CHAPTER THREE

I was walking in the hallway then suddenly...

Someone bumped into me and made me drop my books.

"Oh, sorry" he said and help me pick my books.

"Oh, it's okay, it's my fault, I didn't look where I was going" I said while picking some books of mine without looking at the guy who bumped into me.

I stood up and so did he. I glared at him and 'OMG! is it really him?' my heart started pounding as I gazed at those ocean-like orbs of his, his signature smile, his dark eyebrows, and messy hair. 'He's so perfect' I thought in my mind as I gazed at him.

"Are you okay? Is there something wrong? I'm sorry I bumped into you" he said with sincere apologies that can be reflected in his eyes.

"It's okay, nothing wrong, t-t-thank you for helping me" I replied and smiled at him.

His wristwatch chimes and he looked at the time and "oh, it’s already 7 o'clock, we better get going or we'll be punished" he said "okay then, see y'around" I smiled then traipse to class A section Blood.

I was about to open the door when someone opened the door from the inside and my heart thumps as it was Prof. Ashtoine Bailen who open it "oh no, I'm dead. He's gonna punish me, get ready to be punished self" I thought to my mind. "Ms. Esquivel" he started "oh no, here it goes" I thought "come inside, the class is about to start" then he walk to the front center desk. "wait, what? He didn't punish me? So strange" I whispered "sir, aren't you gonna punish me for being late for your class?" I asked

He turned around to face me "Why? Do you want to be punished by me Ms. Esquivel?" he grinned. "Its just strange that you..." I was about to finish my sentence when Prof. Bailen cuts in "well then, go to your seat so you'll have your punishment" he commanded as he cut my sentence, "Eh? Sir..." "go to your seat or you'll be suspended for the whole year" he demanded so I dashed to my seat and started to be silent as possible.

"May we start?" he asked with his charming smile.

"yes sir" the whole class answered in unison.

"Good morning!" Sir Bailen greeted with a small curve in his lips "Good morning Sir" we greeted in unison as we stood up. He landed his eyes on me and made a sarcastic lopsided grin "Well, looks like we have a new student in this class." he spoke then raised his arm in my direction with his palm facing the ceiling "Why don't you introduce yourself little newbie?" he grinned. All of the students laid their attention to me that made my heart pound "I... I... I'm Alycione Esquivel, neophyte of this academy" I introduced "Well then Ms. Esquivel, I'm Prof. Ashtoine Bailen, the one holding this class and welcome to section Blood. Hope you enjoy being with us in this class." he greeted.

The clock rang and all of the students marched in queue, one after the other; they exit the room and went somewhere "What's going on?" I thought in my mind, I almost tripped and landed on my face when someone from behind pushed me.

I turned around to face whoever is the one that pushed me from behind and spotted a girl sneering at me "Kathleen! I'll show you" I thought angrily as I clenched my fists; "Ahem ahem" my eyes enlarged when someone clearing his throat is near me, I slowly revolved my head and saw him in his earnest while his arms folded in front and his fingers tapping on his left arm "Cursing her in your mind?" he asked then scoffs "If you are, then show her what you've got." he spoke then walked right past me.

Almost all of the students were now outside marching in line and I'm still here, hammered at my place; four red lights occurred in every corner of the room that made me gasp "What's happening?" I whispered as I glared at every corner of the room.

Two columns of windows at the west and east side away from the door closed shut, the temperature became high that made some glacial liquid from my forehead flows down; the door suddenly creeks as it was about to shut while the temperature became higher than it already did, I dashed towards the wooden door located at the northeastern portion of the room just to get out of here and live.

Before the door closed, I moved my body facing the west and moved sideways to escape; I let out a sigh in relieved when I successfully escaped the room that could kill me "Hey!" I turned around carefully and saw Sir Ashtoine with a serious face while having his arms folded in front "What are you doing here? The class is about to begin." he spoke, I raised my pointer and asks "S-sir, w-what are---" "Quit asking and follow me..." he stated as he cuts my question "before you get lost." he added and began to walk away "but sir, I have navigation here. I'm sure I won't get lost" I spoke cheerfully while raising my phone up.

He halted and turned around "Oh really? Are you sure about that?" he asked while grinning as he pleated his arms in front of him "Mm-hmm" I answered while nodding "You have your trust to that thing called "navigation" Ms. Esquivel, then look for the location of this academy by using your useless contraption" he commanded.

I went to navigation and browse the location of the school named Sheol Academy, and waited for the results to come out.

Some moments later,

'Error! No results found'

"Huh? There must be a mistake" I murmured as my eyebrows narrowed, I checked the signal but it's high so it means there's no way this could happen "Is there a problem with that useless thing Esquivel?" he smirked "None Sir" I answered as some glacial liquid from my forehead flows down while I repeat my correct procedure of browsing the location of this academy.

The silence surrounding them shattered, by the guffaws of Sir Ashtoine that made me wonder "what's so funny about?" then he made his serious facial expression as he stared at me and made a creepy lopsided grin "Whatever you do or how hard you're trying to find this academy, there will be no results, no traces coming out." he informed "And in that case of not obeying my instruction, you'll be punished for your actions" he added that made my shoulders sagged and dropped my phone as my heart thumps loud while shaking.

He traipse towards me and picked up my phone, "Don't trust things that won't help you get out of trouble 'cause some things you trusted so much, leaves you in your darkest time" he stated as he handed over my phone to me.

"T-thank you S-sir" I thanked stuttering while reaching my phone not knowing if he's teaching me a lesson or giving me an advice in that kind of speaking; he suddenly grabbed my arms tightly and pulled me to somewhere place that I don't know "Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" I complained rapidly "Sir, it hurts!" I added but he don't even give a glare and made his grip even more tighter that made me shut my eyes in pain of his grip like doesn't care if he's hurting me or not.

After some time of dragging me to somewhere, he released my arm from his tight grip that left a reddish mark that caused the blood in my veins to the lower portion where my arm is connected to my right hand to stop flowing and turned pale.

I caressed my arm carefully as I glared at it with concern, "Now that you're here" he started as he stood in front of the table 5 meters away from where I'm standing right now "It's your turn" he added as I heard him pull the trigger from behind that made my heart pound while some glacial liquids from my body flows down.

He turned around and traipse forward to approach me while holding a Glock 19 gun on his right hand. As he approached me, he handed over the Glock 19 gun to me; I hold onto it while my hands were shaking in surprise of what I'm just seeing right now as I gazed at the gun I'm holding at.

'Is this legal?' I thought in my mind knowing that a minor can't hold nor have a gun like this "Shoot" he demanded with a serious tone of voice while standing 2 meters away from me on the left side; "S-sir?" I called as I slowly turned my head to the left "What?" he answered as he glared at me with a serious face.

"Is this l-legal?" I asked stuttering in nervousness "This is shooting class Esquivel, and there's nothing wrong with training students for defense" he explained that made me speechless and looked down to the ground in embarassment; I took a deep breath and let it out as I nervously raised my arm holding the Glock 19 gun and aimed for the white body-shaped standee with some circles at the center.

"You have five tries to shoot the main target, which is... THE HEART" he informed and gave a full stress on the words 'the heart' that made my heart thump louder than it already did "The heart is located at the center of the circles, which means..." he approached me while holding his black glove for his right hand "that tiny circle, in the center of all circles is the main target." he spoke while pointing at the tiny red circle and glared at me "if you fail, you'll be the target for today's meeting." he added that made me gulp as he gave me a murderous gaze.

I wiped away the sweat from my face and began to aim at the target and shot the white body-shaped standee five times.

I sighed in relief "At last, I'm done" I whispered "And who says your done?" a voice from behind spoke, I turned around and saw him with his arms folded in front of him "C-Cyd? W-what are you doing here?" I asked nervously "Sir Ashtoine's still observing your performance in shooting, the same as I do. I'm here because I'm his student, and we're all observing you since you enter this room with illusionary effects" he stated and glared at Sir Ashtoine that is currently observing my shots at the white body-shaped standee and deciding what score he'll gonna give to .

"Based on my observations, you completely failed to hit the tiny red circle but you shot the head and that's a good start." he stated while walking towards my direction "In this case, I'll let your punishment pass and you need some more training to do." he said with a lopsided grin "I'll be her trainer Sir." Cyd spoke as he volunteered to be my trainer "Are you sure Valencia?" he asked "Yes sir." he answered "Well then, I'll give you my permission and trust to do nothing that may hurt a student, including Ms. Esquivel." he stated "Thank you Sir" he grinned.

Sir Ashtoine walks away leaving the two of us and giving attention to the other students at the back that suddenly appeared in my sight "Told you, this room has illusionary effects that you wouldn't expect to have" he smirked as we glared at them, I rotated my head to the left to gaze at him "Is there anything else you know in this place weird?" I asked "Weird? You think this Academy's weird?" he replied and glared at me "Maybe? Due to its difference with the other campus I know." I answered and lift the end of my lips.

"Mmmm" he said while nodding "That's okay, I felt the same way in my first time. And by the way, after recess, wait for me in the room." he instructed and I nodded as an answer.

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