Chapter 3

It rained the entire morning. Even as I got dressed rain splattered on my window, making sounds that were soothing in the silence that had befallen me. When I was done I picked my bag and went downstairs.

Mum was already having coffee in the kitchen. “Right on time” she said, sliding my own cup to me. I drank to my satisfaction and watched her from over my mug. She was dressed in a turtle neck, long pants, and a very huge leather jacket that I was sure swept the floor.

“Stop staring and finish up or we’ll  be late” she said making me look away. When we were done she put on hand gloves and we headed out.

We never had a reason to get into town so all we had for transportation was an old pickup truck of dads. It’s a wonder how the thing still worked because it was very rusty from lack of use over the years.

The door almost gave out on me when I opened it and got into the passenger seat. I scooted away from it before it would fall out in the middle of  the road.

I turned to take one last look at our house as mum drove out. When I looked at my window all I saw were bright eyes. The same figure I’ve been seeing these past days. If it was possible that those eyes could shine brighter, then it did. But what surprised me the most was when pale hands came up and waved at me before disappearing from the window. It was like whatever that had been, was happy that I was leaving.

“What is it?” mum asked, casting a quick glance at me before turning back to the road.

“Oh nothing” I answered quickly, still freaked out from what I saw. “You never told me where I was going to” I said, looking at her as her fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

“You don’t have to know, just trust me okay?”

I hummed but said nothing. Looking out the window instead and seeing how people stared at our car as we drove through town. I never understood why the townspeople actually hated me or my family or why my parents never moved away either.

Moments later she pulled into the train station. I got out, slinging my bag over my shoulder as I followed her. I waited as she got my ticket before returning back to me.

“Elizabeth” she said, putting her hand on my shoulder “I need you to take care. Call me if you don’t like it there and I’ll bring you home immediately, okay?”

I nodded.

“Just lay low and obey all the rules there, in no time you would be back home” she said, straightening the shoulder pads of my jacket “Lay low” she whispered before ushering me to the boarding pass.

She stayed behind while I climbed unto the platform. Waving as I bade my farewell before I turned. I was not doing this for her, it was for dad and I.

There was a huge man standing in front that checked the tickets. He raised a brow when I gave him mine.

“Boarded for Blind island, are you insane?” he asked, distaste in his words as he looked at me like I could actually be insane.

I shrugged. I didn’t know where that was and I didn’t have a phone to check it either. I got onto the train when he stamped my ticket, refusing to say another word to me which I was glad.

Thankfully there weren’t many people on the train which was a big relief. I sat beside the huge window, at the farthest seat where I could be far from everyone else.

It was a long time before the train jerked violently before it started its journey. As we rolled out I saw our truck pull out of the station but it didn’t go the way towards our house. Where then was mum going?

I didn’t let the thought bother me too much as I settled in my seat and tried to get comfortable. This was my first-time outside town and I didn’t know what to expect. I was going to a new school and could only pray they wouldn’t pick on me like the people from my old school did.

It was a long travel. I soon found myself falling asleep despite the coffee that was running through my body. There was something about being on this train that was soothing and before I knew it, my head was leaning on the window for support as I fell asleep.

When I woke up it was already sunset making me wonder how I slept that long. The sun was already disappearing from the sky, casting an orange like glow as it did. The view was beautiful.

We soon stopped at the station and I saw people start to get out. I followed them, wincing when I was thrust into a crowd as lots of people moved along the platform. I tried to get away to safety, the amount of people around me becoming too much to bear.

I couldn’t tell where I was going as I pushed through, slipping in between bodies. I was almost out when a hand latched to mine and pulled me. Fear gripped me and I pulled back.

The hand felt small on mine but it was stronger as it kept pulling me. I couldn’t stop it. I panicked, my breath coming out in short gasps as whoever it was pulled me through the crowd.

It wasn’t until we were away from everyone that I saw who it was. I laughed hard when I saw a little boy who was still holding my hand. There was no way this kid pulled me strong like that.

I tried to remove my hand from his but I couldn’t, instead his hold tightened on mine. I tried to pull again but the boy only laughed and waved me off. Like I amused him.

“There’s no need trying to fight me, I’m here to take you to the island” he said as he smiled at me “We’ve been waiting for you for centuries and now you’re finally here” he gushed, his bright blue eyes sparkling with excitement. “I’m so honored to be receiving you” he said, bowing slightly.

 I was a bit surprised. I scoffed “Aren’t you too old to be playing like this?” I asked him, trying to remove his hand on mine and failing.

He smiled “Not old enough, come we have to go. We can’t be late to the school”. At that he led me out of the station and to a boat. Others were getting into cars and leaving. We were the only ones headed for the island that I could barely see form here.

“You arrived at the perfect time. By the time we get there everyone would be awake” the boy said, almost bouncing on his seat.

“I don’t understand any of the things you’re saying but what is your name?” I asked.

“Blue” he answered, puffing out his chest.

“That’s it?” I asked, he nodded. “That’s the color of your eyes” I mused smiling, his name suits him well. Now that I wasn’t panicking, I looked properly at the boy. He looked barely twelve and his head was so curly and dark, almost like mine.

“How is the school?” I asked him, I needed to know where I was headed as mum had not said a single word about it.

“You’ll like it. The masters there are a little bit strict but you’re in the clear if you just lay low and obey the rules. And you don’t have to worry, you’re precious to us all” he said, but his answers only confused me.

I was about to ask him something else when the school came in view. You know the giant dark castles that were always haunted in horror movies? That was it. But this one was much more massive. The biggest thing I’d ever seen in my life.

I turned to Blue “That is it?” I asked stuttering. He looked confused so I pointed at the building that was ahead.

He followed my finger and smiled when he saw what I was pointing at “Yes! It’s beautiful isn’t it. I can’t get over how magnificent it is whenever I see it from the outside” he said, his eyes awestruck.

I smiled a little at that, there was just no denying how adorable he was. I almost reached over and ruffled his hair.

“What are the students like? Are they cruel?” I asked quietly. He turned to me with a frown etched in his features.

“You don’t have to worry about that anymore, you’re special here” he said, patting my shoulder before withdrawing his hand like he was telling me that everything there was alright. what did he mean by anymore? Did he know I used to be bullied? It was not possible. he could have just perceived that from the question.

We were silent the rest of the ride. When we got closer to the island my eyes widened at how big the school was. It took up the entire island, the water reaching up to splash at the sides of the big walls. It looked so ancient and strong. A big wall went round the entire school, so high that it seemed endless.

The boat finally hit shore and I climbed out. With unsteady feet I walked slowly to the huge black gate. It looked like something that belonged to an old medieval kingdom.

I ran my fingers slowly over it. I was drawn to it. When I turned to ask Blue how we were getting inside, he wasn’t there. The boat wasn’t there either. How and when did he leave without me noticing.

I walked back to where the water met land to see if I could see him, but the water was clear. No trace of Blue or the boat.

With deep little breaths I wrapped my arms around my torso. I hadn’t realized how comforting his presence was until now that he was gone.

I went back to the huge gate, that was just as big as the building. There was no way I could even knock on it. How the hell was I even supposed to get inside?

A drop of water fell on my face, then another before I knew it, it turned into a storm. The water coming down heavily on me and it was cold. I shivered as I slid to the floor, my back to the gate seeing if it would give me some type of shelter but it didn’t.

I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my head on it. I couldn’t help it when I broke into tears, the pent up hurt in me bubbling to my throat.

There was a possibility that this wasn’t a real school, I was yet to hear any type of noise from the inside. Maybe mum was just trying to get rid of me now that dad was gone.

Yes, we never got along but it wasn’t enough reason to sentence me to death by bringing me here. I cried even harder.

I was going to die here. In front of this gate that looked like it haunted souls for a living and there were voices like the ocean crying in protest as it splashed onto the walls. I was going to be one of those souls very soon.

In my despair I sent a said a silent prayer and hoped that Blue had sailed back to safety and wasn’t caught up in this storm that was brewing. It was a wonder who gave the little boy the boat to sail on this dangerous ocean.

The ocean roared as it rained harder, the waves coming closer each time. It wasn’t long before they started crashing on me, literally knocking the breath out of me. I coughed out water as my lungs struggled for air.

Water crashed into me again, my body burning at the force. As I lay there I heard the gate rumble and before my eyes closed for the last time, I saw eyes so bright that it burned.