2 Menorenti Private School

Eliana rubbed her palms together as she walked to the bus stop. She wore a scarf and long socks that are serving her well right now, but she didn't know her hands could become ice cubes the moment she walked outside.

Eliana teeth chattered and she rubbed her palms even harder.

"I-I-It's s-so f-f-freaking c-cold!" Eliana exclaimed.

Although the sun shone brilliantly today, the temperature remained the same.

She crossed her eyes to find that her nose had started to redden, vaguely reminding her of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

She continued to walk.

Little clouds escaping her mouth and rising back to the heavens.

Eliana looked around her.

'It seems I might've gone out too early... Awww man, I could've read a couple more chapters of that book! I left it when it was starting to get really good. Ugh, goddang curfews…'

Eliana glanced at her watch. It was already 6:34 a.m.

But where were the kids or adults?

Everything was so… Silent.

To Eliana, it was pretty unnerving.

It was as if someone could kidnap her or do something else horrible to her any moment. Nonetheless, she kept putting one foot in front of the other.

It was unusual though…

No dog barked, no parents calling after their child saying, "You forgot your lunch, silly!". There were also no shouting or laughing kids running so that they wouldn't be late for their bus.

Eliana had seen (and expected) these kinds of things in a television show that she watched before.

'Maybe they're already at the bus stop…'

She looked around her surroundings.

Tawny-yellow houses with melon painted rooftops lined the cement sidewalk. The streets were empty, unlike the urban streets she was used to. Birds sang their own unique melody as they flew by.

Eliana reached her destination when she saw him.

A man stood a couple feet away from the bus stop, completely frozen, as if he was waiting for something or someone. He was dressed in a thick dark coat with a Seattle Seahawks cap that covered a majority of his face.

Eliana halted and narrowed her eyes. She examined at him up and down.

It could just be an assumption, but the only thing she could think at the time was,

'He looks sketchy as hell.'

Eliana quickly turned her head away when the man caught her eyes. Just as she was starting to conjure up ways to avoid a difficult situation, he called out to her.

"Excuse me, young miss!"

He took a step closer to her.

"I need help finding a building. Could you help lead the way?"

Eliana gulped and took a step away.

"I'm terribly sorry. I really can't. You see, I'm going to be late."

Hoping he got the message, Eliana checked the streets again.

She was staring to panic inwardly.

This hunk seemed to be getting closer and closer by the minute.

She sighed in relief.

A familiar yellow vehicle parked right beside the curb and opened its doors.

"Creep." Eliana mumbled as she stepped onto the bus.

'Hmm, it seems I'm the only one here today.'

After showing her bus pass to the driver, Eliana sat herself all the way in the back. She pulled out her phone and inserted her earbuds into her ears to pass the time.

An eye-catching notification appeared on her phone with heading of, 'Another One Found Last Night'.

She clicked on it.

'Mr. Eddie, who resided in Livin Blvd., was murdered at 9:35 p.m. last night. His body was found reclining on a sofa, with a remote in his right hand. It seems that he was stabbed fifteen times in the chest while he was watching TV.

The FBI mostly suspects, Thompson, a serial killer with an infamous record, since he broke out of prison two days ago.

Every person in the police force is currently investigating this case and is working extremely hard to catch the killer.

Everybody stay safe and thank you for choosing ABNC News.'

Eliana shut off her phone and stared out the window, counting trees while playlist meant to instill a certain state of tranquility played in the background.

***

When the doors to the school opened, the halls were instantly crowded with other children her age or above.

Just to move a foot forward, Eliana had to squeeze and push her way through.

She would half-heartedly apologize just to be nice but she really had no time for this inconvenience. It was her first day and she had to find the Principal's Office.

It was getting quite rowdy since every dialogue overlapped with thumping books and slammed lockers. Eliana could hear bits of conversations here or there.

For example:

"Did you hear? Apparently, the real story was that it was actually Fredrick who cheated on Lisa-"

"Yeah, I heard."

"They say she still hasn't gotten over him."

"Jesus, what does she see in that playboy anyway?"

Or on farthest corner,

"What is all that in your locker..? OMG, IS THAT-"

"Shhhh, shut up! I'm going to get in trouble-

But that most interesting thing she heard all day was,

"Did you do your homework?"

"Bro, please, I'm fine as long as I don't fail the entire semester. Like, we're in middle school. Why are we all working so hard? Save that for high school, I heard that's when it gets serious."

"Haha, dude! What in the world? See this is why we are friends."

But then, the bell rang. And just like that, all the kids scattered in different directions.

Eliana blinked.

'Whoa… I didn't know bells could have so much power…'

She found a clock all the way on the other side of the corridor.

'Well, it is quite early... They could all just be tired.'

Then she headed for the Principal's Office, quietly humming Mr. Sandman the whole way.

***

Principal's POV:

I didn't really think too much about the young girl with wandering eyes in front of me.

To be honest, the only thing that stood out about her was not her hazel eyes. Nor her looks, for that matter. But her dark emerald hair that hung beyond her shoulders.

'Must be dyed.' I think to myself.

I analyze her features a little more.

Miss Terrifota, as interesting as that sounds, was a lean girl. More leg than body.

The motto of this school must be quite fascinating to her since she has been staring at it the entire time. So much that I feel like I'll find holes in the fabric if I turn around.

I didn't though...

Instead, I call out her name.

"Miss Terrifota?" She blinked then she shifted her gaze to me.

Her eyes seemed to be looking for something.

No, not for something. At something.

The same way you look at an animal in a zoo or a movie you've heard about but never watched before.

It was as if she were deciding if I was as 'fascinating' as the motto and worth her time.

I started to feel uncomfortable and oddly exposed, so I tried to start up a conversation.

"Do you like our school's motto?"

After she glanced over the banner once more, she faced me and nodded.

"'Every Child Is Special In Their Own Way.' It sounds inspiring, doesn't it?"

She nodded her head again, then smiled.

But even as she did, the look in her eye was still there.

"I have heard that you are new here? Is that right?"

"It is as you have heard, Mr. Principal. Me and my mother have just recently moved into this state." She replied.

She paused for a moment, then she began to speak again.

"Also, I have been homeschooled from third grade. So I'm not that familiar with the unspoken social rules and hierarchy of schools." She concluded.

"Haha, there should not even be those kinds of things here." I chuckle.

I have to admit, from her word choice to her poised attitude, she seems very well-mannered and educated.

"I believe you belong to Mrs. Linda's classroom for six-graders. It will be your homeroom for this semester," I say, shuffling and stacking some papers.

"Allow me to lead you there." I held out a hand to guide her to the door.

"Thank you, Mr. Principal."

We exited my office and began to walk down the hallway.

***

When we arrived at the designated classroom, hooting and hollering could be heard right outside the door. To the point where it echoed in the hallway.

'Ugh, how uncivilized,'

I scowl.

'Where is Mrs. Linda. If she's not there, I'll have to lecture the punks on voice control and behavior.'

I glance at Miss Terrifota and, to my astonishment, she kept a straight face the entire time.

She showed no signs of disgust or fear, yet something seemed to tell me that she was disappointed but not surprised.

We stood patiently, not saying a word while both of us waited for the noises to quiet down.

A couple minutes later, she turned to face me and tilted her head.

"Is this it, Mr. Principal?"

I nodded.

"I'm afraid so, Miss Terrifota..."

I start to turn the door knob but stop short.

I felt a twang of guilt because I'm assigning a student with a seemingly bright potential to this class, out of all classes.

I shake my head.

'I could be mistaken...'

It can't be helped though, all the other classes were full since many students enrolled this year.

"Are you ready?"

"Mhmm." She smiled.

Then I opened the door.