Hello all! I couldn't resist doing the next chapter. ^-^ This has more meat on it. After either this or the next chapter is where you really see Yuko shine.
Chaptire 2: The Rules of the Game
"Attention students! Now that you've had an hour to make introductions, it is time for our orientation meeting! Each of your classrooms are only a short distance to three different entrances into the Auditorium! If you would please file into the Auditorium now, that would just be dandy!" The loudspeaker crackled, cutting our small talk short. Thank God; this was getting tedious. The Hair Stylist, Allan, began preening his already-perfect locks as if his life depended on it.
"Better get going pretty-boy." Rayne snickered. "Wouldn't want to be late to orientation, would ya?"
"Your hair is blue. Shut up." Allen retored coldly, ignoring him. Hmm… I sense hostility. Good. A sweet smile graced my face. To the outsider it looked sweet. However, that sugar was mixed with arsenic.
"Oh you two! I'm just so happy to have such nice classmates!" Abigail gushed happily. NOTHING seemed to phase this dolt.
"Teehee! My, my, girl! Did your hyperactivity level just drop tenfold? Hahaha you're so cute!" I cooed to her. You're such an idiot.
"I'm sorry... I'm usually kinda hyper with new people... I dunno why. But we're all friends right now, right! And aww, you shouldn't have!" Abigail replied, still babbling happily.
"Right! Gotta start the year right! I can't wait to meet the other students!" I responded, equally as energetic. Abigail nodded in agreement. This is so tiring.
"Right, so let's get going. Seriously, this class is like a group of sedated turtles." Rayne announced, getting off of his desk and lazily walking to the door, as if he was too cool to care.
"Who made you the hall monitor here? If there's anyone who makes the decisions around here, it's me." Allen shourted angrily. The rest of the class exchanged looks.
"Hahaha, oh Allen you're so funny! Obviously wonderful icons of talent such as us are capable of making our own decisions! Am I right Monica?" I giggled, my smile tooth-achingly sweet. I turned to the quiet girl, Monica, expectantly. She seemed to be once more in her own little world.
"Oh! Um... yeah... I'm sorry. I was writing a piece." she said shyly, a light flush of embarrassment on her cheeks.
"Without paper?" Allen asked.
"Um.. yeah I guess so. I keep the mental image inside my head. Real music resonates within the mind, soul, heart, and body... I guess." I looked at her quietly for a moment. She may be quiet, but she understands the mechanics of feelings, even if she isn't aware of it. She may be someone I can get along decently with.
"Well real music is going to have to wait for after Orientation, so come on my dears!" Allen said, trying to usher everyone out of the room.
"Okay! Oh my, I'm so very excited!" Abigail squealed, running up to the door and opening it before bounding out as if to discover a new world. Allen and Rayne followed behind her. As Monica stood to leave, I lightly tapped her shoulder. She stared at me with bright green eyes that looked at me with confusion and fear, like a baby deer.
"Hey! That was really deep, what you just said!" I chuckled. "I'm impressed."
"Uh... thanks. I guess that's kinda what keeps me going... Like writing music is interesting and all, and really fun, but it can be a bit tedious at times. And um... well when I know I'm touching my own heart and soul, and the hearts and souls of others, I just can't stop..." My smile softened a bit, becoming a bit more genuine. Like I though; a true gentle soul.
"Oh! I think that's just the coolest! I mean, you're so talented! Wow... you can visualize the song on paper in your head! It's admirable!" I chirped encouragingly.
"Uh..." Monica's eyes darted around, unsure of how to react.
"You're welcome! We should get going though. We wouldn't want to get too far behind, now would we?" I laughed.
"I guess not..." Monica followed behind me as my heels clicked smartly on the stone halls. The other 3 were not far along and we quickly caught up to them.
"Wow... this is beautiful. Even by my standards." Allen muttered, looking around with an impressed look on his face. The hallway had led to an indoor flower garden, filled to the brim with flowers at their blooming peak. A thick, sweet scent clung to the air as the light bubbling of hidden fountains filled the ears with a light, melodious tune. Yes… this IS quite pretty. I relaxed a touch, enjoying the view.
"Mmm... so fragrant..." Monica muttered from beside me, a small smile on her face.
"Sugar, you got that right. I wish I could use this scent in my hair salon. It would be fabulous." Allen quickly responded, smiling at Monica. She blushed. I raised my eyebrow a hair.
"Hm, so this school is like a garden of knowledge. Literally. Admittedly, I wouldn't want to graffiti in here. It's enough of a work of art as it is. The White House on the other hand..." Rayne seemed in awe of the whole picture in front and around him as well. As we reached the end of the green housed hallway, there was a large door with the word 'Auditorium' stamped on in gold letters. My stomach suddenly seemed to drop and the taste of bile rose to my throat. Everything in my body screamed 'run'.
"After you guys! Isn't this just the greatest?" Abigail held the door for everybody, shaking with excitement. Beyond the door was a two story room with wooden flooring and a red carpet along the middle. The walls were painted a welcoming blue, and there was a stage at the front with a red, velvet curtain. Something's wrong. Something's deeply, deeply wrong with this… I suddenly felt chilled to the bone.
"Thank you Rebecca Black." Allen sneered as he went in. The rest followed and we soon found another group of five sitting down in the plush, red velvet chairs.
"Ah, so you are the second set of my 14 other classmates. I'm Saya, and it's nice to meet you. Isn't this an interesting room? It's the only one so far to have a vaulted ceiling. Each of the chairs has a name written on the back of them, so feel free to sit down in your assigned position." one of the girls said, directing us to the remaining 10 vacant seats.
"Darling, what makes you so sure there's fifteen of us?" Allen asked, curious.
"Easy. They would've come to us individually if there were two or less classrooms, and also, the sizes of the classrooms are really quite small. Additionally, there are fifteen seats here." the girl, Saya, replied. Allan was struck dumb at the obviousness of the situation and changed the subject quickly, embarrassment painted on her face. Meanwhile, I felt my back stiffen. I knew EXACTLY what her "specialty" was. And I hated it with a passion. She was a detective. My opposite. Someone who worked with "facts" and "evidence". Someone who looked down on those like me who had abilities beyond this plane of reality with disgust, yet came crawling to us when all their "logic" had run dry. What hypocrisy. I hate her.
"Right, well it's just great to meet you. Just great. And you there with the messy hair. How could you neglect such luscious locks? Darling, I'm giving you a makeover later." Allen quickly judged one of the girls from the other group.
"You don't... think I'm pretty?" the girl said woefully, her eyes watering as she hung her head.
"Not with that hair. And I'm Allen, by the way. I'm a Hair Stylist. Learn to love me. Maybe I'll love you back." He really IS an arrogant prick, isn't he…
"I'm Tristan. Pleasure to meet ya Allen. I'm your local Super High School Level Barista. Come to me for your coffee or for some laughs." another boy replied. His aura screamed social butterfly, which made sense with his talent. He will be a good source of gossip. But I'll have to be careful; he's the kind that disarms with empathy, both real and faked.
"Hey man! I'm Rayne. I'm a big fan of coffee. I'm a Graffiti Artist, by the way." Rayne introduced himself.
"FREE HUG!" Abigail ran up and hugged the barista Tristan. "I'm sorry! I'm just so happy to be here with all of you! This is just too much for me! I think I'm going to faint... I'm Abigail, the Toymaker by the way! Yay!" Abigail seemed to truly be unable to contain herself. Don't cream yourself form excitement dear. I repressed those words and the seer that longed to come onto my face.
"I guess with a profession like yours, you didn't really need to grow up. It's okay! Childish people are cute!" the girl with "terrible" hair said, flashing Abigail an obviously fake smile. Abigail was oblivious.
"Heehee, aren't you two just darling." And disgusting. "I'm so glad to have classmates like you guys! I'm Yuko! I'm a Suuuuper High School Level Occultist. Pretty cool, huh?" I smiled at the end, making sure to continually solidify the mask of a sweet little doll.
"Oh thank you! I'm Aria, and I'm the best Hockey Player ever!" The messy-haired Aria played with a shoestring tied around her wrist absentmindedly. A nervous tick I see. A brief period of silence followed the introductions.
"So who's introducing themself next? Monica, darling, why don't you go?" Allen suggested to Monica sweetly.
"Uh... Well you already said my name. I'm Monica Bonillia... and I write music... I guess..." Monica's timid disposition was obvious to all.
"Monica here doesn't just write music. She lives it. Haha isn't she the greatest? She can envision music on paper in her mind! Hahaha I can't do that!" I added, coming to Monica's aid. You may be a music genius but you'll get nowhere with no spine.
"Oh, I have similar talents. I can actually envision documents and crime scenes and the height of the murderer, and the wounds of a victim in my head all at once. I guess that comes with experience." Saya stated, sounding a touch arrogant, as if to one-up Monica. Monica flushed. You don't have a talent at all you hypocrite. A monkey can use logic. Only those with talent can compose.
"Oh, well aren't you something!" I laughed, an edge of cold in it. "What's your talent Saya? I'm just dying to know!" I grinned, showing teeth. Saya rolled her eyes.
"Do you really care? Besides, it should be obvious." As she said this, I feel a tremor run through me and words come out of my mouth before I could stop the familiar sensation of channeling.
"All of you are going to die..." The tone of voice that came from my mouth was the same as the voice I had been sporadically hearing. Everyone turned to me, observing me through a lens of intense scrutiny. For a moment, I stared blankly as the sensation left me. Fuck. I covered up my panic with a giggle. "What was that now! You were just about to tell me your talent, weren't you Saya?" I said, feigning forgetfulness.
"What...was that?" a voice spoke up. A boy a few inches shorter than me, made shorter by his slumping posture, asked quietly.
"Oh! And who might you be!" I turned my attention to the new boy. He was quite thin, his hair a touch long and uncared for, but he had a shy, slightly boyish face. He was quite cute actually.
"I'm...Bertie. And um, I'm a Chemist. But... what was that just now... Your tone... it changed. So did your face... Please don't eat me..." The boy, Bertie, trailed off at the end, slumping further into his seat, adding to his boyish charm. He's like a little bunny! How cute! And obviously smart if his specialty is Chemistry.
"I have no recollection!" I lied, giggling again. "It must've been another one of my pesky visions! Sometimes, the spirits of the great beyond..." I wiggled my fingers eerily, playing up my supernatural elements. And of course, discrediting them all at once. But I knew what I was doing; the less then understood, the better. "They tell me things... It's a practice called Channeling. But those spirits, hahaha they rarely predict anything. Most of their musings are in riddle and rhyme. Isn't that hilarious! Hahahaha don't pay them any attention!" I finished before turning back to Saya. "I'm getting the feeling that you're a Detective." I said smartly, my enunciation a touch more clipped as my irritation seeped in uninvited.
"Actually... yes." Saya looked at me, impressed.
"How the hell did you know that? Sugar, are you one of those weirdos I read a magazine article about?" Allan exclaimed. I could feel everyone's poorly-hidden fear and disgust. A bitter taste filled my mouth. All of you are the same; cowards who run from every little thing you don't undertand. You all disgust me!
"She probably heard about her elsewhere. Each of us is famous in our own right. It makes sense!" Aria explained, trying to add logic to the room, to quell hers and everyone's fear.
"Heehee! Oh Aria, aren't you sharper than a polished sword?! Yes, she's right! I've heard about you Saya! Hahaha isn't that cool?" I lied, going with Aria's assumption. After all, who were they to know. Most looked convinced, however, one did not is seemed as she voiced her opinion finally.
"I call bullshit. You're a liar, Yuko. I don't like liars." the girl growled at me in a disgusted tone. There was searing heat in those words. I turned smartly on my heel to look at the girl.
"Hahaha you're so funny! Who are you?" I replied bubbly, but there was venom in my words. I made sure to smile to hide the glare I gave her. And who are you to judge me.
"I'll tell you, since she's a little off her rocker. Her name is Oberon, and her talent is Good Luck." Tristan answered.
"Well you know what they say Oberon! Good luck can accomplish anything! Oh, this is too much fun. Squee!" Abigail thrilled, trying to obviously get into the girl's good graces.
"Nobody says that dear. Anyone who does is a mindless imbecile." Allen said, harshly, cutting the cheer short.
"Good luck... GOOD LUCK! Do you know where good luck gets you? It gets you into a school full of arrogant pricks! That's where good luck gets you!" The girl Oberon stood up, fire in her eyes. "I can't walk anywhere now without being reminded of my failures! Without being reminded of how inferior I am. I absolutely HATE good luck. Just like I hate this school." She finished. Everyone looked at her in shock while I looked at her blankly. Suddenly, her face relaxed as did her body. "Oh... I'm sorry. Did I...offend you?" She looked legitimately shocked at the horror written on everyone else's faces.
"Oberon... it doesn't have to be that way... We aren't here to make you feel inferior..." Saya reasoned. I simply looked at the girl blankly. You should be happy you're lucky; I've never been graced by Lady Luck's gaze.
"I wouldn't be so sure…"
"Hey guys! How are you!" a new voice said as one of the three doors to the Auditorium opened. The final group of five walked in. No one responded.
"I give you all permission to speak. Not at once, but upon my command. You there with the dark red hair. Tell me your name." one of the other males, a sharply-dressed man in a military-like outfit said. He was indicating Saya to speak. I felt myself bristle. No one commands me!
"I'm Saya." was all she said. The silence continued and I felt myself get a touch bored.
"Big brothers and sisters! Stop being a bummer! Charlotte is bummed out!" one of the girls, Charlotte, squealed. Great, another one…
"Don't refer to yourself in the third person. It's irritating." a man whispered behind her, a slight Russian accent on his voice. Thank GOD a normal person. The final 5 found their seats and sat down, filling up all seats now. I wondered what would happen next when that sick, icy feeling of doom filled my stomach again. I clenched my hands which rested on my poofy skirt. The words I'd channeled earlier seemed to ring in my head; You're all going to die. Suddenly, the red curtain began to part, the stage began to light up, and on it was a black and white teddy bear with a red eye.
"Greetings! I'm Monobear!" The teddy bear said, its words filled to the brim with false sweetness. The words hung in the air before one of the girls that had come in with the last group laughed.
"You don't mean to tell me this school is run by a teddy bear, do you?" she laughed.
"That's exactly who it's run by! But I'm no normal teddy bear, oh no. I'm Monobear!" Abigail chimed in.
"No. You're not a teddy bear. You can't be. Something seems...off." Abigail seemed puzzled and her tone, for once, wasn't happy. I sneakily pulled out my Tarot deck from my small purse and drew the first card; The Tower. Doom and trials.
"I'm much more complex! Any dumb old teddy bear couldn't run such a prestigious school! I'm much better than that!" Monobear retorted.
"Guys, I think he's a scripted device. Someone could be speaking into a mic somewhere." Rayne pointed out calmly.
"True. It would be difficult for one bear to run it all, now wouldn't it. That's why I have an assistant! Monomi, show yourself!" And on Monobear's command, a pink, fairy-like rabbit flew down onto the stage, sprinkling glitter on everyone. I grimminced as the offending partical clung to my hair and clothes.
"I'm vewy excited! This schoolyear wiw be gweat!" Monomi held a pink stick with a white star on the end. She spoke with a notable lisp, which was clearly getting on Monobear's nerves as well as my own. Learn to speak proper English you dolt.
"I'm excited too! Now I'm sure you're all wondering why we're gathered here in the Auditorium. No, it isn't for me to give you your schedules. No, it isn't for me to explain the disciplinary guidelines. It's for me to explain to you your predicament. But first, let us initiate the school year with the annual breaking of the stick!" Monobear leapt over to Monomi and snatched the pink stick from her hands. What the…
"Noooo! My magic stick! Monobeaw, you meanie! That was vewy special to me! Pwease give it back!" She pleaded and begged, but it was of no use. With a resounding snap, the stick was broken into two glittery pieces. "Waaaaaahhh!" Monomi ran off the stage, crying. Monobear sighed.
"Little sisters are so irritating. We do this every year, and yet she still gets sad." Monobear flashed the group a devilish smile. Every year… you mean we're not the first to see this bizaar spectical?! The feeling of dread solidified. We're fucked.
"What predicament, exactly, are we in... I thought this was a school designed for the most talented teenagers in America." Saya asked.
"Ah, your predicament. I was getting to that. Don't you believe in formal introductions?"
"Well we would believe in those if the crazed blond didn't have to ruin our time." Allen snapped, looking at Oberon. Oberon blushed in embarrassment and sunk a bit in her chair.
"I'm sorry..." she apologized but it didn't really appease anyone.
"Well in that case, we should get right to it! But first of all, do you like it here?"
"Yeah! The lounge is awesome!" the boy who had first spoken when the last group had come in said. I nodded along with the rest of the "students" stiffly, awaiting the true reason for our coming here. Oberon was the only one who shook her head but no one seemed to pay her mind.
"Even if we only went through a short hallway to get into the Auditorium, being here is refreshing!" Tristan explained.
"Oh! Well that's good! I guess this next piece of news won't come so painfully." Monobear cleared his throat. "You see. This school, Rising Stars Academy, it is your new home."
"…go on..." Aria said, waiting for the rest. No…!
"Permanently." Monobear finished. There was a death-like silent. Inside my mind I was screaming. No! NO! I can't stay here! Not without her to help me stay sane in the group of lunitics!
"What." Allen said flatly.
"You heard me. You will not be leaving this school ever again." Monobear flashed us the brightest of smiles. Confused murmurs erupted from everyone as Oberon began to cry. I laughed a little, a small edge of hysteria creeping in.
" Guys, Monobear is such a funny teacher! You're funny Monobear! Such a good comedian!" I bubbled, praying, hoping, begging this wasn't real.
"I'm glad you find it amusing, but I'm afraid that wasn't a joke. This will be your new home. Learn to love it." Monobear smiled.
"No. I-I won't believe it. There has to be a way out!" Allen exclaimed, desperation written on his face like a caged animal.
"Ah, now that you mention it, there is!" Monobear replaied, editing himself. "They call it...Graduation."
"How does one graduate?" Saya asked, concerned, her cool demeanor cracked as her face pinked. My mind seemed to buzz and I barely herd the next words. Monobear spoke gleefully.
"That's the catch! Brace yourselves for this!" Without meaning to, I mouthed the net words he said in perfect sync with the autonomous bear, sealing everyone's fate. "In order to graduate from Rising Stars Academy, you must kill someone else without being found guilty."
I hope you enjoyed it! Please review if you like it!
