Room Sixty-Four

[Ri]

===Open Thread===

Soft, uncertain steps of raven sneakers brought little life to the empty corridor of the dormitory. The echoing steps stopped in front of one room and then continued only to stop at another. Sighs were heard and small mumbles added to the silence of the place.

In one hand, the girl of thirteen held a paper with the name Risha Walter printed at the upper right. It was a letter formally welcoming her as a new student of Alice Academy--the school her doctor kept mentioning before she was sent from London.

“They will help you there." Ri, as she is called rather than Risha, remembered him assuring her as he tightened her coat around her. "Take care, child." She was pushed into a car.

“I want to say good bye to Mum." Ri lowered the window of the car before it moved. But the doctor shook his head and then signaled the driver to go.

And now, there she was, meandering in that floor. The morning light seeping into the windows touched her pink tee shirt that matched a pair of fitting khaki pants that ended above her knee. Her unruly white short hair was slightly hidden by the white bonnet on her head. An unnatural flawlessness graced her skin that it seemingly shines.

But who minded looks when one's tired and lost?

Ri sighed...where was room sixty-four?

She went on, pulling the large one-tire-dysfunctional-stroller with her small pale hand.

The vastness of the academy amazed and at the same time confused her. Ri had never been to school, having been tutored at home by her mother who she last saw two years ago. It took her about an hour to get to the dormitory, avoiding students roaming around as much as possible. She had a white jacket hanging on her arm and not only that it was bloody—it also smelled of copper and vomit altogether.

She didn't want to explain and re-explain what happened to her. Moreover, she didn’t want to tell anyone what exactly happened to her. How would anyone react to hearing that she vomited blood from chickens? Hearing the word “chickens” might make anyone laugh. But hearing the phrase “blood from chickens” would probably result otherwise.

Other than smelling like trash, Ri knew she couldn’t deal with people. They might just think she’s weird. Her eyes…they look dead and staring, pitiful and stupid. Other than that, she just didn’t know what to tell others. Her mum told her to just smile—that would get her somewhere.

And forced smiles she did.

Crank.

Her stroller swayed to the side and hit another door. She immediately pulled her bag away, hoping silently that no one was there. There was a pause while Ri stooped seemingly protectively over her poor bag. She tried to hear any angry steps coming from the assaulted room. Feeling that she was cleared, she sighed and moved away. After that, she looked down and saw that the other tire gave up. How unfortunate could she be?

She stepped back and leaned against the wall, her eyes traced the number that was on the door.

Sixty-seven.

“What?” She gasped silently as she pushed herself away from the wall. Did she miss her room? How stupid could she get? She walked back, her sneakers now almost stomping on the floor and then stopped at the room that supposedly was sixty-four. Her grey eyes widened.

Ninety-four.

Ri screamed in her head while she just pursed her small lips. She went over to her bag, scooped the it and pulled it hopelessly (with the bottom making scratchy noises) and then faced her room. She inverted the number, dismissing the idea that it was sort of a prank. She reached into her pocket for the keys and tried to turn it.

It wouldn’t move.

One more try.

It still wouldn’t.

Ri dropped the handle of her bag and let it slide down the floor. She grabbed a handful of her ashen hair and rested her elbow on her folded knees. There she sat, against the locked door, smelling like blood and slightly looking wasted, hoping for some kind of miracle.

[Luna Katanashi]

OOC: Can I post? If not, tell me if I need to delete it.

What is left to do?

The light-hearted girl emerged herself from the entrance of the hallway. It is still 12:00 noon and she didn't eat her lunch yet. Well, with this unpleasant mood, she has no intention in eating right now. Her human body was protected by clothing.

She was wearing a blue, denim miniskirt; with a white sleeveless blouse and a pair of white sandals. Her footwear wasn't pattering the hallway, she decided to continue in contributing the silence.

The petite girl resumed in walking grievously and couldn't tear her eyes off from the marble floor. She was tired of always moving her legs, but didn't bother to stop in her tracks.

There were no lights visible above. Until then, a person dotted nearby, looming in the hallway. She couldn't tell if that particular person is a new student or not. But, that human was foreshadowing that she will partake the boredom away. A conversation would inevitably follow.

"Are you lost?"

She asked gently as she was standing right beside her. The boredom had passed, and was slowly giving way to fun.

[Ri]

Ri was deciding whether to force her way in or to take the longer route to the office and report her situation. She tossed the useless key and then caught it with a clumsy hand. The key only hit her palm and then hit the floor. Her brows met as she stretched to grasp the key, only to see a petite girl coming her way. Ri pulled the key quickly and then shoved her bloody jacket behind her burdensome stroller.

"Are you lost?" The pretty girl dazzled her with the gentle voice the speaker projected. Ri parted her lips, closed them and then pushed herself up, dusting her pants in the process.

"N-no, I'm just..." Her words trailed off when she looked at the girl's fresh face. There was something in her that made Ri comfortable. "I think the lock's just jammed." She raised her key and then shoved both her hands into her pockets. "I want to..." she looked at her side, "report it. I just don't know how to get to the office."

There was a pause as Ri mustered her words in her head. "I'm Ri Walter." She extended her right hand rather shyly. She knew her arm smelled of blood for her jacket was hung there before. A humiliated smile crossed her white face.

"Nice to meet you."

[Luna Katanashi]

"I'm Shanine Katanashi. Nice to meet you too, Ri."

She responded and planted a small smile upon her face, accepting for Ri's waiting hand and shook it. She ignored the damp smell of blood that permeated the air and everything around it; mostly, it was flooding her nose.

"All we could do is to try again before reporting it."

She added with the most sincere look she could muster; removing her warm hand from the stranger. No, the stranger is kind. All in all, Ri didn't really do anything to Luna that deserved rudeness. Truth to be told, she didn't see anyone acting rude to a student.

[Ri]

---

Ri wished hard everyone in Alice Academy was like Shanine Katanashi. A little blush colored her cheek as she drew her hand back. She was anxious about making her acquaintance uncomfortable because of her unusually cool hand.

"Try it again..." Ri repeated Shanine's statement before repositioning the key in the hole. With one hand firmly on the key and the other around the brass knob, she forcefully turned the key--yet to no avail.

Ri looked over her shoulder in an awkward form of apology before facing the door again.

Open up! She yelled in her head. She squeezed her eyes shut and continued coercing the key to turn. Open up!

THUD.

Ri's gray eyes widened.

THUD.

Cold sweat trickled and marked a saline trail down her chin. Her breath began to speed up .

THUD.THUD.THUD.

Her heart beat was racing. She lost hold of the key and the knob and drew back, her hands on her chest. No.No.NO.NO!

Ri stopped, her face flushing, her hands still protectively over her chest. A slight sting somewhere visceral made a rough alteration in her breathing. She was calming down, thank God.

Ri glanced at Shanine who looked surprised at the sudden distortion in her face.

"Shanine-san..." She seemed to have a hard time saying that one name. "...I'm sorry that was weird." Ri looked lost in her own sense. She pressed against the wall, trying to keep her silly smile for the pretty girl before her.

The restrictor...is at work. She thought blankly.

"Um, Shanine-san, I think I'll report the door." Ri looked at her with an earnest plea for little help.

[Luna Katanashi]

The astonished girl stared at Ri who tried in vain in opening the door. Although, efforts of doing the activity failed. Their only option for now is to report this instantly. The only problem is, where is the Faculty Room or was it the Teacher's Rec Room?

"Don't worry, there's no need to force out an apology. I understand. Maybe this is the wrong key or.. something."

She explained, encouraging the acquaintance of hers that everything's fine and that she didn't do any repentance at all. Luna was confused about Ri's face earlier, but her apprehension was put to rest, with renewed vitality. She needs to help this student.

"Let's report this... like immediately."

[Ri]

Ri was overly glad Shanine didn't freak out and run away like someone else might have done. She sighed to herself as she followed the polite petite beauty as she strolled through the corridor.

She looked several times at the black band around her wrist. She particularly picked black for it reminded her of Arose Yamato-san.

This is not the time to think of him. Ri mused as she secretly glanced at the poised back of Shanine. Actually, she wasn't sure where she was in the first place. Follow the directions...that's what she was just told. But what was Alice Academy in particular?

She thought that her doctor back in London was extremely mad for sending her to a widely populated place. What if she did something unnatural there? What if instead of killing chickens for their blood...she'd start including people in her diet?

Ri walked faster to catch up with Shanine and then asked, "Shanine-san...what is the Alice Academy?"

[Luna Katanashi]

'Shanine-san...what is the Alice Academy?'

Luna was devastated when she heard those words. Didn't Ri's parents or maybe somebody related to her told all about the story of the Academy? She patiently twisted herself to her companion's direction.

"This Academy is specifically for humans who each have a special power called an 'Alice'. Don't worry, I'm sure someone who is kind enough will tour you around here."

She reassured Ri as she continued on her way. The blond girl resumed in walking, her eyes were always linking on each of the doors. After massive amount of minutes of searching the Faculty, she saw a door which was entitled on the center of the door, "Teacher's Rec Room"

"Let's come inside, shall we?"

She gestured.

OOC: Writer's Block. BTW, who's gonna make the continuation thread?

[Ri]

The tension in Shanine's eyes caught Ri's attention when she asked what the Academy was. She was blessed with great ignorance after all. However, it surprised her--almost alleviated her anxiety--that there was a "term" for her so-called freak case.

Alice--nice name.

That terminology also proved that somehow, she wasn't different. There were people who didn't necessarily drink blood but nonetheless, did unusual things like she did.

However, something shifted her mood instantly. Beyond the walking blonde was a room...the Teacher's Rec Room. Inwardly, Ri panicked as she fumbled with the right words to say. Arose Yamato. Arose Yamato. Arose Yamato. Her thoughts danced in her head.

"Let's come inside, shall we?" Shanine gestured.

"Shanine-san, may I know what your Alice is like?" Ri half-mumbled a few steps before she reached the Teacher's Rec Room's front. Her question was actually a rephrased form of her curiosity that was: Shanine-san, do you also kill people with your Alice? At the same time, she wanted her companion to slow down. She hoped she didn't see the blush forming on her pale features.

[Luna Katanashi]

'Shanine' made a furtive glance at Ri before she raised her fist to knock the door. Somehow, she was interrupted when Ri asked another question. What was it this time? Though, Luna was not pacified when she heard the question. Was that really vital? Well, she has no choice but to answer. She was spreading a smile when she was about to respond.

"It's Color Manipulation. I can change a color of a particular object."

She was hoping that Ri's knowledge about the Academy will develop, so that there will be no questions anymore, but it is truly satisfying to help someone. It seemed that at this point Luna was past any clear and present trouble; time to encounter with the teachers. She knew that they will be wasting a little bit of time if another question will come to call.

Maybe there won't be any more questions around...

"Let's go."

OOC: Ok, the continuation thread will be in the Teacher's Rec Room, sound fine?