Chapter 1: Moving Isn't what I would call it
If you had asked me what I thought I was going to do in my high school year I would have replied with Playing violent video games, studying and acing all of my tests with no intention of getting anywhere in life other than up. I would have had no social life with normal people and just kept to my tiny corner called my desk all day long and eaten lunch in a deserted area of the school. To me, life would have been simple and easy compared to what other people had to deal with. I could just skate by with my smarts and skill without relying on anyone else or talking to anyone else.
However, that all changed when my so-called Sisters had seen me, on more than one occasion, doing something they labeled as strange.
It started off as small talks in the den. Them along with my mother asking me what was wrong and that I could talk to them, and to which I would reply simply, nothing is wrong. Next, it was my mother non-discreetly talking to my teachers or my sisters asking my classmates if they could talk about "understand something at their school". Eventually, they all sat me down, giving me numbers of psychiatrists in the area, asking me to pick one. Although I did so with malice and begrudging, I had no intention of letting anyone in or my guard down. That's just how normal people get you. They get you to let your guard down through sweet talk and kind words only to crush you later with what you have told them.
The psychiatrist's name was Dr. Penelope. I had to go to her office every day of the week over summer vacation. I always wondered why she preferred her first name over her last one, but she never told me why. To be honest, I had almost liked it there. But within the first week of going, I had already scared off the lady I was seeing with my "strange ability". So much so, that my Mom had gotten a call from Penelope's Daughter, explaining the trauma that I had put her through and that had her mother told her not to press charges, she would have sued. While my mother apologized to the woman, I could hear the other lady on the line talking to her about something. To this, I had only mentally laughed while my mother hung up the phone and went to her computer. I smiled, thinking that this would be the last of it. Mother's last attempt to shut me up and make me the daughter she wanted me to be. I didn't go to school when the time came. I was starting to worry my mother was discontinuing my education.
Later, I will have wished I would have stopped her from pulling up her laptop, opening the browser, and surfing the internet with the tag "schools for gifted children".
Within two days of searching, my "legal guardian" had come across a school named DEPRAC (whatever that stood for). It was apparently a boarding school for gifted and special children. My first thought that went through my mind was that name sounded like flem rising in the back of your throat. The second was, so she wants to sign me up for a special needs boarding school for impaired kids? Not that there's anything wrong with that type of school… however, I was not impaired and had no mental illnesses, so why should I have to go?
Next thing you know, instead of already going to school, I was packing my bags two weeks later. I didn't have much, as I looked around my room. I Decided on taking only two suitcases to fit the stuff I was taking with me. The first contained: a few pairs of clothes (3 skirts, 4 button ups, a vest, and 3 pairs of nylons), a scarf, and an old beat up pair of knee-high boots. The other was chock-full with books, notepads, journals, sketchbooks, and art supplies. I didn't exactly know where I was going at the time, but I wasn't going to leave without my essentials. On my person, I was to take my fish bowl and an iPod with my earbuds.
The following day, and with the help of my sisters, I heaved my bags into cab trunk. My oh so loving mother told the driver where to go and paid him in advance. I briefly heard the name Barnes before I tuned out the world with my thoughts. Earlier she had explained that I was to go alone since school rules said so. Immediately finding the place sketchy, I had argued for a solid week, but to no avail. Other rules were explained to me, but I didn't bother to listen. Climbing into the back seat, I could hear the whispers of my sisters, muttering gay comments and snide remarks behind the now closed shut cab door. My only remaining parental figure looking almost relieved.
Not once did I look back at the past home I was leaving for another rental.
Taking in my surroundings, my gaze flitted around the automobile. It was standard, a bit rickety by the sound of the engine, but other than that it seemed safe enough. The felt seats mixed in with the smell of fast food restaurants and old chewing gum made for the nastiest aroma. Stains on the floor from drinks and other fluids also added to the stench. I was lucky to have brought the fishbowl with me. I looked at the driver in his seat (I was on the passenger side). Barnes didn't look too strange at all from where I'd sat in the cab, but something about him had made me… uneasy in a way. I couldn't take a good look through due to the plastic screen separated me and the driver. Although He appeared to be talking on the phone and laughing while he did so. I could not hear a peep of his conversation through the glass.
And judging by the words he is mouthing, I don't think I want to. I thought to myself in slight disgust due to the foul language of my driver. It sickened me more as he reminded me of the only friend I had when his fuse was lit. He never could keep his mouth shut, so naturally was surprised that he hadn't uttered a single word all day. Looking down at the fishbowl, I let my index finger glide along the rim as the car drove away. Inside the bowl, were dark turquoise rocks and a plastic skull she kept inside. I stared at the bowl before tapping on the glass in a pattern of three taps, then two, then four, then five, then three, then one, and repeat. This, I thought, was sure to stir up trouble, but I didn't care. I was in need of a mental breather. Loneliness and unease brewed in the pit of my stomach and I didn't want either emotion right now.
Slowly, and right on cue, a sickening green fog began to surround the skull, covering the object in a dark green glow. A surge of presence swept through the car as the skull began to soften. I watched with a frown as it slowly starts to move, hearing the plastic crackle as it was stretched into an evil grin. A face formed on the exterior of the object, looking like more of a mask than a face. It was plasma, I knew that, but it always reminded me of a see-through, lava lamp fluid engulfing the cheap prop. Small pops could be heard from the plasma as it moved and contorted with the skull's expression. Which currently was one of disgust.
"If I had a nose, I would have murdered it by now." It spoke in a quiet raspy voice. I sighed in response. While I commended the skull for trying to make me feel better by stating the obvious, it didn't change the situation we were in. Also, I responded verbally (and rather rudely now that I look back)
"You're a ghoul attached to a skull, you can't smell either way" The skull looked slightly hurt for a second, but I was in no mood to care. I didn't make eye contact with the ghost. Instead, I looked out the window, memorizing the streets and planning my routes back h-Back to the place I grew up. I had no home anymore. No parents, No sisters. To everyone, I knew I was dead, or so the rumor spread. To my family I was nuts. I was looking out for me and the skull now and that was fine by me. The skull didn't need much looking after, but I supposed he still counted. I didn't need anyone else.
"Penny for your thoughts?" The raspy voice tried to initiate a conversation again. I looked down for a second, just to see if it was serious or not, then turned back to memorizing. I took a moment to asses my thoughts before actually responding.
"How far do you think this place is from the nearest city?" I could practically hear the frown in the skull's tone.
"You really should try this time instead of distancing yourself. It's not healthy at all." I scoffed.
"Yes, because a dead skull with yellow teeth knows about health habits." I knew it was rude, I knew what I was saying, but only now do I regret it. Oh, how I regret the things I said that day.
"Lucy, please, you need to open up. Ever since the accident you've only had meaningful conversations with the dead because you wanted to. You did fine before-" I cut him off, not wanting to tread down that pretty topic.
"The accident happened, you appeared, and then I had many many friends." I smiled at the window, slightly seeing my reflection in the glass. My hair had certainly seen better days.
"Lucy, all of your friends are either dead or on deaths row." My small smile fell. He made sense. He usually did (least in some cases). I, however, didn't want to listen. Yet, I let him go on. "Lucy, you have a wall around you only the dead can go through." I snapped.
Turning to him, I spat, "What's wrong with that?! It's plenty times better than going out there and getting stabbed by the first person I make eye contact with!" Quickly, reality struck again and I remembered I wasn't the only one in this infernal vehicle. I glanced at the driver long enough to see that he was still on the phone and not paying attention to the back. Once I deemed the car safe again, I went back to the glass protecting me from currently jumping out of the moving, 4-cylinder car.
"One day, someone is going to look at that wall and start to climb. And when that day comes, you won't know what to do." The voice was fading at the end. Softening in tone before stopping completely. Fizzing and popping noises began to increase from the bowl. Then all was silent again aside from the clattering engine and the tires sticking on the scorching country road. I looked down at the bowl. As if the apparition had never appeared, not a trace was left of it. I immediately felt alone once again as the car ride stretched along. Angered that it left and with such a dumb message, I began muttering to myself. Suddenly, each word I spoke drove me closer and closer to a lulling sleep.
"Stupid skull. No one will even come close to me, so wanting to get to know me? That's… That's just simply…impossible..." Using my arm as a rest, I yawned and closed my eyes. I don't know when I dosed off exactly, but all I remember is waking to the sound of the engine stopping. My head jolted up and with sleepy eyes, I studied my surroundings. The driver was off the phone and getting out of the car. The more I looked around, the more I began realized how different the car was. It now carried sleek leather seats with a sparkling clean interior. The smell had vanished. In fact, the only thing I could smell distinctly was the water in the fishbowl.
Quickly, I turned to the window to see outside. Instead of seeing outside like I wanted to, I was met with the cab driver. HE at least hadn't changed. His appearance still wasn't inviting and the scruffy face of his needed a shave, however something about him was… different. The man was actually smiling and he seemed to be more relaxed than he was when he had picked her up. Immediately, I became skeptical. I tightened my grip around the fishbowl, the slight radiation my ghost gave off giving me some comfort as the driver opened my side door. I unhooked my seat belt as he did so, but I didn't get out of the car. The driver did nothing but smile.
"Miss Carlyle, it's time for you to get out now." Mr. Barnes' tone was polite enough, so I did as he said. Getting out, I steadied myself and placed my feet on the rough gravel. I found this odd at first, but as I looked around, the driveway was gravel from the road in. What I also noticed, that I had failed to in the car, was the giant Castle-like structure in front of me.
I have read many books in my time but what stood in front of me was different than anything I had imagined. The concrete pillars and brick structures stood about 10 stories high with buildings the same height on the sides, slanted inward to create what I believed to be a courtyard. The black metal gate in front of me also shone much craftsmanship. Lights hung by the gate in lantern casings. The flora outside, and what I could see inside, was also stunning. The shapes crafted expertly into trees and bushes alike. The variety of the plants were also quite impressive. However, my excitement lasted a brief moment. Unease crept back into my system as I looked at the large oak doors at the entrance ways away.
This was a crazy school for wack jobs. I doubt it was as pleasant as it looked. There had to be something going on, nothing is ever this… magnificent. I looked at the driver as he opened the trunk and took out the suitcases. After a brief squabble with the man about not wanting to burden him with my things, I took the one with my books. In all reality, I just didn't want anyone going near my things. Clothes I didn't care about, but these I did. I held onto the fishbowl with my other hand as the Driver and I worked our way up to the dark doorway. The gate creaked behind us as I shut. Suddenly, as if that creak had acted like an air horn, I found it odd how dark it was.
Glancing up, I noticed that the sky was covered in dark clouds with small bits of light coming through. This was certainly weird since when I had fallen asleep it was definitely sweltering, an oddity for October but not uncommon. Once I noticed that I began noticing the differences from when I got into the cab versus when I got out. Even the air felt different than when I had hopped into the cab. I grew quietly skeptical. Giving no signs of alarm, I took a deep breath to remain calm. The weather shifted quickly sometimes so it wasn't too odd.
I came to a stop just before the steps that lead to the doorway. Up close, the double doors seemed a lot bigger than when I had first seen them. Then again, the trek from the cab to the doors took few minutes longer than I had expected. The oak wood was stained a darker brown and the chips on the door showed how recent the staining had been. The bronze door handles looked oh so inviting, similar to the lion and unicorn knockers that hung on the doors. The Driver in front of me grabbed the lion knocker on the right door and swung the clasp. I gritted my teeth at the sound of the metal clashing together. We didn't wait more than a few seconds before we were greeted by two boys probably two or three years older than I. One was tall and slim, dressed in a dark suit. His large smile made the doorway seem so much more inviting than it had a few seconds other was the complete opposite with a tracksuit. His face looked very punch-able and the glare on his glasses gave a reverse effect. Appearances aside, they both seemed alright.
Little did I know this moment changed the entire course of my life and I wasn't going back to the city anytime soon.
A/N: It feels so good to get this out there! I don't know how many times I debated on actually posting this. The Idea for this popped into my head when I started thinking about Japanese class structure, like how they have A class- D class. So I thought about a special boarding school in London. Then London led me to think of Dr. Who, which led to monsters, which lead to ghosts, which lead to L&Co.
I'm not sure how I will fit the story characters in, but I'm going to try to stick to the L&Co. stories in terms of Characters and the events. But I'm going to change the events... sorta... You'll see. I Have fixed most of the mistakes, but if there are any more, feel free to point them out. I have always wanted to do a L&CO. story, and I am sure I will post another soon. For now, I will have random posting, but I will try to make a schedule as soon as I can. Thank you so much for reading!
~Pheonix =]