Chapter 2: Hiding Spot

TALA

I am walking down a darkened hallway. I have no idea why it would be so dim. I can see some lamps attached at the top of the students' lockers. I can even tell that a chandelier is at the end of the hallway illuminating a grand staircase. Yet, why is the environment so ill-lit?

Still, I couldn't complain more about the dark setting as every student turns to look at me. I am, in fact, glad that I can't see exactly how they look at me.

I mean, all were doing something earlier before I arrived. Be it, taking their stuff out of their lockers or chatting with their friends and stuff. Why are they looking at me now?

Could it be because of the announcement this morning? Why did they have to announce that I was an heiress of Hana? Was it even necessary? What does it even mean to be her heiress? It's not like she's royalty or something... Is she?

"New meat." Someone snarls in my direction but I chose not to look at who said it.

If my life would give me two option and one of them is to actually looking at their faces? I'd choose whatever the other option is.

"We're talking to you, freak!" They shrieked, like a ghost holding a microphone with the reverb on.

Funny, seeing I'm the only human in this place. Whoever called me a 'freak' is in no position to call me that.

Even so, I ignored it again. I began to busy myself by looking at my schedule. Written on a small parchment paper, it says that I have to attend Spells and Potions at room 730. That's all it says. That's my only schedule. What a fucked up class schedule is this? Only one class?

Better get it over with and find room 730. Would that be in any place near where I am right now? Or would I have walk a mile just to look for it?

I turned my head from left to right, contemplating where I should go. I have a bad sense of direction, I don't trust my instincts even if my life depended on it. A cold hand with long nails grabbed my upper arm, cutting my thoughts short. It pulled me back to make me face a pale redhead with red lips.

She had her red hair done like a tornado passed by where she lived but she was rocking it. Her heavy dark clothing paired with even darker make-up intimidates me. A contrast to her pearly white complexion. All the more reason her red lips was standing out. It wasn't lipstick though.

Her height did not help lessen the intimidating vibe of hers.

"I was talking." Her voice seemed familiar.

And then it hit me! The someone who've been calling me. The one I've ignored twice. That voice? Yeah, it belongs to her.

I whispered trying not to piss her as much as I already did. "Uhm, I'm listening?"

I have no idea what this monster can do. Like, for example, a vampire might suck my blood, killing me in the process. No one wants that--- Well, given my situation, I'm the only one who doesn't want that--- Or werewolf might shift into a real wolf and gnaw at my flesh. A witch might hex me, I'm not sure if I'd be okay after they curse me. See, curses are vague. It can range from mild to extreme. Mild being having bubbles leave my mouth every time I speak. Then, extreme being diarrhea or something worse.

But those three monsters that I've stated aren't the only monster in this school. Those others that are not categorized could be worse. I don't know what will become of me if I ever pissed them off.

Especially, if when they have permission to make my time here very tough. And judging by the grins they had back at the auditorium? Ha! I better pray for my life or they might take it.

"Freak!" The screech was higher than usual. And I gasped, seeing the redhead's eyes glowing red. Great! Could she even get any redder? "Listen when I talk."

I stumbled back. Cautious. My body screaming in anger when my defense mechanism chose to freeze instead of flight nor fight. But I guess fighting is as stupid as freezing but flight is more pathetic than freezing.

"Scared?" She grinned. I don't even know her and yet she is making a point that I shouldn't try knowing her. "You should be. Because in this school, only one will get to become the Inferno," the what? "And sorry to burst your little dream but it's not gonna be you. So, you better act your place or you'll be messing with the whole vampire pack."

I was still frozen where I stand. Funny enough I wasn't shaking in fear but I am afraid. VERY.

For my life. For my safety. Add my sanity to that growing list. I am gonna tremble in fear of a lot of things while I'm here.

"Got it?" The redhead smiled. My head nodded as reflex not caring about what she said. As much as anything, I wanted her gone so I could stop this feeling of fear.

She left, satisfied with my response, with two people following her. I still stood there frozen until the whole corridor burst into loud whispers. Some said that I was pathetic. That as a human, I shouldn't be here.

Some was criticizing the redhead's threat saying I wasn't worth the talk. I was already trembling even before she threatened me and they didn't see the point of going further.

I lowered my head.

Humiliating! Argh!

I wanna scream like how I used to when I wanted to let out my emotions. Not the best way but still, I express it. But, I can't. In this hallway full of monsters? In front of the crowd that I'm humiliated. She made me look like a pathetic person in front of them. These creatures that I will be interacting with no matter what I do for a long time.

If this was what Principal Nioz wanted, she should commend her students. They managed to fulfill her wish with ease and it hasn't been an hour since she asked them to do so.

I walked my way to the other end of the hall, far from the crowd. I looked left and right, once I reached a crossed path, to see if I can find my room. Tears streamed down my face the moment I felt like I was the only one standing in the hallway.

My lips quivered as I tried my best not to let out any noise of my suffering. I couldn't bring my hands to wipe my tears, I could only hug myself as my way of comfort.

And when I thought I was alone, a group of monsters bumped me on purpose. Their laughter echoed as they turned around the corner. They didn't see me cry, my hair got in the way of their view.

They demonstrated their strengths when they bumped into me but what's odd was that I didn't budge. They charged at me with their built and the throbbing from my right shoulder is proof that it hurts but I didn't fall. It felt as if my feet rooted itself deep on the floor.

I sighed dropping that though and instead focused on the class I should be going to. Still, trying to figure out how to, actually, get there.

»※«

It took me almost half of the class hour to find room 730. I opened the back door of the class trying to be stealthy but I failed.

"You're late!" Hana's voice shocked me. Is she my adviser?

Heads turned towards me. I find it comforting to see witches dressed as normal students inside.

How do I know they're witches? Because this class is called Spells and Potions... and Hana is teaching them. And I know that Hana is a witch. And will a witch teach spells and potions to werewolves? You guess the answer.

"No shit, Sherlock." I grumbled towards Hana.

Shocking her, the whole class, and me as well. I know I'm letting out my frustrations at her. I don't know but it feel right at the moment.

Everything that has happened to me. This bullying, this problems. It all started with her. So, what's wrong if I lashed out on her? Is it so bad to be angry about the situation she put me in?

"Detention after class." She commanded. I groaned.

I know I should stop myself but my mouth was too fast for me to stop it.

"Yeah, because I missed half of the class hour and I'm gonna get punished by missing the next one as a whole." I grumbled trying to find a seat.

Eyeballs were still focused on me, gaping at my audacity. Someone might as well scream 'How dare you!' and I'd shut up. When other monsters try to scold me, I behave. But, no! If Hana talk one more time, I will retort. And, it would end with me humiliating her. She is not about to have a Word War with me or else her reputation would go down in history.

I see my unconscious point here. And as wrong as it is to take my anger out of Hana, I can't stop it. It feels justified when I lashed out on her despite my actions being bratty.

"Bunganga'y itahi," Hana cast and my mouth got sewed by invisible thread.

And it was painful as fuck! A tear fell from my right eye as I tried not to react as much but fuck! I gripped my mouth, fearing that blood could be dripping but there weren't. There wasn't any actual sewing wounds on my lips but I can't seem to open it.

"Now, for anyone who will make any noise, you know what will happen. And I promise that the spell would be agonizing." Hana chuckled as she reminded the class. "Feel free to take down the spell in your grimoires for future references. Be reminded of the rules of inside the Academy though."

"No casting spells. Even though they deserve it." The whole class spoke in unison.

Hana nodded in approval. She glances my way and grinned. She looked so proud like she won our mini-battle.

I whimpered my way to an empty seat I spotted a few moments before she hexed me. My face have conveyed my pain as I can see grins and smirk of joy from my classmate.

They might be thinking that I was a show off and even though I am Hana's heiress I shouldn't have acted like that. Even if it's not what they're thinking, I can't help but feel like it is because I was the antagonist this time.

"Turn to the book in front of you. Page 5, we'll start with the basics of how to cast a spell." She spoke and demonstrated at the same time.

I took out my binder and refused to open the book, it might bite my hand. But, I did listen to the lesson and put the key points to my binder.

I was listening to Hana the whole time, not making a sound because I am neither capable nor do I want to if I could.

»※«

"Does it hurt?" Hana mocked as she undo her curse on my lips.

Of course it does! I screamed, full volume to annoy her. I surprised myself for even being capable of making a sound like that.

"IT HURT SO DAMN MUCH!" I whined, feigning a convincing hurt face. "Are you having fun?"

"Best in my whole 150 years of living," she answered with a grin. I stayed in the classroom like she wanted.

Hana explained that until lunch period, I would be having special lessons with her. My lesson with her is about how to control my inner monster once I transform. She said we only have by the end of the week to luckily learn the basics. I only have a few days before transforming. Meaning I have to find a way to get rid of my inner monster before I do so.

No pressure, though. I only have 5 days until I become like the rest of the creeps in this school. Not that it mattered, I was a creep back in the orphanage. After my mother left me there at the age of 8 but hey! I wasn't a literal creep then so I'd take that over what I am right now any time.

I groaned having to think of the torture of spending most of my time with Hana. I still had to attend her class because she's my only class.

A manananggal has a small black bird living inside their body. This bird is the cause of their 'transformation' every night--- I only learned about it today. It is a curse, as I see it, that is transferable. Which is great! Because I can give the black bird to some monster in the academy if they want it. And who doesn't want to be a strong and cunning manananggal? Once I'm not a monster, I am no longer qualified to attend this school and Hana will have no choice but to send me back home.

"Now that you know what a manananggal is, let's head on to our next topic." Hana gave me a meaningful look. "Their strengths and their weaknesses."

The question now is, "How?"

I squinted as I focused on the words leaving Hana's mouth.

"A manananggal is a class of ghoul in our country. In this academy, it is a type of Shifter myth. Thus, your strength lies with your transformation. How fast you can shift and most especially, where you shift." She explained. "You're only in the magic track because you can't shift yet and you won't be able to until the end of the week."

Hana didn't touch the topic on how to transfer it. And I can't remember how she passed it down to me. And now, she's forwarding the lesson on the transformation itself.

First step, Hiding spot.

"Today's lesson is to find a good spot to hide. Can you tell me why?" Hana asked with an excited tone.

I realized that Hana as a teacher is like watching a kid explain the only thing they are good at. She's a bit childish, I figured that out everytime we have a fight. But I'm still surprised with how she taught the class earlier.

It was not hard to miss that she loved teaching. She is someone who would go over a topic twice so everyone could understand. Not that anyone would need a re-run of the topic since Hana is that good.

I can't help but smile at the cuteness of Hana but I hid it under my disgust. I cannot forget how she ruined my life into making me a cannibal.

Manananggal's aren't any human-eating monsters. No, they are very particular in what they eat. The menu being unborn fetuses. Yes, the babies inside a mother's womb. They use their long sharp tongues to pierce the roof of a house of pregnant women and the belly button of the woman. The tongue acts as a straw to suck the blood of the baby out.

I shuddered at the thought that in 5 days that could be my life. A cannibalistic baby-killer.

"You look like a child. Stop it." I grumbled removing my interest on the lessons.

I forgot what monsters are. What they can do. For a moment, I thought about enjoying my stay here. How shameful of me.

"Just answer. This is still a school, and you wouldn't want to fail here." Hana threatened making me groan at her. She narrowed her eyes at me but didn't do anything else.

"Because even though a manananggal's upper body is the strongest when it transform, her lower-half is at its weakest." I answered in a monotonous tone.

Hana pushed aside my tone and actually praised me for being right. I rolled my eyes at her and she just snapped me a hex.

"Mabulag!" She casted. It's a spell to blind someone and like the first spell she used at me, it stings!

"Fuck!" I screamed.

"You should learn to respect me, you know?" She stated as a matter-of-fact.

If I knew where she is, I'd curse her. I mean, curses such us bullshit and the likes not the one she used at me. But I can't, so I saluted her with my middle finger.

"Very mature." She sighed before restoring my eyesight.

From the darkness, my eyes started seeing glimpses of light but my vision is still hazy. Once it cleared up, I glared at Hana but she brushed it off.

"Now, I'll give you half an hour to hide and I'll grade you depending on how long I can find you." As she said that, I stood from my seat preparing for her signal.

"If I find you before lunch period, consider an F in your grade. If I find you at exactly lunch period, I'll treat you a delicious lunch. If I don't find you beyond that, you are free to hide in your room with dinner served for you."

Excitement burst in me when I heard cupcake. Nah, I'm kidding. I was more than excited to hear that I could stay in my room for the rest of the day.

When she said go and hide, I didn't bother running for my life. I have 30 minutes to spare anyways. Besides, I don't want to have the cliche' scene where I 'accidentally' bumped into a handsome jerk. Then I would land on my butt as he scold me for not looking where I am going instead of helping me.

Heaven help me if my soulmate is a monster. I would not live for it.

Next chapter