Chapter 4 New School

04

"Velch... He must be looking for me." I mumbled trying to control what was contracting inside me, I felt an overwhelming need to get closer, just to know precisely what that smell was that was so stirring in me.

"Velch..." He said as if he was still assimilating, then his features changed from soft to hard, and he took a quick step away.

"Miss Hernandez!" Velch's voice brought me back to reality.

"Ahh fuck..." I snorted in amazement at the way he appeared.

Why did everyone seem to act like a ghost?

"Hello, Mr. Lennon." Velch replied, his tone of voice changing, I could feel the discomfort in the air.

"Hi, Velch." The stranger - Mr. Lennon by the looks of it -, replied. "She seemed to be lost."

"She's new in town, we ended up missing each other, but you can leave it, we're on our way back." Velch said in an authoritative tone.

"Thank you so much for your help." I replied bewildered, feeling my mouth dry from a desire that was sneaking around me.

"Anytime." He said narrowing his eyes at me for a few seconds, he seemed to be conflicted about something, then looked away to the other side. Where Velch's silhouette was waiting for me.

Velch turned as if silently calling me to follow him and so I did, passing the stranger and taking his scent with me. I followed him carefully so that I would not get lost and realized that indeed, the arrows on the wall told the way.

"I believe you missed the arrows." He said as if confabulating.

"No, sorry." I replied.

"No need to apologize, just be aware." He said. "Details matter a lot in this town."

"I'll pay attention." I replied.

We walked outside, and then went to a snack bar, ate, and went back home. It was already getting dark.

"Tomorrow is the first day of the week, you'll have class." Velch said when we were already on the steps leading up to my room. "Be ready at the first hour. We'll be leaving at 7am.

"Okay, Velch. Thanks." I replied nodding.

He smiled and I turned to go to my room, seconds later it was as if he had never been there. The staircase was like a spiral and so I could tell that he either disappeared, or in fact was extremely fast and silent. Although the staircase did not show the last few steps, so I used that as an excuse and moved on.

∞

For the first time I was looking in the mirror truthfully, staring at the freckles that decorated my face and that had so often been a reason for bullying. My orange-red hair was tangled in a bun. As I always used to do. But that day I had washed it and tied it into a ponytail that swung around in the middle of my back. I never cut my hair, my mother never cut it, and this was the only thing I had left of it. In CDJ I always wore it in a braid or a bun, because I knew that the first moment I wavered, it would be cut, or used as a weapon against me. Now, tied up in a ponytail, I felt my eyes burn, because I could see my father's portrait in front of the mirror, under my mother's curly hair. I swallowed hard, taking a deep breath. I didn't need to remember that now. But I did remember.

"Ahh my little brave one, how beautiful you look, those glasses only enhance your beauty even more..." I could still hear mom's voice as she ran the brush through my huge hair.

I put my glasses on my face, feeling a shock of familiar adrenaline coursing through my body and feeling guilty for not knowing how to talk about the drugs with Velch. I visualized my new college uniform, trying not to think about what might happen. I got dressed.

A black skirt that went a couple of inches above the knee, a white long-sleeved button-down shirt, and a black blazer with ISSY in silver on top. I wanted to know what that acronym meant, but I didn't have time to ask yet. On my feet a white knee-length stocking and a black shoe. I put a jacket over the uniform because I couldn't imagine how the hell anyone could survive with just that uniform in that cold city, and went downstairs.

"Velch..." I called him already in the living room and headed for the door being almost certain that he would follow me.

"Good morning, Miss Hernandez."

"Good morning." I replied turning back around and staring at him standing there.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?" He asked.

"I'm not hungry." I replied.

He just nodded thoughtfully and followed me outside. We got into the Maserati Levante and drove on. I was anxious, as I had never been before. My stomach was churning with anxiety. I sighed. I was strong, I had faced worse things than a bunch of spoiled teenagers. I didn't need to fear them. When the car stopped in front of a huge school and I seemed to be the center of attention of everyone standing there, my heart stopped and I had to reinforce to myself everything I had said seconds ago. I followed Velch out of the car.

He followed in front of me. I wanted to disappear.

"Let's go to the principal's office so I can introduce you to the principal, as requested by Ms. Hernandez, and then you'll be free of me." I said with a corner smile staring at me for a few seconds.

"Ok. That's not so valuable right now." I joked sighing.

He nodded as if he understood and with a sympathetic look turned back to face us. As we entered the school everyone seemed to be looking at me and commenting on me. Humming and more humming. I was not used to this, mainly because the last time I had become the center of attention was for acts that I couldn't even remember. It was as a murderer. I took a deep breath, I needed to keep myself in control. My head was held high and I bet I could even scare people with my posture, but inside I was afraid, fighting against my instincts and trying at all costs to banish the scenes from the past that were unfolding in my memory. We turned down a huge corridor that also led to the boardroom, Velch knocked on the door and waited. A female voice invited us in.

"Hello, so this is Anubis?" The principal stared at me as if she could see my soul, but her expression was sweet, calm.

"Yes. My Lady has asked that I introduce you." Velch said with a friendly smile on his face.

"Ahh..." She sighed. "My condolences for your mother." The woman said making me almost walk out of there, did they know my story then?

"It's been a long time." I mumbled impatiently, what right did they have to tell my intimate life? Had they told how she had died?

She stared at me for a few seconds and then looked away from me to Velch. There was a kind of tension between them, I clung to that.

"Then you may let me lead you from here." The principal spoke with a smile. "And say hi to Mrs. Hernandez for me, tell her I'll take good care of her."

"I will." He answered nodding and turned to me. "I'll be at your disposal, for whatever you need, but in here, you can count on the principal, just ask for me, okay?"

I felt protected by those words.

"Yes, that's fine." I nodded. Feeling some of my nervousness pass.

Velch left, and the principal led me out of the room, we continued down the hallway.

"I'll take you to your room, your aunt is a wonderful woman. I hope with all my heart that you enjoy the college, and that you get along here." She said as we stopped facing a room.

I nodded, and then she came in, inviting me in as well, and I wanted to run out as I saw the whole class focused on me. The smell was coming back with everything, the smell that I could hardly get out of my mind for an entire night, along with his eyes. Now I was seeing him more accurately, wearing a pair of black dress pants and a button-down shirt folded up to the elbows....

He turned around and a shiver ran through my body, a strange feeling came over me. He was dark brown, his light brown eyes were incisive, something in his posture made me want to retreat and advance on him at the same time, it was intimidating, but beyond that, his smell, I swallowed dryly the metallic taste in my mouth. Rust mixed with wet earth.

"Mr. Lennon this is the new student I told you about, Anubis Hernandez." The principal justified. "This is the PE teacher, Mr. Lennon."

"Hi..." I whispered, clearing my throat immediately afterwards. My voice came out shaky and hoarse.

"Welcome to the class, Miss Hernandez." He said in a firm voice.