...I can't believe you're still here.
Besides that, thank you very much for waiting. I've been... busy, lately. Yeah, I think you already know the stuff that's been keeping me from updating for all you amazing readers out there.
School.
Ah, but it's okay. I still haven't forgotten about you guys lately.
Anyways, here's Chapter 3. I finally got to work on this one. I've been so busy that I almost forgot my readers! But don't worry. I'll always update this. Even if it might take me a month to do so.
But, then, I think you hate me for being so long. If you still want to read, I'll give you 20 seconds (dots) to make sure you're all set and ready to forgive me.
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...You little rebel.
June 20, 2043
Jenkinson National Middle School
Time: Afternoon, 12:34 p.m.
Nathaniel Benson made his way to the long corridors of the hallways, carefully staring on the road as middle school children ran about in the long, carpeted floors. The white-haired adolescent took careful glances at the happy children; their mouths are always open, this way and that, chatting away with their friends.
The young man tore his eyes away from the children, shaking his head. He shouldn't think about such things. He knew he can still communicate through his actions. "Actions speak louder than words", right?
Nathaniel was born mute, anyway. He was born without a voice. And he couldn't do anything about it.
After a few minutes of walking, he finally stopped in front of a large, brown door, carved with flowery engravings and golden trims. A shiny, golden sign hung above the door. "Principal's Office", it read.
He took a deep breath, pushing the large doors open. There, he saw Mr. Gregory Hill, principal of this middle school.
The principal perked his head up to see Nathaniel standing just beside the doors. This made him stop his work and smile at the young man. "Ah, Nathaniel Benson! Come on in!" He said, with a grin plastered on his face.
Nathaniel smiled back at this, putting his hands on his pockets and walking up to the principal. The mute young man then took out one hand and performed a gesture, a sign language.
Mr. Hill nodded at what he was trying to say. He actually understands me, Nathaniel thought to himself. Hey, he's mute, but at least he can still speak in his mind.
Gregory stood up from his seat and offered Nathaniel a chair, but he shook his head and waved a hand in front of him. Mr. Hill smiled and nodded, dragging off the chair and placing it to the side.
The principal sat down again, resting his chin upon his two laced, propped up hands. "So... what brings you here, Nathaniel?" He asked, raising a pale blonde eyebrow.
Nathaniel performed another set of hand gestures, but it seemed that Gregory didn't understand them anymore.
The white-haired man sighed to himself, and asked for a piece of paper by gesturing it to the principal. He also asked for a pen, which was also shown through his gesture. Mr. Hill nodded and got a piece of paper from the drawer, and a pen from the case.
Nathaniel bowed as a sign to thank the principal, then he took the pen and started to jot down the notes that he wanted to say earlier.
"Mr. Hill, Ennard Belladonna, Ballora Bennett and I wish to excuse ten middle schoolers from class. We want them to accompany Ennard's younger sister to the Testing Institution so that she wouldn't be lonely. We would like to excuse them now. I'm afraid they would have to bring their bags with them, since they won't be returning to the school after the exploration. They'll spend about the whole afternoon in the Testing Institution, you see.
Thank you for understanding."
He then gave the piece of paper to Mr. Hill, who read the note carefully, pushing his glasses to the bridge of his nose.
After the principal was done reading, he nodded at this. "Ah, I see. Cerise has been afraid of going on those horrific adventures by herself, hasn't she?" He asked, earning a nod from the secretary. "Very well, I'll accept. But first you must need this excuse letter to show to the guard."
Nathaniel grinned and bowed once again.
Mr. Hill chuckled. "You are very welcome, Nathaniel." He said, then started writing something on a sheet of paper. "Now, there are ten students you would like to excuse. Time starts at 1:00 a.m. and ends in whatever time you see fit." He muttered to himself.
The principal nodded to himself, took a last glance at the excuse letter, and handed the paper to the secretary. "Here you go. Now, you are all set."
Nathaniel beamed a smile and bowed the third time, thanking the older man before turning to the exit.
"Oh, Nathaniel, by the way," The principal suddenly called, making Nathaniel stop and turn his head. "Before you go, I want you to tell Ennard that Cerise has been cursing for the sixth time already. Her friend, Billy Brian, told me that she cursed during their class." He explained, with a worried expression on his face. "Ah, that girl might be smart, but her attitude..."
Nathaniel smiled awkwardly, face-palming. Ah, that girl... He then smiled at Gregory and nodded. After that, he waved at the principal, walking out of the office.
"Goodbye and have a safe trip!" Were the last words he heard from the principal, as he took one last wave at him. Then, he was completely outside the office, looking at the excuse letter.
He smiled, tearing his eyes away from the paper and looking outside his window. So far, those ten kids are playing around the trees, with Ennard and Ballora conversing with each other on the benches.
Ah, Jane and Billy... He smiled to himself, watching his younger sister and brother playing with their friends. You silly little trollops...
He pushed away those thoughts as he went outside, the paper in hand.
June 20, 2043
Outside the middle school
Time: 12:50 p.m.
"We're going on a trip, to the our favorite rocket ship~!"
"Coming through the sky! Little Einstein~!"
Nathaniel smiled softly as he listened to the youngsters singing to themselves, bags behind their backs, with excited looks on their faces. They shouldn't be this excited, should they? Since they were going to a house of horrors, how could they be this happy?
Nathaniel shook his head. They're trying to take the nervousness away, is all. He thought, looking down at Brian and Julie with a smile.
Jane seemed to notice his staring, which made her look up at him. "Nath? What's wrong?" She asked, smirking, raising an eyebrow.
Nathaniel shook his head, then suddenly pinched her cheek with a silent chuckle. "O-Ow! Nathaniel, that hurt!" She whined, holding her older brother's hand. But she did giggle a bit.
Brian suddenly jumped behind him, tackling the young man. "Nathaniel! What were you doing?!" He asked, hugging his brother's back with a pout.
Nathaniel giggled silently as he reached out to caress Brian's brown locks. "H-Hey! I'm not a child anymore!" He waved his hands above his head, trying to shove away his hands.
The young man shrugged, staring at the young boy solemnly. Technically, you still are. He was trying to say.
Brian knew what that meant. He turned away and pouted playfully, crossing his arms. "No, I'm not."
Nathaniel grinned, swinging both of his arms around his siblings' necks.
You both are still children to me.
Julie and Brian laughed at their brother's gesture. Both simultaneously kissed their brother's cheek, hugging him tightly. "We love you, Nathaniel!" They exclaimed in sync, laughing at their brother's arms.
Nathaniel couldn't help but smile softly. He held both children, the other caressing Brian's hair.
I love you, too.
"Aww, look at that! Three siblings, expressing their love!" The shrill voice of Ballora Bennett echoed around their ears, making the three of them look up to her.
Nathaniel pouted. What's wrong with that, Ballie?
Ballora giggled. "Oh, don't worry, Nathaniel. My two younger brothers are like that to me, too." She said, sitting next to the three siblings.
Brian beamed. "We just can't help it! Nathaniel's the best brother that we ever had, you know?" He said, hugging his older brother.
Julie nodded in agreement. "Yep, totally right. We wouldn't have lived if it wasn't for big bro." She said, smiling at the young woman.
Ballora smiled sweetly. "Both of you remind me of Brendan and Bernard. They always like how to show their love for their loved ones."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. Yes they do."
"Hey guys! Get ready!" Carly shouted, running outside of the gates of the school and towards the large limo. "We're ready to go!"
With that, Brian and Julie lost their grip from their brother, running towards their friends. Cerise came running after them, opening the limo's door for them. "Come on in, everybody!" She said as soon as those doors were wide open.
Ennard emerged from the gates a few seconds later, with hands on his pockets and a smile on his face. "I'm glad to see her happy, you know." He said to himself, glancing at his friends. "At least there would be someone that would keep her company."
"Oh, no, it's more than just one, Enn." Ballora chuckled, patting his shoulder. "We should probably go. We can't leave the kids and the driver waiting."
Ennard nodded, making Ballora smile at him before walking up to the limo, opening the second front door and getting inside.
Nathaniel patted his friend's shoulder before he could even walk up to the said vehicle. "Eh? What is it, Nathaniel?" He asked, with a questioning look on his face.
He then did some hand gestures that Ennard could perfectly understand.
Your sister cursed the sixth time already. What's more, she cursed in class. Mr. Hill told me so.
With that, Ennard's face grew serious, which amused Nathaniel.
The white-haired secretary knew that as soon as they get in the limo, Cerise would be in big trouble.
Inside the limosine
Time: Afternoon, 1:07 p.m.
"You have a lot to explain to me, young lady."
"I-I swear, Ennard! I didn't mean to!"
"This is the sixth time already, Cerise. The sixth time."
"Y-Yes, Ennard."
"Once that six reaches ten, you have to get off that school and find another one."
"I-I know Ennard."
"I swear, if you get kicked out of that school, I won't be helping you find another middle school to finish your studies."
"But Ennard!"
"No buts."
"...Fine..."
"Promise to me you won't do that again."
"I-I promise, Ennard."
"Swear to God? Hope you die?"
"Swear to God! Hope I die!"
"Good."
If he had a voice, Nathaniel would literally chuckle at the argument Ennard and Cerise are having. Well, no, not really an argument, but a reprimanding being done by Ennard.
They were only 10 minutes away from the Testing Institution already. The limosine traveled about an hour from Jenkinson National to the road they are riding right now. And this bickering Ennard and Cerise made has been going on for about 40 minutes already.
Apparently, Ballora and her brothers are sleeping, Pharell is still reading a book (even though he is reprimanded by Rain not to read in a moving vehicle), while the rest are chatting away.
Nathaniel is silent in his little corner, while Ennard and Cerise...
"If you do that the seventh time, I will be the one to kick you out, you got that?"
"Y-Yes, Ennard."
Nathaniel snickered.
You get the idea.
After those tiring 10 minutes, the limosine finally stopped to a halt. "We're finally here," The driver announced, with a husky voice.
Nathaniel was the first to open the door, since he was just near it. He went outside and smiled to himself. Ah, the usual Testing Institution.
Soon, the others followed suit. Even a sleepy Ballora and her siblings got out of the car, yawning and rubbing their eyes.
The children gasped in awe at the large building, looking up and down at the seventy one floors.
Carmine turned to her friends mischievously. "Well... let's see who goes in first, shall we?" She said, running for the entrance of the institution.
While the kids ran about, the three officers just stood there, looking up at their organization.
"Well, we're back."
"The Testing Institution."
Nathaniel nodded, as the three of them followed the ten middle schoolers.
Where torture starts, and torture ends...
Finally! Done!
Yes, sad story, I know, but Nathaniel is mute. I think it's actually fitting for the Marionette to be mute, you know? I just like it if he has a trait like that.
R&R!
- Jail Rose