Chapter 3:The Letter

Zeta:

I was plopped on my bed while I stared at my hardwood ceiling as thoughts swarmed through my head as I remembered the recent events.A week had passed since I killed Mike after he tried to assault him.I had not left my room and I didn't bother to switch on the light.I wore my baggy black shirt and only my undies.It was boring but I locked myself in my room as I cried as a dry chorus of a million voices laughed and insulted me daily.Why am I not crazy now ?I asked myself as I thrashed back and turned on my soft bed.Guilt was eating me alive yet I did nothing.

A soft knock ruined my train of thought and self-loathing.

"Zeta,Please.Leave your room.You can' be there just acting dead."He shouted.

Watch me.I thought,Let me mope.

I fell on the bed.

He knocked harder and louder as I used my old pillows to muffle to loud noise.I groaned,swung my legs on the side of the big bed and slipped on my black slippers and padded towards the door as I yanked it opened to meet Loan.His messy brown hair that looked great ,well dressed in a black T-shirt ,clean jeans and his bare feet on the carper.Something heavy lopped onto my hands as a groan escaped my lips.

"Shithole."I blurted.

He threw his head back with laughter and leaned on my hardwood door frame. "Nice to see you're weird as bitchy as usual."He muttered as I gritted my teeth together.

"It's in the freaking morning of course I'm bitchy."I snapped,my voice rose as I glared at him.He raised his hands in mock surrender,leaned back and balanced on one leg as he tried not to smile.I shoved him as he laughed and stared at my meal."I'm not hungry,I've already eaten."I said.

My brother was tall ,lean and muscular and tanned just like me but his hair was straighter and darker than mine but he was an eighteen-year old who recently graduated.

"You can't be in your room that long."He leaned forward as if to sniff me then he recoiled."I wonder if you' even showered or brushed your teeth."He peeked into my room,looked left and right before he stared at me,"Seriously,sis.You can't syrieve on chips and no sunlight you're gonna lack vitamin D.You've been in there for five days."He lectured as I rolled my eyes.

"You hypocrite."I snapped as I balanced my meal.I wasn't hungry at all.

Go to hell.

Die.

Murderer.

The voices took turns as they insulted me as he blurred and I stumbled but a familiar hand wrapped around my wrist as I nodded.

"The voices,"I whispered then recoiled."Remember when I was ten and I was stalked.you told mum that I'm a imposter.That my real sister isn't sick that...that I'm a phoney."I screamed.He tried to reassure me and grabbed my fingers but I shoved my food to him and ahed the door but he placed his foot there and placed his fibres on the door.

"No,It was a mistake."He raised his voice.

"You called me a retard."I yelled as tears brimmed my eyes."Don't you remember?"

"Please.Zeta.Listen."He begged, "I'll make whatever you want.Please.I'm begging you,"

I straightened my spine and curled my lips,"Make me my favourite ice cream,kay."I laughed as he huffed as he relaxed.

"Ok,"He muttered,calm as his eyes brightened.My eyes darted to his metal bracelet clasped on his wrist and his new bad boy look as I shamelessly rolled my eyes.

"Sis.Please brush your teeth and bathe at least.switch on your lights and add the AC too,you know."I nodded as I slammed the door shut.

I entered into my small,claustrophobic bathroom and looked at myself,smelt my pits as I gagged .I brushed my teeth,gurgled and stared at the bare,blue wall and sighed.A mirror was supposed to fill that void but there weren't any mirrors here.

No,we didn't have mirrors for medical and weird reasons.It was not the myth that mirrors are windows to another world or a bridge between demons to our world but it was a peculiar window.Since I was six ,I had never seen my own reflection in our apartment but in school I tried so hard to avoid them.I've gotten used to not seeing myself in the mornings but even without them.I know I looked like shit.I felt the dried crust on my eyes ad the drool that dribbles my chapped lips.I knew I stuck because I either need wiped my pits and face or showered for ten seconds with cold water.

Because killers like you don't deserve warm water or proper food or even air to breathe.The voice echoed in my head as I yanked the cabinet next to the bare,remembrance of the wall and shook my pills and swallowed them dry then I opened the tap and drank the water.

I stripped my clothes and entered into the shower as I bathed.Coted in soap as I wiped my dirty hands and his face faded into my mind as I squeezed my eyes shut.my back slid down the wall as I pushed my legs to chest,cradled my head into my hands and weeped.

Why Mike?Have you made me a murderer.Why did you do that!Why did I kill you.You deserve jail,strangled or drowned but why my hands.

I shouted at the wall as it echoed back.

After a few minutes of delaying.I took a deep breath I walked out out of my room.I Washed my hair,screamed,dressed in pants and a turtleneck with bare feet as passed and walked to the hall when I saw my mother as she got up from the red sofa and stared at me wide-eyed.

"Mom."I croaked.

"I-I head.Zeta,Oh.I'm so sorry."'My mother's thick mane of light brown and her bloodshot brown eyes with concern as she wordlessly walked to me,wrapped her arms around me in a hug.She sat up and still wore her scrubs and looked stressed and exhausted.

"I can't believe he did this to you.you didn't deserve it at all."She said,her eyes darted anywhere else as she tried to process what my father told her."The boy is horrible and I hope he pays for his sin."She said ,her voice firm as she stroked my hair and her other hand closed firmy on her rosary.

Our house was decorated with numerous crucifixes made of glass or polished wood and a porcelain figure of Mary stood in between our family photos.My mother was way religious than all of us combined and my father was non-denominational,my brother an ashiest and me just trying to find myself if I'm even religious but I am just a bit but I am.Even though my brother is an ashiest he still goes to church with us.But if It kept the monsters at bay.I'll gladly stay in a church by myself without the priest or the people.Just me.

"Mom,"I croaked,"would I go to jail?I killed someone."

She soothed her voice,shook her head,"No,not on our watch.We'll defend you.we'll get a lawyer if we have too.''She said, determined as she raised her fist.

"But..."I blurted but she cut me off.

"No ,buts mijn duif."She added.

My dove,was the nickname my mother called.It was cute but I felt icky whenever I heard it.It meant goodness and purity but I was none.

My mother left and chatted with my father for hours after that.I felt guilty not because of what I did but because my parents refused to go to work today all because of me.Afew minutes of staring out of the window at our shithole.It was morning but the sky looked navy-blue but choked with smoke and oddly chilly.I sat on our round table as my brother sat on the sofsa as he changed the channels with boredom.I sighed as he rose,grinned and walked towards our rusty small fridge.

He looked in the fridge and rummaged through it and asked."So sis.What do you want?"

I raised a brow and laughed,"Strawberry ice cream,my style."I said.

He looked at me and stuck his tongue in disgust,"Are you trying to be healthy?"

I laughed,"Not if you're lactose intolerant."

He snorted,placed the ingredients on the counter as he scooped three big scoops onto a glass goblet and drowned it in chocolate syrup,ketchup and bacon bits as he gagged and I giggled.

"If you get a stomach ache from having ice cream for breakfast it is on you."He warned as I ate it but my stomach was in knots and bile rose from my throat as I forced it in my mouth.

A week passed after that and things kind of changed,the doorbell chimed on numerous occasions and everyday we reported it for spam mail.My parents argued and yelled at each other about it when I asked what was happened ,they dismissed me or ignored me so Loen went out or wore headphones or heightened the volume on the max which annoyed.A week passed,and the mail kept on coming.

I groaned,covered my ears with pillows and rolled on my bed.

Why are they so eager?

Why are my parents yelling at each other?

It chimed again.I rolled my eyes as I climbed off my bed and my brother cursed in English in a very colourful way so my Dad chided him.

I walked past the hallway as everybody froze but Loen stopped then burst into laughs as my parents' anger melted away as they forced a smile.

"HiMom,any news on stopping the mail?"I asked as she shook her head and plopped the packages and long envelope on our counter with a grunt.

"No,sweetie but you have other things to worry about.''My mother said.The door chimed again,she clenched her jaw then opened the door angrily but her expression slowly morphed to regret as her eyebrow raised.

"I'm so sorry.Miss Genna."She trailed on,"Yes,the constant packages and the doorbells annoys you.I'm so sorry.I'm not ordering anything."

I sighed.

***

Another week had passed.The doorbell chimed. I ignored it and tried to focus on my calculus homework but then it repeated, again. I huffed, discarded my pen and calculator and opened the door ajar of the apartment. I looked left and right of the vacant hallway. Wooden doors lined the plain white walls of the empty hallway. I huffed, then slammed the door as soon as my foot touched the carpet, it chimed again. Sighing heavily, I whirled then opened the door and shuddered at the empty hallway.I darted her eyes and stopped at a long dowdy envelope and two packages stacked, a small box and a big one lay next to it. With a clenched jaw, knelt down and turned it over.

The address glared.

To Miss Zeta Schmitt

Bahnhofstrasse 18

12345 Berlin

Deutschland

I sighed in realisation as I looked around the empty apartment.I was alone and before my parents left.They warned me about going out and the old lady next door will watch for anything.But what was so important about a letter that they didn't want me to read at all.My dad was working as a construction manager in another city, my mom was working her shift at the hospital and Leone had gone to a frat party.(Stupid,I know?)

Sometimes it was a package, both or just the envelope and my parents reported it but in one way or the other, it came back. The sender felt eager to send mail and it wasn't to her parents, it was to her. My pink lip curled in delight as I scooped the packages, and kicked the door shut.

I narrowed my eyes at the sender's address and gaped:

From the Specialis Academy

Maine, Bar Harbor, 1296

United States of America

I gasped loudly, clamped my mouth shut and I sat on the red sofa and placed the packages on the coffee table. I breathed heavily, furrowed my eyebrow and stared intently at my assignment. I wasn't smart but I was average. It was all a waste of time. My brain hurt, the numbers were like meaningless spaghetti and the equations made no sense. I tossed her work away, grabbed the letter and gasped in disbelief.

What was I expecting? Drugs, money or something important. How you could be so stupid. I rubbed her temples and stared at the letter. I was stunned and extremely confused. Why would my parents hide a scholarship letter to a school abroad even though I didn't apply or write an exam?

"What!"

I ran a hand through my brunette hair in frustration and reread it again. I skipped the address and went to the main point and as she read, her heart sank.

Acceptance letter,

Dear Miss Zeta Schmitt,

Congratulations! It is with great pleasure to inform you that you are accepted to our training program at the Specalis Academy in Maines, Bar Harbor. You have been given this opportunity for your education, your condition.Our school is for special individuals, and you have been invited to our exchange half-scholarship program.

We have sent you packages and pamphlets of the school so you can familiarise yourself with our campus and opportunities you would be given at the facility. We look forward to meeting you and if you have any concerns you can email us so we transition your exchange.

We look forward to seeing you at our academy.

Sincerely,

Miss Silver

I stopped, arched a brown brow and looked over to the discarded packages. I got up, knelt down and turned the smaller one named: Fragile. Without a second thought, I ripped it open and in fell a necklace - no an amulet. It was made of silver chains, a purple pearl as dull as the moon and glowed a weak shade of dark amethyst. It pulsed like a heart, as it got brighter and colder to touch. Her eyes went wide with fear and in an instant. I dropped it. My fingers became numb and blue.

"The hell,"I gasped, I breathed in and darted my eyes carelessly around. I breathed in and stared at my hands in horror. My heart hammered against my chest and toes felt cold against the floor. I clenched my fingers around my silver crucifix and slowly knelt down as it glowed brighter. I took it and mumbled to myself. "Oh God, please be a prank, please be some stupid prank." I shook her head and took the metal. Then the thin package on the carpet started twitching, turning and shaking. I paused, looked at the ...thing then went to the box. I walked slowly to the box as if in a trance then she counted to ten then tackled it and ripped it open. My heart raced as Zeta tried to register what just happened.

I wasn't rich but she wasn't poor. It was common to live in apartments in Germany. She lived in a nice-looking apartment with a very small lift, which broke down a lot. My neighbours were either addicts or abusive. Smoke choked the air, blocking out the sun and cars honked a lot in traffic jams. We had a small but cosy living room with a small T.V, comfortable couches and armchairs and a small bookshelf cramped with old, wilted books. The kitchen was small but always stocked with food. There were two rooms, one for her parents and her brother and oddly enough, the eighteenth floor was the highest floor with even a studio apartment that was converted into an attic. It wasn't much but it was nice. The beds were queen-sized. A normal apartment for a normal girl.

I panicked and clenched the book in my hands then rolled off the floor, grabbed my phone as the screen glared at her.

19th, August 2022.

I slowly lifted herself and a notebook slipped off and fell onto the wooden floor. I grabbed it and stared at the tropical beach themed book. On the first blue-striped page was a neatly scribbled note.

Ps: Use the necklace to read between the lines. Good luck. You're gonna need it.

I nodded, completely concluding that I lost my damn mind. I stared at the couch, pushed her baggy T-shirt over my shorts while I wiggled my toes. The chain curled on my finger as I brought it towards the page and my eyes widened. Ultraviolet words faded it into view. I smiled wide with a sense of familiarity and absolute horror. Her eyes caught between the cold glow and the words. The second page seemed to glow and as I dragged it across a cursive, handwriting showed on another page then another. In less than a minute, I was blinded with light and the book seemed to blend. Then it died.There was a whole journal with someone's lives documented.

"Holy shit." I screamed.

I smirked, feeling like some super-agent and a total weirdo.My hypothesis was correct as she turned the letter around and lo and behold it was a secret message.

The letter read.

Hi, my name is Hamia McCarthy and I am your guide; you've received this letter personally, by me because you're obviously not human. Some few years ago, something horrible happened but now that's up for you to find out. I can tell you're shocked but don't worry. If you accept this invitation to our school, everything will be revealed — if you're either a Specalis, a human born with supernatural tendencies or a supernatural with more power.

In our school, you'll be trained well and you'll find out why you are in this world and can learn to help others.

As I've mentioned before, everything will be explained very soon but that's only ,if you accept.

Ever noticed anything odd about yourself?

To give you an out view, please read the story about my life and everything will eventually make more sense.

If you've received this, please read. It is supposed to give a warning of ...well, about your 'new' life.

Hi, my name is Heather, and this is the story of how I died. Yes, I died.

'What the hell!'

I have always been obsessed with paranormal things. My family moves a lot for work. When I finally moved into a new place, I hated it but life is not always roses and hearts. Yet, the people I met and the crazy things that occurred afterwards changed my perspective.

Have you ever wondered how it is to believe fantasy is real? Well, I've been obsessed with fantasy novels ever since I turned nine. One day, my family and I moved to a new town but I didn't really know what was waiting for me. Learning about trust, regret and lust. I didn't understand but now this is the story of how I died.

"OK, this is bullshit." I scoffed, shook my head and thought long and hard. Her brain hurt but it was easier. Like who wasn't weird in their lifetime. I was a certified freak with a mental disorder - or a freak and hated it. Now it oddly makes sense. I am very slow, struggled to learn and probably very delusional but I was bored and tired.

When I was younger, I felt attracted to dark and disturbing things. I read horror novels and watched horror films, classics and modern crap all night on Halloween. I sneaked out to play with Ouija boards and tarot cards with my friends-or not anymore. Or maybe perhaps I'm still in my dark phase of being Goth and Emo. That I only attracted creeps and weirdos and she was social. But Zeta knew she wasn't normal at all.

I would often hang out at the cemetery to watch the graves, wondering dark thoughts and felt unusually comfortable at such a place and at home. I saw monsters, creatures and things that weren't there, who were in pain or needed help. I could see ghosts, spirits, and much much more. My therapist and psychologist had told me I might just have Schizophrenia.