I took a deep breath and look at the sign of my new school.
Diotech Institute.
What kind of name was that for a school? I frowned at the place. It looked almost like a prison.
"You don't have to go." My mum sniffled, hugging my back. I put my hand on her arm.
"Don't worry about me, mum." I mumbled, sparing the gates a glance. The dark bars towered almost ten metres above me and had spikes on them. They definitely weren't going for the welcoming look when they built this place. "I'll be fine."
"I know." My mother wailed. "I still wish you would stay with me."
"I will mum, in here." I pointed to my heart then tapped my skull. "And in here."
"Ok." She wiped her eyes and reached into her bag. "Here, it's for you."
She pushed the thing into my hands. It was a necklace with a glossy black heart. A symbol was carved into it; one with interwoven loops, swirling around each other, with no beginning and no end.
"What does it mean?" I asked, turning the pendant upside down. The symbol didn't change.
"It's an eternal love knot." She said softly. "For you, my beautiful child."
"Where's it from?"
"It doesn't matter. Keep it with you at all times." She said.
"I will." I clasps the necklace around my neck. The pendant felt cold against my chest. "I will."
My mum started to tear up again. "I'll miss you."
I swallowed. My eyes started to burn. "I'll miss you too mum." I linked my arm through hers. "Come on, we're going to be late."
"What is this?" My mother demanded loudly, looking through all the paperwork she had to read through and sign. There were about thousands of pages stacked there.
"It's your paperwork, madam. You'll need to read through all of it and then sign." The woman at the desk patronised,
"Yeah, that's pretty obvious." Mum retorted. "But why is there so much?"
"Procedure, Ma'am"
"This is ridiculous." Mum scowled, shaking the papers in the air. "Why would anyone read this?"
"Mum." I cleared my throat, embarrassed when the people passing by had started to stare.
"Madam, I'm afraid that there's nothing I can do about that."
"Well I'll be writing a complaint, that's for sure!"
"Madam, please read through it carefully as there may be consequences if you – "
"I have signed papers before! You do not need to patronise me." My mum glared at the receptionist.
"Mum," I interrupted again with no prevail. I sigh and decided step outside the office. The gardens here were so beautiful and well maintained. I reach my arms towards a blue flower and curled my fingers around the petals. The sweet smell hit me when I learned forward. Vanilla? I pulled one off it's stem and brought it closer to my nose. Definitely vanilla. But how was that possible?
I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't notice the person behind me. I didn't notice that he'd been watching me for a while now; too long to be normal. The way his eyes narrowed as he studied my, but by then, it was far too late.