Mikeal was in deep sleep, that's for sure, but even though he was deep in it, he couldn't help but feel like something or someone was calling him in reality. After that disturbing dream, Mikeal felt his whole body go numb.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The only thing that Mikeal could make out first, before everything else, was the loud bang on the outside of his door. And whoever was out there, it seemed like this person had been at it for some time now.
"Yo, Mikeal, wake up! We're about to be late on our first day," Hector said.
Hector's voice and knock sounded so distant, and Mikeal didn't know and couldn't tell whether what he was hearing was real or not.
After twenty to thirty minutes of poor Hector calling and banging on the door, Mikeal began to flutter his eyelids.
"Who is it?" Mikeal asked groggily.
"It's me, Hector, bro. What are you doing? Get up! We're going to be late on the first day!" Hector replied.
Mikeal heard everything Hector said, but though he was awake, reality hadn't hit him yet. He was still out of it, and apart from his body feeling numb, everything inside him screamed in agony as if he'd been hit by a truck.
Mikeal tried to move, let alone sit up, but nothing worked in his favor. He was paralyzed. He tried to move any part of his body, but it was all locked.
"What the hell is going on?" Mikeal muttered.
"Yo, man, are you coming or what?" Hector called.
"Just give me a sec! I'll be out now!" Mikeal responded.
Mikeal didn't understand what was going on. Everything was fine not too long ago, but now it felt like his body had gone into lockdown.
What was happening to him? What caused this?
Mikeal knew he had to force himself out of whatever was holding him back or it would cause him more problems—problems he didn't want.
He took a deep breath and prepared himself for whatever he was planning to do. The way he braced himself, it was like he knew whatever came next was going to hurt.
So, Mikeal forced himself to move. Every part of his body ached and cracked as he came back to reality.
After the gruesome effort, Mikeal managed to get up and get himself ready. Oddly fast, considering he was helpless seconds ago.
He opened his door and found everyone else waiting for him outside.
He didn't know what to do in that moment.
"Hello, princess," Flash greeted him with a sinister smile.
"What took you so long?" Hector asked, sitting against the wall.
"Uh," Mikeal hesitated.
"Okay, Scar, since you're ready, can we go now?" Alexis jumped in to save him.
The first to lead the group was none other than Griffin Hart, who was really Flash. The others followed him. Mikeal and Hector were the last.
Hector could tell something was off about Mikeal. Though he couldn't pinpoint what exactly, something definitely caught his attention.
"Yo, you okay, man?" Hector asked.
Mikeal, busy stretching and touching the spot where he saw himself get bitten in the dream, replied, "Mmh. Oh, yeah, I'm good. Just had a dream that felt too real. That's it."
"Oh, if that's the case, you can tell me about it. I'm a dream expert," Hector grinned.
"Well—" Mikeal was about to speak but remembered he couldn't risk it.
So, he acted surprised. "Wait a minute, a dream expert?"
"Yes," Hector said with confidence.
Mikeal gave him a look of disbelief. "Yeah, right."
They both laughed.
They walked for some time, passing by full classrooms. It looked like the other students had already started their lessons. Only these five were still wandering.
"Whoa, looks like everyone else is busy apart from us," Celine said, scanning the classes.
Passing the classrooms, the group unintentionally interrupted the other students. Heads turned, teachers paused.
"Run, run, run," Alexis pushed everyone forward.
Even as they created some distance, they could still hear whispers.
"Are they the ones?" a student asked.
Now walking together, chatting and getting along, it even seemed like Mikeal and Flash were friends.
Until Hector bumped into some students.
"Oh, sorry," Hector apologized.
"Watch where you're going, punk," a rude student snapped.
"He just told you he's sorry. What's your big deal?" Flash stood up for Hector.
"We weren't talking to you, pretty face," another student jeered.
"Well, we were talking to you," Mikeal shot back.
The atmosphere shifted.
Mikeal, Flash, and these unfamiliar students exchanged tense looks like a fight was brewing.
One student stepped forward, but Flash blocked Mikeal and moved ahead instead.
Before it could escalate, someone interrupted.
"Sonny and Ludwig, what's going on? Why are you picking on the first years?" a new student asked.
"Sorry, Austin, but these new students need to know their place," Ludwig replied.
Austin seemed to be the leader. He said nothing, just stared, and Ludwig backed down.
"My apologies, Austin," Ludwig muttered.
Flash looked disappointed. Austin looked at the group.
"And why aren't you first years in class like the rest?"
"I'm sorry, it's my fault. We're kinda lost looking for room—" Hector began, but was cut off.
Sgt. Damascus and Lt. Grey arrived just in time.
"What are you third years doing to the first years?" Sgt. Damascus asked, lighting his cigar.
"Please forgive us, sir. We were just showing them to their classes," Austin lied smoothly.
Lt. Grey stepped forward. "Thank you for your kind service. Now, if you don't mind, our students need to begin learning."
"Students, ma'am?" Austin blinked.
"Yes, you heard me right," she confirmed, standing next to Hector and the others.
Sgt. Damascus exhaled smoke. "Shall we go then?" He led the way.
"Yes, sir," Lt. Grey followed, along with the team.
Austin and his friends stepped aside, embarrassed.
"Who do those unimportant first years think they are?" Sonny fumed.
Austin stayed quiet, watching them go. Then he noticed the wristband on Hector.
"So these are the famous first-year fifth graders," Austin said, impressed.
"Huh? Did you say something, Austin?" Sonny asked.
"Oh, nothing to worry about," Austin smiled coldly. "I just said we're going to make them pay, that's all."