“What happened to them?”
A gentle beam of sunlight across my face woke me from my soundless slumber. The house smelt the same as it has every morning; cinnamon, pancakes and coffee. I stepped out of bed, my head still stuffed with cotton wool and my eyes still sealed shut with the remains of the night past. I stepped down the stairs, holding onto the railing to help hold my weight.

My father sat at the kitchen table, dressed in dress pants and a blue shirt. His face had been cleanly shaven, and his hair cut to a crisp, clean look. He took a sip of his black coffee and slid his laptop into his case before heading out the door. My mother kissed his cheek before heading out.

“Shouldn't you be going, too?” She asked, fixing my uniform. She smiled then tucked my hair out of my face. “Wouldn't be acceptable if the principal's daughter is late on the first day of school. So get out of here, you little rascal!”

“I don't want to leave,” I spoke, my heart burning inside my chest. I held onto her sleeve.

“I know, honey. Look, I spoke to your father about that Rebecca girl in your class. He'll sort it out, I promise you.” My mother pressed her hands onto my shoulders with this a smile, the pulled me into a hug. I hugged her, not wanting to let go.

“No...” I trailed off, resting my head onto her shoulder. I squeezed even tighter. “I don't want to leave you.”

“I... I don't know. Can you help them?”
“You won't,” She promised, not letting go, either. “I'll be here no matter what. Always.”

I nodded with a smile before running through the doorway towards my father, turning around for one final glance of my mother. I hopped into the passager seat and we were off.

DayBright academy wasn't too far off – we took the car simply so we weren't forced to carry the excessive amount of paperwork my father was required to work through during the holidays. I stepped out, meeting Arry and Jesse at the entrance, and walked off towards the first class.

“I can try.”

“Scored another A in history,” Jesse spoke, running his eyes across his report card he refused to read at the end of the last semester. Claimed it was so he could enjoy himself without worrying about a bad grade, yet with the kind of marks he got, it was no surprise.

“Don't you always?” I asked, slamming shut my locker before wiggling my lock through the latch, locking. Arry started heel toeing, waiting for the two of us to finish what she saw as a pointless conversation. Not that I disagreed with her, of course.

“We should get going,” He shrugged before stepping into the classroom. I sat at the back row, aside from the window. Something Arry may have called a classic anime move, saying characters importance to the plot could be measured in where they sat. I couldn't be bothered by it, though. The seat had been the closest to the front gate, the closest home, and the closest to my mother.

“It's not working!”

“Give it time, Erin.”

Erin slipped into the seat behind me, setting her guitar bag dies beside more here seat. She must have had band practice with her sister later. She was dressed in her uniform with black stockings and tattoo sleeves peeking out underneath. Her bangs swept across her face, making her seem nearly Gothic, but not quiet.

“Hey,” She spoke with a smile. I nodded, returning her greeting.

“She's slipping deeper, dammit!”

I frowned, looking out the window. My thoughts tugged, my heart twisted as an oddly familiar rush flooded my sense. What was that taste? Sugar?

“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom” I raised from my seat, then walked towards the door. My teacher, an elderly man who insisted we'd call him by his first name, Petto, rather than by his last name, frowned.

“We were just about to start the lesson.” He said, pointing at the rest of the class.
“I know, I'm sorry,” I spoke, rushing at the door. By now, blood raised to my head, forcing me to sweat as if I ran a mile or more. I moved to the bathroom, running the tap. I looked up.

My curly brown hair had begun to slip out of its loose ponytail and my light coffee coloured skin had been flooded red. I splashed the cold water over my face and inhaled sharply as I shot out of the bed of the infirmary.