Admission

The cold wafted throughout the deserted halls. The exams were over, and the students raced their way out of the school. As the cold winter approaches, Devin walked to the principal's office.

He twisted the knob and entered the office. The warm air greeted Devin the moment he went inside the room. The principal was wrapped around in thick clothing. His scarf dangled around his neck as he blew the heat of the coffee and took a sip.

"Mr. Coltrane?" Devin called out.

The bald principal's head snapped to Devin's direction. His lips curled upwards to form a smirk and stood.

"You called, sir?"

Mr. Coltrane nodded, rummaging the pile of papers in his desk and smiled when he found the envelope he was looking for. "Brightburn Institute wanted me to give you this."

Devin received the envelop the principal handed him. "I heard that you have to follow the instructions there. I never bothered to open since it doesn't concern me Whatever Brightburn wants with you, I'm out of the conversation."

Hearing his principal's words, Devin wasn't surprised. He thanked the man and exited his office. His legs walked him towards the deck he and Alex always goes to. There, he read opened the envelope that was handed to him.

'Brightburn Institute of Exorcism in Asia'

Devin's eyes widened after reading the full name of the school. It was a school for exorcists. Mr. Coltrane did not mention that, and Devin knew the man did not know.

That explains the appearance of the Exorcist inside their school. An exorcist going out in a public place was unusual. Their gray cloak and stature would stand out wherever they go.

'Your admission to Brightburn Institute of Exorcism in Asia will start at the last call of tonight's siren.

You will be Glimpsed to a place full of deadly stained souls. Your goal is to avoid the stained souls and go to the lobby of the Vista Luxuria Hotel. Present yourself and show the card that is sent along with this letter to the receptionist and she will provide you the necessary information to continue with your admission.

May fate guide you in your conquest.

Tina Godfrey'

Devin could only stare blankly at the paper. He would experience the cold again, feel the thick fog damping his skin, seeing people as tombstones. And worst of all, he would face more stained souls.

Their admission wasn't easy. He had to creep through the dark, moonless streets and hide from the monsters. If he makes the slightest mistake, his innards would be the price.

"What will I do?" Devin asked himself. He mustered all the courage and went to work like nothing happened. The test was a suicide mission. If he would face one more stained soul, he is sure that it's not gonna let him go. The stained soul is going to eat his organs for dinner.

After his shift, Devin made a decision. He will not go to Brightburn. He'd rather work behind the counter of the bakery all his life rather than to go to a school full of danger. Devin felt like it wasn't worth it at all.

"Devin dear?" the owner of the bakery called out.

"Yes, ma'am?"

The owner gave him a warm hug and handed out a small envelope. "I'm so sad that you had to go but if that's what you want."

Devin was baffled. His eyebrows met and his mouth pursed in confusion. "What do you mean, ma'am?"

"I received your resignation letter," the owner answered. "I know it's a rough time right now so here's a little money for your allowance."

Devin was about to speak when his boss hugged him tight again. They were about the same height so he didn't have to kneel to return the warm embrace.

"They're watching you," she whispered in his ear. "Be safe."

Devin nodded and left the bakery. The first siren rang but it didn't bother him. He was mad – no, he was furious. How could they make him quit his job? The owner knew but he knows she didn't want to cause more trouble, especially for him so she complied.

All this exorcist crap is making Devin��s head ache. To be forced to take a dangerous task was utterly disgusting. He was baffled, he was angry, he was afraid. Different emotions swam inside his stomach that it was as if he would throw up.

When he turned to a corner, he was frozen in spot at what he saw. A familiar pair of red glowing eyes and long black mane greeted Devin at the end of the alley. Its fangs were showing, and its eyes showed anger.

Devein gulped in fear. He was about to run when a black bird-like monster passed through him. Its eyes were as red and was as angry as the lion Devin encountered the night before.

"Leave my territory," the lion ordered.

"You know what time it is," the bird replied. It had similar figure to a flamingo but it was bigger, even bigger than Devin. "It's admissions day."

"You must be new," the lion chuckled. "Do you think the exorcists would let one of their young ones to die so easily?"

It was the first time that Devin could hear the stained souls before the last siren. If this was before everything that's happened to him, he wouldn't even bother listening, but their conversation was interesting to him.

So, the lion knew about the admission? Devin asked himself.

"What do you mean?" the bird asked.

The lion snickered, its paw swiped up to the bird's neck. The latter was about to dodge but he was too late. His head was rolling on the ground while the lion licked his lips after seeing its fading body.

"It's useless to tell you this since you're already dead but…" the lion paused, clawing the headless bird's chest and eating its heart. "Exorcists are going to be all around the purgatory. They will purge the street off of stained souls and let no harm get near the test takers."

When he got to his room at the last siren's call, Devin changed his clothes. He wore a fit but stretchy black jeans, a red shirt, and a harlequin hoodie. If he did not want to take the exam before, he does now.

If he wanted some answers, he will find out from the source. First, he's going to test if what the lion said was true. If the streets were actually safe as the lion said to the decapitated bird.

The cold met his skin, the fog covered his apartment, and the sound of silence greeted him. The light was dimmed when he walked downstairs. He saw a few tombstones on the way, his neighbors.

With one last look at the lobby of the apartment complex, Devin exited the building. If he could somehow survive this test, he wouldn't go to the school. He would find another job even if the exorcists stop him.

But first, he wanted to ask them his questions. He wanted them to answer who he really is. Devin knew they have what he was looking for. The three Exorcists he saw had similar features to him.

The porcelain skin, the shiny hair, the bright eyes. They all look like they came out the same factory of China dolls. It couldn't be coincidence. It cannot be.

He knew the place the letter mentioned. It was the most popular and expensive hotel in Cherkshire. Devin knew if he was in the human world, he could not step foot inside the luxurious hotel.

Halfway there, Devin cursed and screamed. The letter said to bring the card with him. Due to his anger, he forgot all about what the letter said. He ran back to his apartment only to find it void of his things.

He went outside and read the number and he didn't enter the wrong room. It was his apartment.

"Revelation?" he called out. "Revelation where are you?"

When no white cat went to him, Devin ran to the windowsill and saw a shiny white metal card. In the middle was the logo of Brightburn Institute and a grey line with his name on it was on the bottom.

With it was a note. 'You have 15 minutes.'

To run to the hotel would take him at least 30 minutes. There was no way he could make it to the hotel with the time he got. He looked around and spotted no vehicles to ride on. When he looked in front of him, the neighboring building's roof felt like it was near.

Without thinking clearly, Devin jumped to the other building. His resolve was clear right now. He must see his Revelation again. They stole his cat, and if they want him to be there even with an impossible time limit, he will be there.

"For Revelation," Devin said to himself, running towards the direction of the other roof and jumping over it.

There was an intense surge of adrenaline pumping in his veins. He felt the world went slower, and his body felt lighter. It was as if he could run fast and jump high.

From one roof to another, Devin jumped and jumped until he reached the hotel he was told to go. He only took 5 minutes to get there. With the best he could, he put on his angry face. He knew he looked like a squirrel who ate too much acorn but he could only care less.

Outside was a man in gray cloak. His hood covered his face and his hand was gripping on a large sword.

"Card," the man spoke.

Devin lost his posture for a second before returning hi angry face on. When he showed the card, the man lowered his sword and the door opened.

He mumbled a thank you before going in and to his surprise, the inside was warm and bright. Like it wasn't affected by all that's going on outside. Like it belonged to the time before the last siren chimes.

A woman greeted him on the receptionist's counter. She had the same porcelain skin as he had and her shiny hair was tied to a bun over her head.

"Good evening Mr. Lewis. Congratulations on passing the admission's test. Here is your–"

"No," Devin cut the woman off. Her eyes widened in surprise but she never lost her composure. "I don't want to be admitted. I want to live a normal life."

"That's a shame," a familiar voice said behind him. When he turned around, his eyes widened when he saw the man he hated the most. "I never once thought of you as a quitter."

His lips were agape, his mind went boggy. "M-Mr. Coltrane?!"