Chapter 5

After we had our morning session, Moon and I both decided to take our lunch inside the room. I was quite comfortable, the fact that boys were jamming. They were having good times singing love songs. And not to mention, I liked the voice of Lerato. It was always soft and smooth— like an angel humming melody.

"Do you think Melody's fine?" Moon suddenly asked, chewing her stake.

"Yeah," I nodded in response. I can hear Lerato's voice from here singing "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran. It was quite a popular song. "She told me she can make it tomorrow."

"I hope so," she sighed in despair. I just shrugged it off. Melody's fine.

A moment of silence wrapped around us when I heard a low growl. I lifted up my head to see the commotion but I found nothing. Moon seemed to notice it 'cause she looked at me with questioning eyes.

"You okay?" she asked.

I switched my eyes outside the room. My heart was racing. The growl was familiar to me. It was from the silver-grey eyed stranger.

"Something's wrong," I muttered. Another escape of a low growl came from the inside of me. I quickly covered my mouth with my hands and froze for a moment.

What the hell was that?

I lowered my hands, just enough to free my nose. I stiffened and caught a familiar scent.

"Kit?" Moon called out. I gulped once and wandered my eyes around. I met Lerato's eyes and I quickly tore off. My breathing ragged as my stomach was growling.

"Kit," Moon called out again, holding my hands.

"Didn't you hear that?" I asked in furrowed brows.

"Heard what?" she asked back, knotting her brows. She pulled back her hand and rested it on the table.

I tilted my head, perceiving the environment. I can't be mistaken. It was him!

The familiar strong scent captured my nostrils. My inner self was having a hard time to control. It was an emotion of wanting someone I was not even familiar with.

Moon and I heard heavy footsteps marching in the hallway. I threw my gaze outside just to find out it was the stranger's steps. He was big, rough and cold.

"Ah," Moon blurted out. "Look who's here?" she whispered.

I diverted my attention to Moon who was wincing. The disgust on her face was clear.

I once again turned to the stranger who was walking with his squad. He was the fiercest of all— the most powerful one. I won't be surprised if Moon will tell me the stranger was the leader.

"Dominatur," she mentioned and I abruptly turned to her. "They also call him "Dominus"— the most powerful."

I blinked many times at her. She was talking to me in a language that I could not understand.

I took a deep breath, contemplating. So, the silver-grey eyed man was Dominatur or Dominus?

"Stay away from him, Marikit," she said but more demandingly. There was a hint of threat in her voice. "He was harder than the core. He's so dangerous."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, leaning my body towards her.

She sighed like she was dealing with a problem. I could tell she didn't want to tackle the topic because it was taboo.

"Too bad for you, Kit," she shook her head in regret. "You don't know what school you're taking in."

I slowly pulled my body away from her. I thought I had made the wrong choice. It was always my dream to enter this academy because I always felt welcome. Something was telling me this was my home.

Moon sighed again. Of course, she knew all about this academy. She has been here since she's in kindergarten. She had memorized the management here. I was just new, naive and innocent.

"If I tell you, will you stay?" she asked— hopes were heard in her voice.

I didn't respond nor react. I was just quiet while holding her eyes. She was sincere. There was no joke in her line.

***

I remained silent for the whole class, as Moon. Our Math teacher seemed to notice it because I always participate in her class. Math was my most favorite subject— especially Calculus. But now, I had a torpor of listening to her discussion.

After Mrs. Pobre's lesson, she gave us seat works. She was roaming around— hands on her back while checking our papers. I was quite observing her stance, trying to convince myself she was a normal teacher.

She had pitch black hair with a highlight of grey at the edge of it. She had curves in the right places. You won't believe she already has three kids just to look at her body. I liked how she maintained her fit.

Mrs. Pobre stood in front of me. I acted like I was solving the problems. I was uncomfortable with her presence. I didn't know why. It was my very first time to feel it.

"It was a surprise when you didn't participate well, Kit," she commented. I pursed my lips together before turning to her. "Are you okay?"

I felt my classmates' eyes on me, so did Moon's. I turned to my friend and she looked away.

"I'm fine, teacher," I replied and turned to her. I gave her a forced smile before I looked down at my papers.

Seriously, Kit? What was happening to you?

"I know you're not," she insisted and I sighed and shook my head.

Mrs. Pobre didn't bother me again. I was glad she understood that sometimes I needed privacy. It would just make the situation worse if people were trying to meddle with my problem. I wasn't good at holding my temper.

Later that afternoon, my stomach hurt again but it was endurable. I didn't take my medicine since the pain was light. After that, I went to the office because of our CLO, who gave me an assignment.

"You told me you will find your grandmother," Moon said as we were walking downstairs. It was the end of our day and finally, I had ample time for myself.

"Yeah," I frowned. The thought of losing my grandmother was tormenting. I can't afford to lose her. She's my second mother. I loved her so much. Losing my sister was the last thing I would do.

"Have you suspected places she could be right now?" she asked again.

"None," I shook my head. "But I was pretty sure she's still alive."

"The giant apes did a great job in destroying us."

I blinked many times. My feet started to feel numb hearing those predators.

Everyone considered it as the attack of giant apes but not me. It was clearly an attack of big creatures I considered as lycanthropes. They were responsible for the said bloody crime. They were brutal. Life didn't matter to them at all.

"It wasn't an attack of giant apes." I insisted. She stopped in front of me with her knitted brows.

"Kit,"

"No." I objected. "Lycans are true, Moon. Even those werewolves and vampires."

Moon gaped at me for a moment before she shook her head in disapproval.

"The giant apes were just a bait, an ally. Lycans were the ones who put us in havoc."

I knew lycanthropes were true. They existed! I will prove that to myself.

"And I have the feeling that they have my grandmother. I will make them pay for what they have damaged, Moon."

"But you can't beat them up." she quickly replied.

"No matter what it takes," I said with finality and past behind her, balling my fist in anger.

I had to find my grandmother. I wanted to know if she's still alive. She can't be dead! Life would be meaningless without her.

As I went home, I searched for an empty box that I'll be using for my mission. I will put all my things inside so it would be less hassle for me to organize my stuff. I was reckless when it's about my things.

Once I had a few things inside the box, I snatched a towel to take a quick shower. My whole system was draining. I was exhausted and had the feeling to sleep forever. I was about to give up but when I thought about my grandmother, there was an urge for me to stand up. I had to do something.

"Where are you going, Marikit?" mom asked the moment she saw me descending from the stairs.

"Just want to breathe some fresh air, mom," I explained but she didn't seem to believe me. She was looking at me suspiciously.

I cleared my throat and faked a smile. Just when I was about to say something, my sister Marilag came into view— crossing her arms over her chest.

"With that suit?" she asked. There was a hint of challenge in her voice.

I checked myself. I was wearing a white sando shirt and a maong shorts— too far from what I commonly wear inside the house.

"It's getting late, Kit." mom commented. "It's cold outside. At least wear a jacket."

"No need, mom." I shook my head. "Anyways, did the police already report about my grandmother's whereabouts?"

"Not yet," she replied, looking at me straight.

"Then let's do something about it, mom. We can't just let this pass by."

"Be patient," Marilag butted in, which made me furious.

"That easy?" I puffed up my chest in disbelief, shifting to my weight.

"Relax, Marikit." mother said and I turned to her.

"You too, Mom? I can't believe it!" my voice raised. "Seems like you already know where your mother is."

"What do you want to happen, Kit?" Marilag butted in and I abruptly threw my gaze at her. "Sacrifice our lives when other people can do it?"

"What the fudge, Marilag?"

My breathing doubled. I was like running for a mile without any rest. My heart was palpitating vigorously. Something was telling me to punch my sister. She was rude!

"We're also doing the best we could, Kit. You're not the only one who's worried about our grandmother. We, too, but we have to wait for the final report before taking action. This is too risky. You think our grandmother will be happy once she'll know someone will sacrifice a life for her? No, Kit. Fucking think."

I gritted my teeth and balled my fist in anger. If they can wait, I can't. I didn't have ample time to sit back and relax. It's grandmother for Pete's sake! 

I took a few steps away from them when I heard mom's voice.

"Where are you going, Kit? You're not going anywhere!" mom shouted because I was quite far from her.

I turned around to face them. I was determined to find my grandmother. There's no way I would let anyone hurt her. I was more than willing to offer my life for her. She deserved to live longer than I do.

"I'm gonna find my grandmother with or without your help. I won't take long. I'll be back before midnight." I said with finality. I turned my back to them and ran out of the house.