[i]I had a doggie once. A really clever doggie who would say the darndest things like ''I would feel infinitely more comfortable in your presence if you treated gravity as a law and not as one of a number of suggested options.''[/i] she thought as she watched the woman and her tall, proud doberman walk away. She really should have talked to the humans first instead of the animal.

She started aimlessly walking around the hall again, watching everyone and everything from afar, their colors and their moves, trying to make sense of what is socially acceptable and what is not. She had done many-many things in the past which made others laugh at her or even hurt her and just sometimes make her feel good with herself. For example, finding and eating a cake at a birthday party with the words ''Happy Birthday Dave!'' on it definitely wasn't nice. Especially when Dave was a six year old boy who had just been told exactly what will happen to his body once he dies.

[i]At least I didn't tell him the tale of the Smiling Man.- Wait, you're doing it again, you're in my head! Oh Lord, am hearing voices![/i]

She sat on a comfy chair next to the staircase eager to face this new foe, this new manifestation of her personal...[i]Personal what? Madness? Am pretty sure that would be your choice of a word, Voice. But at the very same moment, it would be also mine. Ugh, my head hurts and I would really like an apple right now. Am too tired to fight you Voice so you can keep doing your thing and I will do mine.[/i]

She really hated these mood swings, she could be the happiest person on the planet only to become the saddest within a moment. But right now she wasn't exactly sad, there was something more instinctive, something more urgent in what she felt.

«I think bad things have happened. I can feel them in my socks. Although am not wearing any in which case it might be just that, the feeling of not wearing any socks. But...it's a weird night, innit?» she said to herself, unaware of the fact that the hall had now emptied of those with the identical masks and only a handful of people remained inside, the Freshmen, a word which Nellia would definitely have lots to say about.

[i]«Greetings Freshmen. I would personally like to welcome you to my Academy. You may refer to me as simply, Headmistress. I will not respond to any other name. You will find no staff attending the ball besides Terra Markos, a Junior who overlooks all of you. Any questions can be passed to her. She also delivers any information I have. You will see very little of me during your stay.»[/i]

Nellia looked up towards the top of the stairs where the two women stood, a gap between them made of more years than she had fingers. «She doesn't look well.» she whispered to herself.

[i]«Long winded speeches are not something I personally find inspiring so I will not torment you with one. You seem like eager souls who are willing to learn. Everything is already outlined in your campus book. This can be found in a briefcase provided to you on a shelf in your wardrobe.»[/i]

Nellia kept staring as if she wanted to memorize this very moment. The Headmistress had a calm yet strong voice which somehow made Nellia feel that the woman addressing them would give her life to protect them, the students. Not that it would really matter to her, she'd never sacrifice herself for anyone, she didn't believe in heroism.

[i]«What I offer you is this. Be careful who you invest your trust with. There are others who are just as adamant in spoiling your time here as you are about learning. There are—»[/i]

[i]Down she goes.[/i]

Nellia didn't even bat an eyelid as she watched the woman fall, beaten by something which brought back quite a few memories. She silently stood and calmly headed towards them not even she herself knowing why.

She stood just a few steps behind the Headmistress and the girl she called Terra Markos when she saw a young man or an action hero, she couldn't tell at the moment, jump towards the railing, grab it and easily lift himself over it eager to help the one in need.

And she simply stood there, watching them.

«I'd like to help too.» she whispered in a barely audible voice, re-living days long gone in her mind. Days which she couldn't bear to remember as they had scathed her in more ways that she could think of.

[i]Mother, is this my fault too?[/i]