Ahvia pov
After I nearly killed someone and burned down his house,I knew my parents wouldn't hesitate to dump me away to some cruel academy.
The car ride was silent, tension thick. My mother sat in front, arms crossed,her lips pressed into a thin line. My father drove the car with his usual blank expression,hands gripping the wheels tightly. They hadn't spoken since we left home and honestly I preferred it that way. Nothing they said could change the fact that they were dumping me here,at an unknown school.
The gates of Bellworth academy looked like they were straight out of a horror movie. Rusted iron, ominous creaking and huge stone walls that stretched high even in the daylight,the place looked like a prison. Before reaching here,I expected a sign saying"Abandon All Hope,Ye who enter here".
Honestly,it would have been more than"the anger management is our speciality" banner flipping in the wind above the main building.
"This is for your own good, Ahvia. A girl shouldn't behave like you've " my mother said in her usual strict voice.
I scoffed"Right! Because abandoning me in a school full of psychos is definitely in my best interest".
My father exhaled sharply but didn't argue. he never did and that was the problem.
I gripped the straps of my backpack following my parents to the reception room. A man in a dark suit stepped to us clasping his hands in front of him. His hair slicked back with military precision.
"Ahvia Monera" he said voice clipped "Welcome to Bellworth Academy"
I didn't answer him,I just stared at him waiting. I made myself to appear tough but inside I was freaking out.
What if there are serial killers? What if I get killed?
I had many questions but I chose to remain silent.
His lips twitched like he was amused. "I'm the headmaster Clifford Graves. Here you'll learn discipline, control, and most important how to channel your impulses".
My mother placed a hand on my back,a silent push forward. Headmaster Graves turned gesturing for me to follow him. I gave one last look at my parents.
My mother's expression remained unreadable. Sometimes I wonder if she had any emotions apart from disappointment.
But my father looked regretful,just for a second. But I didn't matter anyway,they were leaving and I was staying.
I followed Graves inside. The entrance hall had dark wooden floors, high ceilings and dark blue walls which had picture frames of maybe teachers or headmasters.
This place was eerie quite,it just didn't feel right to me.
"The rules here are simple," Graves said as we walked "Respect strength,do not show weakness and above all else… control your anger or it will control you".
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from saying any nasty remarks. What kind of school ran on fear? What's am I going to do to survive in this place? I had no idea.
Then again,that was why I was here.
We stopped at a desk where a woman handed him a folder. He flipped through it before handing it to me. " Your class schedule and your dorm assignment".
I took it,my eyes scanning the page, I froze " This has to be a mistake Mr principal" I said looking up at him.
" I'm in male dorms? That doesn't normally happen right?"
He clasped his hands behind his back " There are no mistakes here, Miss Monera. Everything happens for a reason, the female dormitory is full so you're with the boys.Room 303 you'll be sharing with Damien crowe".
" Are you serious?" I asked
" Deadly"
" Fantastic!" I took the folder and went down to a male dormitory. It smelled like sweats,dirty socks,body sprays, cigarettes and bad decisions. One guy walked past me wearing shorts and carrying a broken chair like a trophy! Weird right?
Other two guys were arguing in the hallway when we passed.
"Hey sweet cheeks" one of them said as I passed,"you look like you're lost or are you our new mascot?"
I stopped deadly in my tracks turning to them and threw them the best glare I could, satisfied I walked away ignoring the curses that followed behind me.
Even though I was scared as hell,but I had to act tough and make these guys stay away from me.
Room 303 was at the end of the hallway as I got closer the more chills I felt. First of all,the door has a large dent indicating that someone had kicked it hard enough to leave a reminder for their danger.
I knocked once, twice and no one answered. I shoved the door open, inside it was dark curtains drawn,bed unmade and a guy sitting on the bed looking hella mad and cruel.
"You're not supposed to be here" his voice was low, flat and cold sending chills to my body. I was trembling slightly, I felt like he could kill me whenever he wanted but I'll not show him that I'm afraid of him.
"Tell that to a receptionist" I tossed my bag onto the empty bed and turned my body to ask him when he pushed me hard to the wall with his hands around my neck. He choked me so hard that I saw stars in my vision. I was going to die on my very first day.
Oh my god! Oh my god!
I'm going to die on my first day. Mom and dad,I'm going to die. Tears stung my eyes that they became blurry,the air was cut from my lungs as I began struggling to breathe.
His eyes were so different! They were sparkling almost like a golden color. They were in slits like predator eyes.
He narrowed his eyes which made them more scarier "What the hell did you say?" He said his voice was cold and ruthless.
I kept struggling to get out of his hold as I couldn't answer him. It was getting harder to breathe. He seemed to realize that and he stepped back, his hands falling away from my neck.
I took a deep breath then looked at him. "I said,the receptionist assigned me here because the girls' dorms are full! Any problem with that?"
I Know I was digging my own grave, irritating this guy that almost choked me to death but if I show him I'm afraid of him ,he'll use that to his advantage.
He stared at me "Who the hell are you?"
Instead I asked him "Are you Damien Crowe?"
He answered"yeah and who are you?"
"Im Ahvia" I answered him Crossing my arms.
He stared at me like I told him I will redecorate our room in pink! "Ahvia?"
"Yes," I said, flashing him a fake smile. "Can you tell me if we have a schedule here or is this a fend for yourself situation?"
He glared at me "Are you serious? " He asked, like he couldn't believe whatever was going on.
"Im serious now can you answer me? ". I sassed as I began to arrange my things.
~~~~
It wasn't until later, when I went to the cafeteria to grab food, I met a girl. She was leaning against a vending machine in the hallway, one boot propped up on the wall and a cigarette hanging from her lips.
"They let you smoke in here?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
This place never ceased to amaze me. It was hell as well as heaven. The place was visually striking but something told me that the students here were worse.
"Nope." She smirked, blowing out a puff of smoke. "But they don't stop me either."
I liked her immediately.
"New girl, huh?" she said, giving me a curious look.
"Room 203. Male dorm," I replied, stealing her cigarette and taking a drag. It was a terrible idea. My lungs hated me instantly but I wasn't about to let her think I couldn't keep up, that would be so embarrassing.
I know everyone here was sent after doing something dangerous, and I was in the same boat.
"Rooming with Crowe?" she asked, her smirk widening. "Damn. You've got guts."
"I call that stupidity… same difference." I handed the cigarette back and coughed. "What's his deal anyway? He looks furious all the time,you know he nearly choked me to death".
I can't believe my first Day at the academy,I was on verge of dying.
Iris laughed a sharp, unapologetic sound that echoed down the hallway. "That's Damien Crowe. Top of the food chain here. Everyone's scared shitless of him, there are rumors that he isn't like us,so stay away from him".
"What do you mean not like us?" I asked curiously.
She blowed another puff of smoke and leaned forward "rumor has it that he's not a normal human being,that's why they call him the devil"
Shit! And I was roomed with a psycho!
"But I'm not scared of him apparently ," I said, rolling my eyes.
Wrong! I was freaking out inside. I had to find a way to get out of here as soon as possible.
"Yeah, well, don't let him hear you say that," she said, tossing her cigarette into a trash can. "He doesn't take kindly to people who don't know their place."
"Good thing I don't have one," I shot back.
Iris grinned. "You're gonna fit right in."