Abstract Nonsense » Places

         Ayame got up a little later than normal. As she glanced at the alarm clock by the bedside table, she realized that she had gotten up a full thirty minutes later than normal.
"Huh? That's strange..." She recounted in her head what activities she's done last night that made her stay up. So far, she could only recall one.
"The interrogation took a little longer than I thought. Should I just stay in for the day--" She muttered as she checked to see if she could still make it. It was almost 30 minutes before the opening ceremonies.
"Let's just hope I get lucky with the train today..."

By sheer force of will and skipping breakfast, Ayame managed to make it with five minutes to spare. She ran across the halls until she arrived at their designated classroom. Upon entering, most of the people were already there so she came in through the back door, to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. Taking her spot near the windowsill, she sat down to catch her breath, observing everyone inside. Her eyes were drawn to an empty seat, just four more spaces ahead of her.
"Seems she's not around yet..."

From the school rooftop, another student observed the bustling grounds from below. She stood just outside the protective fence built around the place, her feet dangling just a few millimeters from the concrete floor. She looked straight down, her mind filled with questions by which there were no easy answers.
"Tell me, what draws them in to do these things? Does it differ when it comes to me? I, who also stands in this threshold between life and death? Won't you tip your hand a little bit more?" She asked in her mind, as if the whole place would suddenly respond with a clear answer to a question they didn't even hear.
"I suppose. Maybe it isn't you who's the problem. Maybe--" She merely nodded and smiled as she retreated back in the safe confines of the fence, lest the roaming guards notice her and assume she was another one of those "jumpers".
"Oh! Class is starting soon..."