When the plane finally landed, Miss Blackwood gave a final speech “Forget what you knew about your time living in Japan, your experience will severely be different from now on. Now with all due respect welcome to Esther Island.” The name didn’t sound familiar bur I pulled Hina, closer uncertain of our future. When the hanger doors open a sea of military soldiers stood right outside. There was a one man that stood out from all of them. He had light tanned face, hair so long it reached his lower back. His uniform was also noticeably different. It was trench coat with more decorations adorned. When he started speaking in English. His speech had a certain poise to it “Hello everyone, I do hope you don’t mind me speaking English. But feel free to speak to me in whatever language you want.” His smile was oddly charismatic but there was something in the way he stared at us “Call me by Director. To get it out of the way we are not officially the military unit but more or less a black ops unit. The reason my men brought you in was because we have evaluated that you all have personally been scouted to join the Cross Order”.
A chill ran down my spine. I caught a glimpse of the other the students had a threatening look in their eyes. The person who was called Xiaofei spoke first “Hey, Di-rec-tor, you seem very lovely, but I don’t feel like being a prisoner on this Island of yours” his English was perfect as he disagreed with the man. “Well, there’s a slight mistake. It’s not a prison you can leave anytime you want. Each and every one of you are allowed to leave this island anytime you want” his gaze sharpened like a knife as he sports a grin “But you should all know if you do, you won’t be leaving here alive. Even if your parents come to your rescue.” The hair on my skin prickled, his menacing aura seeped right through. This man wasn’t joking around. I felt like I would really die. “But that’s if you do, if not I’ll treat you with respect.” The sense of death had disappeared.
He proceeded to call on four of us the two foreigners, the tall one, and XiaoFei. The rest of us were told to be escorted to our new home. But it wasn’t Miss Blackwood but instead Mr. Sanders who was our guide. The rest of us follow through in silence, walking through a dark forest. It was really awkward. The guy called Souh was constantly in a sour mood whereas the Zach kept on the talking like it was a school trip. The atmosphere was so awkward. The red head girl went through another direction with a female officer. It must have been a good half an hour walk before emerged out of the forest. The first we saw too was a tall building, even taller than a watch tower. We followed through quietly as Mr. Sanders instructed. Once inside my nervousness was slightly less as I stood there mesmerized by the exquisite architecture, it looked like a luxury hotel, decorated in gold color chandelier and wall. Two spiraling stairwell meeting at one point leading to a large hall on the second floor. All around us there was sofas, chairs, vending machine. There was no reception desk instead many elevators more inside the hall on both side. In the center of the hall there’s a large map what I assume to be of the building and the island directing you everywhere
The elevator ride was both long, awkward and nerve wrecking. Souh, had gotten off at the 19th floor, Zach, and Jin the 29th, and we were at the highest which was just one floor above them. The hallway looks more and more like a hotel than a student-housing complex from what we were told. I don’t think my savings could afford even one night here “Mr. Sanders, How much does all of this cost?” I couldn’t even come up with an amount. But he never responded and stayed quiet. When we reached the end, he turned around and looked at my sister and me “normally boys and girls stay in separate lodging, but the director decided to make an exception. As for how you’ll pay us back that will be informed at a later date.” He paused for a second, as I wanted to ask another question he continued “Get some sleep kid, a lot of things happened to you in a single day.”
Mr. Sanders gave each of our personal ID cards to unlock the room before departing. It was a weird interaction, sometimes he seems like a person looking out for us and now seems like a person who nothing more than a stranger. Right before I shut the door Mr. Sander’s called out to me. He handed me a new type of unique phone. Nothing I have seen “This will be your standard issue phone. In addition, tomorrow the director would like to speak with you. So, wake up early so I can take you to him” He informed me before leaving. I thanked him for letting me know wanting to ask my question again, but he quickly walked away before I could.
When I stepped inside the room nothing else surprised me anymore besides the fact that it was ridiculously big. There’s a desk for two people, Tv, a medium size fridge and a small kitchen next to it. Just around the left corner was the bathroom. The only way to describe it was a compact mini house all in one. I never heard of anything like this in my life.
Hina went straight to the bed burying her face into the pillow. “Would you like to shower?” I asked worrying about how she might be feeling. Instead of responding, she simply got up and went straight to the bathroom. “I’ll bring you a change of clothes.” Her action was a cold stab, one that I could not describe. But if I was going through such a hard time then imagine what she’s going through because of me. I put my focus elsewhere, looking through the small closet on the opposite side of the bed. Soon after, I examined the window view from our new home. Slightly smaller than our house but the view was unmatched. They said the place was an island and from the view, I can believe it. I can see the sea, the forest, and from a distance a several factories. Maybe there is a possible school for us here, better than a prison I suppose. I picked up a remote on the table thinking it was for the tv but when I pressed it the window darkened to the point, I couldn’t even see the outside. Surprised caught me but I realized I needed to get Hina a change of clothes, as rushed to prepare it and hang it inside the doorknob.
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When Hina came out, I asked her how the shower was. But again, all I got a hard silence. But I didn’t pester her more about it. I went in to shower myself and hopefully makes sense of this situation for the both us and how we’ll be moving forward.
It was still around the early day. the quick car ride was quick before we walked into a building that was heavily guarded from the outside. Miss Blackwood opened the door as I stepped into an office. It had a simple layout, a desk in the center, bookcases to my side and a little coffee table. Minimum décor and next to me a coffee machine. The director sitting in his chair, signing some papers but stopped the moment the door closed. He took off his glasses, I got a better look at him now his unusual grey hair and piercing icy blue eyes gave me the creeps. He gave me a light smile “Please no need to be so tense, have a seat.” He gesturing a wave with his hand. Still nervous I accepted the offer. He ask “better? Would you like tea or coffee? Although rarely I do have soda if you like something sweet” still smiling
“No thank you, I had a cup of water earlier. Can I ask why I was called?” Hesitantly I replied
“Now I believe Theo, has informed you of the phone. What I would like to speak with you is your transfer to come into our school. I believe you have heard of it, Acerion academy.” My eyes widened. It was the name of the top 5 military schools within the world. Located in the in the eastern continent. The school was supposedly the best that not even the rich could pay their way in if the student had no talent. The director gave a slight chuckled “I see you have heard of it but the one that the public knows of in China isn’t the real Acerion academy but instead the real one is on this island.”
Before I let him, continued “Is it even possible to do that? I mean I heard it was only meant for those that are truly gifted.”
“True but I am also the director of the school. So, it would not pose a problem for the director of the school to personally enroll a student into my own school.” He said leaning closer in while lacing his fingers. I was completely taken back, to think this man was the director of such a prestigious school. Not only that, the school guarantees success for those that pass. “Are you perhaps thinking that you might have a second chance?”
“But why me? What do you get in return? Clearly you know I’m…a monster.” I replied containing a mix of emotion. The director dropped his head, holding back a laughter. I felt something in my gut. “And here I thought he managed to figure it out.” He said to himself. I didn’t understand why he found it funny. When he looked back up and I stared directly into his eyes. I could tell he found the situation amusing “What’s so funny?”
He grinned openly “Sanders or Blackwood must have shown you the incident at your previous school. Haven’t you wonder why no one is hunting you down?” it was then I realized something that never cross my mind. Something I never stopped and consider because so many things were happening at the same time. The director continued, “After that incident happened it went directly to the governing power. Military unit, certain S.S.E.D were prepared to kill you and your sister. But since it happened in the eastern continent, I had certain men already placed globally to intercepted it and prevented you and your sister from being killed.”
The truth or more like the obvious things I failed to take notice because of constant changing environment, finally fell into place. An overwhelming amount of worry started flooding through my head. “Mr. Kazehaya?” he called out to me. His smile he had before was gone. He looked at me concern about my well-being “I know this much to process but the reason I did it is because I believe there is more in what was shown in that video.”
“And what gives you so much hope to protect me from the military?” I questioned
His symptathetic expression changed into one of amusement “Protect? No, I simply struck a deal with the world. The Military hands you over to me and I will in turn train you to become humanity’s greatest weapon.” I couldn’t react at all to what he just said. Was this the reason why we weren’t killed back in Japan?
“And if in the off chance you failed to be useless, well I would take full responsibility to kill you. It is a win-win situation. If you’re useful save the world, if not you’ll be eliminated before you become a threat.” I could tell he knew I was still sorting out everything that was revealed. He looked at me for a moment before reaching into his pocket and pulled out a pale grey card and slipping it towards me, “I believe you received your dorm ID, this is a custom money card. You will be paying your stay here and anything your need with this. All students will have one. More instructions about its function can be found through the phone” He paused for a second “If you attend my school and work for me, I will grant you full immunity from any governing power that will try to harm you, of course this extends to your sister.”
He slowly walked me towards the door in such a gentle manner I never realized it during the speech. I slapped his arm away and grabbed him by the collar. I’m done being confuse and helpless. But he pulled my hands off as he pinned me against the door, his elbow pushing against my throat. I was choking trying to push him away but nothing. He was like a boulder, he wouldn’t move no matter how hard I tried. He released his pressure as he slowly leaned in closer to me ear “Now there I understand being a young adult is a confusing time but you really should learn not to bite the hand that feeds you. Everything is in your benefit, whether you see it or not.” He sounded as if he knew the future, like he knew I would understand everything. He slowly let me go as he gestured towards the door with a smile on his face. I wanted to fight back but I couldn’t. I could tell from that exchange he is someone who’s way out of my league. Regretfully I did as he gestured, feeling frustrated at how weak I am.