Chapter 12

KIRA:
The whole atmosphere feels different now that I’m here. I wasn’t even dreading being here, but I can’t help but observe the oddity of it all. I guess being away from a place for a while changes your view about the place. But mine changes every time I do such a thing.
School has always been my least favorite thing. Especially since the time I became intelligent enough to know that there were quite a few other things I could do instead of trying to be educated. Like who the hell thought it was beneficial for young ones to go through school?
My dislike for school contributed a lot to my negligence. I just hate being here. Nothing about the environment gave me a feeling of satisfaction. And if it hadn’t been for my father who came back home last night and forced me to school today, I’m sure I would have begun my second consecutive week away from the educational sector. If that even makes sense.
I hold on tight to the straps of my bag which I have strapped on my back. This was done as I stare right at the building that screams nothing but dungeon to me. Oh geez, why did father have to make do this? This is torture.
‘The learning aspect isn’t what makes you hate school that much, I know,’ Alexia is in my head as she says that to me. It only compounds more worry for me in a way that I cannot tell.
“And what makes you say that?” I whisper in return.
‘Because I feel it,’ she says. ‘I’m trying hard not to pry into your thoughts because I can. But that doesn’t mean I cannot feel your desires. It's so strong and I can tell,’
I scoff and then start to walk up to the building ahead. A little while ago I went through the gates and it took me about five minutes of convincing myself that I need to be here before I eventually did it. I sure regret it now because there is no going back for me. The school rule states that once you get in, then you are not getting out until the closing hour...
...which is in seven hours time!
“How would you even know about my desires? You’re in my head doesn’t mean you should be able to access my emotions,” I tell Alexia.
‘I am not just in your head, Kira. I am your whole being. I am connected to you through your soul, which means anything that happens to you, affects me as well. And vice versa,’
“Isn’t that just absurd?”
‘I didn’t make it that way,’
Now I feel grumpy because it feels like I am being invaded. Yeah, my privacy all of a sudden doesn’t feel private anymore. Although she says she does not pry into my thoughts. But how can I tell when I do not know the functioning of the whole thing in me? Gosh, I never asked for any of these. At least not now.
“Is there a way I can block you from not accessing my thoughts?” I have to ask.
‘Of course, there is. You just need to work on establishing a link into your head and from there you will access the means of blocking any interference from an external body,’
“Great, you’ll teach me how to do that later,”
‘So you want to learn how to block me from linking with you but do not want to learn the means of communicating with me. I see,”
I could hear the hurt in her tone when she tells me that. And all of a sudden, I feel myself becoming sad. Is that what she said about being able to feel what the other is feeling?
Guilt starts to overwhelm me. And although it should not seem that bad that I am making a choice of protecting my privacy, her words make me realize that I might just be pushing her aside.
I choose to explain to her, “Don’t take it the wrong way, Alexia. I am in no way trying to push you away if that is what you are thinking. I just need some time to get things straight. I need to understand if I am going through the right phase as a wolfling because this seems rather strange,”
“See, the poor thing has resorted to talking to herself,” a voice catches my attention. And it was at that time that I realize that I have gotten into the hallway of the school building. Guess I must have been so lost in thought that I did not know where I am going.
Three girls were standing on the path in front of me. And by the look of things, they didn’t mean any good. Or should I say they are up to no good? This is because they are actually the biggest reason I choose to neglect school occasionally.
They were Sophie, Katie, and Evelyn. And they tend to bully a lot, just like I am sure they are about to do now.
I am speechless. Which is due to the nervousness of being around there. I mostly find myself dumbstruck in situations with them and this is surely going to be no different.
“So, you’ve started talking to yourself, huhn?” Sophie, the middle one, and the leader as well, says to me.
“And who the hell is Alexia?” Katie, standing by the right, chips in. Oh boy, she heard what I said.
“Her imaginary friend, I believe,” Evelyn has a go as well and they all get a good laugh at it.
‘A reason why you should have learned how to use the mind-link,’ Alexia’s mockery voice gets to my head and I find myself scoffing out loud. Except that was the wrong timing because I should not have done that. Especially not in front of them. I guess I might have set myself up for a round of trouble.
My grip on my bag tightens when I see Sophie approaching me. The question in my mind is about how I am going to get through this. Maybe I should make a run for it. Except that won’t be possible.
They would surely outrun me no matter what. And it is because they have attained their spirit wolfs since about four months ago which they boasted confidently to the others. Maybe someone needed to remind them that they have all turned eighteen.
Sophie’s stylish pullover flashes on my face when she arrives right in front of me. There was little to no distance left between us. So it gave me a close call to her pink, possibly expensive, wear. Granting that her height towers over mine.
“Now you’ve got the courage to make such a sound while standing in front of us? Tell me, did your senses go away with you after staying away from school for over a week?” she says, and the next thing I feel is a knock on my head. Apparently, it was a way of scolding me, in their own terms.
“Ow,” I whine in pain. “What did you do that for?”
Now I do not know where I got the courage to speak back to her from. This was the first time I would be doing this and it felt like I was in no control of my body.
I am not the only one shocked at my actions. Sophie and her friends are as well. No one between the four of us would have ever expected me to talk back. Ever.
I watch as Sophie tilts her head to the side. “Look, guys,” she starts to say, “ the little one has grown some wings,” she mocks and her friends laugh in return at her silly joke. Wonder what they found funny in that. Even Adam would make a better jester than that.
“You have no right to call me little!” I counter which makes Sophie look back at me instantly.
This isn’t me. Hell no, it isn’t. I would never produce such confidence, never. I have no idea what I am doing so I just know that the words are flowing out without control.
‘It isn’t me if you care to know,’ Alexia tells me and that just about sums it up that I might be having a strange entity in me again. Or I might just be making things up again.
“What has gotten into you, you moron? Have you forgotten who you’re standing in front of?” Sophie lashes out at me.
“Nope,” I say. “Of course, I know that I am standing in front of the sauciest wolfling alive. And what was that your name again? Oh yes, Sophie. I actually forgot because how was I to remember the name of someone who acts like a kid?”
“Woah!” Katie and Evelyn exclaim in surprise after my ridicule of Sophie. And to be honest, even though I am not in control of what is going on, I do find that satisfying. So much that I cannot help but smirk as a way to humiliate Sophie further.
Sophie’s expression tells me that she could burst out at any time. She looks like she has been hit so bad that she cannot even find a way to get back at me. The jaw-dropping stun on her face was the best thing that has happened to me since I got into this academy. Feels more and more satisfying with every passing moment.
“I suppose the tables have turned, my dear Sophie. So if you would shush while I make my way to my class,” I tell Sophie and with my hand, push her aside to make way for myself as I intend to leave the hallway.
And just as I pass her aside, I feel her grab me by the hair and then pull me back to where I was initially standing. The next thing that follows up is her fist being directed to my face to possibly hit me squarely.
But she sure was not expecting me to react because before she could successfully land a punch to my face, I grab her hand and then counter with a punch to her face instead, sending her butt-first to the floor.