian looked like she had a lot to keep, what that was. I did not know, but I was sure that it had something to do with the questions I was asking.

She looked like she was a closed up chest, unable to find the key to the lock.

I had every bit of intention to get my answers and I would not be satisfied if I don't get them. But seeing my situation, if ever I were to start an argument of some sorts, I wouldn't have an equal authority. I would be at a major disadvantage, I had no floor to stand on and the fact of the matter is that it's pissing me off.

So, with a dejected heart, I let this one slide.

"Who runs the school? I'm sure this is some kind of private school for rich people. How much would I owe?" I asked.

Vivian was silent for a bit, her gaze was scanning over me. She looked puzzled as she stares at me.

"Believe it or not, this academy is actually run by the government, it's not your typical public school. Usually, this place should be a public school... But the students that attend here are.. a selected few," she says.

I noted the sudden pause in her words. She hesitated while saying that, leaving me to think that my suspicions were right, that she may have something that she's hiding from me.

But my newly unraveled information diverted my attention from these details, thus I asked further.

"This whole place is a public school that is run by the government?" I asked in bewilderment.

Vivian cracks a smile and nods her head eagerly, the serious facade that she had earlier melting down slowly.

"Yeah.. This school is ran by the government and is also very well secured by the government military, so it's safe here," she says delightedly.

'Guarded by the military themselves?' I wondered in confusion.

I haven't been in a public school before, more or less ANY school for that matter, but I'm well enough informed that a public school wouldn't have special security such as this normally. It was oddly suspicious.

Even private schools didn't have the luxury of having military government guard their premises.

'What's going on here?' I thought anxiously.

The grin on Vivian's face was decent and almost innocent looking, but a part of me suspects that I should be cautious around her. She seemed to be good at hiding secrets and I was sure she knew enough to satisfy my own curiosity.

"I see, it does sound pleasantly safe here," I inquire.

Vivian then eagerly nods as she smiles at me.

"Yes, it is... Also, the principal is a well-trained general before becoming the head of the school," she adds.

This caught my interest.

"Oh? Really?" I asked, urging her to continue.

She nods fondly, beginning to ramble, her serious façade seeming to fade instantly.

"Uhmm, the principal is also known to be a young general. It was said that his performances were so outstanding that he was promoted faster than any other cadets, a prodigy in the making," Vivian states with clear fascination.

I too was fascinated by this.

'A prodigy, huh? If he was such a great soldier then why become a principal in this academy?' I wondered.

Everything about this place was sketchy and I was growing frustrated as I only gained more questions rather than answers.

My head throbbed as I continue to think about this. Noticing my pained expression, Vivian spoke in a soft voice.

"Was that too much for you to take? I'm sorry I should've been more considerate," she said.

She then stands and DE clutters her stuff.

"Here, I'll leave you for now, go get some rest. If you need me, I'll just be outside, call if you want something," she says kindly.

She exits the room with the first aid kit in hand.

After the doors closed shut, I slumped to the bed and stared off at the ceiling.

I recollected my thoughts, reliving the memories I had just recently.

Some things were off, something just doesn't sit right with me, but I'm sure that the head mistress and Vivian knew what it was. Their behaviors are odd—no, odd was putting it too lightly—they were acting suspicious. I had no idea what it is that they aren't telling me, but I was sure that it was what I wanted to know.

A wrench in my stomach shifted my thoughts elsewhere. My eyes roamed around the room.

The room was tidy and dimly lit, suddenly, I felt a bit nauseated. The room was comforting before, but now that I was more confused as to why I'm really here, the room feels suffocating and I felt like chocking. I grabbed the soft pillow on my right and covered my face with it, to prevent myself from seeing the room.

I calmed myself down for a moment, a minute later, I was eased, but I didn't remove the pillow from my face. I let my mind wonder, trying to distract myself.

Slowly, I was feeling my eyes droop and drowsiness consumed me steadily.

But before I succumbed to the darkness, I had but only one thought in mind.

'I had to get out of here...'

Quote of the chapter!!!

"To ask the right question is already half the solution of the problem."

-Carl Jung-