Chapter 5: The Teacher
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Wha...What happened to me?
Why can't I remember anything?
Have I blacked out or something?
Am I...Dead?
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Memory Fragment: Elijah Oppenheimer
Everything he sees was darkness. He tried to remember what happened the last time he blacked out, but the only thing he remembered is falling to the floor.
Where am I?
He looked around but there is nothing besides him. He decided to walk, in case he still sees nothing. Suddenly, he heard something. It sounds like numerous gunshots and screams of people like they were running away from something.
What's going on?!
[BGM: The Machines by Danny Elfman and Deborah Lurie]
The darkness starts to fade, replacing now that he was in a middle of a war. Debris were scattered everywhere, many people around him were running away from something. Then he heard a loud, ear-piercing scream. He turned around and gasped. There was a machine that was 30 ft. tall was in front of him face to face. Its red eye gave him a strange fear, scared but curious.
That eye...I could have sworn I saw it somewhere...I just can't seem to remember when...
With all these questions in his mind, he didn't notice the machine closed his eyes and suddenly replaced with green light below it. He then saw it and run as fast as he can. But the machine grabbed him and faces him to the green light. He struggles but he can't escape! He looked to the machine one more time, then the green light just hit him…
And everything came to black again.
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9 shot awake from his dream. No wait, that wasn't a dream, IT'S A NIGHTMARE! His heartbeat was pounding and his vision wasn't clear that he has trouble in seeing things. He could only see a brown figure shaking him crazy.
Elijah! Please you have to calm down! It's me! Bridget!
9: Bridget?
He closes his eyes again. When his vision is clear, he looked to the girl. It was indeed Bridget. She smiled at in relief.
9: Bridget…
Bridget: Don't worry, Elijah. You're safe now.
9: Where am I?
Bridget: Your room. The clinic was closed for some reason so I brought you to your room to heal you.
9 looked at the mirror beside him. His head was wrapped with bandage. Bridget came with a scissor and cut the excess part of the bandage. 9 still had a hard time remembering what happened even though he already woke up. He decided to ask Bridget.
9: Bridget, what happened to me?
Bridget: You…blacked out during the class. Your friends think that it was Jet who did it, but the principal refused to believe. You know, you're very lucky to survive that hit. A fragile doll like you could have a big case of comatose of even death. What happened to you before you came to the…*looks to 9* Elijah?
She saw 9 was staring at the ceiling. She tries to snap him out of it.
Bridget: Elijah? *waved her hand in front of 9's face* Elijah! *shouts at 9's ear* ELIJAH!
9: *snaps out in reality* Huh? What?
Bridget: Elijah, you were staring at the ceiling. What's wrong with you?
9: It's…the dream I just had when I was blacked out.
Bridget: A dream? Of what?
9: A war. Many people died in there. And then I saw a huge machine in front of me. Then there's a green light and I tried to escape but it grabbed me and…and…
Bridget: Elijah, is that a memory?
9: I don't know…but it looked so real.
Bridget thought that dream that 9 had. She knew that it's a memory because she 'feel it in his soul'. But then again, she is a Guidance Counselor so she mostly listens. She decided to give 9 a gift. She went to the table and return with a thing.
Bridget: You know…as a Guidance Counselor, I had a job to keep the school in a good shape besides the principal. Most students came to me in my office almost every day. So, I give them a gift. You might need this if I'm not here…anymore…
She showed a tablet like notebook that has a leather case as a cover along with 9's 'Elijah Oppenheimer' name in the front. It also has the Section Anima symbol on the bottom of his name. She gave the gadget to 9.
9: What is this?
Bridget: It's called 'The Journal'. It's the school's traditional diary for the students who enrolled for the first time. You can write it every time by the end of the day and it saves to your files in there. You can even write it right now.
Bridget gives the pen to 9. He doesn't know what to write or draw. He can't even tell to Bridget most of his dreams because he thought it would be silly. He just then writes a word that popped into his mind: Loneliness
Bridget: Loneliness? Elijah, are you okay?
9: I'm okay, really.
Bridget: Then why you wrote 'Loneliness'. I thought you already had friends.
9: I don't know why but it feels weird…Maybe I'm just still new to the school. I always get the feeling of being left out for some reason.
Bridget: You had a hard time, don't you?
9: No…no I don't. *murmurs* Except that Jet laughs at my name, he said that I got that from a 'celebrity'.
Bridget: *smiles sheepishly* It was. I understand how you feel, Elijah. When I was a girl, I also felt the same way as you. I've been always got caught by the principal, my friends kinda left me and I sometimes got bullied a little. They even teased that my name came from a Saint, they said it was weird.
9: Really?
Bridget: Saint Bridget of Sweden, yes. You know, it's okay when you are new. You just came here in 3 days and caused a lot of silliness around the school.
9: Oh…
Bridget: Don't worry, you still got me. Let me hug you then.
Unfortunately, Bridget hugged 9 a little too tight. It felt good to him though, warm and...weird that he couldn't explain. Good thing she let go after that, then she gave 9 another book. But it's made out of paper and the cover was color blue. It was the student's handbook.
Bridget: Just to make sure you won't get in trouble again.
9: *smiles sheepishly* I...
Bridget: Come on, it's bed time already. You really need to get some sleep now.
9: But-
Bridget: Elijah, sleep.
9: *laughs* Okay.
Bridget: *chuckles* Little doll. See you tomorrow.
After that, Bridget left the room. 9 decided to read the handbook since he can't sleep because he was blacked out. He reads the rules, negative rules to be exact:
will start at 7:00. Not in time will be punished.
student will only seated in the designated tables in recess and lunch.
student is not allowed to meet the other sections unless there is a valid reason to it.
And many others…
Disappointed, he puts the handbook to his satchel and goes to sleep.
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The next day, everything came back to normal a little. The students were discussing about something, but none of them talked about what happened yesterday. Jet wasn't even in the classroom yet, probably from what happened yesterday.
The door was opened revealing that 9 came to the room, who still has bandages on his head.
Mordecai: Looks like Elijah's back!
Lettuce: Thank goodness you're okay!
Mickey: You gave us quite a scare in there.
Finn: So, how's your head?
Tails: Did it still hurt?
9: *touches his head, and winces* Yes *remembers something* How long was I out?
Dipper: *looks at the clock* 16 hours.
9: 16 hours?!
Dib: But don't worry, Aliana will help you catch up with the other subjects.
9 smiled, at least Aliana will help him. He thought everything is alright until suddenly the door opens revealing Jet and the principal, who is staring at 9 coldly.
Principal: *to 9* Elijah Oppenheimer. Looks like you're feeling well, aren't you?
9: *nods slowly* Yes miss.
Principal: *sarcastically* Well, let's just hope it won't happen ever again or you might ended up crushed by your fragile body. Too bad you're a doll and not a human, because many of the students might step on you. The worst one than being hit on the head.
Those words hit him like someone is throwing a stone on his head, which it hurts. Badly.
Prinicpal: Anyways, *to the students except 9* you knew that your old English teacher is retired. Am I right?
Students (Except 9): Yes / Yeah / Yep
Principal: Well then, your new teacher will be here when the bell rings. But as for now, Jet will be sitting away from Elijah for the day. Just in case Elijah will do something STUPID in the class, Jet will report to me.
Mordecai: Oh what?!
Dib: But why?! Jet was the one who hurt Elijah.
Principal: And did I believe in any of you?
Dib: …No.
Principal: Very well then.
The bell rang. FINALLY!
Principal: Looks like it's time. Good luck to your English teacher. *to Jet* If Elijah does anything idiotic, you know what to do.
Jet: *arrogantly* Yes, mommy.
Principal: *whispers* I'll be in the office if you need me, dear. *leaves the room*
The students were a little shocked. It was just now they heard 'Dear' to Jet. The others were trying not to laugh but some were disgusted. When the principal left the room, the students (Except Jet) were discussing. Suddenly, Kyoko laughs for some reason.
Kyoko: *mocking in a deep, yet high voice* I'll be in your office if you need me, DEAR. *scoffs*
Finn: I can't believe that was the first time we heard from her.
Mordecai: Seriously?! It annoys me a lot!
Lettuce: She does seem she care to Jet.
Dib: And to Jet only, Lettuce. She doesn't like us, you know.
Tails: I think it's true.
Mickey: Indeed true.
Mirai: I agree.
9: But how do you know she does?
The students were staring at him in silence.
Kyoko: *glaring* Wow, you really are…
Finn: *elbows Kyoko* Kyoko!
Kyoko: What?! I was going to tell him that he was an idiot.
Finn: Well you do now!
Mickey: He is a new student, Kyoko. He doesn't know much about him yet.
Jet: I heard that. And besides, mommy's right. That sackboy is a very fragile person. One hit on his head and he'll be crushed.
Finn: Except you're the one who hit on Elijah's head.
Phineas: And he has a name Jet.
Jet: *scoffs* Whatever. But still, I am watching you.
When he finished his sentence, a door burst open and revealed a brown mouse who has eyeglasses. He wears a green jacket over a white blouse and necktie along with pants. He was shown nervous and quite exhausted, probably because his briefcase was so heavy.
Unknown: *pants* Phew! I really need to workout more. *looks at the students sheepishly* Forgive me about that. Uh, excuse me, is this Section Anima? I was looking everywhere for it.
Mirai: Yes sir. You've come to the right place.
Unknown: Oh thank goodness!
The mouse set his briefcase down on the table. He looked to the window and saw another mouse that it was older than him. He wears blue jacket and pants similar to the mouse except his fur was gray. The older mouse has a sign says 'Don't let me down, grandson!'. The brown mouse was scared, but he turns to the students. 9 looked at the window and noticed something about them.
Jet: What's with this rat anyway?
9: I think I know...Sir, are you the new English teacher the principal talked about?
Unknown: *stammered* Well, yes I am *looks to 9's I.D* Mr. Oppenheimer.
9: *looks at his I.D and sighs, then looks up* Even him I'm being called by that.... Who are you?
The students (Including Jet) then looked at the mouse. At first he was nervous but then he calms down. He picks up a whiteboard marker and writes 'Geronimo Stilton'. Which is actually the mouse's name.
Geronimo: My name is Stilton, Geronimo Stilton. And I will be your new English teacher.
The students were surprised, including Jet.
IS HE SERIOUS?!