Chapter 25 CHAPTER 25
I had no idea what to think at this point, I couldn't direct my mind because there didn't seem to be any options for me.
I couldn't explore the option of hiding, not when everyone knew my face already.
I couldn't complain to anyone, the teachers, the Principal, or whichever God they served down here.
I turned slightly on instinct to catch Kovar's eyes directed at me, mischief dancing in his gaze.
A promise of more.
I didn't stand a chance of survival here, that was the message he sent.
People like him thrived off of being stronger than someone else, of knowing no one was going to punish them.
I didn't know anyone in this place to be able to explore more options. I mean, back on earth, I could call the police, even allow them put me in a psych ward, I could…just do something.
But here?
I was fucking sitting duck, waiting for whenever the enemy I'd made decided it was time to be done with me.
A shiver ran through me as the memory of his hand clamping around my ankle raced through my head.
He wasn't being playful, he didn't give me room to struggle and when I escaped him the first time, he came back again.
This wasn't about shaking me or proving a point to me.
Kovar doesn't think I should be here and from his methods, he believed I needed to die.
“You need to eat, Alira,” Erin's voice pierced through my terrified haze, “the day's just starting and we won't eat again till evening.”
“You're babying her too much,” Akua grumbled, “wasting your time on someone who won't be here for long. I hope you don't get too attached.”
I tuned out from their conversation and decided to take Erin's advice.
I would cry and despair and look for solutions later.
I'd experienced intense hunger for the past few days and I have learned to box my emotions into a separate folder when there's food before me.
The meat was juicy, the vegetables well-spiced and the potatoes cooked perfectly.
I didn't even realize when I finished everything, down to the last drop.
I caught myself about to belch like an untrained wild animal before realizing what I'd just done.
I had trained myself to stop eating so much and now in front of these strangers, everything flew out of the window.
I slowly looked up, expecting judgment and half-eaten plates only to see Akua returning with a second filling.
“Is that…”
“You can get extra food if you want,” Erin explained, “it's actually encouraged. Your dragon won't accept you if you're malnourished. It's a waste of bond.”
“So you might as well start getting ready to be a maid. What type do you think she'll be?” Mira snickered.
“A potty maid for sure. She is pretty enough to work in the courts but the concubines would have her head the second their Masters look at her twice.”
“You have a strange imagination, Akua,” Erin muttered disapprovingly.
“I'm extremely honest and you don't know how to deal with that you soft woman.”
I looked at my plate and thought about going for a second plate but my stomach squeezed.
It wasn't a smart idea, I realized as I drank one more glass of water.
They have been eating this much for years and I couldn't start doing the same as they, right off the bat.
Besides, I wasn't staying so their dragons can select whoever they want, I don't belong here.
The second class of the day was combat, hand-to-hand combat.
As in, more opportunities for someone to try to kill me.
But as the universe would have it, this teacher, a female with an easy-going smile told me to sit this one out and just observe instead. I noticed her calm, pink aura with the corner of my eye, a direct contrast to how powerful she seemed, but I didn't pay much attention to her or the class.
And while I may have witnessed a brawl or two, my mind was far from this place.
I had created so many scenarios that ended in my demise that I feared I would just stumble and die the next second.
“Alright everyone,” Mistress Vala clapped, her long nails clacking more than her actual palms, “that will be all for today. I'll see you again on Thursday. Caelan, work on your grip. Tristan, stop fighting as though you are playing with your friend, in a battlefield, every second of delay leads to your death. Erin, focus! What is happening with you? You used to be more focused and now you're slacking! And you new girl,” she turned all eyes on me, “meet Master Florian this evening after Dragon history class. He's going to train you and catch you up to speed with the rest of the class. Dismissed!”
No no no…
I physically can't move my limbs in any way that doesn't involve sleeping or eating.
Struggling to escape being drowned twice wasn't something one does and then goes into combat after a hectic day.
‘I can't do it, I just can't,’ I thought to myself as I gathered my things with the rest of the class.
“Good luck with him,” Mira chuckled as she walked towards me with the other two women. “He's pretty as fuck but he'll break all your bones while you fawn over his pretty brows.”
“Mira can you stop scaring the girl? Have some sympathy for fuck sake!”
Erin actually cussed.
At least someone gets me.
Anyways, she doesn't need to stress herself, all of this has simply told me I don't belong here and I won't survive another evening.
“Let me take you to put your details in the system, we still have about an hour before the next class,” Erin said to me but I was already shaking my head.
“I need to go pee, my bladder has been giving me signals all through this class.”
“That's a terrible thing to do. Go over there,” she pointed to a door by the exit of the large gym where the training took place. “I'll be waiting for you.”
I nodded and began going.
But on instinct, I turned around and pulled her into a hug.
“Thank you so much for everything,” I whispered, trying not to cry.
“What is happening? Is she dying? So soon?”
“Don't mind Akua,” Erin chuckled, “but you don't have to thank me. I'm happy to help. Go pee and come back alright?”
I nodded and walked away without a second glance.
My head was spinning, the plan I couldn't formulate was doing very well on its own now, creating a straight path before me.
Staying here would lead to my death just as sure as Baldwin would kill me to avenge his dead father.
But up there, I can fight. I have the scars to prove it, and I have the records to use to go to the police. Well, hopefully they'll let me access it but it was clear that even if I ended up dead, I would be happier on earth than here.
Here, it'll be drawn out. I'll make more enemies. I'll be tortured and who knows what Kovar will do to me now that he knows there were no consequences?
‘Nope,’ I shook my head as I closed the toilet door behind me.
I decided I'll blink back to earth where everything is familiar and I'll take my chances.
And that's exactly what I did.
I blinked.
Fast.
Slow.
Quickly.
Rapidly.
Repeatedly.
But nothing changed, I was still in this toilet stall with the weird plumbing system.