Class Incognito

The Rejected Ones (1)

The days after encountering Randolph and Ashe were a blur to me at that time. But I remember bits and pieces of what transpired.

For starters, my grades plummeted so hard I was taken off the scholarship list and the honors list indefinitely. Then, my newly formed autophobia. I completely wig out when I see my reflection. Because everytime I see it, my black hair, my red eyes... I was always reminded of how much of a failure I was, and the words Randolph say kept going on repeat.

Disappointment... That was what I kept hearing, my memories playing it over and over again.

Those moments were torture, at one point, I cut my own hair so unevenly it became a rat's nest. What's worse, was how I clawed my own eyes because I hated how I see it. The scarlet hue, and the black hair. They were the signs of me being a stain of my family name. I was called to the principal's office, and he was shocked by the state of myself.

"Lad... You need to snap out of it. Hurting yourself won't make everything feel better." He said.

I looked at him with a blank stare. And then I laughed. A hollow laugh.

The principal was so appalled that he ordered to isolate me. Which worked out for me. No interaction, no nothing.

Summer ended in a flash, and it was now Autumn. Outside the proper of the Land of Immortality, the leaves turned bright orange, I looked outside, students having fun with each others' company. I never understood that... How come they, who had no blood relationship whatsoever, can create something so strong and meaningful.

It confused me... To the point of me smacking my head and chest in response.

I tensed when someone was knocking at my door, I opened it and found Principal Lewis with a doctor.

"Lad... This is Doctor Reginald Noan, an old friend of mine." The principal said. "Are you okay with him... treating your wounds?"

"Call me Doc!" He grinned widely.

But I said nor did nothing and just sat by my bedside. The principal just sighs.

"I'll leave you two alone then."

The doctor closed the door and gives me a sad smile.

"It must've hurt." The doctor said as he brushes the corner of my eye, which made me recoil from the contact.

"So you still feel pain. That's good."

"Good?" I asked.

"Mhm... It means you're still alive."

"I don't want that..." I said.

"I don't mean to pry, but why did you do this to yourself?"

"Because I deserve it. I disappointed them too much. And as such, I had to punish myself."

"Your teachers?"

I shook my head.

"So... it's your parents... isn't it?" And I flinched.

"I know all about you kid... Your parents, are my former partners." He said and I retreated away from him. So he's related to them.

"Are you going to tell them?" I asked with desperate urgency.

"What gave you that idea?" He pondered. "Do take note of the word 'former' lad."

'Don't trust him.' My mind said, a shadow like version of myself then hugged me from behind.

'Remember last time? All adults do is lie.'

That's right... They always lie.

I looked back at him with a deadpan expression.

"I see you have no intention of trust me. But at the very least, let me patch you up." He offered and I nodded silently.

'Poor kid... can't believe they're still doing this stupid wager.'

I heard it again. The sound of their minds. I wanted to ask... But

'ADULTS LIE'

I clamped my mouth shut. Why was I like this?

I used to be open at expressing my feelings, I used to be confident.

"You're straining your mind too much." Doc said.

"Excuse me?"

"Honestly speaking, I never expected another one in your generation. But it seems it stems from time to time." Doc sighs.

'Aren't you curious about who I really am?'

I heard it again, and this time clearer than ever before. As if... He was talking to me through his mind.

I looked at Doc again, it was faint, but I could see black streaks in his frosted hair and beard. His are eyes a bit dull and light, but I could see the color of red in them.

"Allow me to formally introduce myself, Before I became Reginald Noan, I was a person with the name Amos Scifios. That would make me your uncle lad."

'That's a lie. ALL ADULTS DO IS LIE!'

'Lad, listen to me... Stop thinking like that and calm down!'

Two voices were battling within my head, one is claiming to be my uncle, that I should trust his every word. The other... my own voice, pushing down every possibility of living normally.

"shut up... SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT! UP!"  I covered my ears and closed my eyes, I don't know what happened but I wanted to close off the world.

Glass shattered and scattered, the bed creaked and crumpled. Books and paper flew upon the mad breeze of wild power.

'That's it... That's the reason why they left you. You were too emotional, too weak. You were easily replaced, you were disposable. In the end, you're nothing.'

"I SAID SHUT UP!" I shouted so loudly another wave of energy bursts out. I was breathing heavily, air seems to escape quicker than I can breathe back. I slowly opened my eyes and see how much damage I've done, and to my surprise... Nothing... I didn't break anything.

Then I saw something, cyan... The same color of my power. The power of Telekinesis was creating a huge zone of containment, and standing behind that wall... Was Doc, who was pointing his finger at me.

"Have you finally calmed down?" He asked gently.

"H-how?" I could only mutter that single phrase until a sharp pain envelops on my head, my nose began to bleed vigorously and I was getting dizzy.

"A Psyche shock. I guess... You really were in pain." Doc caught me as I was about to fall face first to the cobbled floor. "It's ok now laddie, I got you."

But I recoiled from him, and I just fell on my butt. I... I acted out of instinct. I know he was trying to help me, but why was I shaking? I'm so confused. Why am I confused?

This isn't right anymore and I didn't know what to do, so I bolted out of my room as fast as I could. I don't know why but I managed to break free from the Principal's barrier. I was outside... Outside the Academy. Alone in a strange place. Woods unfamiliar to me, the noise of insects, birds and the spring.

I was shaking. Is this... Is this fear? Or is this excitement... I don't know.

I tried to stand up but I couldn't the next thing I knew was that I was losing consciousness in a strange place.

'At the end of the day... You're nothing but a failure and a coward. No one will miss you.'

Somebody... Tell me what the hell is wrong with me?! What did I do wrong?