Slayer James's Story

Addie slammed her palm down on the snooze button in her dorm room that she shared with Slayer, Jordyn, and Hannah. Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she looked at the blinking red numbers on her clock. 7:00am, Monday morning. Groaning, she analyzed the room as usual using her powers. Everyone was calm from sleep, just like every morning. Addie sighed and pushed away her covers, sitting up in bed and rubbing her eyes, she yawned and swung her legs over.

"Guys, it's time to get up." Addie said mid-yawn, and reached over to grab her shower supplies case. Stumbling into the bathroom, she turned on the hot water and stepped in, letting the warm water cascade down her hair and back. Sighing in happiness, Addie reached out with her only dry hand and pressed the button on her tablet that read her schedule. Her first official class was Art, after breakfast and Personal Study. Smiling, she reached for the shampoo. Addie loved her art class. Art was the one thing she could rely on to keep her own emotions in check, because she always had everyone else's pounding inside her head anyway, she couldn't let her own emotions change dramatically.

Getting out of the shower, she put on her purple sundress, turquoise cardigan, and white lace flats. It was supposed to be a nice, sunny, day and she wanted to dress for the occasion. Grabbing her tablet, she yelled out a "Showers free! I'm heading to breakfast!" Glancing at her clock, it read 8:05am. Just in time, she thought, as she closed the door behind her she felt a sudden rush of emotion sweep over her. She staggered and braced her hand against the wall, feeling dizzy from the intensity. She couldn't pinpoint where the emotion was coming from, but in the next second in went away and she felt completely normal again. Something's happening somewhere, she thought, returning to normal and walking to the cafeteria.

Grabbing a seat by the window, she ate her usual small morning meal of an apple and gazed out at the sunshine just beginning to rise above the trees.

Slayer vacated her bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, immediately wishing to crawl back in and be enveloped by warmth for another couple hours. Glancing at the clock, she realized that her habit of oversleeping had struck again. Slayer cursed silently and stalked over to the dorm's closet. No time to shower now.

Slipping into a black miniskirt and a frilly white blouse, she took a look in the full-length mirror against the wall. Ugh. Slayer rushed into the bathroom, not really desiring to be late for breakfast that morning. She quickly washed her pale face, wishing she could be as toned as some of the other girls. Slayer brushed her teeth and deep-red hair next while glancing back into the bedroom, trying to spot her boots and save time in the long run.

While pulling on her favorite black combat boots with the silver buckles, Slayer's hand slipped and she chipped a fingernail. "Ouch," she whispered harshly. The candle on Hannah's bedside table suddenly lit itself. "Sorry," she said, smiling softly at the quiet girl. Slayer trudged out of the dorm into the hallway, headed for the cafeteria, her stomach gurgling for food.

I walked to the cafeteria. I glanced down at the tablet in my hand, checking the time.
Oh god.
8:45.
I started to run, and I reached the cafeteria. I bump into a girl. I turn around continuing to run,
"Sorry!" I yell (and I mean it)
I reach the cafeteria, and sit and a table by the buffet. I feel my eyes turn color, then I slowly lift a bowl of fruit salad up off the table along with some orange juice. It floats into my hands, and I start to walk back to my dorm for personal study.

Once Slayer was finished with her rather bland breakfast of orange juice and a plate of fruit, she checked the cafeteria clock and the schedule on her tablet. It was time for personal studying. Exiting the cafeteria and feeling a bit more energized, she followed the map on her tablet screen, trying to find the Library entrance. It was one of the few places she could stand to visit in this massive, dreadful, depressing castle.

Slayer twisted the knob and opened the door to the extensive library, basking contentedly in the natural light the windows let in. Immediately she was drawn to the grand fireplace in the center of the room on the main level. She concentrated a bit of energy on the log, lighting it and creating a warm glow.

Then as she looked about her wanting to find a book, she noticed the girl sitting quietly at the window and wondered if she had disturbed her by igniting the fireplace. Slayer shrugged to herself and continued on to one of the tall bookshelves to browse.

I sat at the Alcove as I heard the fireplace crackle to life. I raised an eyebrow. I hadn't heard anyone so it must've been powers. Pyrokinesis perhaps? I peered over and spotted a girl with fiery red hair and a daring fashion sense. Her eyes were mysterious. I watched the girl cross the room and disappear behind a large book shelf. I contemplated whether I should talk to her or not.... What would I say? I can't just use my powers to find something interesting... That's an invasion of privacy... What if I stumbled upon a secret?

I slid off the alcove, away from my view and comfy seat. I walked slowly around and pretended to be busy, finding a book when I was studying her. She appeared to be browsing the section. I walked around so I could actually see her... Maybe some conversation wasn't all bad. "Hello... My name is Amelia... Need any help finding a book?" I smiled at her.

Slayer looked to her right as the blonde girl from the window spoke to her in a friendly manner. "Hello... My name is Amelia... Need any help finding a book?"

Finally someone was speaking to her in this place. Slayer had begun to feel lonely. "Actually yes, thanks," Slayer grinned, happy to be able to finally use her voice. "I'm not entirely sure of the system in here. There's just so much to choose from." The echo created by the vastness of the library validated just how big it was.

Slayer heard the door open around the corner, Hannah appearing behind it. She glanced at the young girl from her dorm, who smiled and waved. Naturally, Slayer smiled back.

Amelia was happy to hear Slayer needed her... Amelia liked it when they said that... She felt like there was a use for her in the world. Amelia stood quietly as Slayer finished. "So you need help finding a book?" Amelia asked. Slayer turned to smile at a friend who had just entered the library. Amelia gave the girl a smile too and watched another girl appear and she waved. Guess the library was a popular place this morning?

Amelia then watched as a young boy came in. He looked about 13 and he looked like he was pretty quiet. Visions threatened to appear in her mind, of all the people in the room. Amelia winced at the mind overload and she imagined mentally pushing the thoughts out of her head and it temporarily eased her mind. Amelia watched as the boy sat at the window and she brought her attention back to the girl with red hair. The bell rang and it didn't startle Amelia... She knew it was coming.. One of the perks of Precognition. No surprises. "Oh... I have to go.." Amelia said to the girl.. She'd never even learned her name. "I'll see you around..." Amelia said, leaving without answers. Amelia walked out of the Library and headed to Art Class.

At the sound of the bell Slayer grabbed her tablet and casually checked her schedule. Hey, she had arts class as well. Slayer followed the students filing out of the library.

Entering the arts room, she recognized many of the faces, including Amelia and the girl who had bumped into her before breakfast. She looked around, wondering which seat to take. Some of the girls looked like they already had good friends. Makes sense, Slayer thought. Many people seemed to find her intimidating at first glance. And when they found out about her dangerous ability, forget about it. She was pretty used to it, fortunately.

At least in a class like this one didn't need to talk very much. Art was a quiet subject. Deciding to mind her own business, she took a seat at an empty table and continued her charcoal drawing of a starry night sky.

Slayer was so absorbed in her charcoal that she didn't notice her tablet had been flashing at her for the past five minutes, signaling the end of art class. She looked around the studio, realizing that all of the students in the class had either left or were leaving. She grabbed her things and remembered that it was time for a dorm break. Now would be prime time to take that shower she had skipped that morning.

Slayer figured most of the students would be hanging out in the library. That seemed to be the place that everyone actually enjoyed within the confines of the castle. As much as she'd have liked to socialize, she couldn't stand feeling gross and passed right by the library doors, continuing on to Girl's Dorm A.

Once in her dorm, Slayer retreated to the bathroom and turned on the shower. She never looked in the mirror when she shed her clothes. She couldn't look at the burn scars that painted her body. Her scars reminded her that there was something about herself that she sometimes could not control. They reminded her of past situations, accidents, fatalities. She couldn't go there again.

After showering, there was still about a half-hour before lunch. Not caring much for studying, Slayer grabbed a banana from her bag that she had pilfered from the cafeteria and peeled it thoughtfully.

Sick of silence and an empty dorm, Slayer left for lunch a few minutes early. She could only stand to be cooped up in a room with nothing to do for so long. Walking down the corridor in the direction of the cafeteria, she passed by the library. Suddenly she heard shrieking coming from behind the closed doors. Curiously she pushed one open and peeked inside.

Books were flying about, hitting people on the head. No one was throwing them, but one boy was rather hastily thrusting them back on the shelves. Strange things went on in this school.

Slayer knew about the girl with the telekinesis, but the books hadn't simply been floating from place to place. They looked as if they had a purpose. Approaching the cafeteria, Slayer went over the list in her head of kids at this school and their powers. Could it have possibly been the quiet little boy who animated objects? What would make him do such a thing as to attack people with books?

I mean, I get mad sometimes, but I never... Slayer suddenly decided she wasn't one to talk.

Slayer decided to go through the lunch line before choosing a table at which to sit. She appreciated the cafeteria's food immensely. Back at home her brother never made her food, she'd always had to fend for herself. Whether that meant doing her own grocery shopping or picking up some fast food, she was sick of all the junk food she'd had to endure. It had always made her feel bloated. At least this school had health standards.

Even so, she didn't pay much attention to what she grabbed and threw on her tray, she was more concerned about who wouldn't mind her sitting at their table. Slayer scanned the eating area as she went through the line. There were Hannah and Jordyn, two of her roommates. There was Amelia, the blonde girl from the library and her art class. She was with some other, older-looking guy. Better not impose on that, Slayer thought to herself jokingly. And then there were two other boys she didn't know all that well either. Slayer figured that Jordyn and Hannah would be her best bet until she got to know some of the others. She didn't know how well they liked her as Slayer was probably one of the most talkative of the students there. But she certainly wasn't going to sit alone for another hour.

Slayer approached the table with her tray of food and sat down without waiting for an invitation. "Hey guys," she greeted cheerily. "How have your days been so far?"

The two girls didn't seem to have any objections to Slayer plopping down at their table. She thought it was nice of them to let her. Back at her old school, a lot of girls didn't like Slayer. She didn't know if it was because she talked too much or too loud or if they were jealous or what. Slayer didn't know what about her they could possibly be jealous of.

Hannah seemed startled as she jumped a little, and accidentally bumping a knife and dropping her apple. Whoops. She kept forgetting that Hannah was the opposite of her in the aspect of speaking. Slayer hadn't meant to scare her. But when Hannah waved to indicate that her day had been okay so far, Slayer smiled in relief and continued eating. She was glad.

"Oh, you know, the usual," Slayer replied to Jordyn's question. "Boring, lonely, fine overall though. Hey, you guys were just in the library, right? What was up with those flying ghost books? I've heard before that you can fight effectively with words, but that was a bit ridiculous."

As the time ticked by, Slayer glanced at her tablet to make sure of her next class, which was a study hall. So much study time. Better than actual class, she figured.

I got up from my seat, and walked over to the nearest bookshelf. I picked through a few books, and picked up a humanities textbook. I return to my seat, and begin to study. I tapped my foot for a while, anxious to train. I haven't trained in a while, and I seriously think I need to. I thought about the outside, and how I longed for it. I couldn't focus on the Shakespeare. Sometimes I have ADHD-like signs, or from what my health test. I look over to my left, to see a few people walking into the library, I say "Hi" semi-loud and then return to my book.

Jordyn saw Hannah knick herself. "Are you okay, Hannah?" she asked.

Then, Slayer replied to Jordyn's first question.
"Oh, you know, the usual. Boring, lonely, fine overall though. Hey, you guys were just in the library, right? What was up with those flying ghost books? I've heard before that you can fight effectively with words, but that was a bit ridiculous."
At this, Jordyn started cracking up. The laughter just kept coming and wouldn't stop, but it felt good. Before today, it had been a long time since Jordyn last laughed. Finally, the laughter died down and she finished her food before replying. "We were literally jus talking about that."

When everyone was done, Jordyn stood up, checking the time. "Guys, it's time for Study Hall," she cheered. Study Hall was always amussing to her, especially when she put people to sleep. Not to be mean or anything of course. The humor she got from it was just too good to pass up. Making her way to the trash can, she threw out her trash and went back to the other girls, a small smile on her face. She slung her bag back over her shoulder, then turned to Slayer and Hannah, asking, "You guys ready to go?"


Eventually they got to the Library for Study Hall, and Jordyn went to a random table near Serena and Addie. Jordyn didn't the name of the girl Addie was talking to, but she knew they had Physical Activity and Training together. Shrugging, she put her bag on the floor and sat down, taking out the her science book.

Slayer followed Jordyn to the library, Hannah following close behind. These girls were a bit younger than her, Hannah by three years, but Slayer didn't care at all. It had already proven tough to make friends in this place, and these two seemed to accept her so quickly.

Once in the library, Slayer decided to sit with Hannah and Jordyn, and their other roommate Addie. Things were finally beginning to look less lonely. Of course, this was the library, let alone study hall, so Slayer couldn't exactly blab on and on to her friends. She wouldn't know what to talk about anyway. Life had been pretty uneventful lately, what with being trapped in this prison of sorts.

Instead, Slayer pulled out her art history book and commenced reading. Although, it was difficult to focus on the reading when there were beautiful pictures of prints, paintings, ceramics, and drawings on every page to look at. Short attention span led Slayer to pull out her own piece of paper and begin drawing.

"I love the Tempest! That's my favorite Shakespeare piece!" Addie exclaimed.

I smiled at her, happy, then I walked over to the shelf and picked up the second copy of the Tempest. I returned to my desk and slid her the hardcover book. Most of the people here are all younger then me, by as much as 5 years, but it's good to actually hang out with some people for once, instead of studying alone. I saw her and some other girls, that I recognized as Slayer, Hannah, and Jordyn sit down around us. Once they were seated, Addie broke the silence.

"How's everyone's day going? Today seems to be going by really fast, doesn't it? I kinda like it!" she says, happily. I then reply, also with the same emotion.

"Great, I honestly can't wait for training and end of the day break. Training because I don't want another mishap like the one in Art," I laugh, "and Break, because I feel I need one, I even was so desperate for a little rest I used my lunch to take a nap."

I giggle again, then go back to my book.