Chapter 14: The Termination

"We will have another partner activity tomorrow, you can go back to your rooms now," Sir Luke said dismissing us.

Today was a long day. After the incident, I started to notice Sir Luke acting strangely. As much as I know him he's the kind of person who seems to be calm and collected. When the so-called "unfortunate" occurrence happened, he appeared anxious and continued to glance to his sides as if he were looking for something or somebody.

He didn't even try to hide it. He might have thought that no one else in this room might take notice of this. Unlucky for him there is someone in this room who isn't yet brainwashed and is well aware of her surroundings.

Of course, that someone is me unless there is someone else who did not lose themselves despite all that they went through.

I glanced at Cyrus who was standing on his assigned line. He is staring straight ahead just like the other children. Nothing seems to be strange about him, or so it seems.

I know this morning I didn't have my breakfast, except the little protein bar that wasn't satisfying at all. I'm pretty sure what I saw, however, wasn't a figment of my imagination. I know that I saw a surprised expression on his face, I am pretty much sure that I wasn't seeing things.

I have an assumption right now that maybe he is more than just an empty shell. It may be that behind that cold façade that he displays now, there might be a caged soul waiting to be freed. Just like how I used to be.

Finally, in this lonely place, it would be nice to have a companion here. But I'm still uncertain whether he's just like me because, as I said, it's all just an assumption.

"Miss Virginia," I felt chills up my spine as I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to face her with no emotions in my face despite being surprised.

"What may I do for you, Miss Asmia?" I asked.

"I want to talk with you, come with me," she said as she offered me her hand to hold. As much as I don't want to go with her, I have to, or else they might suspect me. I held on to her hand and she took me away from the line. She brought me back to the classroom which is now empty.

Behind us, she closed the door and gazed outside. I'm curious why she is doing this right now, but I'm trying not to demonstrate this curiosity by a blank expression on my face.

After a minute or so she closed the window blinds and turns to me. My heart started to pound as I saw an intimidating look on her face. I fear that she might inquire me about what had happened a while ago. I can pretend that I'm so sorry about what happened and that it's all just an accident. I am used to hiding the expressions in my face but my legs are trembling right now. I fear she could even have noticed the slightest expressions on my face, knowing that she's a guardian.

"Can you do me a favor?" she started.

A favor? Won't she inquire about the incident a while ago?

"Yes Miss Asmia, what may I do for you?" I asked sounding obedient.

"Since Cyrus is your partner can you keep an eye out for him?" she asked.

This is a favor, not a direct command so I wouldn't have any problems saying 'no', but it doesn't work like that here. If I refuse to do the favor they may find me suspicious so I have no other choice than to agree with it.

"Yes I will Miss Asmia," I replied with a nod.

She then started to mumble things that she thought I won't understand, "That damn teacher getting in the way of my job," she clicked her tongue, "He should just wait until I tell the higher faculty about this".

No, not the higher faculty. I overheard from various teachers and guardians from my long stay here that the higher faculty are the ones to be feared. I am not sure of this but I think they are responsible for the disappearance of several children and even teachers. I can say so because one time before when I just got out of the comfort room I overheard the conversation of a muscled man and a teacher.

[Flashback]

"The higher faculty wants to talk with him," the man said, "we will come back tomorrow morning to pick him up".

"The h-higher faculty?" there was a hint of nervousness in the female teacher's voice. She bowed down her head and replied, "Okay"

The next day I searched for one missing child within each lane. It's crazy to think that I could memorize how many kids are there in a class after staying at this place for so many years. It wasn't difficult for me to see if a child is missing. My eyes roamed along the long lines of children searching for a missing child and there I noticed that the boy with golden streaks of hair was nowhere to be found. He might be the kid that the muscular man had been talking about.

I waited for that child to show up again but months had passed, and eventually years yet there were no signs of him anywhere. Up to this day, I still wonder wherever he might be.

The Higher Faculty has the power to completely remove children and teachers from this place. Once they are taken away, nobody ever knows what had happened to them. That is why everyone, even the teachers themselves, is afraid of them.

[End of flashback]

If Miss Asmia would bring this to the Higher Faculty then it would not be long before Sir Luke gets replaced by a new teacher. I hope that doesn't happen. I don't like anybody here, but I still hope he won't be replaced.