Chapter Two: Room 095

Annabeth

Life sucks, okay? I didn't need freaking Mundie's to tell me that. And my step-mother said, "Well, Annabeth, maybe it will help!"

Ha!

Okay, Mundie's did not help. Like, AT ALL.

If anything, it made me worse. Like I was told that I was on the brink of insanity. Maybe I was. Who really knows.

As I was walking through on my first day, everyone was snickering or not really paying attention to my entrance; I had decided to wear a little bit of eyeliner. Somehow, it helped me think.

I remember this one table of three kids; two guys and one girl, although you honestly really couldn't tell she was a girl at first. The girl had short black hair and lightning-blue eyes. I mean, even bluer than my colored contacts, which are pretty damn blue. She was wearing a black T-shirt, and she had arranged her food into what looked like a mini hockey-rink, with an audience and everything.

One of the guys looked younger than I was. His hair was blonde and it flopped over his eyes like he didn't want to attract attention. He had a deep scar over his upper lip, and he was idly spinning his cereal. And for some reason, he was still in his pajamas; blue and green with little T-Rexes. I would've laughed if I had been so pissed - or nervous. I couldn't really tell at that point.

But the third guy really caught my attention. He had black hair that looked like he had poked his finger in an electrical socket, which is to say, sticking up all over his head. And he had the most gorgeous green eyes I had ever seen in my life. He was wearing an orange T-shirt and jeans, and he was watching me.

I didn't know who he was, but he was cute.

But before I could dwell on it too much, Dr. Venus, or whatever the hell her name was, escorted me out of the cafeteria and into the dormitory hall. We passed by one room where I heard awful screaming coming from inside. It was a girl, and she was wailing, "Make it stop! Please! MAKE IT STOP!" I saw a glimpse through the little window and saw a red-haired girl about my age, her hands clasped over her ears, rocking back and forth, a puddle of tears on the floor. The doctor inside was trying to get her to drink something, but the nurses seemed like they had no idea what to do.

I wanted to get a closer look, but Venus shied me away from the window before I could.

"Now, Annabeth," she said, leading me to a worn-down door with the number 095. "This is your dorm room."

I stepped inside. It was cozy, I guess. Two bunks off to one side, a desk, a mushroom chair. Even a small bookshelf. A closet. A window. I noticed that the room seemed unoccupied.

I turned to Dr. Venus and asked her, "Am I the only occupant?" She nodded, her blond hair bouncing. "For now, anyway. Is that alright with you?" I remember shrugging, as if I didn't care. I don't think I really did.

I remember Venus telling me that I was due in a conference room in like thirty minutes or whatever. I remember agreeing and telling her I won't kill anyone on my way over. Which, now that I think about it, was a pretty sick joke.

I was left alone in the room. And for future reference, me alone in a room is NOT a good thing. I reckon that anyone of us at Mundie's alone in a room is not a good thing.

Thankfully, my stupid conscience wasn't there to bug me. I got some time to think in the room that was going to be my home for the next year. I sat down on the lower bunk and ran my hands across the pillow. Soft. Sighing, I stretched out on the bunk as I recalled the conversation my step-mother and I had before she shipped me here.

"Annabeth, what are we supposed to do? You don't eat, you don't interact... you are practically dead to the world!"

"Am I really? Then why are you talking to me?"

"Now is NOT the time for sarcasm, Annabeth! Your father doesn't know what's going on with you! He's in pain watching you go about your days!"

"Oh, really? Then why doesn't he tell me this crap himself?"

Silence.

"Look Steph, I know that you're trying your best being my mother and everything, but frankly, I'm fine being the freaking underling."

More silence.

"Whatever. See ya 'round, mom."

I put my hand on the door, ready to bolt. It was at this moment that Stephanie chose to speak up.

"Malcolm's death was NOT your fault, Annabeth. I don't know if this is connected to that, but you did not cause your brother's death."

Not knowing what to say, I didn't say anything. Instead I angrily stepped outside and slammed the door shut.

I blinked, a familiar feeling of panic rising up in me. Stop, I told myself, now is NOT the time. You have to maintain control.

Shaking my head, I tossed the pillow I had been choking back onto the bed and decided that a small wandering outside would do me good.

So I did just that.