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“Took you long enough,” the man who appears on the other side sneers. He’s dressed in military clothing, and I recognize the voice as the same from the gate at the bottom of the hill.
“Sorry, I’ll try to be faster next time,” I say under my breath as I stomp past him.
The space opens up to a great room with a polished floor, the school crest inlaid in the tile. A strange smell lingers in the air, like an old dusty basement mixed with floor wax. At the end of the large space, several statues and very large paintings are displayed. Above, in bold gold letters, it reads FOUNDING MEMBERS.
I recognize one of the faces as Julian Moretti, another of Lucian Black, Adrian Doubeck, Nicolo Diavolo, and then there is Xander Rossi… the picture of him alone sends a shiver running down my spine. Not only is he one of the most ruthless people I know, but he also holds a very personal grudge against my family.
To the right and left of the shrine of powerful criminals are more doors. My escort leads me to the one labeled freshman and sophomores. Through the door, we enter into a long hallway that seems to go on forever. The lighting is dim, making it difficult to see.
We walk for a minute or so before stopping in front of a large elevator. The guy pulls out a folded map and hands it to me. I let go of my suitcase—he never offered me help with—and take the map from him.
“You’re at level C, room 3001. Good luck.” Before I can ask one of the twelve questions on my mind, the guy turns and all but runs away. I let out a defeated sigh. Well, I guess I’m on my own again.
Pushing the elevator button, I wait for it to arrive. The bags in my hand and on my shoulder are becoming increasingly difficult to bear, and I can’t wait to get rid of all of them and finally rest. This has been the longest trip on the face of the earth, and I need a hot shower and some sleep so I can start over tomorrow.
The elevator opens with a bing, and I step into the surprisingly large space. The panel only has four buttons, A, B, C, and T. I press the C and watch the doors slide closed.
I knew that most of this school—including the dorms—were underground, but I didn’t know how far underground until now. The elevator keeps descending until I wonder when we’re going to reach the center of the earth.
Then it stops so abruptly that I’m knocked off balance and have to lean against the wall to steady myself or risk falling over. The doors slide open, and I step out of the elevator and into yet another hallway.
As I look at the map, my room appears to be at the end of the corridor. Which might not be that bad of a thing. I count each step, the only thought on my mind being the bed inside my room and the mattress I’m going to fall into when I get there.
I’m so fucking tired. I don’t even care that my stomach is growling, demanding food. I have to sleep. I’m too tired to even lift a fork, let alone walk around this maze to find the cafeteria.
My legs ache with protest, but I push onward until I’m standing right in front of the supposed door to my dorm. I look up from the polished marble and see three large, bright red letters painted on the wood. The sight of them makes my heart sink into my stomach.
RAT
I should have known there would be no escaping what happened. Everyone knows who I am now. This place is going to be even worse than high school was. There, people just stopped talking to me and stayed out of my way. Avoiding me like I was the plague. The writing on the door tells me I won’t be so easily dismissed here. I shake my head and look down at the door handle.
Pulling the key card from my pocket, I swipe it, and the door clicks open. Hesitantly, I step into the room I’m going to call my home for the next year.
I scan the space, my gaze ping-pongs around the small space. The first thing I notice is the dust and mildew smell. The second is the large brown stain on the ceiling. The third is the bed. I’m grateful to have a place to sleep, but somehow, I feel like this is a joke.
I’m almost certain no one has lived in this room for a while. It’s probably been condemned, looking at its condition, but right now, all I can think about is the bed. How pitiful is it that at this point, I’m willing to sleep anywhere? Pulling my luggage inside, I shut the door behind me and lean my back against it, briefly closing my eyes.
