Chapter 4. In the Middle of the Forest: pt. 1

Nicole Janeʼs POV

I only had forty minutes left before my first class started. So, I quickly got inside my room. I hadnʼt been able to take everything out of my suitcase because I didnʼt have much time to put it in the cabinet. Why did I have to move here right on the first day of school?

I am now standing beside my bed with my arms crossed, staring at the necklace and bracelet laid on top of it.

There was another bed here near the window. So, I was sure that two students could occupy the room. However, I was happy because I was still the only one occupying it right now.

“Whatever happens, donʼt take it off.”

“That will serve as your protection, so you must always wear it.”

Until now, I could still hear their reminders, although I didnʼt fully understand what they were for.

But I just realized. If these two were really that important, then I shouldnʼt wear them and just keep them in a safe place instead, because I just might end up losing them both eventually.

I winced as I again focused on the bracelet that Butler Lin gave me. Honestly, another reason I didnʼt want to wear it was because of the weird design of the pendant.

So in the end, I just decided not to wear both of them. I just hid them in the lowest part of the cabinet and locked them. Then I looked at myself in front of a full-length mirror one last time.

“Even the color of their uniform was strange. Itʼs a good thing I looked cool in black, though,” I said to myself while fixing the slight tangle in my skirt.

The skirt was checkered black and white and rose above the knee. The coat was also black with long white sleeves inside and a red ribbon.

I just applied some face powder and lip tint before letting my waist-length, wavy, light-blonde hair down.

When I was finally satisfied with how I looked, I took my bag and my schedule list and went off.

Actually, I could come late to class, according to what Butler Lin told me earlier, because I was new. But I didnʼt want that.

At the same time I opened my door, so did the door on the roomʼs left side. We both froze when our eyes met. Her forehead wrinkled as she stared at me.

Then suddenly, a smile slowly formed on her lips as she waved her right hand to me.

“Hello! You must be the new student!” she greeted cheerfully.

“Well, I guess so,” I hesitated to answer because I wasnʼt sure if I was the only student who was new here.

She laughed. I just shrugged my shoulders and started walking. I was about to pass her because I had no intention of talking to her when she suddenly blocked my path.

“Wait!”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “What?”

She started to walk towards me, then extended her right arm.

“By the way, Iʼm Mikan. And you are?”

I just looked at her hand spread out in front of me.

“Nicole,” I simply answered.

She immediately pulled her hand away. It didnʼt seem to bother her that I didnʼt accept the gesture.

I didnʼt want to be rude. I just wasnʼt the friendly type of person. Thatʼs why I didnʼt have any friends at all.

I thought she would stop talking, but it seemed that she really had no intention of letting the conversation go.

“Do you already know where your classroom is?” she asked, smiling.

I shook my head. I really didnʼt know yet. I forgot to ask, and it seemed that Butler Lin also forgot to mention it earlier.

“May I see your schedule?”

Although hesitant, I silently handed her the class schedule I was holding.

“Oh, youʼre also in class 12-A of ABM. You can come with me. That is also my class.” Her voice was full of excitement.

I shrugged. As much as I didnʼt want to go with her, I knew my life would be easier if I did.

“Okay.”

Itʼs a good thing I met one of my classmates. I didnʼt intend to struggle to find my classroom. You needed a lot of luck just to find your way inside this large school.

She just kept telling me about her life, which I had no interest in, while we were walking. I just listened quietly. It was the least I could do.

After we got out of the dormitory building, I saw a lot of fellow students scattered in the area. I immediately noticed that everyone in our dormitory was wearing a bracelet similar to the one Butler Lin had given me.

I didnʼt pay it much attention. But when we passed the other dormitory, I noticed that none of the students there were wearing any bracelets.

I frowned. Do they choose the students who get to wear the bracelets?

Another thing that amazed me was that there were more of them compared to us. I estimate that only one-fourth of the student body was from our dormitory.

Now I wonder why. You will notice right away that something is wrong. Even the way they looked at me—it was so creepy. There was also something different about their eyes. It had some sort of hypnotic effect that I couldnʼt understand.

Another thing I didnʼt understand was why they were only looking at me that way. Did they think I was so beautiful that they couldnʼt stop staring?

“How long have you been here?” I couldnʼt help but ask Mikan. 

We continued walking until we entered a building. Where was our room?

She glanced at me. “Since freshman year,” she answered with a smile.

I was about to ask her again when she suddenly stopped in front of a door. Maybe this is our classroom.

“Here we are.”

She turned the knob and pushed the door open.

When she opened the door, everyone inside suddenly looked at us. I just shook my head when I realized that we were already late because our teacher was already inside.

“Miss Williams, youʼre late,” our teacher said to Mikan.

“Sorry, Sir. It wonʼt happen again.”

She bowed before walking straight to the empty seat at the back.

Did she just leave me hanging?

Our teacherʼs attention shifted to me.

“You must be the new student?”

I slowly nodded to him. His face was too serious.

“Yes, Sir.”

He suddenly smiled. But there was something strange about him that I couldnʼt figure out.

“Okay. Please come here in front and introduce yourself to the class first.”

He motioned with his right hand towards the front of his table.

I quickly entered and immediately stood in front as he ordered.

“Good morning. My name is Nicole Jane Parker,” I managed to introduce myself to them.

There is something really special about the people here. You canʼt even see any kind of emotion in most of them. They just all had these blank expressions.

“Okay.” Suddenly, our teacher approached me. “But whereʼs your bracelet, Miss Parker? Donʼt you know that it is required for you to wear that?” he asked seriously in a low voice.

I was stunned by his question. Was it really that important?

“I was in a hurry earlier, so I forgot to wear it,” I just excused myself.

He nodded. “Okay. Just donʼt forget to wear it next time. That is one of the most important things you should always have with you while youʼre here.”

I was about to ask more when he spoke again.

“You may now take your seat. You may sit next to Miss Williams.”

I walked towards the back. Most of my classmatesʼ gazes followed me. The way they looked at me seemed to indicate that they wanted to eat me alive.

Theyʼre really weird and creepy!

The classes that I attended went well. I listened attentively in every discussion. I was also able to answer the recitations immediately. The subjects are not different here. Itʼs almost the same as the school I came from.

Even though I was stubborn and would often get reprimanded, I can say that I also had something to be proud of. It may not be obvious, but I was one of the top students in my previous school. I passed all of our exams and usually joined the school activities. I also liked joining different clubs that captured my interest.

Some time passed, and finally the bell rang. Just in time, I thought. I was getting hungry, so I quickly gathered my things and was about to go out the door when someone suddenly pulled me in.

“Letʼs go eat together,” Mikan invited.

I was impressed by this girl's fighting spirit. She really thought we were already close friends. She should be thankful that I wasnʼt in the mood to argue, so I just went along.