I would like to mention that this is my first story so it may take some time for me to get the swing of things. If anyone has any helpful writing or uploading tips I would greatly appreciate that

This story does NOT follow the storyline set up in the original ASOUE. While this story is set at the time of Austere Academy there are a few major differences. These being Quigley Quagmire being present as he was never "dead" and the lack of Count Olaf as he has not found the children yet. Another few characters, Maci (yes she is named after me thank you very much) and Lilly are introduced as well. Enjoy!

Also it changes POV so watch for that starting in chapter 3.

Chapter One

Maci

I had been watching the dusty landscape slip past us as we drove for hours. My hand rested in Lilly's small grip, she was peacefully asleep. I carefully straightened the neat bows in her hair. As our parents had always said "You must look the part to play the part and to play the part you must be the part". I'm not entirely sure what those words meant but it seemed wise and I trusted my parents more than anyone so I followed what I could understand of this phrase to a tee.

Oh how I missed them.

I had become distracted by the thought of them and when I looked back out the window, I found that we had finally arrived at what was to be me and Lilly's new residence, frankly I believe a school should never serve as a home as they are not homely at all, but I guess we wouldn't be actually sleeping in the school itself but in a dormitory nearby which did sound less bleak to a degree. Though, I'm still upset that mother and father had chosen to leave me and Lilly here if they were to disappear or pass, as they did. I lifted my baggage from the vehicle and as well as Lilly's small trunk. We begrudgingly made our way into the school and to administration.

The building was dark and gloomy, as I imagined it to be. The windows were foggy and the halls were quiet, I wondered where all the students were?

"Where are all the students?" It seemed Lilly was having the same thought process as me.

"You said there'd be lots of students to meet" She quietly whined. I ignored her, knowing her complaints would get us nowhere. After a long and tiresome walk we had arrived at the vice principal's office.

"What is that awful screeching?" Lilly covered her ears and moved behind me. I promptly knocked on the door, hoping the vice principal would hear the bangs over whoever is making that fowl sound. My knock was followed by a bang, cursing, silence, and then the click of the door lock.

It swung open and there stood a, well if i'm being completely honest, an awfully ugly, man.

"How dare you interrupt such a talented musician, hard at work!" I stood in awe. Music? All I heard was the sound of a sad middle aged man playing a broken violin. Well, that's exactly what it was I guess. He stood in the doorway. Wait? Was he asleep? Had he fallen a sleep standing here talking to me?

"CSKSK WHat is it you needed?" He snapped out of his brief nap. I held back laughter, he had fallen asleep standing in the doorway, in a matter of seconds! Lilly giggled from behind my leg.

"Me and my sister are new students here, Maci and Lilly Worthington." His face dropped, not in the he saw a ghost kind of way more in a why are you here please leave kind of way.

"Oh I see" He paused, moving back into his office.

"The new orphans." He practically snarled, startling me and my sister.

"Come in won't you!" Followed by a quiet mutter of "you're wasting my precious practice time." He really was rather rude.

"Well let's get right to it. As you have no parents. None at all! Hah!" He chuckled. "You'll being staying in our third installment of the orphan shacks, it has wonderful views of the desolate plains and, well, interesting inhabiting wildlife. I'm sure you will find it quite bearable. If you are late to class you will eat with your hands tied behind your backs. Mandatory recitals are every night please attend Worthingtons. You will be in be in class 1 with Mr. Remora Maci. And for the small one you may work as a secondary secretary alongside the baby. I hope you settle in nicely as I would not like to have to meet with you again ." With this he ushered us quickly back into the hall and before we knew it his door slammed behind us.

"A shack?"

"Secretary?"

"A baby?" Me and Lilly sat in awe. What a strange school this was indeed.

"Did I hear orphan shack?" A small girl with red ringlet curls rounded the corner, she wore a full pink dress and tap shoes.

"Um yes do you happen to know where it is, the vice principal didn't happen to tell us where to go?"

"Only cakesniffers know where the orphan shacks are! Except, sometimes other people do too! Like in the case of me! Carmelitaaaaa." She sang her own name, I could already tell that she was one hundred percent a human headache.

"So is that a no?"

"Ugh you brain dead cakesniffers just follow me!"

She led us through the corridors and out a back door, we could spot the three small metal "shacks", I wouldn't even call them large enough to be a shack.

"This time my guidance will be free but make sure you bring a tip next time." She bowed and skipped, or rather, tap danced off. As me and Lilly drew closer we could hear muffled yells and bickering from the second shack in the row. I figured it was best left alone for now.

Sorry for the short chapter! The next should be coming out soon so stay tuned for chapter two the The Blue Notebook.